As the owner of a small business, it’s important that you understand how you can sell your products as efficiently as possible. You can’t just think about the products themselves; you need to think about how they are going to be shipped over to your customers without getting lost or broken during their journey. Here are the shipping essentials that you need to know if you are ready to get started on shipping a product.
1. Think about your packaging
If you are thinking about shipping your products, the first thing you need to think about is your packaging. Your packaging is the best way to keep your products safe when they are sent out to your customers. Usually, your packaging will be an envelope or a mailer box. Think carefully about what type of packaging you use. Your packaging will depend on the size of your product and your company’s brand.
Sometimes companies will use packaging with unique designs to grab the attention of their clients. For instance, packaging can come in a variety of colours and patterns. You can even look at eco-friendly manufacturing and packaging, including compostable packaging to make sure that there is no waste left behind.
With that said, you need to be careful not to spend too much on your packaging, especially if you need to replace your packaging regularly. You need to look at the cost of each piece of packaging. It may cost you more to ship your products if your packages are heavier. Some good suggestions for cost-effective packaging include:
- Cellophane bags
- Tissue paper
- Kraft paper rolls
- Twine for packaging aesthetic
Think carefully about how much space is taken up in your workplace due to the amount of packaging you need to store. You can also consider adding some thank you cards to your packaging. That way, your customers know that they are appreciated.
2. Shipping mailers
Moving onto the shipping process, one of the essential things you need to consider is whether or not you need a shipping mailer. You can buy shipping mailers from Uline, Amazon, PackagingSupplies and Papermart, especially if you need to get them in bulk.
Paper mailers are extremely cost-effective. They are easy to get if you need to have a steady supply of them that are ready to send out if you have a last-minute order. This can be extremely useful if you are looking for discounts.
3. Shipping labels
Shipping labels are crucial if you want to give your shipping and packaging a professional touch. Instead of writing out a hand-written label that can be difficult to read, shipping labels can be easily designed on Word before they are sent to a printer and returned in bulk. You can then put them on your packages to show off your brand and make your products memorable.
4. Cushioning materials
If you are shipping a fragile item to your customers, make sure to use a cushioning material to make sure that your products don’t get broken during the travelling process. You can use bubble wrap or tissue to do this.
5. Consider your shipping options
Another shipping essential you need to think about is your shipping mail provider. A good courier company in the UK can help you get your products sent to your customers in a decent amount of time. Make sure to take some time to find the best courier for your needs. That way you can ship a variety of parcels as quickly as possible. Some of the best courier services include:
- Royal Mail
- UPS
- DHL
- Parcelforce
- TNT Express UK
- Hermes
- Yodel
- FedEx
6. Additional personalisation
Although this may not be an essential, if you want to make effective marketing out of your packaging and parcels, you may want to think of ways that you can personalise your shipping items. Think carefully about the products you own and ways you can make your packaging suit your brand. For instance, if you sell candles, you may want to use soft mute colours for your packaging, and incorporate twine and even stickers to stand out compared to your competitors.
Are you ready to ship your products?
As a small business owner, it can be stressful trying to get your products shipped out in a timely manner. That’s why it’s important that you fully understand what options are available to help your products when they are on their journey to your customers. Your customers will appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into your shipping.