The Markhor Shoe Box

A product plays an important role in the customer’s journey with a brand, but it is the packaging of the product that marks the beginning of the experience for the customer. The packaging is what the customer sees and feels before he gets to the product. It creates and sets the mood for the customer and prepares him for the product ahead. But not just that. The packaging keeps the product safe and secure till it reaches the customer. 

The Markhor shoe box is as important to us as the shoes themselves. It is the box in which our footwear is packed and delivered every time a customer orders a pair. It is constructed out of craft paper made from recycled cardboard material, which can be upcycled. We believe in sustainability and protecting the environment, and this is how we’re playing our little part in it. 

Every pair we make and ship is with the help of our incredible team and craftsmen, but also credited to our amazing suppliers, who supply us with the materials and assistance we require to create the ideal customer experience. 

Our shoe box supplier is Wasif Chaudhry, who we have been working with since the very beginning. We decided to sit down with him and get to know his work a little better. 

Tell us a bit about your business and the kind of work you do.

I own a packaging facility, which has its own in-house printing press. I started working in this field in 2000. Our main specialisation is making shoe boxes. We sell both locally and export to many places in Europe. 

How did you get into this line of work?

Our family business was in tin packaging and printing. Food packaging mainly, of oil and Ghee tins. But then there was a decline in this side of the business. So I shifted work and started working on shoe box packaging. 

What would you say is your biggest strength, working in this sector?

Dealing with each client fairly and providing them with the help and guidance they need to make the right packaging for their products. I don’t show or recommend a brand’s design to another brand. I maintain the confidentiality rights of each brand. This results in the clients wanting to work with me on a long term basis. If they are willing to pay, I am willing to provide them with the materials and design they require. 

How do you manage your entire unit? 

I have designated every department to a supervisor, who has been trained in the specific skill and department. I’m planning to improve the overall unit and the strategies with which it is being run.

Do you think there is a market for shoe boxes in Pakistan? 

As long as there is a market for shoes, there is a market for shoe boxes. Pakistan’s footwear industry is growing and when the local economy grows, our business grows. We are meeting international standards, working with many different kinds of brands, small-scale and large-scale. With my 20-year experience, I guide them in a way that they’re fully satisfied with their needs and requests. 

How has it been working with Markhor? 

I remember when Sidra came to me in the initial days of Markhor. We sat down together and worked for hours on how the packaging should be, what it should look like, the material to be used, the colour, everything. And 6 years down the lane, we are still working with Markhor and even today, customers and clients are fascinated by the Markhor shoe box.  

They wanted to box to be super strong, unbreakable even! Because the box isn’t just about aesthetics and must keep the product safe till it reaches the customer. We tested it by making one of the team members stand on the box and jump on it. Nothing happened to the box! *laughs*

What is the difference between the Markhor box and other boxes you make? 

Markhor has worked really hard in designing and creating their box. Lots of research went into the process, looking into numerous options, putting time and attention into making the right box. And the result is in front of you. 

Are brands now moving towards a greener future and more environmental friendly practices? 

They are. Speaking for my own unit, we use recyclable paper in the shoe boxes we make. We use organic cornstarch-based adhesive in the boxes we export. The mills that we acquire our paper from, they have the certification of recycling and environment protection. They plant a tree for every kilogram of wood pulp they use in the making of the paper.