When it comes to selling products online, there is a lot to think about. Sourcing goods, storing goods and setting up a webpage to sell goods effectively are all high on the priority list for ecommerce businesses. However, today we’re going to focus an extremely important but often overlooked aspect of the online sales sector: packaging...

No matter what the product is that you sell online, chances are once a customer places an order that product has to be packaged and handed to a carrier to be delivered. Whilst this process may seem innocuous, with just a little effort it is an area for potentially huge savings.

The process of shipping begins with selecting a suitable package for your product to be sent in. This choice is dependent on a number of factors, including:

• The size of the product
• Whether the product is fragile
• Whether the product is an odd/irregular shape

Taking these factors in to consideration, certain options are available. For instance when shipping a pair of socks, a mail bag makes much more sense than a large double wall cardboard box filled with soft void fill, which in turn would be much better suited to a fragile vase. Whilst these examples are fairly self-evident, making an informed decision for every product being shipped can soon lead to large savings and even to a happier, more satisfied customer.

Your aim when selecting packaging should be to reduce the overall size and volume. This has benefits in a number of different areas. Shipping and distribution companies often charge based on the size and weight of packaging. Reducing the wasted space inside of your shipments reduces your shipping costs, which can then be passed on to customers to boost sales or increase profit margins. Reducing this wasted space also saves on void filler, saving you even more money.

Another important consideration in the current market is how your customer experiences your product when it arrives at their home. Anyone can throw something into a generic stock box, chuck on a label and hand it over to the delivery service without giving it a second thought. Putting in a little extra effort can easily let your brand stand out from others. If the customer is a regular, consider sending them a personalised note letting them know that you appreciate their loyalty. If you are selling a product that the environmentally conscious might be prone to purchasing, think about the filler material you are using. They will definitely appreciate recyclable or recycled packaging, and they are much more likely to think of you the next time they go to make a purchase.

In conclusion, giving a little more thought to how you ship your goods can make a big difference to your business.