Are you a complete novice when it comes to packaging? Here are four basic steps to help you get started with packing your eCommerce merchandise.
eCommerce has increased the amount of firms selling online and customers buying online in today's digital environment. Packaging is much more than just getting your product from point A to point B. Packaging has now become the only physical medium for marketers to communicate with their customers.
We'll go over some best practices for packaging your eCommerce products and making a strong first impression with your customers.
Step 1: Get Motivated
Working with a blank canvas might be difficult at times. Examine the packaging of some of your favorite companies to identify which elements appeal to you. Keep these things in mind for your packaging, whether it's the design or the product positioning. You can also obtain more ideas by looking at companies that sell comparable products to yours. Use some of these samples as a starting point for your packaging and come up with something unique to your company.
Google Images is a great place to obtain ideas and view examples. You can also get some extra ideas from our packaging showcase page.
Step 2: Choose your packing style (s)
Concentrate on the type of packaging you want for your eCommerce products.
1 - Your products' external packaging
For eCommerce shipping and subscription box products, corrugated mailer boxes are ideal. For example, if you sell a set of beauty goods and want to put them all together in one box, mailer boxes are ideal since they allow you to package and ship your products all in one box. Mailer boxes open similarly to pizza boxes and give the sturdiness and strength needed to prevent your box from being crushed during delivery.
Folding carton boxes, often known as product boxes, are suitable for things that are compact and light. These boxes are great for selling coffee capsules, culinary products, or candles, for example.
Consider using two-piece rigid boxes or magnetic closure boxes for even more luxury packing. These boxes are an excellent match for high-end items like jewelry or electronics. However, because they cannot be flattened, shipping from a supplier to you (or your warehouse) is often more expensive.
2 - Packaging for your products on the inside
To keep your product(s) from shifting around too much during transit, use void fillers like tissue paper or kraft paper to fill in the empty space in your box. Bubble wrap or foam are another choice, but they aren't as environmentally friendly.
If you're selling a collection of products, consider using bespoke box inserts to present them properly and keep them from shifting about. Paper inserts are the least expensive and can be printed on, whereas foam inserts are more expensive and better suited for fragile objects.
3 - External shipment packing
It's now time to consider how you'll package and send your finished goods. Keep in mind that you'll need to include your address, the address of your customer, and any customs labels on the external packing for delivery. Here are some shipping box considerations:
You don't want any extra packaging? Use a corrugated mailer box not only to store but also to ship your stuff!
Do you require an additional box? For a box-in-box packaging strategy, you might utilize a shipping box or a corrugated mailer box. All sender and customs labels are placed on the outside of the box, and the contents are totally protected.
Not in the market for an external box? You can also use envelopes, wrapping paper, or poly mailer bags, depending on the weight and fragility of your merchandise.
Keep in mind that the shipping packaging should first and foremost safeguard the contents within. It doesn't have to be the most attractive, as it will be the box that will be subjected to the rigors of transportation.
Step 3: Weigh, measure, and determine where to put it.
It's now time to receive your packing specifications.
Get a scale and start weighing your goods. Some suppliers may inquire about this in order to decide the appropriate packing type and materials to employ, as it's critical that your packaging can support the weight of your goods. The weight of your product is also important to know because it will effect your customer's delivery charges.
Measure your product's length, width, and height (s). Nobody likes packaging that is either too large, causing your product to shift all over the place, or too little, causing your goods to not fit at all.
Decide how your product(s) will be positioned inside your packaging.
Will it be able to stand on its own?
Is it going to be laid out vertically?
Will they be placed on top of each other?
Remember that your clients' unboxing experience will be determined by how you place your product.
You can now choose the kind and size of your packaging based on the size and location of your product(s). Your package should be slightly larger than your product(s) - a buffer of 0.5 inch (1.27cm) is recommended just to be safe. However, how tightly you want your things packed will determine this. Remember to indicate the kind of packaging (e.g. mailer box) and all dimensions of the box when communicating your package size to suppliers (length, width, and height). Please verify with your supplier ahead of time to see if they have a specific means of indicating which sides pertain to length, breadth, and height (like this).
Step 4: Create a package for your product.
The attention of your customers will be drawn to your packaging design. The box, or whichever you package your products, serves as a canvas on which you may convey your story and share your ideals. Here are a few things to think about:
What kind of initial impression do you want your package to make? You can go for a simple logo and name for your product in a minimalist design. You might want to include a list of ingredients for food goods. The options are limitless.
What kind of unpacking experience would you like to provide? What will your customers see when they open their package? Consider including a handwritten note or branding on the inside of your box.
Here is a collection of blog pieces regarding packaging design that we've put together, as well as some samples of packaging designs developed by our clients.