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 στον πελάτη, 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, και τη ναυτιλία.

Packaging for Ecommerce: Protecting Products

Καταρχάς. Packaging is meant for protection.

Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα χειρότερο από την παραγγελία ενός στοιχείου σε απευθείας σύνδεση, περιμένοντας υπομονετικά για να φτάσει, και στη συνέχεια, έχοντας να παρουσιάσει στην πόρτα σας σε ένα σπασμένο, παραμορφωμένα χάος. Αλλά δυστυχώς, αυτό είναι ένα αρκετά κοινό περιστατικό. According to various online resources, όσα 1 σε 10 Οι αποστολές ζημιές κατά τη μεταφορά.

Για σενα, 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, συμπεριλαμβανομένου:

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.

Εξάλλου, 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. Αυτά περιλαμβάνουν:

Corrugated Boxes

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

An example of corrugated boxes. πηγή εικόνας: Αμαζόνα

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. πηγή εικόνας: Αμαζόνα

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). πηγή εικόνας: Αμαζόνα

These are essentially envelopes with bubbles or additional padding inside. They are great for jewelry, βιβλία, ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΑ ΕΙΔΗ, κι αλλα.

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. πηγή εικόνας: Αμαζόνα

They are light, προμηθευτός, and self-sealing, making it easy to package many products. Ωστόσο, 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. Ωστόσο, here are some immediate points to consider:

Προϋπολογισμός: The chosen packaging must be within the budget and allow the company to ship the product without significantly reducing profit. Ωστόσο, this doesn’t mean choosing packaging based on cost alone.
ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑ: Οπως αναφέρθηκε προηγουμένως, 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.
Εξοδα αποστολής: While this slightly comes under the budget heading, έξοδα αποστολής must also be considered. Γενικά, larger and heavier packages will cost more, so be sure to factor this in when choosing packaging.

Sourcing Υλικά Συσκευασίας σας

Όταν πρόκειται για την εύρεση ενός προμηθευτή για τα υλικά συσκευασίας σας, χρειάζεστε μια εταιρεία που μπορεί να σας προσφέρει υψηλής ποιότητας, ευέλικτα προϊόντα αποστολής που σας βοηθούν να πάρετε τα στοιχεία σας με ασφάλεια στον πελάτη.

Some options for sourcing your packaging include eBay, Alibaba, και PaperMart (για να αναφέρουμε μερικά). Για το μεγαλύτερο μέρος, buying these shipping materials in larger quantity means getting a larger discount — so don’t be afraid to stock up.

Γιατί απόθεμα επάνω? Because as you source your packaging materials, you’ll need to figure those costs into the retail price of your item (ή να προσθέσετε σε ένα πρόσθετη ναυτιλία / αμοιβή χειρισμού). Η διατήρηση του κόστους στο τμήμα συσκευασίας σημαίνει πιο προσιτές στοιχεία για τους πελάτες και υψηλότερα περιθώρια κέρδους για εσάς.

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.

Με άλλα λόγια, είναι 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. Ευτυχώς, some immediate design points can be considered, όπως:

Μέγεθος και σχήμα προϊόντος: 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.
Χρωματιστά: 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.
αντίγραφο: 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.
Εικόνες/Γραφικά: Imagery and graphics on packaging add visual appeal for the customer. These can include items or things associated with the product. Για παράδειγμα, if the product is an herbal shampoo, the packaging could have herbs or associated ingredients detailed around it.
Κοινό: The target audience should always be one of the most senior design points. Παρά όλα αυτά, 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, ένθετα, or other decoration. This makes the package that much more pleasing for customers to open.

Προσαρμογή Συσκευασία

Προσαρμογή είναι πάντα ένα καλό πράγμα, και υπάρχουν δύο διαφορετικοί τρόποι που μπορείτε να το πετύχουν αυτό για τη συσκευασία σας. Η επιλογή που είναι καλύτερο για σας θα εξαρτηθεί από τις ανάγκες και τον προϋπολογισμό σας. Θα εξετάσουμε δύο διαφορετικές κατευθύνσεις, καθώς και τα πλεονεκτήματα και τα μειονεκτήματα των δύο.

DIY Προσαρμογή

If you are a small to mid-sized ecommerce business and are managing the shipping process on your own, μπορείτε να εφαρμόσετε την προσαρμογή στο πρότυπο συσκευασίας που έχετε παραγγείλει με τη βοήθεια των custom-made γραμματόσημα, αυτοκόλλητα, και ταινία συσκευασίας που ενισχύουν το branding της εταιρείας σας. Αυτή είναι μια πιο hands-on και χρονοβόρα προσέγγιση, αλλά λειτουργεί για όσους θέλουν να ελαχιστοποιήσουν τα έξοδα συσκευασίας που σχετίζονται με.

An example of a crafted package design

Πλεονεκτήματα: The DIY customization route adds a personal touch to packaging, καθώς κάθε σειρά θα είναι λίγο διαφορετικό από τους άλλους. Είναι, επίσης, πολύ πιο οικονομικά φιλικό για να προσθέσετε αυτές τις προσαρμογές χαμηλού κόστους για τη δική σας.

Μειονεκτήματα: Adding the custom stamp and/or branded stickers to your packaged orders will take more time, και δεν θα φαίνονται όπως έχει τυποποιηθεί σαν να χρησιμοποιείται κατά παραγγελία, επώνυμα συσκευασία.

Προσαρμοσμένη συσκευασία

Για εκείνους που θέλουν μια πιο τυποποιημένη και κομψή εμφάνιση με αποστέλλονται παραγγελίες τους, custom-made συσκευασίας μπορεί να είναι η διαδρομή για να πάει. You can design and order custom packaging from sites like Packlane or Pakible, και να δημιουργήσει τη ναυτιλία υλικά που ενισχύουν την εταιρική σας ταυτότητα.

An example of a custom package design

Πλεονεκτήματα: συσκευασία του κάθε παραγγελίας είναι ακριβώς το ίδιο, και είναι ένα λιγότερο βήμα για σας στο τμήμα εκτέλεσης παραγγελιών. Αυτό το βλέμμα είναι γυαλισμένο και επαγγελματική.

Μειονεκτήματα: Σε γενικές γραμμές είναι πιο ακριβά, και δεν έχουν το χειροποίητο αφής ότι η DIY προσέγγιση δεν.

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. Ευτυχώς, this has also contributed to an increase in φιλική προς το περιβάλλον συσκευασία.

Mushroom packaging for Mr Bailey x adidas Originals OZLUCENT sneakers

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

συμπέρασμα

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

Ωστόσο, 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!

Συχνές Ερωτήσεις

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, κι αλλα. Ωστόσο, 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. Ωστόσο, it is more common to use prepaid shipping labels with all the necessary information to save time and shipping costs.