While good food might be the right way to anybody’s heart, we know that good packaging will certainly help you to the customers’ hearts.
Shoddy packaging can result in damage to the product, further resulting in peeved customers. On the other hand, a carefully and neatly packed parcel shows your customers that you care, and want to make their shopping experience worthwhile.
At the same time, you don’t want to spend a bomb on packing. So how do you strike a balance? Let’s find out.
Essential packaging dos and don’ts
1. First assess your target audience
Are you catering to the elite customers with exclusive products? Or are you selling everyday items to the masses? If it is the former, then you have to put enough thought into your packaging as it is a representation of your brand. Think literally out of the box – consider delivering your product in tubes, wooden boxes (sturdier but more expensive) to add some jazz to the parcel. Wrap it up with handmade paper and sack thread outside.
If it is the latter, then you can have a standard packing. However, in both cases you have to ensure that you do not compromise with quality.
2. Ensure that your outer covering is strong and sturdy
Brown cardboard generally does the trick. However, if you are willing to stretch your budget slightly, consider corrugated boxes. They are more durable and sustainable, and keep the contents moisture-free. They can also be reused. It is suitable for food items and electronic gadgets.
Fast food joint Chai Point delivers tea (and other beverages) in disposable cardboards flasks that last. This indicates the durability of cardboard boxes.
3. Always use internal protection
No matter what your product is, ensure that you protect it with bubble wrap, air bags or packing peanuts to cushion the contents. Nowadays air-bags are gaining popularity due to their utility and ability to keep things in place.
You can also save on money by using shredded newspapers. All you need is a paper shredder and your old stock of newspapers. However, use this with discretion. Not every product is well cushioned with shredded paper. Use your jurisdiction to choose products for which you can use these fillers.
4. Use sufficient tape
Use two or three rounds of tape to prevent any in-transit mishaps. Usually, brown cello tape works to keep things in place.
5. Package in the correct sized packaging
One size doesn’t fit all, so use appropriate size packages for your products. Don’t end up wasting space by putting in a small item in a big box. This increases scope for movement and as a result damage. You can also save the extra space fillers you will need to stuff in to cover the extra space.
6. Don’t go crazy with too much packaging
After waiting for days to get their hands on their parcel, no one will like to embark on a treasure hunt to get to it. Security is paramount, but don’t go to the army level with it. Ensure that the product is easily accessible. To achieve this, keep things simple.
7. Caution deliver personnel
Sensitize delivery personnel and courier partners to handle parcels with care. Rough handling is inevitable, but if you are shipping delicate or breakable items, give clear instructions apart from writing it on the parcel.
Now that you know how to wrap it up well, go ahead and ship those tidy parcels. If you need help with your online business, contact us here. Browntape is India’s largest ecommerce service provider, and we are happy to help you.
