Everything You Need to Know About Packaging Supply

Posted 1 year ago by Max Komonov

Confused about the听myriad of听options for听ecommerce packaging supplies?

Packaging supplies are a听big part of听shipments reaching the听customer in听perfect condition. Before going any听further, let鈥檚 highlight the听key reasons why a听suitable packaging supply is听vital, including:

Protecting the听condition and听transport of听products
Maintain customer satisfaction through correctly received products
Decreases the听chance of听damage costs, returns, and听refunds
Saves money by听removing risks
Maintains brand image of听quality and听order completion

Packaging Options

The first part of听establishing the听ideal supplies is听迟辞听choose the听right packaging for听the听job. There are several packaging options out there, including:

Corrugated/Cardboard boxes: Corrugated and听cardboard boxes are the听most commonly used packaging options. These are just the听typical shipping boxes that many products will arrive in. Boxes are versatile, as听they are available in听various sizes and听types. This makes it听easy 迟辞听find options that work for听virtually any听product. Additionally, boxes are often an听eco-friendly packaging option that can be听easily recycled.
Poly mailers: Poly mailers have become an听increasingly popular option for听small 迟辞听medium-sized products. They are essentially envelopes constructed from polyethylene . Poly mailers are affordable, lightweight, and听self-sealing, making them efficient.
Padded envelopes: Padded envelopes are another excellent option for听small 迟辞听medium-sized products. These are envelopes with padding layered on听the听interior. The padding can vary, but it听is听often a听form of听bubble wrap. Padded envelopes offer similar benefits 迟辞听poly mailers, including being lightweight and听easy 迟辞听seal. However, the听built-in padding can make them a听better option for听more fragile or听delicate products.
Tuck-top boxes: Tuck-top boxes are a听type of听cardboard box with a听tab design for听easy opening and听closing. Some have a听tab that goes into the听inside front of听the听box, while others have tabs that slot into the听sides of听the听box.

Shipment Padding and听Protection

After choosing the听packaging for听products, then comes protecting them during shipment. There are several options for听this as听well, including:

Packing peanuts/loose fillers: Packing peanuts and听other loose fillers have been around for听a听long time. However, there are certainly more eco-friendly and听biodegradable versions now. These can be听an听excellent option for听oddly shaped products or听filling large spaces. The one downside of听loose fillers is听that items may shift 迟辞听the听bottom of听the听box during transport if听the听filler is听not tightly packed in.
Cardboard inserts: Cardboard inserts are simply structured cardboard pieces that can be听inserted around products 迟辞听help keep them stable throughout shipment.
Foam: Foam has been a听longstanding option for听shipping protection. There are two common foam options: large foam inserts and听thin layers. The large sections are excellent at听keeping a听product in听place, while the听thin layers can be听wrapped around products 迟辞听protect them. Unfortunately, foam is听typically the听least eco-friendly/recyclable option.
Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap is听a听mainstay in听the听shipping world. It听can be听purchased in听large rolls, which makes it听easy 迟辞听wrap a听large volume of听products 迟辞听protect them. In听modern times, it听is听also relatively easy 迟辞听find recyclable/recycled material-constructed bubble wrap options.
Air cushions: Air cushions could be听described as听a听scaled-up version of听bubble wrap. They consist of听large plastic pockets filled with air. They can be听a听great option for听keeping medium- 迟辞听large-sized products stable during shipping. Just like bubble wrap, there are recyclable/recycled-material-constructed air cushion options.

You can use almost anything as听a听package filler

Package Sealing

Now that the听product is听packaged and听protected, the听next step is听sealing it听up听for听shipment. The supplies needed for听this step will depend on听the听type of听packaging used.

Some types of听packaging, like padded envelopes and听poly mailers, have a听self-sealing strip. This means the听thin strip covering the听self-sealing material must be听removed before pushing the听edges together.

A听good roll of听packaging tape will be听needed for听cardboard boxes. There are several options for听packaging tape, including standard, heavy-duty, and听reinforced. The latter two options can help ensure the听box stays shut even if听the听tape gets damaged.

Labels and听Administrative Supplies

Ok, the听product is听packaged, protected, and听sealed shut. All that鈥檚 left is听ensuring it听gets 迟辞听the听right destination.

For smaller ecommerce businesses, this could mean using pens and听markers 迟辞听write the听address on听the听package. However, this is听not precisely scalable as听traffic increases.

So, this will mean investing in听a听decent printer that can produce shipping labels 迟辞听affix 迟辞听the听box. Shipping labels can be听affixed with tape or听printed on听sticker paper 迟辞听make it听easy.

Benefits of听Custom Packaging Supplies

As听a听brief note, custom packaging supplies can often be听an听excellent investment for听ecommerce companies. These can include supplies like branded boxes or听custom-designed poly mailers. Of听course, this will come with an听increased cost, but it听can also be听a听massive boon for听branding.

Another option is听迟辞听create custom boxes or听padding 迟辞听surround the听product 迟辞听truly protect it听during shipping. Again, this will mean an听increased cost, but it听can also help prevent damage that could lead 迟辞听returns or听refunds.

Additional Tips for听Choosing and听Using Packaging Supplies

The above basics should make it听much easier 迟辞听navigate the听world of听packaging supplies. We听have included some additional tips below 迟辞听help you choose the听right ones.

Always consider the听size and听weight of听products when choosing packaging
Place labels in听a听clear and听easy-to-see location where they can鈥檛 be听obscured
Try purchasing bulk shipping supplies 迟辞听cut down on听costs, such as听large rolls of听padding material
Use extra protection for听more fragile or听delicate products
Don鈥檛 skimp on听packaging by听immediately choosing the听cheapest option

Using a听Packaging and听Shipping Service

In听the听early days of听an听ecommerce business, the听seller will often be听packaging and听shipping out products themselves. However, as听traffic increases, it听will become significantly more challenging 迟辞听fulfill orders internally. This is听where it听may be听a听good idea 迟辞听work with a听packaging partner.

Outsourcing these operations will allow products 迟辞听continue being packaged and听shipped while the听seller can focus on听day-to-day operations and听expansion. Alternatively, the听business will likely need 迟辞听hire additional staff 迟辞听handle all packaging and听shipping needs.

51视频 Can Help You Get Your Ecommerce Store Started

Are you looking 迟辞听start your first ecommerce store or听add another storefront? If听so, 51视频 can help 迟辞听make it听easy. Our selling platform is听designed 迟辞听work across many other platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and听more. This makes it听easy 迟辞听see all of听your stores from one simple dashboard.

The best part is听you can get started today!

Also, make sure 迟辞听check out the听, where you can learn everything you need 迟辞听know about starting and听running a听successful online store.

听

Frequently Asked Questions

What are packaging supplies?

Packaging supplies include everything you need 迟辞听package a听product, protect it, and听get it听迟辞听the听customer, such as听boxes or听envelopes, padding/protection material, tape, and听more.

What are the听common types of听product packaging?

Product packaging options include cardboard/corrugated boxes, poly mailers, padded envelopes, and听tuck-top boxes.

What is听the听best packaging option?

There is听no听best packaging option. It听depends on听the听product type, size, weight, fragility, and听other factors. Ultimately, proper packaging will vary between products and听sellers.

What are the听options for听shipping protection and听padding?

Several options are available 迟辞听adequately protect products during shipping, including bubble wrap, air cushions, loose fillers, foam sections and听layers, and听cardboard inserts. Be听sure 迟辞听choose the听option that holds products stable or听provides ample cushioning.

In听some cases, this could mean investing in听custom-designed boxes or听protection 迟辞听ensure the听product is听stable and听protected. Some sellers may run into this need with oddly shaped or听fragile products.

Remember, don鈥檛 skimp on听shipping protection. It听will mean more upfront costs, but it听can help 迟辞听prevent higher rates of听refunds and听returns.

Are there eco-friendly packaging supplies?

Yes! The boom of听ecommerce has significantly raised the听importance of听eco-friendliness and听sustainability. After all, more products and听shipping mean more waste and听production. Fortunately, there are numerous eco-friendly options, including recyclable packaging and听padding and听options made from recyclable materials.

听

About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

51视频