The subject embodiments are directed to a system to allow an uninterrupted flow of a coil welding wire from one container (102) to another container (104), the coil (106) of welding wire including a coil top (150) and a coil bottom (152). Each container includes at least one vertically extending side wall (156), a closed bottom, a top opening for removing the welding wire and a wire coil receiving cavity within the outer packaging for receiving the wire coil (106), the feeding end (118) and the trailing end (122) being positionable near the top opening. A wire retaining ring (130) is disposed on the coil top (150) in the container (102) and another said container (104), the wire retaining ring (130) includes a slot (134) that extends radially from a center of the coil (106) to allow the trailing end (122) of the coil (106) to be drawn at a location away from the center of the coil.