One big part of your shipping business’ success will be influenced by the type of shipping supplies you use. If you’re using high-quality products, your customers will notice. There’s a big difference between a good and poor label or between a sturdy and a soft shipping box.
Label Printers
One important aspect of the booming e-commerce industry is product shipping. It’s a very convenient way of shopping. People can get anything without having to walk out their door. But as a company, before sending the product, you need to label it. To do this, you’ll need some high-quality and efficient shipping label printers.
They can be either thermal transfer or direct thermal. The direct thermal ones work well for short-term shipping requirements since they use heat as a printing source. The thermal transfer ones, on the other hand, work by combining ink and heat and are good for long-term shipping needs. But before buying it, make sure the printer is compatible with all of the devices and your shipping platform.
Verify if the dots per inch, or DPI is enough for your labels. This is the resolution of the printer. The quality of the label improves at a higher DPI. The text will be easier to read and the image will be more precise. In general, all shipping labels require at least a 300 DPI. Customers will find the label easier to read and you’ll leave an excellent first impression.
Another important consideration is the printer’s speed. It’s based on how many labels a single printer can produce in one minute. Some can complete 30 in a minute, while others can complete 1,000 or even more. Some can complete 30 in a minute, while others can complete 1,000 or even more. This will mainly depend on the work volume you’re expected to have. If you’re starting small, you don’t need a printer that can print 1000 labels in one minute. Feel free to go smaller, you can always upgrade.
Keep in mind that the printer should match the size of the labels you’re using. The printer’s connection also matters. It has three connection options: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB. The Ethernet is physical and requires a cable, the USB method also requires a cable and the wireless approach mostly relies on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Cardboard Boxes
The standard cardboard box is the main shipping container that every small business must have on hand. Naturally, the kind, size, and form of boxes will differ based on the goods your business offers. The durability of shipping boxes is another important consideration so that you can make sure the cargo is protected during its journey.
Custom labels are another option if you want to give the box some additional flare or accentuate the brand. Just make sure their size matches the shipping label printers you have. Go for boxes that are durable, lightweight and easily customisable. They’ll save you money, time and effort. Get them in several sizes depending on the products you’re shipping.
Smaller boxes are perfect for jewellery, cosmetics, Christmas ornaments and other smaller items. There are also shipping tubes in case you’re dealing with textiles, prints and posters. They’re made to keep the items safe while rolled inside the tube. If you want to make an even bigger impression, order some customised and branded boxes. This accentuates your professionalism and makes your brand more visible.
Crinkle Paper
Crinkle paper is a type of packing paper that has small, crimped folds that give it a zigzag effect. It’s very handy and comes in crinkle-cut shreds. It’s also an amazing way to protect your product inside the packaging. This is a chemical-free and biodegradable material. It’s recyclable, eco-friendly and easy to dispose of.
This is an essential that has several purposes. The first one is to fill the voids between products (if you’re sending multiple in one box). It’s also good for presentation. It creates sort of a nest where the product can stay. When the customer opens the package, they’ll find a neatly packaged product. And if you match its colour with your brand’s colour, you’ll leave a bigger impression.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a very popular protective option. It’s very versatile and flexible and will keep the products safe inside the box. Heavy-duty bobble wrap is stronger and more durable. It’s made of thicker materials and the air bubbles are bigger. The bubbles can be either big or small. Smaller ones give you more flexibility. They’re perfect for shipping smaller items. Larger bubbles are good for sending bigger products.
There are several types of bubble wrap you can use:
- Foam-backed – an additional layer of foam, bulkier, great at protecting the products;
- Self-adhesive – a mix of bubble wrap and tape;
- Anti-static wrap – good for electronics (smartphones, laptops, tablets).
Tape
Proper packing tape to seal the boxes is another crucial shipping material for small businesses. When packing an item, it’s easy to make the mistake of using ordinary tape, which won’t be as sturdy as it needs to be. Although packaging tape seamlessly closes boxes, it is also simple for customers to cut through it or remove it.
Choose a tape with the size and width you need. This will depend on the size of the box and your products. If it’s a bigger box, you’ll need wider tape and vice versa. There are plenty of tape types to choose from, custom-printed, water-activated, caron-sealing, strapping, acrylic, pressure-sensitive, hot-melt packing and many more. Some of them even come in colour so you can match them with the labels from your wireless shipping label printer.
Scale
Size is another crucial consideration that you should make when shipping items. The size and weight of the shipment will have a big impact on the shipping cost. Buying a shipping scale will help you calculate the costs and budget accordingly. Look for a reliable brand. Someone who sells accurate scales that won’t negatively impact your business.
Wafer Seals
Including a card in your gift is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your business, offer discounts, highlight additional items, and express your appreciation to your consumer. The wafer seal can help you add some visual interest to your packaging and also accentuate some of the most important info your customer should know.
