Everything you should know about shipping fashion in fashion e-commerce

Fashion e-commerce, still a driving force in online shipping

According to the consumer survey “Interactive Commerce in Germany 2021”, sales development in the clothing segment increased by 16.8% from 2020 to 2021 and accounted for one of the largest shares in e-commerce overall. However, the e-commerce figures in 2023 are generally declining after the “Corona boom”. This is due on the one hand to increased inflation, and on the other hand to the general market uncertainty caused by the global political situation. Nevertheless, the fashion sector, together with accessories and shoes, continues to be a driving sector in online shipping.

This is what you can expect in this blog post

• Opportunities and risks in fashion e-commerce
• 1. the basics of shipping in fashion e-commerce
• 2. finding the right packaging for online fashion shops: from practical to visually appealing
• 3. online marketing in fashion e-commerce: it’s all about appearance
• 4. protecting clothes during transport
• 5. from corporate to second hand to luxury
• 6.packing and shipping clothes efficiently
• 7. best practices
• 8. returns management in fashion mail order

You want to get started right away? On our RAJA Shop landing page we have clearly arranged all the e-commerce packaging materials you need

Opportunities and risks in fashion e-commerce that you should know about

According to shopify, growth in fashion e-commerce is driven by:

• Expansion into global markets outside the West
• Increasing online access and penetration of smartphones
• Growing middle classes worldwide with disposable income
• Harnessing the power of celebrities and influencers

Thebiggest threats to established brands include (supplemented by the forecasts industry analysis “The State of Fashion 2023”):

• Disappearing brand loyalty due to market saturation
• Pressure to use materials from ethical and environmentally friendly sources, growing awareness of greenwashing
• Technological innovations in the field of virtual worlds, such as NFTs and Metaverse
• Reduced consumerism due to war and inflation
• Rising advertising costs in digital marketing
• Realignment in digital marketing after cookieless tracking and DSGVO
• Increasing shortage of skilled workers and general staff shortage

If you want to hold your own against global fashion giants here, you need a smooth buyer experience – starting with a sophisticated packaging solution and optimised shipping.

In our blog, we have already written some exciting articles on the topic of fashion packaging and shipping as well as fashion e-commerce. Here we give you an overview.

1. the basics of shipping in fashion e-commerce

From quoting, ordering, handling, warehousing, shipping packaging, transport to delivery and shipping: are you looking for a general overview of packaging in fashion shipping and tips for online fashion retailers? Then these articles from our blog are the right thing for you. Here we explain, among other things, what is important in packaging and which processes you can learn from large fashion mail order companies.

2. finding the right packaging for online fashion shops: from practical to visually appealing

In hardly any e-commerce does the external appearance matter as much as in the fashion e-commerce sector. The quality, the design, the functionality of the shipping packaging and the shipping costs all play a role. Whether light shirts or heavy winter jackets, delicate silk or robust polyester – the nature of the fashion to be shipped is also (partly) decisive. RAJA offers a large portfolio of suitable shipping bags and clothing boxes for every fashion case

.

These are our favourites:

Save postage when sending fashion with shipping bags

Shipping bags for clothing are inexpensive, space-saving, lightweight, flexible and easy to fill. Optionally, they are already optimised for return shipment thanks to a second adhesive strip (see Returns Management). They are particularly suitable for light and insensitive goods such as summer dresses, shirts and tops.

However, you should not send heavy or pointed items or fragile or sensitive materials in bags.

It is

best to choose a variant with recycled content.

Elegant packaging for fashion shipping: postal boxes

If you want to send jewellery, small accessories, shirts, T-shirts or trousers in high quality, choose postal boxes. They are robust, look good and are easy to fold. Many variants can be sent inexpensively in Germany as a consignment of goods by Maxibrief or Päckchen S.

The presentation of the Post box with reinforced closure is kept in plain brown on the outside, but thanks to the white inside, an elegant surprise awaits the opener. The sides are reinforced with corrugated cardboard for extra protection.

Flexible shipping of large quantities of clothing

Your warehouse is limited and you can’t keep packaging in every size in stock? Then slip lid boxes and telescopic boxes are the universal solution for you. The boxes with lids adjust to their fill level. So besides the trousers and the pullover, the winter jacket also fits into the clothes box.

Quick and easy clothing packaging with automatic boxes and adhesive closure

Your staff only has limited time to take care of suitable packaging? There are simple solutions for this too. Sturdy automatic cartons can be assembled in a flash and closed just as quickly thanks to the integrated adhesive closure.

Paper alternative to the plastic bag: paper mailing bags

Paper mailing bags with side gussets are an environmentally friendly and equally light alternative to opaque plastic bags in fashion shipping. Envelopes made of kraft paper with an additional adhesive strip are very useful for buyers who want to exchange or return the purchased garment.

3. online marketing in fashion e-commerce: appearance matters

Now you know what a wide range of clothing boxes, shipping bags, parcels and clothing boxes are basically suitable for clothing shipping. But: in few e-commerce sectors does design matter as much as in fashion e-commerce. In online fashion retailing, the shopping experience, the look and feel are particularly important – especially because the garments cannot be tried on in advance. Appropriate, appealing outer packaging can even reduce the return rate and strengthen brand loyalty in a highly competitive market. Personalised packaging is an essential part of brand building in fashion e-commerce. Together with the right lifestyle content, you create a special e-commerce experience in the customer journey and stay in the memory.

The unboxing moment for social media & social commerce is a trump card especially for small businesses! Use the wow effect for yourself and let customers and interested parties “discover” your company in all its facets.

Learn how to personalise your fashion shipping and create the unboxing experience in this blog article:

4.Protect clothes during transport

But it is not only the outer packaging that matters: Adequate protection of the garment must be ensured both during preparation of the package and during transport and delivery. From production to delivery, the garment must not be affected by moisture or possible tears or creases. Also important to know: If different materials in a package rub against each other, they can damage each other. To protect clothing in the shipping package, recyclable, transparent plastic film bags with a pressure-sensitive adhesive seal or biodegradable glassine flat bags are suitable. Clothes wrapped in tissue paper look classy and allow textiles to arrive at your customers’ almost crease-free.

5.from corporate to second hand to luxury

When it comes to fashion e-commerce packaging, large fashion mail order companies have different challenges than small fashion start-ups and fashion retailers.

In a nutshell, the main challenges are as follows:

Large fashion shippers and global palyers want to reduce costs and increase sales, increase efficiency in the packaging line and optimise their warehouse. The main goal: to increase shipping volume by working more efficiently and sourcing large quantities of packaging at favourable scale prices.

The

appearance and value of the packaging is secondary for established and well-known shippers, because brand awareness is also achieved in this way

.

For medium-sized fashion mail-order companies, on the other hand, it is a balancing act between the appearance and the price of the shipping packaging for their products. On the one hand, the packaging process must be designed more efficiently, but branding must not be forgotten either. After all, the right look can contribute significantly to customer retention and distinguishes you from fast-fashion mail order companies. If you belong to this segment, you can still learn from the big players, as we show you in this example:

Are you a lone fighter, do you have a retail business and are in the process of setting up an online shop or do you have a small start-up in the fashion sector? Then the most important thing for you is to first increase awareness and achieve the highest possible customer loyalty. Here, the focus should be on the shopping experience with personalised packaging. This requires more effort and costs, but – used skilfully – will give you social media unboxing moments and thus reach. Or at least customers who will remember the purchase and want to order again. To find out how to do this, take another look at point 3, Marketing. A small tip beforehand: An inexpensive but effective idea is a handwritten message (this package was packed with love by Laura.I appreciate a 5-star rating and a share on social media under the hashtag #ourbrand).

P.S. Here’s how to sell online fast:

Second-hand and sustainable fashion mail order are special branches in fashion e-commerce that are gaining more and more importance: Here, credibility plays a major role in addition to appearance. Your customers expect shipping packaging that is just as sustainable as the garment they buy. RAJA RAJA offers sustainable packaging made from recycled material, or sustainable grass paper, that fits the image but is not too expensive

.

We have compiled more tips in this blog article:

If, on the other hand, you are active in the luxury fashion segment, you have to make do rather than spill the beans – also when it comes to shipping and packaging. A premium online presence and coherent premium packaging are a must here. The value of your offer must be reflected in the packaging. Use fine tissue paper in a personalised shipping box as a good basis.

6. pack and ship clothes efficiently

Much has already been written about “increasing efficiency” in this blog article. But how exactly does it work? Among other things, it is an interplay of optimal warehouse logistics, ergonomic packing stations and good shipping preparation. All processes must mesh and be coordinated with each other.
The best way to illustrate this is with an example, namely that of our customer Brands Fashion:

You should also optimise your packaging for cost-effective, easy transport. Do you also ship internationally? Then you should research cheap shipping service providers, because German providers do not always have the best prices.

7. best practices

In addition to Brands Fashion, other success stories from RAJA customers show how you can optimise your fashion e-commerce with just a few tricks. Here are a few inspiring examples for you:

8. returns management in fashion mail order

A tiresome but important topic to finish with: the fashion industry is one of the sectors in which the most returns and exchanges take place. In addition, the return rate for online clothing purchases is increasing every year. Since it is not possible to try on the clothes or shoes before ordering, there is a high probability that users will request a size change or a cancellation of the purchase if the product does not meet their expectations. It is not uncommon for customers to improperly pack and return unneeded clothing. This makes it difficult to sort and reuse the returns.

A few basic points will help you reduce the returns rate, or at least simplify the returns process:

1. Optimise your product description and photos. The more precisely you describe the garment, the material and the fit, the better customers can imagine the garment. You can also include the model’s measurements in the photos(our model wears size S, at 172 cm tall and 60 kg). If possible, show a photo of each side.
2. Make the returns process easier by enclosing shipping bags for returns or using shipping packaging that is optimised for returns. These wraparound packages contain a double adhesive strip so they can be properly sealed the first time for shipping and a second time for returns, if needed. This makes it easier for customers to return items, while also promoting the sustainability of your brand.

Check out our blog article on returns management for more helpful tips on how to reduce your returns rate: