5 E-commerce Packaging Tips to Reduce Shipping Costs

E-commerce packaging tips play an important role in cutting down your shipping costs. Custom paper packaging is one of the important aspects of e-commerce that often goes overlooked, but undoubtedly the material used will have a huge impact on shipping costs.

As shipping costs increase and the competition growing stronger than ever, cost-saving measures are integral to your business bottom line. To help you cut down on shipping costs with e-commerce packaging, we will guide you through 5 ecommerce packaging strategies to reduce overall shipping costs.

5 Useful E-commerce Packaging Tips

1.Choose Right Packaging Materials

The choice of materials for packaging influences the cost regarding transport. For example, heavier packaging materials might drive up the weight of your shipment and push you into another rate bracket. Choose lightweight, durable materials that will protect your products as much as they need protection without adding empty weight. Consider using

Poly Mailers: Using poly mailer to ship non-fragile lightweight products such as clothes because, its moisture-resistant and lightweight. They are usually lighter than a box, saving on transport costs.

Corrugated Boxes: If your products just need a bit more protection, opt for custom corrugated boxes manufactured with recycled materials.

Eco-friendly Options: In addition to appealing to the eco-conscious among us, sustainable materials are sometimes lighter than comparable traditional counterparts and therefore can help reduce shipping costs.

2.Optimise Package Dimensions

The size and dimensions of the packages determine how much it costs to ship your boxes. As carriers often charge per weight and volume, your custom printed packaging size should be as small as possible. Here are a few ways to do that:

Right Sizing: Invest in packaging that fits your products as closely and tightly as possible. Do not use large boxes with physical room, this causes dimensional weight calculations and can increase the final price of shipping.

Parcel Your Items Flat: When it works, ship items flat without extra cushion. This is best for things like t-shirts or flat goods.

Utilise Shipping Software: Numerous shipping solutions provide functionality that assists you in determining the best-suited package sizes for your products so as not to overpack or under-pack.

3.Leverage Bulk Shipping Rates

If you have been emerging as an e-commerce entrepreneur, consider taking advantage of bulk shipping rates. Many carriers offer a wide variety of shipping service types at discounted rates to such businesses with very high volumes of packages being shipped. Here is how you can benefit:

Negotiate Rates: Asking your carrier for policy about discounted rates based on how many parcels get shipped will help your business save on its budget.

Consolidate Shipments: Merge packages shipped to one final destination. Shipments carried together save you a decent amount and also help reduce further carbon burden on the environment.

4.Implement Efficient Inventory Management

An effective inventory management system integrates the processes of packaging and shipping while reducing costs. Below are some methods that many industry leaders recommend:

Work with a 3PL or Fulfillment Centre: One option that you need to consider is using the third-party logistics (3PL) or other fulfillment warehouses that can store your inventory far closer to your customers. This way, you can reduce shipping distances and thus, costs.

Automate Inventory Control: Application software tools are on hand to help you see what you have in stock and what needs to be backed up. This can avoid unnecessary stock of goods that can add to storage costs, thus ensuring the necessary packaging is continuously available when the need arises.

5.Test Packaging Designs

Finally, consistent testing and improvement of your packaging designs help in better cost management. Improve your packaging by using the following methods:

Customer Feedback: Ask customers for feedback about the packaging after the sale. They can tell you things about the experience that will help you understand what works and what doesn't.

Try Out Various Designs: Choose a different design and materials and see how the package offers protection while reducing weight and cost. Keep a record of your test results and you can help find the balance between protection and price.

Final Thoughts!

Except for selecting the cheapest carrier, reducing e-commerce shipping costs also constitutes one methodology, far from the holistic approach to custom packaging. With these e-commerce packaging tips, you can cut-down your shipping costs.

The process of using appropriate materials, optimising package size, taking advantage of bulk shipping rates, effectively managing inventory space, and constantly testing packaging designs can all lead to lowered shipping costs.