In the corporate world, mistakes are the most common thing that can happen. Eliminating risks and mistakes is always on the top on one’s to do list and shipping is the phase where even small mistakes can push you to a road full of worries. Majority of the mistakes entering into the shipping area is through the element of “Packaging”. Every business owner knows that getting your packaging right and sending an adequately packaged product means the difference between a happy customer and an unhappy customer. While for some businesses product packaging is easy and a refined process, but some are clueless as to how its absolutely necessary to get this right. Shipping mistakes that lead to either late or damaged shipments can be very easily avoided. Such small mistakes ultimately costs businesses time and money even though they may not seem so big in the beginning that is until a real headache happens. All businesses should understand that investing in packing tools can not only speed up the whole shipping process but also reduces RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and saves extra spending and a lot of heartache.
Basics Of Packaging
Step 1: Choosing the Right Box
The box that you choose has to be essentially according to your product, if its something on the easily breakable or fragile side then always opt for a rigid box. Leaving off package dimensions is one of the most common mistakes that results in failure. Majority of the courier companies do not use normal weight method to calculate the shipping costs as volumetric method is taken into consideration. Thus, when you are entering all the details of the parcel, do mention length, width and height along with the normal weight. If the courier company identifies that the parcel dimensions are inaccurate, they may charge added costs to deliver the required parcel. Courier companies like Swyft uses both normal weight method as well as volumetric weight method to ensure better handling and delivery accuracy. Good Packaging certainly involves:
- A polyurethane bag (good for light, non-fragile items)
- Air filled packaging tube or bubble wrap.
- A small single-layered cardboard box (for smaller products)
- And larger double/ triple-layered box (for heavier and larger products)
Some parcels are extremely fragile to be handled, hence particular packaging requires special labeling.
Businesses are now becoming environmentally aware and recycling is important but keep in mind that using a second-hand box may damage fragile things since it may have weakened during the first use.
It is extremely essential to communicate the message effectually, but it is more important to take the Corporate Social Responsibility – environment protection into consideration. In today’s world, consumers are considerably using their purchasing power just to reward the businesses that are taking environment protection into account. As per the research by Cone Communications,
- 88% of the consumers will be more loyal to the business supporting environmental or social issue.
- 87% would purchase a product comprising of environmental or social benefit.
- 92% would trust a business supporting environmental or social issue.
Body Shop is one of the brands supporting Corporate Social Responsibility. They do not use animal fat in their products and also mentions it on their packaging clarifying about the environment protection.
Step 2: Wrapping The product
Ensure to wrap your product in a material that will protect your product like a bubble wrap. Once placed inside a box fill up the box with packaging inserts and filler materials.
- Packaging tissue paper
- Packing peanuts
- Cardboard inserts
- Crumpled recycled paper
- Styrofoam inserts (recycled)
This will stop your product from moving about in the box.
Step 3: Seal the Box
When it comes to close your packaging, focus should only be on proper sealing. Goods may be harmed by Sun rays, high temperatures and scents. Therefore, you need to seal the box completely with adhesive tape specially made for packaging, something that does not come off easily. Sealing tape comes in 3 types.
- A Brown plastic tape (Polypropylene tape)
- An Electrical tape (Vinyl adhesive tape)
- A Duct Tape (Fiber-reinforced paper tape)
As per several online sources, duct tape is the best sealing tape among all as duct tape is extremely effective which will stick to anything. In addition, duct tape resists water and can seal the parcel effectively.
Step 4: Label the Package
The last step in this whole process is to label and address the package depending on your chosen courier company’s requirements. Mislabeled packaging is the most common mistake that results in failure and problems. If you are manufacturing particular packaging for your products, then it must show what is behind the wrapping. Therefore, creativity, thinking outside of the box and a clear demonstration is extremely crucial if you want to sell your product and establish massive reputation among the customers. Misleading packaging or labels would result in creation of problems.
If you insist on being environmentally responsible and use old boxes, please ensure to remove all old labels and addresses.
Courier companies like Swyft require you to label your package with a bar code and a QR code. Unlike most courier companies they ensure that your package has the appropriate shipping labels like fragile and handle with care stickers. In their warehouse they check packages for signs of inadequate adhesive and packing materials like tapes and fillers and ensure that the package is well wrapped in stretch film and bubble wrap before leaving their hub.
The packaging is not only about placing your products in a box. It is about making a connection between your brand and the consumers by getting your products to them on time and undamaged. If this is done well, your chances of being a successful and profitable brand increases.
One of the major problems is the incorrect address because if the company does not check the destination address, it would lead to delays and could be time consuming. This would further affect the logistics company as their delivery ratio would be negatively affected as well as probably the vendor – business relationship may decline.