You’ve got a bustling online business that’s getting orders on the regular. That is until people start leaving reviews on Yelp talking about how all of their orders from you have been arriving damaged. Time to go into damage control.
The shipping process can be rough. You’re going to need plenty of protective packaging to keep all of your fragile products safe on their way through it. The good thing is that you have plenty of options for your box stuffers.
To find out what they are so you can start getting your reputation back on track, check out this complete guide.
1. Put it in the Right Box
The first step for keeping your products from breaking is to put them in the right container. It’s a little more complicated than putting your merchandise in any old cardboard box.
It needs to be sturdy and structurally designed with the item in mind. This means that it should be the right size.
Something as small as a book shouldn’t go in the same box a TV would go in for example. It will move around too much resulting in bent up pages.
2. Packing Peanuts
As the name suggests, packing peanuts are little foam pieces that resemble the shape of peanuts. Using them will fill up any empty space in the box and stop the product from shifting around.
So, if the box you’re using is a bit large for the item then packing peanuts will be your go-to box filling. You can also use loose-fill chips for this same purpose.
They’re like packaging peanuts but they dissolve in water after they’ve fulfilled their purpose. This makes them a little more environmentally-friendly.
3. Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a pretty versatile shipping option. You can get bubble bags to place items in. If you can’t find a bubble bag to fit your product then you can get a roll of the stuff and use it to wrap the item in.
Bubble wrap can pop obviously but it takes a lot of force to do so. Shipping would have to get pretty rough to burst enough air bubbles to matter. The only real downside to bubble wrap is that your customers will have more fun with the packaging than the actual product.
4. Packaging Foam
Packaging foam is a great choice for packages because it doesn’t have a definite shape. It can be cut to meet the size proportions of your product. It comes in sheets, egg crates, and rolls.
The item can sit in the foam or it can be wrapped up in it. The only thing that can conform around and protect it even better is custom thermoformed trays.
5. Packing Paper
Packing paper was originally created to wrap around meats and fish but it can work for any item. It’s a little sturdier than the paper that you write on or wrap holiday gifts in.
The only thing to keep in mind with the packing paper is that it can’t stick to the item all by itself. You’ll need to keep a healthy portion of adhesive tape around that can hold the paper in place.
If you’re shipping out glass items like fine china you’ll need to wrap it in a few layers. It may not make it in shipping if you don’t.
6. Paper Cushioning
Getting a paper cushioning machine is one of the best investments that you could make. It creates a nice pillow of paper that can surround your products. Unlike air pillows and bubble wrap, you don’t run the risk of it popping on accident.
It works with boxes and items of all shapes and sizes and paper is recyclable. You’ll get bonus points with your customers for using a green packaging option.
7. Air Cushioning
Air cushioning machines allow you to quickly make air pillows and package your products. You can make pillows of all shapes and sizes so it’s pretty versatile.
You may have to worry about the cushion bursting in transit but, like with bubble wrap, it would take a good deal of force to do it. These machines are a great investment if you don’t have much room to play around with because they’re lightweight and small.
8. Hexcel Paper
Hexcel paper was created as an alternative to plastic packaging options like air cushions and bubble wrap. It has an interlocking design that wraps around your items and holds onto them for dear life. No tape needed.
It’s biodegradable and recyclable so like with packaging paper, you’ll get brownie points with your customers for going green.
9. Shredded Paper
Shredded paper works a little like packing peanuts and loose-fill chips. You put it in the box to fill up extra space so your item can’t move around a bunch in shipping.
The difference between shredded paper and packaging peanuts is that shredded paper is a bit more pleasing to look at. It makes your package look like a gift. It’s also more biodegradable than packaging peanuts so it’s more environmentally friendly but then again, so are the loose-fill chips.
Protective Packaging Options to Keep Your Products Safe
If you send out packages regularly you’re going to have to take measures to make sure your products get to your customer’s houses safely. This is easier said than done considering how rough shipping can get.
Consider some of these protective packaging options to get the job done. Get your products where they need to go and bring in the positive reviews.
Did these tips help you run your online business more efficiently? We have more articles where this one came from. Visit our blog daily for even more great business advice.
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