The Fillmore Container Checklist: How to Order Packaging That Actually Fits Your Product

I'm the quality and brand compliance manager for a small-batch craft beverage company. My job is to make sure everything that goes out the door—from the liquid inside to the label on the bottle—meets our standards. I review every single packaging component before it hits the production line. Last year alone, that was over 150 unique SKUs. And I’ve had to reject first deliveries more times than I care to admit, usually because of a mismatch between what we *thought* we ordered and what we actually needed.

The conventional wisdom is to just pick a container you like from a supplier's catalog. In practice, especially with companies like Fillmore Container that offer a ton of options, that’s a surefire way to waste money and time. It took me about two years and a few expensive mistakes to build a foolproof process. This checklist is that process. If you're ordering glass jars, bottles, or any container for your product, follow these steps. It’ll save you from the headache of receiving 5,000 units that don't work.

Who This Checklist Is For (And When to Use It)

Use this if you're:

• A food, beverage, cosmetic, or craft producer sourcing containers.
• Placing an order, especially a first order or a trial run, with a bulk supplier like Fillmore Container.
• Feeling overwhelmed by all the options (amber glass vs. clear? 38-400 vs. 38-415 lid?).

This isn't about finding the absolute cheapest option. It's about getting the *right* option the first time, which is seriously the most cost-effective move in the long run. There are 5 key steps.

Step 1: Define Your Non-Negotiables (Before You Even Browse)

Don't look at pictures yet. Grab a notebook and answer these questions:

• Product Compatibility: Is your product oily, acidic, alcoholic, or water-based? This dictates material (e.g., certain plastics can leach). For food, I always verify the container is FDA-compliant for my specific application—don't just assume.
• Closure Type: How will it be sealed? Screw cap, cork, pump, dropper? The container's finish (the threaded part) must match exactly. A “38 mm” finish isn't enough; there are different thread patterns (e.g., continuous thread vs. lug).
• Processing Needs: Will the filled container be heat-pasteurized, frozen, or shipped in variable temperatures? The glass type or plastic grade needs to withstand that.

The step most people skip: Call out your assumptions. I once assumed "amber glass" was standard for all light-sensitive products. Didn't verify. Turned out the specific amber grade we chose didn't block the precise UV wavelength that degraded our ingredient. We learned to always ask for the UV transmission specs.

Step 2: Measure Twice, Order Once – The “Fit” Check

This is where you avoid the classic “lid doesn’t fit” disaster. You need three measurements, and the supplier's website should list them all:

1. Finish Diameter: The opening where the cap goes (e.g., 38mm, 58mm). This is your most critical number.
2. Overall Height & Width/Diameter: Will it fit on your shelf? In your shipping box? On your filling line? I once ordered beautiful bottles that were 2mm too tall for our standard carton—a super expensive lesson in custom packaging.
3. Volume Capacity: Know the difference between total volume (the bottle's full size) and fill volume (how much product it holds, leaving headspace). If you need to put 8 oz of product in a bottle, don't order an 8 oz total volume bottle.

Pro Tip: If you can, order physical samples. The $20-50 sample fee is way cheaper than a wrong bulk order. Fill it with your actual product, seal it, turn it upside down, and let it sit. Does it leak? Does the label adhere well? Does it look and feel right?

Step 3: Decode the Pricing & Logistics Fine Print

Here’s something vendors won’t always highlight: the unit price is only part of the cost. When evaluating options on Fillmore Container or any B2B site, clarify these points:

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): Is it by unit, by case, or by pallet? For small batches, a case MOQ is friendlier than a pallet MOQ.
• Bulk Discount Tiers: How much does the price drop at 500, 1,000, 5,000 units? Sometimes jumping to the next tier saves more than coupon codes.
• Shipping & Handling: Glass is heavy and fragile. Get a freight quote to your location before finalizing. A low unit price with $400 shipping might lose to a slightly higher price with free shipping over a certain amount.

To be fair, most B2B container sites, including Fillmore, are pretty transparent here. But I always do the math on total landed cost per unit: (Unit Price + Shipping Cost + Any Packaging Fees) / Total Units.

Step 4: Validate for Your Brand & Customer Experience

You’ve found a container that fits and is affordable. Now, view it through your customer's eyes.

• Labeling Surface: Is the glass smooth or textured? Is there a “label panel”? Test your label material on the sample.
• Functionality: Can the average person open and close it easily? Is the dispensing method (like a shaker top) intuitive?
• “Shelf Presence” Test: Line up sample options next to each other. Which looks more premium? I ran a blind test with our team: same product in two similar bottles. 80% picked the one with slightly thicker glass as “higher quality,” even though the cost difference was only about $0.12 per unit.

Granted, this feels subjective. But for a craft brand, perception is a huge part of the product. That small cost increase can be a total game-changer for perceived value.

Step 5: The Pre-Order Verification Call

Don’t just click “Checkout.” Pick up the phone or start a live chat. Use this script:

1. “I’m about to order [Quantity] of [Product SKU]. Can you confirm this has a [Your Specific Finish, e.g., 38-400 continuous thread] finish?”
2. “Can you verify current lead time and that all items are in stock for this order?”
3. “Are there any current promotions or discount codes (like ‘FILLMORE10’) I should apply?”

This 5-minute call has caught mismatches between website descriptions and warehouse stock lists for me twice. It also builds a relationship. When I was starting out with $200 orders, the vendors who took these calls seriously are the ones I still use for $20,000 orders today. Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential.

Common Pitfalls & Final Notes

Pitfall 1: Forgetting about closures. The container is useless without the right lid. Always source them together from the same supplier if possible, to guarantee compatibility.

Pitfall 2: Ignoring secondary packaging. How will you ship 12 bottles to a customer? Make sure your container fits standard partition boxes or that you’ve sourced those as well.

Pitfall 3: Not planning for growth. Is this container readily available, or is it a closeout item? You don’t want to rebrand because your unique bottle was discontinued.

Bottom line: Treat your container not just as a vessel, but as a critical component of your product. Specifying it carefully using this checklist is one of the highest-ROI activities for a small producer. It turns a risky purchase into a predictable, brand-enhancing investment.

Prices and promotions mentioned (like "FILLMORE10") are for illustrative purposes based on common industry practices; verify current offers and specifications directly with Fillmore Container or your chosen supplier before ordering.