When you’re running a small business, margins can be tight and every expense needs to be carefully weighed up. However, one place where you don’t want to skimp is on protective packaging for your products when you ship them.
A deep dive on the reliability of parcel delivery services in the UK published recently by the House of Lords highlighted that, while consumers are broadly satisfied with delivery services, there are certain problems that recur.
These include parcels arriving damaged or being left in inappropriate locations. Of course, the latter can lead to damaged goods, for instance if a cardboard box is left out in the rain.
When you are running a small business, especially one that relies on ecommerce, it is therefore essential to do all you can to ensure smooth deliveries and as few parcels arriving damaged as possible.
What is the cost of damaged parcels for retailers?
This will vary in monetary terms, depending on what you are selling and therefore what products get damaged while being delivered.
However, there is no doubt that the cost of damaged goods arriving in the mail is substantial. This is not only about the expense of having to replace the damaged product and often provide free delivery. It also includes the reputational damage to your brand and loss of consumer trust.
One study found that 39 per cent of consumers lose trust in a brand and are therefore less loyal to that brand in future after experiencing an issue with shipping.
What’s more, when a parcel arrives damaged, 79 per cent of US consumers will not make a repeat purchase with that company. Although this is based on survey data from America, it is reasonable to assume consumers in the UK and elsewhere will behave similarly.
This means damaged parcels can add up to much more significant financial losses than simply the value of the product that arrives in less than pristine condition.
What protective packaging options are available?
The good news is that there are a range of protective packaging options available to suit all kinds of products. By choosing the right kind of packaging, you are therefore minimising the risk of goods being damaged in transit.
Some of the most popular protective packaging options are:
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Foam-lined boxes
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Custom corrugated boxes
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Bubble wrap
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Loose-fill chips
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Bubble bags
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Foam-lined boxes
Foam-lined boxes are the gold standard in protective packaging in many ways. This is because the foam lining not only protects fragile items from shock and impact, but also from vibration as it is transported.
The kind of material used in our foam-lined boxes is also non-abrasive, which means it protects the surface of whatever product you are shipping.
The foam lining in our cardboard boxes can either be smooth or textured, depending on what would best suit the product that you’re shipping.
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Custom corrugated boxes
One of the best ways to protect your goods from damage during the shipping process is to ensure they are in a box that is the correct size. When you pack items in a box that is too large, the extra space can create problems in itself.
This is because the item – or items – can shift around inside the box and may be damaged as a result.
Corrugated cardboard, meanwhile, rather than regular cardboard, offers additional strength. You can also choose custom corrugated boxes with overlapping flaps at the top and bottom that offer additional strength and protection.
If the items you’re shipping are heavy, fragile or both, this is a great option to provide them with plenty of protection.
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Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap is a well-known form of protective packaging that has been used for years to great effect. You can choose between small, large and antistatic bubble wrap, depending on what you’re shipping.
Small bubble wrap is often preferred for particularly fragile items, because the bubbles mould more easily to the shape of the goods when they are smaller.
The beauty of using bubble wrap to protect your products is that you can add as much or as little protection as you need to each shipment.
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Loose-fill chips
When you need to ship an item in a box that is too large for it, loose-fill chips are a good way to prevent it from slipping around during transit. This kind of protective material is very versatile, as you simply pour in enough to fill the void around your product and better protect it.
You can also choose biodegradable packing peanuts if you are conscious of sustainability.
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Bubble bags
Bubble bags offer an additional protective layer for your goods and can be helpful for small or slimline items that need to go in the post. A bubble bag will also keep your product in one place within its larger packaging and can also be used inside envelopes.
