everything you need to know about packaging

Ecommerce Packaging: Everything You Need To Know

14 min read

The significant number of competitors means online businesses must do whatever they can to differentiate themselves. There are many ways to do so, but one of the best and easiest is packaging. Let’s take a closer look at the general principles of ecommerce packaging and the best ways to go about it.

Product Packing Basics

Product packaging has three purposes. The first two are well-known: protecting a product during shipping and ensuring it arrives at the appropriate destination through the shipping system. The third is to present a branding experience aan de klant, which is an often underutilized purpose by many ecommerce companies.

Several factors go into product packaging, including selecting the right packaging, inserting padding and protection, sealing the package, en het verschepen.

Packaging for Ecommerce: Protecting Products

Eerste dingen eerst. Packaging is meant for protection.

Er is niets erger dan het bestellen van een artikel online, geduldig wachten tot het te komen, en dan hebben het op uw stoep in een gebroken, verminkte puinhoop. Maar helaas, dit is een vrij algemeen voorkomen. According to various online resources, zo veel als 1 in 10 zendingen worden beschadigd in transit.

Voor u, this means it’s important to ensure your orders are properly packaged to minimize that risk.

While the exterior package already adds some level of protection, internal padding is often needed for protection during shipping. There are several options for this, inclusief:

Loose fillers: Loose fillers are materials like packing peanuts or shredded paper that can help cushion the product. The one downside of loose fillers is that products can shift around during transit when not packed in tightly enough.
Foam: Foam protection can consist of large sections that hold the product in place or thin layers that wrap around the product.
Bubble wrap: Bubble wrap is one of the most popular options for shipping protection. It can be easily bought in large rolls of varying sizes, making it efficient for products of many sizes.
Air pillows: Air pillows are large plastic air pockets that can be packed around a product for cushioning.
Cardboard inserts: These are simply rigid pieces of cardboard that can be inserted around the product to hold it in place during shipment.

Don’t ever skimp on internal packaging protection. While it may save cost in the short term, it can add up when returns or refunds begin to stack up.

Bovendien, damaged products can create a negative brand image, leading to customers leaning toward other brands or bad reviews.

Types of Product Packaging for Ecommerce

Before going any further, let’s take a quick look at the various types of packaging for ecommerce. Deze omvatten:

Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated cardboard boxes are retailers’ most common form of packaging. Ze zijn general shipping boxes that can be purchased from any store or postal service.

An example of corrugated boxes. Bron afbeelding: Amazon

There are many different types and sizes of corrugated boxes, which make them a popular option for many sellers. This is especially true for those who sell large products.

Tuck Top Product Boxes

Tuck-top boxes are a separate type of cardboard box with tabs to secure it shut. They may have one tab that goes into the inside front of the box or two tabs that slide into the sides.

An example of tuck top boxes. Bron afbeelding: Amazon

These boxes are most commonly used for small or medium-sized products, but there are some larger versions as well.

Padded Mailers

Padded mailers are an excellent option for smaller products and those needing extra protection.

An example of padded envelopes (mailers). Bron afbeelding: Amazon

These are essentially envelopes with bubbles or additional padding inside. They are great for jewelry, boeken, elektronica, en meer.

Poly Mailers

Poly mailers have become an increasingly popular option for many sellers. These envelopes are commonly made from paper or polyethylene LDPE.

An example of poly mailers. Bron afbeelding: Amazon

They are light, betaalbaar, and self-sealing, making it easy to package many products. Echter, their size and durability do limit the contents.

Choosing the Ideal Product Packaging

The proper packaging for a product can vary between sellers and the particular product. Echter, here are some immediate points to consider:

Begroting: The chosen packaging must be within the budget and allow the company to ship the product without significantly reducing profit. Echter, this doesn’t mean choosing packaging based on cost alone.
Bescherming: Zoals hierboven vermeld, product protection is one of the most important packaging parts. While poly mailers may be affordable, they don’t offer the best protection. This could be a risk when shipping fragile or delicate items. Consider packaging that will ensure the product arrives at the seller in the best shape. Selecting the more affordable packaging can be tempting, but that could cost more in the long run from returns and refunds from damaged products.
Verzendkosten: While this slightly comes under the budget heading, verzendkosten must also be considered. Algemeen, larger and heavier packages will cost more, so be sure to factor this in when choosing packaging.

Sourcing Uw Verpakkingsmaterialen

Als het gaat om het vinden van een leverancier voor uw verpakkingsmaterialen, u hebt een bedrijf dat u kan voorzien van hoge-kwaliteit, veelzijdige verzending van producten die helpen om uw artikelen veilig naar de klant.

Some options for sourcing your packaging include eBay, Alibaba, en PaperMart (om een paar te noemen). Voor het grootste deel, buying these shipping materials in larger quantity means getting a larger discount — so don’t be afraid to stock up.

Waarom voorraad? Because as you source your packaging materials, you’ll need to figure those costs into the retail price of your item (of om toe te voegen aan een extra verzend - /administratiekosten). Om kosten laag te houden in de afdeling verpakking betekent dat er meer betaalbare items voor klanten en hogere marges voor u.

Going Above and Beyond with Product Packaging Design

Many ecommerce sellers default to using the easiest or cheapest product packaging. While this is understandable in the early days of an ecommerce store, sellers should try to shift to creating an impression with their packaging.

In andere woorden, het is essential to design packaging that is pleasing and impactful to the customer. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that can be achieved.

Packaging Design Points

Some ecommerce businesses may not know where to begin when it comes to designing packaging for ecommerce. Gelukkig, some immediate design points can be considered, zoals:

Product size and shape: One of the first factors to view is the size and shape of the product. If a product is uniquely shaped, it may be worth having a custom-shaped box created for it.
kleuren: Packaging color alone can make a difference when it comes to creating an impression. No one enjoys the color of a simple cardboard box or black bag. If the company has a logo or color branding, these can be great themes to introduce to packaging.
Kopiëren: Copy is the written words that are included in a package. If there will be a copy included on the package, it is vital to use it effectively. The copy should be clear enough to communicate the point but concise to not overwhelm the reader.
Imagery/Graphics: Imagery and graphics on packaging add visual appeal for the customer. These can include items or things associated with the product. Bijvoorbeeld, if the product is an herbal shampoo, the packaging could have herbs or associated ingredients detailed around it.
Doelgroep: The target audience should always be one of the most senior design points. Na alle, the point of designing packaging is to appeal to those who will buy the product. Consider who has been purchasing the product and what audience should want it. Is it a specific age group or gender? Is it for those with a specific interest?
Internal flair: Add a bit of glamour to packaging by including internal flair through tissue paper, inserts, or other decoration. This makes the package that much more pleasing for customers to open.

Verpakking Maatwerk

Maatwerk is altijd een goede zaak, en er zijn een paar verschillende manieren waarop u dit kunt doen voor uw verpakking. De optie die het beste is voor u hangt af van uw behoeften en budget. We kijken naar twee verschillende wegen, evenals de voors en tegens van beide.

DIY Maatwerk

If you are a small to mid-sized ecommerce business and are managing the shipping process on your own, u kunt de uitvoering aanpassing op de standaard verpakking die u hebt besteld met behulp van op maat gemaakte stempels, stickers, en verpakkingstape dat het versterken van uw bedrijf branding. Dit is een meer hands-on en tijd-intensieve aanpak, maar werkt voor degenen die willen naar het minimaliseren van het verpakkingsmateriaal gerelateerde kosten.

An example of a crafted package design

Voors: The DIY customization route adds a personal touch to packaging, als elke bestelling zal er iets anders uitzien dan de anderen. Het is ook veel meer kosten-vriendelijke toevoegen van deze low-cost aanpassingen op uw eigen.

Nadelen: Adding the custom stamp and/or branded stickers to your packaged orders will take more time, en ziet er niet zo gestandaardiseerd als u gebruikt aangepaste-gemaakt, merk-verpakkingen.

Aangepaste Verpakkingen

Voor degenen die willen een meer gestandaardiseerde en gepolijste look aan de verzonden bestellingen, custom-made verpakking, kunnen de route te gaan. You can design and order custom packaging from sites like Packlane or Pakible, en het maken van verpakkingsmateriaal dat het versterken van uw branding.

An example of a custom package design

Voors: Elke bestelling van de verpakking is precies hetzelfde, en dan stap je in de afdeling order fulfillment. Deze look is gepolijst en professioneel.

Nadelen: Over het algemeen is duurder, en het hoeft niet de handgemaakte touch die de DIY-aanpak werkt.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

The rise in ecommerce has also led to a significant increase in waste production, which has made more people concerned about the environmental impacts. Gelukkig, this has also contributed to an increase in eco-friendly packaging.

Mushroom packaging for Mr Bailey x adidas Originals OZLUCENT sneakers

There are ample eco-friendly materials, packaging made from recycled materials, en meer. This can be a great way for ecommerce businesses to adhere to their eco-friendly standards and appeal to customers with the same interests.

Conclusie

Product packaging is a critical part of ecommerce, and there can be a lot to it.

Echter, creating or finding the proper packaging that protects your products and elevates your brand can be key to ecommerce success.

We hope this guide helped you learn everything you need about product packaging.

Good luck in your selling journey!

Veelgestelde Vragen

We have compiled some common questions asked by those new to online selling.

What is ecommerce packaging?

Ecommerce packaging is the supplies and process associated with enclosing, protecting, and shipping a product to a customer.

Is there a standard packaging for ecommerce purposes?

There is no standard packaging for ecommerce products, as it can vary depending on the product’s size, fragility, en meer. Echter, cardboard boxes tend to be the most common choice.

Do you need packaging stamps for ecommerce products?

Packaging stamps can be an easy way to add the address to any packaging when self-fulfilling. Echter, it is more common to use prepaid shipping labels with all the necessary information to save time and shipping costs.