Gaurav Jalan is the Founder and Director of Packman Packaging, one of the largest Indian packaging companies that have been serving some of the world’s eminent technology, pharmaceutical, retail, fast-moving consumer goods, food, courier, publication, Jewellery, fashion, e-commerce organizations for the past 30 years. A brilliant academic, a good graphic designer, and a graduate from India’s top management institutes, Mr. Jalan is a visionary businessman and an eminent spokesperson on matters related to the Indian Packaging industry.
Shipment is an integral part of the eCommerce business and getting it right commonly decides profitability and sustainability of the eCommerce business and for start-ups that are plying in the key industries like food, fashion, electronics, and manufacturing. Be a business delivering goods to end customers or sending overseas shipments all across the world, and one of the major areas that will help make a product turn into instant success is the packaging. Once you do it wrong and the results could be drastic. Because as the case is, the first impression is the last impression these days. Bear in mind that your customers’ experience with your brand is not merely restricted to your online presence; it goes way beyond that. And prior to they even get an opportunity to see your product, what they will be met with is the box that the product arrives in.
Perhaps it is a simple brown box bearing the company’s logo on it, or probably it is an eye-catching, high-quality package bearing impressive designs. Irrespective of any e-commerce merchant who wants their brand to stand out needs to incorporate their business identity into each shipment. As someone who is a packaging industry or e-commerce insider, it is quite necessary for the essential guide to choosing the proper shipping box for your product. Here they are.
Size and Structural
The foremost thing you need to do is to get the size of your shipping box correct to avoid a series of problems. Using an exceedingly large box will only result in excess shipping charges for the space that it covers while selecting a small shipping box might cause the product to get damaged by the time the package reaches the destination. Your box size requires to be precisely matched to the product that you are shipping, with an additional room to add protective fillers. Keep around 3 inches of padding in your shipping boxes as this will support protect items that could be damaged by daily handling (scuff marks, dirt, labels).
If you are selling covertly formed products, go for shipping boxes that accommodate all of them. What you place around and inside the box all plays a key role in minimizing the effect of transit. By lending appropriate polystyrene foam makes sure that your boxes are properly labeled, as it will go a long distance in safeguarding your product. While the structural virtue of your box must also be perfect at the initial phase of the shipping process. There are a broader array of kinds, weights, and strengths of boxes to select from, along with a variety of shipping supplies, cushioning materials, and proper labeling.
Good and Sturdy Ability To Travel
Besides getting the proper box, your shipping boxes have to be strong enough to travel from one place to another without or minimal damage. If the products are fragile or bulky, you need to have to pay attention to materials that are specifically designed for strength. On the other side, if your products are merely going to be sitting on the store shelves, then you must need to focus more on the exterior displays; this is where a high-quality print finish such as UV-treated, liquid-based, high-gloss coating, would be a viable option.
Well, it costs more to replace damaged products compared to spending on proper packaging protection. For products that are a little bit heavy-duty, shipping boxes made of a hard-bearing thing such as a corrugated board is a top choice since it provides incredible support.
Materials
The manner you would not want to make a home that cannot survive all-weather (think simply of extreme summer, rain or winter). In the same way, you would not also wish your products to be kept inside the boxes made of wrong materials either. While selecting the quantity, (the thickness or weight) of any shipping box material, you have to consider what is suitable for your product.
Corrugated
This flexible yet robust material is an excellent choice for heavy or fragile items, e-commerce packages, shipping boxes and cartons, and subscription boxes.
Paperboard
This is quite a lightweight material that lends excellent printing results and is perfect for dairy, food, pharmaceuticals, hardware, and cosmetic based products.
Design
The looks of your box would depend on the version you opt for. Eco mailer boxes are one of the rawest and most natural choices and make a good minimalist choice. It will attract attention to detail, such as the short catchy phrase or a logo.
You have to make your shipping boxes more memorable, and you can easily do that by applying branded colors, imagery, or by displaying elements of your business. Customized boxes that appeal to your customer or potential ones can also improve brand awareness and leave a long-lasting impact.
Customization
It always brings immense joy to receive your long-awaited Amazon package at your doorstep with its having a distinctive smiling A-Z logo compared to getting the package on a plain and unattractive box. Have you ever considered how you could get that sort of high-end service for your own products and brands? Customized corrugated boxes, printed courier bags, and packaging tapes can easily make it happen for your brand. If you are dealing in fashion, apparel, gifting, stationery, then well-designed and well-customized carry bags hold a vital role to communicate your brand’s sophistication and motivates word-of-mouth promotion by your customers. From simple and easy-looking merchandise bags to high-end fabric bags and gourmet bags, you can ship your product in several styles.