The significant number of competitors means online businesses must do whatever they can to differentiate themselves. There are many ways to do so, but one of the best and easiest is packaging. Let’s take a closer look at the general principles of ecommerce packaging and the best ways to go about it.
Product packaging has three purposes. The first two are well-known: protecting a product during shipping and ensuring it arrives at the appropriate destination through the shipping system. The third is to present a branding experience to the customer, which is an often underutilized purpose by many ecommerce companies.
Several factors go into product packaging, including selecting the right packaging, inserting padding and protection, sealing the package, and shipping.
First things first. Packaging is meant for protection.
There’s nothing worse than ordering an item online, waiting patiently for it to arrive, and then having it show up at your doorstep in a broken, mangled mess. But unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence. According to various online resources, as many as 1 in 10 shipments are damaged in transit.
For you, this means it’s important to ensure your orders are properly packaged to minimize that risk.
While the exterior package already adds some level of protection, internal padding is often needed for protection during shipping. There are several options for this, including:
Don’t ever skimp on internal packaging protection. While it may save cost in the short term, it can add up when returns or refunds begin to stack up.
Moreover, damaged products can create a negative brand image, leading to customers leaning toward other brands or bad reviews.
Before going any further, let’s take a quick look at the various types of packaging for ecommerce. These include:
Corrugated cardboard boxes are retailers’ most common form of packaging. They are general shipping boxes that can be purchased from any store or postal service.
There are many different types and sizes of corrugated boxes, which make them a popular option for many sellers. This is especially true for those who sell large products.
Tuck-top boxes are a separate type of cardboard box with tabs to secure it shut. They may have one tab that goes into the inside front of the box or two tabs that slide into the sides.
These boxes are most commonly used for small or medium-sized products, but there are some larger versions as well.
Padded mailers are an excellent option for smaller products and those needing extra protection.
These are essentially envelopes with bubbles or additional padding inside. They are great for jewelry, books, electronics, and more.
Poly mailers have become an increasingly popular option for many sellers. These envelopes are commonly made from paper or polyethylene LDPE.
They are light, affordable, and self-sealing, making it easy to package many products. However, their size and durability do limit the contents.
The proper packaging for a product can vary between sellers and the particular product. However, here are some immediate points to consider:
When it comes to finding a supplier for your packaging materials, you need a company that can provide you with high-quality, versatile shipping products that help get your items safely to the customer.
Some options for sourcing your packaging include eBay, Alibaba, and PaperMart (to name a few). For the most part, buying these shipping materials in larger quantity means getting a larger discount — so don’t be afraid to stock up.
Why stock up? Because as you source your packaging materials, you’ll need to figure those costs into the retail price of your item (or to add on an additional shipping/handling fee). Keeping costs down in the packaging department means more affordable items for customers and higher margins for you.
Many ecommerce sellers default to using the easiest or cheapest product packaging. While this is understandable in the early days of an ecommerce store, sellers should try to shift to creating an impression with their packaging.
In other words, it is essential to design packaging that is pleasing and impactful to the customer. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that can be achieved.
Some ecommerce businesses may not know where to begin when it comes to designing packaging for ecommerce. Fortunately, some immediate design points can be considered, such as:
Customization is always a good thing, and there are a couple of different ways you can accomplish this for your packaging. The option that’s best for you will depend on your needs and budget. We’ll look at two different avenues, as well as the pros and cons of both.
If you are a small to mid-sized ecommerce business and are managing the shipping process on your own, you can implement customization on the standard packaging you’ve ordered with the help of custom-made stamps, stickers, and packing tape that reinforce your company branding. This is a more hands-on and time-intensive approach, but works for those who want to minimize packaging-related expenses.
Pros: The DIY customization route adds a personal touch to packaging, as each order will look slightly different than the others. It’s also much more cost-friendly to add these low-cost customizations on your own.
Cons: Adding the custom stamp and/or branded stickers to your packaged orders will take more time, and won’t look as standardized as if you used custom-made, branded packaging.
For those who want a more standardized and polished look to their shipped orders, custom-made packaging may be the route to go. You can design and order custom packaging from sites like Packlane or Pakible, and create shipping materials that reinforce your branding.
Pros: Each order’s packaging is exactly the same, and it’s one less step for you in the order fulfillment department. This look is polished and professional.
Cons: Overall it’s more expensive, and it doesn’t have the handmade touch that the DIY approach does.
The rise in ecommerce has also led to a significant increase in waste production, which has made more people concerned about the environmental impacts. Fortunately, this has also contributed to an increase in eco-friendly packaging.
There are ample eco-friendly materials, packaging made from recycled materials, and more. This can be a great way for ecommerce businesses to adhere to their eco-friendly standards and appeal to customers with the same interests.
Product packaging is a critical part of ecommerce, and there can be a lot to it.
However, creating or finding the proper packaging that protects your products and elevates your brand can be key to ecommerce success.
We hope this guide helped you learn everything you need about product packaging.
Good luck in your selling journey!
We have compiled some common questions asked by those new to online selling.
Ecommerce packaging is the supplies and process associated with enclosing, protecting, and shipping a product to a customer.
There is no standard packaging for ecommerce products, as it can vary depending on the product’s size, fragility, and more. However, cardboard boxes tend to be the most common choice.
Packaging stamps can be an easy way to add the address to any packaging when self-fulfilling. However, it is more common to use prepaid shipping labels with all the necessary information to save time and shipping costs.
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Finding the right packaging manufacturer for your product can be a difficult endeavor. With so many options available, it is important to vet each one carefully before making a decision. One of the first steps in this process should be to identify what you need and then search for packaging manufacturers that have those abilities.
If they do not have them on their list of services, simply move on to another company as there are plenty out there who specialize in a variety of different fields.
This article will give you a rundown of everything you need to know about choosing a packaging partner for your next product launch.
Custom packaging can have a huge range of impacts on your brand and supply chain. You may be able to reduce costs as you grow if you use custom packages, which is great for small businesses who are trying to start out with little money in the budget! And just as a bonus, check out these 5 Benefits Of Working With A Packaging Manufacturer to learn more.
First, they have access to high quality materials and equipment that you won't have access to via wholesale suppliers. So you know that your product will be well protected during shipping, look great, and fit your products exactly as you need them to.
Second, you can increase your customer base by making your brand stand out with a better design. Stop blending in with the generic products and increase your visibility. They offer you the ability to create your own customized design, which is something that can't be done with off-the-shelf packaging products
Finally, custom manufacturers also give you the opportunity to order small quantities without having to invest in large volume orders. That is because some of them are setup with High-Speed Digital Printers that allow for smaller runs that can help a business get their foot in the door and establish themselves as innovators by using custom designs, which may not be feasible on larger printing presses.
Related Manufacturing Design Tips:
Identify what your packaging needs are. Consider what your packaging goals are for this product and where you want to take it. Gather all the dimensions and weight of your products, and potential material needs. And be knowledgeable about the label regulations associated with your business category.
Search for packaging manufacturers that have those abilities, and examples of great work. Once you find a few manufacturers who can work with your needs, check out their reviews and testimonials. Ask for references from others that they have worked with in the past. You want to make sure that this is a legitimate company before moving forward with them.
Finally, you want to have clear information about their quality of materials, turnaround time, and price. You should never be paying more than what you are willing to spend but you also don't want to sacrifice quality. Be sure to check reviews online for feedback on the company's services and products before signing any contracts.
Finding a reliable custom packaging manufacturer that you will work well with is an important step towards generating a successful product launch!
There are a few different kinds of packaging manufacturers in the world.
First, there are some known as "integrated". They specialize in extremely large runs of more simple packaging needs. This allows them to lower their costs, but only offer so much in terms of customization and presentation.
Second, there are independent packaging companies, and no two are alike. Each one offers a unique set of solutions to brands, but the key thing to focus on is what your growth goals are. You want to find a partner that has other solutions that you plan to grow into as a business, so that you supply chain and relationships are already established.
Next, there are online and niche businesses that focus on different categories of packaging. Most of these online businesses focus on small e-commerce focused packaging like mailers and shippers. They offer great materials and designs, but don't have easy ways for you to grow as a business in other packaging and POP Display areas.
Finally, there are wholesale packaging suppliers. These are suppliers that buy standard packaging items in large bulk quantities. The limited options of large quantities allows them to sell smaller units to customers on a first come basis. The problem is many of them are passing along a higher margin cost to you per order.
Finding a packaging manufacturer that specializes in small or large volume production runs can be challenging. The key is to find one whose solutions align with your business goals and growth plans. Whichever type of supplier you choose, make sure they offer customization and presentation options as well as other services you're looking for.
When it comes to packaging, the graphics and printing are the most important part of the entire process. You want to make sure that you choose the right option for your order, category, and brand. At first they can seem a little daunting, so let's do a quick breakdown.
Flexography is a printing process that typically uses between 1 and 4 ink colors. This means it is not well suited for any images, or "high resolution" artwork. But it is a very cheap printing process for larger quantities.
Lithography has been the industry standard for many years for high graphic and quality, large volume work. This is typically used by larger brands who print a large amount of packaging every year.
Litho Lam is the process of printing a paper graphic and then gluing it to the packaging. Avoiding printing directly to the corrugated entirely. This is also typically reserved for larger quantity orders due to the additional gluing process.
Digital Printing is the most exciting printing process in the entire industry. We were one of the first to invest because we knew it was and is a game changer. It's able to print small orders with ease because it doesn't have printing plates, and looks extremely high quality. Not to mention it can allow brands to be more nimble with their marketing by running multiple smaller orders, and creating graphics for every SKU. The best part about Digital is that it's a more sustainable printing method. Using less waste, resources, and delivering your packaging faster than every other method.
Related: 10 Tips To Make Your Packaging More Sustainable
Every business has a different goal and marketing needs. But when it comes to printing packaging, there are many options that can make your life easier. Contact us if you need help determining which process is best for your order size or the type of graphics on file with us. We're always happy to provide information!
Related: Printing Coating Options
Typically your first interaction will be with a sales team member. These employees are trained on all of the technical knowledge of what their business offers, and can get you started and in the system.
Once you are in the system and have a RFQ, you will begin talking with the design department and project managers. They will be focused on locking in the structure and graphics that suit you best, and sourcing your materials for the entire supply chain.
Their goal is to make it an easy a process for you and your team, while also delivering a great product. If you have any specific questions about the printing process, pricing options, or if you need help deciding on the best printing option for your project, contact us today. We're always happy to help with information and provide more insight into finding the right supplier for your needs!
We are one of the largest independent manufacturers in North America with a wide array of capabilities to help our customers grow. Our capabilities include simply RSC shippers, to more complex shelf-ready packaging, all the way up to custom point of purchase retail displays.
Whether you need a team with award winning designers, or just a manufacturing partner for your supply chain, we are here to help. Contact us today to get started on a custom quote.
How Long Does A Quote Usually Take For Packaging?
This can vary greatly depending on a few factors. If your order is custom or a standard size, how busy the manufacturer is, and how large your quantity is.
Should I Buy A Standard Design Or Custom Packaging?
Determine what your budget will allow for first and start there. If a standard size works, consider it first before you move into the custom design arena.
Are There Standard Minimum Orders For Packaging?
Depending on the supplier you go with, it will be very different. Wholesalers will usually allow for lower minimums, while other manufacturers can offer them too but at a higher price.