Ecommerce packaging plays an important role in the logistics process of any company. The right choice of materials can help you save money, help your products arrive safely, and keep customers happy with special offers. But the many variations of packaging materials make it difficult to know what’s best for your business. Follow this guide to learn about the nine variations of standard varies in eCommerce packaging & retail, including what they are, how they benefit your eCommerce business, and how to choose the best one for your unique situation.
1) Standard Varies vs. Custom
If you’re working with a product that requires non-standard packaging, like wine or olive oil, you might want to opt for custom packaging. This will allow you to include additional branding elements that set your product apart from competitors. Unfortunately, it can be more expensive than standard varies; however, depending on how often you order and how many different products you sell (each item requiring individual packaging), it could still work out to be less expensive than using random stock boxes or you can go for Quality control in China. For example, let’s say four different bottles of wine require special packaging; each one is 1/4 ounce off-standard size. You would pay $4 per box for an off-the-shelf solution while ordering custom could cost $5 – $10 per box.
2) Size Matters
Since retail locations such as stores and malls don’t offer free shipping, e-retailers have to save on shipping costs so they can charge less for their products. One way they do that is by reusing packaging. But, depending on how often you restock your inventory, there are varying levels of savings to be had by using various types of reusable packaging. So which packaging is best for e-retailers? Here’s a rundown of each type: Reusable Packaging: Comes pre-made with an insert that goes between layers. Allows you to easily get more use out of your boxes without having to spend extra money on new ones every time.
3) Pricing
When it comes to eCommerce packaging, pricing is all about convenience for consumers. You can save money by offering free or reduced-cost shipping options. If you want to save money on retail packaging, consider alternative delivery services like Amazon Locker—or have items shipped directly to customers’ homes. Amazon Prime members love Amazon Lockers because they’re able to order goods and pick them up at their convenience (rather than having goods delivered straight to their homes). For businesses that do use Amazon Lockers, there’s also no upfront cost involved; Amazon pays for shipping costs and handles inventory storage until your customer comes to pick up their purchase. However, Amazon does charge a fee for each delivery (depending on which locker location you use).
4) Color
There’s a reason Amazon’s packaging is so white: It makes products stand out. But a flashy box isn’t necessarily a good one, and it doesn’t always translate to higher sales. In fact, you might be costing yourself money by dressing up every product as if it were a gift from Tiffany. The plain brown paper standard has been around for decades for a reason: It provides cost-effective yet high-quality protection that won’t diminish your brand appeal or confuse shoppers as to what they bought or how much they paid.
5) Weight
Accurately weighing e-commerce packages to avoid surcharges or penalties can be difficult, especially when product weight varies greatly. As a result, there are 9 variations on a standard that differ depending on how much weight is in each package. To properly weigh your e-commerce shipments, you’ll need to determine what method is appropriate for your needs and stick with it throughout your business. Failure to do so could result in unwanted surcharges or penalties from shipping carriers like FedEx or UPS.
6) Material
Choose packaging materials that are cost-effective, or keep it light for ease of shipping. There’s always a trade-off to be made when choosing your retail packaging materials, but if you pay close attention to what you plan on shipping and how much customers will pay for shipping then it becomes easy to figure out which choice is best or you can take help from a pre-shipment Inspection company . For instance, if you’re sending large boxes with multiple pairs of shoes that weigh 15 pounds each, heavy cardboard might not make sense. But if you’re creating packaging for something delicate like glassware or jewelry, super lightweight cardboard is probably out as well. A medium-weight corrugated box might make more sense for these products.