There are a lot of processes to define when you’re operating a small business, but the packing and shipping process is often overlooked and not discussed as much as it should be. If you get the packing and shipping processes wrong, you’re going to disappoint your customers, spend more money, and most likely fail. With this in mind, we’ve put together a series of tips for a coherent packing and shipping process.
Codify Your Packing Process
Codifying your processes involves writing them down into an official business document, which helps with standardisation. Essentially, this means that your business will have consistency because it won’t matter who is handling the packing process, as everyone will be following the same process.
The easiest way to do this is by creating a series of checklists and explanations, which will help when you’re training new staff. You need to cover everything from pairing products with the correct box sizes to where to place shipping labels.
Get the Right Packaging
When choosing the right packaging for your project, you need to consider the weight and size. The heavier and larger the package, the more shipping you’ll end up paying. Try and find a box that will fit the majority of your products, and you can set this as the default choice. However, if you have smaller products, you need to have smaller boxes to avoid paying for empty space.
Boxes aren’t the only consideration you need to make when it comes to sourcing the right packaging. For example, if you’re going to be dealing with pallet-size orders, you’ll need a high-quality Extended Core Hand Film to protect products from the elements. By using a product like this, you can easily put it into a dispenser or get to work running it around by hand.
Buying High-Quality Packaging
There are plenty of packaging options out there, and it might be tempting to choose cheaper materials to save money. However, the most likely outcome of this is delivering damaged goods, which will cost you more money to resupply, repackage, and reship.
Get Prepared for Peak Periods
Anyone that works in the eCommerce space knows that the period between Black Friday and Christmas is extremely busy. Therefore, to cope with the increased demand and avoid delays and disappointed customers, you need to get stocked up on packaging supplies. Remember, your suppliers will be busy at this time too, so get in early to avoid unavailable products.
Be Clear with Terms and Conditions
Customers like to know exactly what they’re getting into before buying a product, so make sure you’re explicitly clear when it comes to detailing your terms and conditions. If you want to avoid answering unnecessary customer questions, then write a detailed FAQ section on your website.
Whether you’re new to operating an online store or you’re revisiting existing operations, it’s always worth spending time defining your packing and shipping processes. By having a proper plan in place, you will save money, time, and you’ll reduce the number of disgruntled customers.
