“Good packaging protects the product, great packaging protects the brand”
Nothing is worse than receiving a product that has already been damaged during the shipping process. Proper packaging is one of the most basic yet critical aspects for any eCommerce business. According to Sterling Anthony, a packaging and logistics consultant based in Detroit “Packaging is a very inexpensive type of insurance. … It's a very worthwhile investment.”
Traditionally the old pathway of conducting an eCommerce business included a distribution channel that would deliver to the grocery/drug store or other retail outlets. Primary containers such as bottles were typically placed into partitioned shippers whereas other products like over-the-counter pharmaceuticals bottles were placed into folding cartons and shippers. Right from corrugated shippers to partitions, folding cartons, all played an important role in delivering a product. Today, with the continuous evolution of eCommerce is dramatically impacting how products are being delivered. Which also means that packagers need to rethink their packaging choices. For example, these days’ consumers have started ordering single units so that providers can put each product in a small case with protective packaging.
As a result, brand owners need to consider each and every aspect of their package for suitability for eCommerce distribution. For instance, if you are shipping a liquid, are you using an induction seal or will a foam liner do a better job of minimizing back-off and preventing leakers?
Down below I would like to mention few pointers to take into account before choosing protective packaging.
Product matters the most
No matter how obvious it may sound, but it is very important to think about your product and what protective packaging is necessary to safely ship. To get an appropriate answer, ask yourself certain questions:
- What are you shipping?
- Are there multiple items in the carton that must be separated to avoid damage if they were to collide with each other?
- Is the product fragile?
- Is it oddly shaped and requires custom packaging?
- Is it rugged yet has a delicate surface (a painted surface that is easily scratched?
- Will your product be damaged if it shifts or is accidentally dropped during shipping?
How is the product being shipped?
As an eCommerce businessman, it is very important for you to know the full cycle of your product that is from the time your product leaves your facility to the time it reaches your customer’s hands. Why I am saying this is because in case your product is being shipped to the final destination then chances are there that it may not require much cushioning but if the product is being shipped through courier then there are high chances of product damage if not packed properly. To add more complication your product might be shipped to its first destination on a full pallet, then to its next destination via courier- be careful to understand the entire excursion, this is often overlooked.
Understand the requirements
Cost effective package for my product- Figuring out the exact amount of how much packaging is required without going overboard or wasting money/ materials is insanely tricky. Let’s take an example of a book retailer who wants a standard size of the box to ship orders. He doesn’t care whether he has to ship only one or two books but having a huge box cannot act as a cost-effective solution. In fact, choosing proper internal protective packaging to ensure smaller orders using the same box were delivered unharmed can be considered as a wise decision.
Do customers judge on the basis of packaging? Well, no matter how recyclable or environmental friendly you are, your customers will have their own thoughts. So always go for cost-effective options. And if still, you are opting for recyclable, environmentally friendly or recycled packaging supplies, just make sure you promote your point in front of your valuable customers.
Meeting a packaging specialists can work wonders
If you think that protective packaging is all about choosing a box to package your product then you are completely mistaken. It’s way beyond choosing a box to package. All you need to do is choose a reliable company that has gone to a lot of effort to make its services as convenient as possible.