📦Becoming a Packaging Professional
Learn how to spruce up your packaging and take your shipping game to the next level.
When you place an order for a package, anticipation immediately sets in. When the product finally arrives at your mailroom or doorstep, you are filled with excitement because the product you patiently waited for is finally in your hands. The way a business packages a product adds to the experience of receiving a package, and you as a business owner have the opportunity to make an impact on your customers with your packaging. This article will show you how to be a packaging professional whether you are doing it yourself or outsourcing the process.
Packing Products from Home
Choosing to package your products from your home gives you the ability to harness control over the whole process. There can also be issues with quality, which can impact your business’ ability to build personal relationships with your customer base. With packaging from home, you can often add in personalizations that may not be possible if you choose to outsource.
If keeping the packaging process at your homebase is the most beneficial for you, here are a few tools that can help you level up your packaging
1. Bubble Mailers
These are super lightweight, small, and can be packed with ease and speed. This packing product is perfect for smaller items, but unfortunately bubble mailers are sensitive to crushing though there is a layer of padded protection. So if you have a fragile product, it may be best to steer clear of bubble mailers. Also, bubble mailers are not commonly used for multiple items so if you receive a multi-item order, bubble mailers may not your packaging choice
2. Carton Boxes
These boxes are stronger and are designed to hold heavier objects. Moreover, they are available in multiple sizes, so it can fulfill a multi-item shipment. With this packaging material, you do need to spend a little bit more and it also requires some sort of padding in order to keep your products safe during transport. For padding, you can use paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts.
3. Carton Sizers and Tape Guns
Making sure your box is the right size for your items is also important because it could affect your shipping prices. A carton sizer would be a great tool to invest in so that your items fit snugly and safely in your carton box. There are tons of great YouTube videos out there to watch, such as this one from ULINE, that show you how to use the tool. As you can see in the video, they also use a tape gun to seal the package. You may not think this tool is necessary, but it does apply tape cleanly and it can greatly simplify the packaging process.
4. Label Printers
If shipping from your home is efficient for you and your business, investing in a label printer will be helpful in the long run. Most people are initially hesitant due to high prices, but the payoff is incredible as it will save you time and money as you continue to use it. This is definitely the type of tool you want to have in your corner, especially if you are shipping multiple packages in a day. CommerceNavigator has found the Zebra GX420d to be the most reliable, but there are definitely other brands with label printers that can help you elevate your packaging and shipping.
For links and more helpful information, read our article on general practices for shipping. There, you will find useful charts with service pricing and even links to the tools mentioned above.
Outsourcing the Packaging Process
Outsourcing your packaging process is a great way to improve your company’s efficiency and it is a great way to use expert resources so that you can focus on other tasks for your business. Moreover, when you choose to outsource, it is easier to keep up with the ebbing and flowing demands of customers. Also, outsourcing can sometimes be cheaper than doing it yourself, so if you want to save some time and money, outsourcing the packaging process is your best bet. If you want to read more about outsourcing and some of the methods available, check out our article on fulfillment models and be sure to take a look at the third-party and dropshipping sections. Below are also some pros (+) and cons (-) of both third-parties and dropshipping.
1. Third-Party Order Fulfillment
(+) EXPERTISE: using a third-party for shipping allows you to focus on sales because they will serve as your fulfillment experts
(+) VOLUME: third-party services can store a significant amount of inventory in their warehouses
(+) SCALABILITY: this enables you to sell more which gives you a good ceiling to growth
(-) FEES: sadly nothing is free, so be ready to pay for the added convenience
2. Dropshipping
(+) LOW INITIAL INVESTMENT: there is no need to pay for inventory in advance
(+) PRODUCT DIVERSITY: you are able to sell a wide range of products that can be housed all over the world which opens you up to international shipping
(-) THIN PROFIT MARGINS: the shipper deals with all overheads, which comes with a cost
(-) COMPETITION: you will be competing with other people who sell the same product for similar prices
Essentially if you feel like your business can afford to buy inventory in bulk, but don’t want to set up a warehouse on your own, a third-party fulfillment service is a good option. On the other hand, if you are struggling to invest in a new product, then expansion will be easier with a dropshipping service.
Unique Brands, Unique Packaging
Want your business to stand out a bit more? Try taking advantage of businesses that offer custom packaging solutions. Packaging is your last opportunity as a business owner and marketer to communicate and promote your product, meaning that if a consumer knows you have exciting packaging, they may be more inclined to purchase your product rather than a competitor’s. For example, you could head over to FedEx’s website and test out their custom box designing and printing platform. There are tons of different box sizes to choose from, and the website allows you to upload designs of your own. If you want to use bubble mailers, ULINE has a wide range of color options to choose from. You can also add a little spice to your packaging by adding a branded label or placing a business card that advertises your company’s social media platforms inside the box.
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