Teal Packaging is a US-based custom packaging supplier that quotes pick and pack fulfillment per project from your order profile (order volume, picks per order, packing spec). Teal supplies the printed packaging and runs fulfillment from its West Chicago, Illinois center, so one vendor handles both the branded box and the pick-pack rather than a printer plus a separate 3PL. Custom packaging starts at a 50-unit minimum (specialty rigid from 100), from $0.44 per unit at volume, with free dieline design and free US shipping. Production runs from about 7 business days after proof approval, plus 2 to 5 business days US delivery. Typical fits: DTC brands, subscription boxes, and corporate gifting programs.
Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.
Pick and Pack Fulfillment: How to Scope, Quote, and Brief a Partner from Teal Packaging: 50-unit standard MOQ (100+ units for specialty rigid boxes), 2-5 business day delivery in the US (express and economy options available), free design help included on every order, free generic sample kit ($19.99 shipping, credited toward your first order). Standard production runs from about 7 business days after digital proof approval; complex or high-volume orders take longer.
Materials and certifications: FSC-certified paper stock, soy-based inks, kraft / corrugated / rigid paperboard / mylar / tin / vinyl substrates.
Contact Teal Packaging: Call (224) 546-8325, email info@tealpackaging.com, or request a free quote at tealpackaging.com/contact-us. We reply within one business day.
Updated July 30, 2026 · Teal Packaging operates a US facility in West Chicago, Illinois.
What is pick and pack fulfillment?
Pick and pack fulfillment is a paid warehouse service: a provider stores your inventory, pulls (picks) the items each order calls for, packs them to an agreed standard, and ships the parcel. It is quoted from your order profile, meaning order volume, items per order, and packing spec, not from a flat price list.
This guide covers the buyer's side: what a pick actually is, how single-item and multi-item orders quote differently, when to pre-kit, what standards to require, and how to brief a partner. For how Teal Packaging runs the loop itself, order by order from West Chicago, Illinois, see the pick, pack and ship service page.
What counts as a pick, and why does it drive the quote?
A pick is one retrieval of one SKU line from storage for one order. Most providers charge a base fee per order that covers the first pick, then a smaller fee for every additional pick in the same order. That makes your average picks per order the single number that moves a pick and pack quote the most.
Picks count SKU lines, not always units: an order for one candle is one pick, while an order for a candle, a matchbox, and a greeting card is three picks from three storage locations. Before you request quotes, pull your recent order history and work out two numbers: average picks per order, and the share of orders that are single-item. Every serious provider will ask for them, and any quote produced without them will not survive contact with your real orders.
Single-item vs multi-item orders: how does each quote?
Single-item orders are usually the least expensive profile to fulfill, because each order is one pick into one known box. Multi-item orders stack additional-pick fees, take longer at the packing bench, and widen the room for error, so providers price them higher per order.
| Order profile | Picks per order | Packing work | Quoting implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single SKU, single unit | One | One known box, fastest at the bench | Base order fee only; simplest to quote |
| Single SKU, multiple units | One line, several units | One location, count check needed | Some providers bill per unit beyond the first |
| Multi-SKU order | One per SKU line | Multiple locations, insert order matters | Additional-pick fees stack per line |
| Kitted order | One (the kit is one SKU) | Pre-assembled unit, standard box | Per-order cost drops; cost shifts to the kitting run |
Tell every candidate provider your split rather than letting them assume one. A catalog dominated by single-item orders quotes very differently from one where multi-line gift orders are the norm.
Should orders be kitted in advance or picked loose?
Pre-kit when most orders contain the same combination of items; pick loose when combinations vary order to order. Kitting assembles a recurring combination into one new SKU ahead of time, which turns what would be several picks into one and standardizes the packing spec.
The trade is flexibility: a kitted unit only fits orders that match it, so a catalog with unpredictable mixes belongs loose. Scale matters too. Large 3PLs tend to batch assembly work, so a run of a few dozen kits can price awkwardly or be turned away entirely; ask how small runs are handled before you commit rather than after. Teal runs kitting and assembly and pick and pack out of its West Chicago, Illinois fulfillment center and scopes both per project, so one vendor handles the packaging and the assembly. That suits subscription cycles and small recurring kit programs alike.
How is pick and pack fulfillment quoted?
A complete pick and pack quote itemizes every fee category, mapped to the order profile you supplied. If a quote arrives as one blended number, ask for the breakdown before comparing it to anything.
- Receiving: checking in your inbound inventory.
- Storage: ongoing fees for the space your SKUs occupy.
- Order and pick fees: the per-order base plus additional-pick charges described above.
- Packing materials: boxes, mailers, void fill, tape, inserts, and who supplies each.
- Kitting and special projects: assembly runs, relabeling, and any hand work outside standard packing.
- Outbound shipping: carrier charges, usually the largest line on the bill.
- Platform and onboarding fees: software, integration, and setup charges some providers add.
Expect to push for specifics. Many fulfillment providers publish no dollar pricing at all, and some layer software, onboarding, or monthly minimum charges on top of the per-order fees, none of which surface until the custom quote lands. That does not make a provider wrong for you, but all of it belongs in writing before you commit: ask whether a monthly minimum applies, what triggers it, and which lines are platform charges rather than warehouse work. Teal quotes pick and pack per project from your brief; the fulfillment pricing guide walks through what drives the number.
What accuracy and packing standards should you require?
Put the packing spec in writing and make the provider explain how picks are verified. Accuracy claims are easy to make and hard to audit, so ask about mechanics instead of percentages.
- Pick verification: how does the provider confirm the right item and count left the shelf, and is every order checked or only a sample?
- Packing spec: which box each order type uses, the insert order, the void fill, and how deviations get caught.
- Mispick remediation: who pays to reship a wrong order, and how quickly the replacement goes out.
- Custom packaging handling: how your branded boxes are stored, counted, and billed.
That last point deserves its own line in your brief. A 3PL that does not supply packaging treats your branded box as merchant-supplied inventory, which usually means separate handling lines on the bill and a second vendor to chase whenever box stock runs low or a size changes. Ask how merchant-supplied packaging is counted, replenished, and billed. Teal Packaging is a US-based packaging supplier that also runs fulfillment, out of its West Chicago fulfillment center, so one vendor supplies the branded box and packs the orders in it rather than a printer plus a separate 3PL.
How do you brief a pick and pack partner?
A strong brief gets you a quote that holds. Send these six things to every candidate:
- SKU list: every product with dimensions, weight, and fragility notes.
- Order profile: orders per month, average picks per order, single-item share, and seasonal peaks.
- Packing spec: which box or mailer each order type ships in, plus inserts and protective fill. If the packaging does not exist yet, Teal designs and supplies it with free dieline design, from a 50-unit minimum (specialty rigid from 100) and from $0.44 per unit at volume.
- Inbound plan: when stock arrives, from where, and in what condition.
- Channels and destinations: which stores or lists orders come from and where parcels go.
- Standards: your expectations for pick verification, mispick remediation, and dispatch turnaround.
In return, expect an itemized quote mapped to that profile, named fee lines, and clear answers on minimums and surcharges. Request a quote with your brief and Teal will scope the fulfillment and the packaging together.
Where this fits in Teal's fulfillment services
This page is the buyer's guide; the pick, pack and ship service page shows how Teal actually runs the loop, and the custom packaging fulfillment overview covers the full store, kit, pack, and ship offering. If you are early stage or low volume, small business order fulfillment explains how smaller order profiles are scoped, and startup welcome kits is a worked example of a kitted program where Teal supplies the printed boxes and ships each kit to a recipient list.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pick fee in fulfillment?
A pick fee is the charge for retrieving one SKU line from storage for one order. Most providers include the first pick in a base per-order fee and bill each additional pick separately, so multi-item orders cost more to fulfill than single-item orders. Your average picks per order is the biggest lever on a pick and pack quote.
Why do most pick and pack providers not publish pricing?
Because the cost depends on your order profile: SKU count, picks per order, storage footprint, packing materials, and destinations. Providers quote from that profile rather than a price list, and some add platform, onboarding, or monthly minimum charges that only surface in the custom quote. Treat quotes as comparable only once every fee line, minimum, and surcharge is itemized in writing.
Do 3PLs charge extra to pack orders in custom branded packaging?
Often, yes. A 3PL that does not supply packaging treats your branded boxes as merchant-supplied inventory, so storing, counting, and handling them can appear as separate lines on the bill. Ask for those lines in writing before you sign. Teal is a packaging supplier that also runs pick and pack, out of its West Chicago fulfillment center, so one vendor supplies the branded box and ships the orders in it.
Should I pre-kit my products or have them picked loose?
Pre-kit when most orders repeat the same combination: kitting turns several picks into one and standardizes packing. Pick loose when order contents vary. Ask how small kitting runs are priced before committing, since large 3PLs tend to batch assembly work and a run of a few dozen kits can price awkwardly. Teal scopes kitting and pick and pack together, per project.
What should a pick and pack fulfillment brief include?
Six things: a SKU list with dimensions and weights, your order profile (volume, picks per order, single-item share, peaks), the packing spec per order type, your inbound inventory plan, your channels and destinations, and your standards for verification and mispick remediation. A provider that quotes confidently without asking for most of this is guessing.
