E-COMMERCE PACKAGING FROM A TO Z

When sending your products, you must take several elements into consideration: the size, the weight of the products, the most suitable packaging, the fastening of the packaging, etc…

For this reason, we want to give you a list of 6 tips so that you can pack your products perfectly, from A to Z.

Above all, the key is: provide a great customer experience. Above all, you must send packaging that arrives in good condition and is pleasant to open, so youalso reduce incidents with the carriers and with your customers.

Tip 1: Ask yourself the right questions

Packing your products well sounds very simple, but in reality there are many decisions to be made. So to package your products correctly you need to ask yourself some essential questions before you ship them. Here is a list to help you do this:

What: What are you shipping?

Where: Where will your products be sent?

When: When will customers need your products?

How: How do you plan to send them? By carrier, by post?

Howmuch: How many products do you put in each package?

Why: Why do you want to use this type of box?

Tip 2: Choose the right packaging for your product

This tip partly answers the question:“What are you shipping?” For example, the wrong choice of packaging can have negative consequences on the conditions in which your parcel will arrive: a damaged box can disappoint your customer.

Therefore, to avoid this, you need to think on the one hand about the type of packaging and on the other about its size.

What type of packaging should you choose?

For example, ask yourself what product you want to send. This question determines the nature of the packaging you will use. Indeed, a fragile product requires a strong packaging, whereas an unbreakable product (clothes, for example) can be sent in a plastic bag.

The choice is very wide: boxes, bags, tubes, envelopes, etc… So, it is up to you to find the packaging that best suits your e-commerce.

There are several qualities of resistance, which are determined according to the weight and type of product: single, double or triple corrugated box. Always bear in mind that between your company and your customer, packaging will be handled several times, stacked, loaded and unloaded with more or less care!

Above all, think about specific packaging in case your products are extremely fragile. For example, bottles, which are often damaged during transport, can be placed in special boxes for bottles, like electronic products.

Check with your transport suppliers:

Find out about the weather conditions in which your parcel will be transported. This may affect the packaging you have chosen or even the products it contains. Consider putting, for example, a dehydrating (anti-humidity) sachet in your package.

What size package should you choose?

A well packed and protected package requires an appropriately sizedbox for the product.

If the cardboard box is too big, you run the risk of putting on too much protective packaging or of your product coming loose and arriving damaged at its destination.

However, if it is too small, it can be opened during transport.

So make sure you choose packaging that is as close as possible to the dimensions of your products.

If you choose to send your products in a cardboard box, try our tool, to find the most suitable box format for your products in just one click.

Expert tip: Do you send your packages via express and international mail? Take into account our advice to control the volumetric weight of your packages. This is a billing method which can quickly increase your shipping costs if you do not optimise the size of your package.

Tip 3: Protect your products

For example, you have chosen a package with the right dimensions, strong enough to protect the product. But that’s not all, you need to properly secure the product inside the box.

For this, there are different types of protection: kraft paper, bubble wrap, air cushions, foam, film, etc…

Innovative protection: Technology product housing with retention film

Similarly, ask the question about the nature of the products to be shipped:

If the object is fragile, choose an effective protective filling and packaging such as bubble wrap;
If the object is not fragile but risks being damaged by knocking on the corners of the cardboard, opt for a cushioning solution such as kraft paper or air cushions.

In short, make sure that you fill the empty spaces of the packaging as much as possible.

How to protect your most sensitive products?

Electronic products are sensitive and therefore require antistatic protection.
Finally, some surfaces are more prone to being scratched and require foam protection.

Discover more protection solutions for your products in our section.

Tip 4: Group your products together

There are several causes: you may have a single delicate product, to pack, or several products to put in the same package.

In the latter case, you can use the products to join them together according to their weight or shape: the heaviest object should be placed first, at the bottom of the box, so as not to crush the others. Then distribute the other products around the heavy object and on top of it.

Tip from the expert: If your packaging contains several products and you want the heaviest item to remain in the bottom area, you should label the top of the box to help the carriers.

Tip 5: Protect the closure of your packaging

Now that your product is in the right packaging, protected by effective cushioning, you can close the package. It seems obvious, but there are a few rules to follow.

Add the adhesive tape. You can close the box in different ways using a roll of tape:

U-shaped: for lightweight products;
Combination L and U: for the transport of heavy products;
H-shaped: a very safe and suitable way for all kind of products.

Tip 6: Send your packaging

The main thing is done: the package is well packed, protected and closed. Now it must arrive safely and in good condition! To do this, make sure you attach the shipping labels as follows:

The document holder, the destination and sender addresses. They must therefore be clearly visible, as well as the barcode on the receipt;
Think about labels such as “Fragile” or “Do not stack” so that the carrier can take some precautionary measures into account during delivery.

Now, yes, the package is ready to be shipped. With the best packaging choice your customer will certainly have a happy moment when opening the package and… will probably open it and share it on social media. This way, they will be recommending your product!

Top 6 tips to remember:

Ask the right questions before packing your product: what, where, when, how, etc… It will save you time in preparing the packages.
Consider the type and size of packaging. Take into consideration the size, weight, fragility of the products to be packed, as well as the volumetric billing system, to optimise your packaging.
Select the most suitable protection and support system depending on the weight and fragility of your product.
Arrange your products inside the packaging so that they do not collide and are stable.
Close your packaging with the most appropriate adhesive tape.
Attach the necessaryshipping labels correctly to ensure safer transport.