The life of a retail product can be surprisingly complex. There are all kinds of steps and stages involved between a manufacturer sending it out and a customer getting it home. Each one is an essential part of the purchasing process and represents a hundred different commitments; from designers and marketing experts to logistics teams, haulage operations, distribution centres, vendors, retail staff, customers, and more.
This is why it’s really important to make sure that the item of value at the heart of all this – be it a hat for a wedding or a vacuum-packed sandwich – is protected throughout. With the right packaging, this is easily achieved, but how do you know which options are the best? There’s a lot of choice on offer and it can be tricky sometimes to know what to look for.
Fortunately, the experts at Venus Packaging are here to help. We’ve put together this guide to the essential features that your packaging materials need to have.
While all packaging should be reasonably strong, the amount of protection needed will of course, depend on the fragility of your product. If you’re selling food items for example, freshness is a top priority. Things like bread, vegetables, sliced meats, and baked goods must be contained, so that they don’t oxidise and age faster than necessary. Vacuum sealers are a good choice because they remove the air and hold the product securely in place.
The more complex the packaging, the longer it will take you to prepare products for sale. Customers aren’t too fond of overly fussy packets either, so keep things simple with heat-sealed ‘pull open’ bags and clear, unobtrusive shrink wrap. If the packaging isn’t integrated with your branding or brand design, make sure that it doesn’t interfere with or disrupt it. This is particularly vital when it comes to things like book covers, which need to be protected in a way that doesn’t obscure any important details.
Packaging supplies are one of those things that you’ll run out of from time to time. While sales figures will give you a good idea of what to buy and how much, there’s no real way to predict if or when you’ll experience a spike. For this reason, we recommend working with the same packaging supplier every time. Build up a trusted relationship, so that availability is always guaranteed and you’re never struggling to find a manufacturer that can meet your demands. If you’re on the hunt for a packaging supplier, head over to our contact page and get in touch.
You’ll also need to check that your packaging supplier is adhering to all of the necessary state and national laws. The Australian government has set up the Australian Packaging Covenant to encourage all businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and sustainable packaging is a big part of this. At Venus Packaging, we only use quality materials, so that more strength, more security, and more protection can be enjoyed with less of an impact on the environment.
Category:Category: Articles & Handy Tips
Exporters and domestic traders must be aware of the demands that shipping puts on packaged goods. It is especially important to keep in mind four potential challenges when packaging and shipping your goods: weight, breakage, moisture, and pilferage.
Weight and breakage typically go hand in hand. Shipped goods are generally carried in containers, though some special goods are shipped as break bulk cargo. Most goods are likely to be stacked on top of each other for transport. The extra weight creates a higher risk of breakage. Goods may also break due to harsh handling, such as dragging, pushing, or dropping during unloading.
Another imminent threat is moisture, especially due to condensation. Cargo may be unloaded in precipitation, or the foreign port may lack covered storage facilities.
Finally, theft and pilferage are ever-present concerns. According to the National Cargo Security Council, stolen and lost cargo costs shippers $50 billion annually. Any merchant who wants to be successful while shipping in 2021 must find ways to address these four challenges. The following five tips for domestic and export packaging and shipping are a great starting point.
Primarily, shipment goods are packaged to protect the products inside. The packaging helps keep the products safe during shipment and also prevents damage while the product sits on the shelf. Therefore, the goal is to find a reliable packaging solution that protects your products and meets regulations. You can always package the products on your own. However, if you’re not confident in your packaging skills, you may want to consider outsourcing the task.
If you outsource the task, the third party, will know the best packaging solution for your products based on previous experience. If you prefer to do it in-house, remember that you need to consider three main factors when choosing shipment packaging: material, strength, and size. Always look for manufacturer stamps to find out about the material quality, size, and strength of the packaging.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for shipment packaging. However, following a few best practices can go a long way. Firstly, you should never leave any empty spaces inside the box. Empty spaces allow contents to move during transit, which can cause damage to the contents and the box. Secondly, always place items to be shipped in the center of the box, at least 6cm from the box’s walls. Finally, use packaging materials to wrap and secure the product. Also consider using dividers to ship more than one item in a larger product.
Sealing the shipment box protects your products from weather damage (including moisture) and prevents the loss of goods during transit. Therefore, you should choose reliable sealing materials and sealing techniques.
The shipping label clearly indicates the package’s contents, who the sender is, and the receiver’s address. This information is crucial as it tells the logistics service providers and customs staff how to handle the package. Most labels also have a tracking number or barcode to track the product’s location in the supply chain. This helps to minimize mix-ups and makes it easy to trace any missing items. This also adds extra security for the consumer or client.
All states and countries have laws and customs on what can be imported. As you package your products for shipments, keep these laws in mind to avoid unnecessary hold-ups. Take photos when you ship your products and when they arrive to review processes as needed.
Are you considering professional 3rd party assistance in warehousing, logistics, transport, domestic or export crating, packaging, or shipping? Contact EQ Logistics at 886.847.8330 for a quote.
Our expertise in export and domestic packing applies to everything from fragile electronic control cabinets to a complete machine line, from simple skidding and shrouding to the latest packing technology for demanding military and commercial applications. We are your crating and packaging experts located in Elkhart, Indiana.
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