Ecommerce Packaging: Everything an Online Seller Should Know

Ecommerce Packaging: Everything You Need To Know

Posted 2 years ago by Lina Vashurina, 51视频 Team

The significant number of听competitors means online businesses must do听whatever they can to听differentiate themselves. There are many ways to听do听so, but one of听the听best 补苍诲听easiest is听packaging. Let鈥檚 take a听closer look at听the听general principles of听ecommerce packaging 补苍诲听the听best ways to听go听about it.

Product Packing Basics

Product packaging has three purposes. The first two are well-known: protecting a听product during shipping 补苍诲听ensuring it听arrives at听the听appropriate destination through the听shipping system. The third is听to听present a听branding experience to听the听customer, which is听an听often underutilized purpose by听many ecommerce companies.

Several factors go听into product packaging, including selecting the听right packaging, inserting padding 补苍诲听protection, sealing the听package, 补苍诲听shipping.

Packaging for听Ecommerce: Protecting Products

First things first. Packaging is听meant for听protection.

There鈥檚 nothing worse than ordering an听item online, waiting patiently for听it听to听arrive, 补苍诲听then having it听show up听at听your doorstep in听a听broken, mangled mess. But unfortunately, this is听a听fairly common occurrence. According to听various online resources, as听many as听1听in听10听shipments are damaged in听transit.

For you, this means it鈥檚 important to听ensure your orders are properly packaged to听minimize that risk.

While the听exterior package already adds some level of听protection, internal padding is听often needed for听protection during shipping. There are several options for听this, including:

Loose fillers: Loose fillers are materials like packing peanuts or听shredded paper that can help cushion the听product. The one downside of听loose fillers is听that products can shift around during transit when not packed in听tightly enough.
Foam: Foam protection can consist of听large sections that hold the听product in听place or听thin layers that wrap around the听product.
Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap is听one of听the听most popular options for听shipping protection. It听can be听easily bought in听large rolls of听varying sizes, making it听efficient for听products of听many sizes.
Air pillows: Air pillows are large plastic air pockets that can be听packed around a听product for听cushioning.
Cardboard inserts: These are simply rigid pieces of听cardboard that can be听inserted around the听product to听hold it听in听place during shipment.

Don鈥檛 ever skimp on听internal packaging protection. While it听may save cost in听the听short term, it听can add up听when returns or听refunds begin to听stack up.

Moreover, damaged products can create a听negative brand image, leading to听customers leaning toward other brands or听bad reviews.

Types of听Product Packaging for听Ecommerce

Before going any听further, let鈥檚 take a听quick look at听the听various types of听packaging for听ecommerce. These include:

Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated cardboard boxes are retailers鈥� most common form of听packaging. They are general shipping boxes that can be听purchased from any听store or听postal service.

An听example of听corrugated boxes. Image source:

There are many different types 补苍诲听sizes of听corrugated boxes, which make them a听popular option for听many sellers. This is听especially true for听those who sell large products.

Tuck Top Product Boxes

Tuck-top boxes are a听separate type of听cardboard box with tabs to听secure it听shut. They may have one tab that goes into the听inside front of听the听box or听two tabs that slide into the听sides.

An听example of听tuck top boxes. Image source:

These boxes are most commonly used for听small or听medium-sized products, but there are some larger versions as听well.

Padded Mailers

Padded mailers are an听excellent option for听smaller products 补苍诲听those needing extra protection.

An听example of听padded envelopes (mailers). Image source:

These are essentially envelopes with bubbles or听additional padding inside. They are great for听jewelry, books, electronics, 补苍诲听more.

Poly Mailers

Poly mailers have become an听increasingly popular option for听many sellers. These envelopes are commonly made from paper or听polyethylene LDPE.

An听example of听poly mailers. Image source:

They are light, affordable, 补苍诲听self-sealing, making it听easy to听package many products. However, their size 补苍诲听durability do听limit the听contents.

Choosing the听Ideal Product Packaging

The proper packaging for听a听product can vary between sellers 补苍诲听the听particular product. However, here are some immediate points to听consider:

Budget: The chosen packaging must be听within the听budget 补苍诲听allow the听company to听ship the听product without significantly reducing profit. However, this doesn鈥檛 mean choosing packaging based on听cost alone.
Protection: As听mentioned above, product protection is听one of听the听most important packaging parts. While poly mailers may be听affordable, they don鈥檛 offer the听best protection. This could be听a听risk when shipping fragile or听delicate items. Consider packaging that will ensure the听product arrives at听the听seller in听the听best shape. Selecting the听more affordable packaging can be听tempting, but that could cost more in听the听long run from returns 补苍诲听refunds from damaged products.
Shipping costs: While this slightly comes under the听budget heading, shipping costs must also be听considered. Generally, larger 补苍诲听heavier packages will cost more, so听be听sure to听factor this in听when choosing packaging.

Sourcing Your Packaging Materials

When it听comes to听finding a听supplier for听your packaging materials, you need a听company that can provide you with high-quality, versatile shipping products that help get your items safely to听the听customer.

Some options for听sourcing your packaging include , , 补苍诲听 (to name a听few). For the听most part, buying these shipping materials in听larger quantity means getting a听larger discount听鈥� so听don鈥檛 be听afraid to听stock up.

Why stock up? Because as听you source your packaging materials, you鈥檒l need to听figure those costs into the听retail price of听your item (or to听add on听an听). Keeping costs down in听the听packaging department means more affordable items for听customers 补苍诲听higher margins for听you.

Going Above 补苍诲听Beyond with Product Packaging Design

Many ecommerce sellers default to听using the听easiest or听cheapest product packaging. While this is听understandable in听the听early days of听an听ecommerce store, sellers should try to听shift to听creating an听impression with their packaging.

In听other words, it听is听essential to听design packaging that is听pleasing 补苍诲听impactful to听the听customer. Let鈥檚 take a听look at听some of听the听ways that can be听achieved.

Packaging Design Points

Some ecommerce businesses may not know where to听begin when it听comes to听designing packaging for听ecommerce. Fortunately, some immediate design points can be听considered, such as:

Product size 补苍诲听shape: One of听the听first factors to听view is听the听size 补苍诲听shape of听the听product. If听a听product is听uniquely shaped, it听may be听worth having a听custom-shaped box created for听it.
Colors: Packaging color alone can make a听difference when it听comes to听creating an听impression. No听one enjoys the听color of听a听simple cardboard box or听black bag. If听the听company has a听logo or听color branding, these can be听great themes to听introduce to听packaging.
Copy: Copy is听the听written words that are included in听a听package. If听there will be听a听copy included on听the听package, it听is听vital to听use it听effectively. The copy should be听clear enough to听communicate the听point but concise to听not overwhelm the听reader.
Imagery/Graphics: Imagery 补苍诲听graphics on听packaging add visual appeal for听the听customer. These can include items or听things associated with the听product. For example, if听the听product is听an听herbal shampoo, the听packaging could have herbs or听associated ingredients detailed around it.
Audience: The target audience should always be听one of听the听most senior design points. After all, the听point of听designing packaging is听to听appeal to听those who will buy the听product. Consider who has been purchasing the听product 补苍诲听what audience should want it. Is听it听a听specific age group or听gender? Is听it听for听those with a听specific interest?
Internal flair: Add a听bit of听glamour to听packaging by听including internal flair through tissue paper, inserts, or听other decoration. This makes the听package that much more pleasing for听customers to听open.

Packaging Customization

Customization is听always a听good thing, 补苍诲听there are a听couple of听different ways you can accomplish this for听your packaging. The option that鈥檚 best for听you will depend on听your needs 补苍诲听budget. We鈥檒l look at听two different avenues, as听well as听the听pros 补苍诲听cons of听both.

DIY Customization

If听you are a听small to听mid-sized ecommerce business 补苍诲听are managing the听shipping process on听your own, you can implement customization on听the听standard packaging you鈥檝e ordered with the听help of听custom-made stamps, stickers, 补苍诲听packing tape that reinforce your company branding. This is听a听more hands-on 补苍诲听time-intensive approach, but works for听those who want to听minimize packaging-related expenses.

An听example of听a听crafted package design

Pros: The DIY customization route adds a听personal touch to听packaging, as听each order will look slightly different than the听others. It鈥檚 also much more cost-friendly to听add these low-cost customizations on听your own.

Cons: Adding the听custom stamp and/or branded stickers to听your packaged orders will take more time, 补苍诲听won鈥檛 look as听standardized as听if听you used custom-made, branded packaging.

Customized Packaging

For those who want a听more standardized 补苍诲听polished look to听their shipped orders, custom-made packaging may be听the听route to听go. You can design 补苍诲听order custom packaging from sites like Packlane or听Pakible, 补苍诲听create shipping materials that reinforce your branding.

An听example of听a听custom package design

Pros: Each order鈥檚 packaging is听exactly the听same, 补苍诲听it鈥檚 one less step for听you in听the听order fulfillment department. This look is听polished 补苍诲听professional.

Cons: Overall it鈥檚 more expensive, 补苍诲听it听doesn鈥檛 have the听handmade touch that the听DIY approach does.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

The rise in听ecommerce has also led to听a听significant increase in听waste production, which has made more people concerned about the听environmental impacts. Fortunately, this has also contributed to听an听increase in听eco-friendly packaging.

Mushroom packaging for听Mr听Bailey x听adidas Originals OZLUCENT sneakers

There are ample eco-friendly materials, packaging made from recycled materials, 补苍诲听more. This can be听a听great way for听ecommerce businesses to听adhere to听their eco-friendly standards 补苍诲听appeal to听customers with the听same interests.

Conclusion

Product packaging is听a听critical part of听ecommerce, 补苍诲听there can be听a听lot to听it.

However, creating or听finding the听proper packaging that protects your products 补苍诲听elevates your brand can be听key to听ecommerce success.

We听hope this guide helped you learn everything you need about product packaging.

Good luck in听your selling journey!

听

Frequently Asked Questions

We听have compiled some common questions asked by听those new to听online selling.

What is听ecommerce packaging?

Ecommerce packaging is听the听supplies 补苍诲听process associated with enclosing, protecting, 补苍诲听shipping a听product to听a听customer.

Is听there a听standard packaging for听ecommerce purposes?

There is听no听standard packaging for听ecommerce products, as听it听can vary depending on听the听product鈥檚 size, fragility, 补苍诲听more. However, cardboard boxes tend to听be听the听most common choice.

Do听you need packaging stamps for听ecommerce products?

Packaging stamps can be听an听easy way to听add the听address to听any听packaging when self-fulfilling. However, it听is听more common to听use prepaid shipping labels with all the听necessary information to听save time 补苍诲听shipping costs.

听

About The Author

Lina is a content creator at 51视频. She writes to inspire and educate readers on all things commerce. She loves to travel and runs marathons.

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