Start selling your products online with Jimdo.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\nStart Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1. How to choose the right product packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first job of packaging material is protection. If goods arrive damaged, your customers will be disappointed and you\u2019ll have deal with more returns. You\u2019ll need sturdy packaging as an outer layer and filling material inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your packaging choices will also play a big part in how you charge for shipping<\/a>. For example, online shop indo-box.nl packages its Indonesian layer cake compactly to make it fit in most mailboxes and letter slots. This saves costs and the customer doesn’t have to be at home when the parcel is delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/7A-bHMjXkU40qEedA8BuCHNxq40P1LPVQh18ZaXJkPjaWaVuz80GzObl-hybTx5fF7DFoiHZHQUpcTx97u9SjB0A1WnVfJO2meBaniwa6vie4jmcDwo6lMA_YrAbsC4SjXKKNbz7\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Order packaging samples.<\/strong> As a small business owner, you\u2019ll probably want standard packaging materials with your own design or logo<\/a>. Always order test sets with different sizes from several suppliers first.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Think outside the box.<\/strong> Padded envelopes offer an alternative to boxes for shipping small items and clothing. Because these packages are so light, they can help you keep shipping rates low. They\u2019re also perfect if you do local deliveries<\/a> <\/strong>on foot or by bike.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Choose 3 or 4 different sizes.<\/strong> This way, you\u2019ll be prepared for most customer orders. If a customer buys three books from you, you don’t want to send them all separately, or use a huge box for something small. It\u2019s a good way to set your small business apart from big retailers like Amazon.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nConsider reusable packaging. Several shipping companies are already trying it. For example, Postnl has the reusable fashionpack and Zalando<\/a> is also testing packaging that customers can return to be reused.<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Test your packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Good packaging can be opened easily without damaging the goods inside. Here\u2019s how to put your product packaging to the test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Pack and seal a few different boxes just as you would for a customer.<\/strong> Now try to open them with your hands. Can you do it? What if you use the kitchen scissors? Get friends and family involved too and tell them not to be too careful\u2014your customers probably won\u2019t be!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Drop a packed box on the floor then put it in the shower for a while.<\/strong> This will give you a good idea how solid and water resistant it really is. You can then, for example, adjust the amount of filling material or add a waterproof inner layer.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Send a package to yourself<\/strong>. See how your items look when they arrive. Did they get squished or damaged in transit? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What went wrong in your test round? You might need to tweak your packaging or even add opening instructions to the outside of the box to help customers open it safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. How to design product packaging that makes your brand stand out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Your customer is excited for their order to arrive. If your brand name and logo<\/a> are clearly visible on the outside of the box, that\u2019s their first moment of joy, \u201cWoo hoo! My order is here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnother advantage to branded shipping packaging is that your brand remains visible during transport and if the box is reused. Customers who see a box at a friend’s house will immediately recognize it, further strengthening their feelings about your brand. Research also shows that beautiful packaging activates the reward centre in our brain<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nChoose your colors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In 2018, 87 billion parcels were shipped in the United States. While we don\u2019t have details about their design, how many do you think came in standard white or brown packaging? Probably millions! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting creative with your packaging design can help you stand out. Even if you\u2019re going with standard packaging, most suppliers will offer boxes in a range of colors so you can have them match your brand and website colors<\/a>. Companies like Stitch Fix has been doing this for years and their distinct polkadot boxes are instantly recognizable. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf custom boxes are too expensive, look at all the parts of your packaging. You can design your own address labels and packaging tape. For example, have tape made in a brand color or with your logo<\/a> on it.<\/div>\n\n\n\nChoose a print<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your logo and brand name will be printed on the box. Your social media profiles are also good to mention. This reminds customers to follow you and share what they love about your products, or even film an unboxing video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another good example comes from e-bike retailer Van Moof. During delivery, the heavy boxes would often fall on the ground, bikes arrived damaged, and customers sent them back. This meant Van Moof had to pay out for damaged products, processing, and the cost of the returns<\/a>. Plus, their customers had a bad experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs a solution, they now print a picture of a flat screen TV on the outside of the box. Couriers are more careful because they know that the content is fragile and the number of damage cases fell by 75%<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoose sustainable materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We mentioned reusable external packaging earlier. But you can also make a sustainable choice for packaging material inside the box. For example, if you want a protective layer between different products in a package, choose growth paper. This consists of two layers of paper with plant or flower seeds in between. After unpacking, your customer can use the wrapping paper to grow plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lush Cosmetics are masters at this. Not only are their mail order packages sent in 100% recycled and recyclable boxes, they\u2019ve swapped traditional Styrofoam for biodegradable, plant-based \u201cpacking peanuts\u201d<\/a> that you can throw in your compost. This approach fits perfectly with Lush\u2019s brand voice<\/a> and company values, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. How to give your customers the best unboxing experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With standard packaging, your customer\u2019s attention is only focused on the product you send. By adding your own finishing touches, you can make unpacking your products a special experience that buyers can only get from your company. This turns opening the box into an event in itself and your customers connect this experience with your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some tips to make sure it\u2019s a good one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let your brand personality shine through<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you make unwrapping your products a fun, exciting experience for your customers, they\u2019ll associate the same feelings with your brand. So many mail order parcels these days are sent in boring, brown cardboard boxes with a standard black and white invoice inside. So it\u2019s relatively easy to make your brand stand out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Include a free sample or tester.<\/strong> We all love a freebie. And including one is a great way to give your customers more value than they expected, draw attention to your other products, and even reduce the chance that they\u2019ll return the order.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Throw in a discount code for their next order.<\/strong> Want customers to reward customers for shopping with you and encourage them to order again? A discount code is a great way to reinforce customer loyalty and boost sales.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Add an activity. <\/strong>Some companies give you a box and encourage you to make something with it. The online pet store Chewy, for example, encourages you to turn your box into a fun toy for your cat, then take a picture and share it on social media.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Add a personal message. <\/strong>The smaller your business, the bigger your advantage here\u2014including a handwritten \u201cThank you\u201d note with every order is a cheap, easy way to delight your customers and forge a real, human connection. This type of dialogue marketing<\/a> can make a big impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s an example from sportswear brand, Apt Cavalier, straight from Sarah their CEO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/q6XLoAd9ZkL1LW2XCU9w4946ugowWIKMqnVtUadPX0zOClXTPJhd4er-TWe1Wa-6wDignpOLOoGhg64kY5L4x_UfVfaTTBa0N-659rO_oWaGIO_KmmTft3BUbRmGgXB5ex5xjEXI\")
A handwritten \u201cThank you\u201d note from UK sportswear brand, Apt Cavalier.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThey also include their brand\u2019s hashtag #BEUNSTOPPABLE along with a reminder to tag them in your product photos. A nice touch if you want to encourage happy customers to become your brand ambassadors by talking about your brand on social media and, as a customer, it helps you feel a part of their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t fuel frustration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After hours queuing outside the Apple Store in Perth, Australia, the first person to get their hands on the new iPhone 6 dropped the phone as soon as they opened the box. Not a great customer experience\u2014so what went wrong? Because the box didn’t open smoothly, the customer used too much force on it, and the phone fell out when the box opened. This was especially unusual for Apple, a brand that is known for the attention it pays to how it feels to unpack a new product, even paying attention to tiny details like the smell and feel of removing the phone\u2019s protective film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is, if you\u2019re a small business, it\u2019s easier to experiment and make sure you avoid known frustrations like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. How to choose the right product packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first job of packaging material is protection. If goods arrive damaged, your customers will be disappointed and you\u2019ll have deal with more returns. You\u2019ll need sturdy packaging as an outer layer and filling material inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your packaging choices will also play a big part in how you charge for shipping<\/a>. For example, online shop indo-box.nl packages its Indonesian layer cake compactly to make it fit in most mailboxes and letter slots. This saves costs and the customer doesn’t have to be at home when the parcel is delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good packaging can be opened easily without damaging the goods inside. Here\u2019s how to put your product packaging to the test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What went wrong in your test round? You might need to tweak your packaging or even add opening instructions to the outside of the box to help customers open it safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your customer is excited for their order to arrive. If your brand name and logo<\/a> are clearly visible on the outside of the box, that\u2019s their first moment of joy, \u201cWoo hoo! My order is here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another advantage to branded shipping packaging is that your brand remains visible during transport and if the box is reused. Customers who see a box at a friend’s house will immediately recognize it, further strengthening their feelings about your brand. Research also shows that beautiful packaging activates the reward centre in our brain<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n In 2018, 87 billion parcels were shipped in the United States. While we don\u2019t have details about their design, how many do you think came in standard white or brown packaging? Probably millions! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting creative with your packaging design can help you stand out. Even if you\u2019re going with standard packaging, most suppliers will offer boxes in a range of colors so you can have them match your brand and website colors<\/a>. Companies like Stitch Fix has been doing this for years and their distinct polkadot boxes are instantly recognizable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your logo and brand name will be printed on the box. Your social media profiles are also good to mention. This reminds customers to follow you and share what they love about your products, or even film an unboxing video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another good example comes from e-bike retailer Van Moof. During delivery, the heavy boxes would often fall on the ground, bikes arrived damaged, and customers sent them back. This meant Van Moof had to pay out for damaged products, processing, and the cost of the returns<\/a>. Plus, their customers had a bad experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a solution, they now print a picture of a flat screen TV on the outside of the box. Couriers are more careful because they know that the content is fragile and the number of damage cases fell by 75%<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We mentioned reusable external packaging earlier. But you can also make a sustainable choice for packaging material inside the box. For example, if you want a protective layer between different products in a package, choose growth paper. This consists of two layers of paper with plant or flower seeds in between. After unpacking, your customer can use the wrapping paper to grow plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lush Cosmetics are masters at this. Not only are their mail order packages sent in 100% recycled and recyclable boxes, they\u2019ve swapped traditional Styrofoam for biodegradable, plant-based \u201cpacking peanuts\u201d<\/a> that you can throw in your compost. This approach fits perfectly with Lush\u2019s brand voice<\/a> and company values, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With standard packaging, your customer\u2019s attention is only focused on the product you send. By adding your own finishing touches, you can make unpacking your products a special experience that buyers can only get from your company. This turns opening the box into an event in itself and your customers connect this experience with your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some tips to make sure it\u2019s a good one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you make unwrapping your products a fun, exciting experience for your customers, they\u2019ll associate the same feelings with your brand. So many mail order parcels these days are sent in boring, brown cardboard boxes with a standard black and white invoice inside. So it\u2019s relatively easy to make your brand stand out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an example from sportswear brand, Apt Cavalier, straight from Sarah their CEO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They also include their brand\u2019s hashtag #BEUNSTOPPABLE along with a reminder to tag them in your product photos. A nice touch if you want to encourage happy customers to become your brand ambassadors by talking about your brand on social media and, as a customer, it helps you feel a part of their community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After hours queuing outside the Apple Store in Perth, Australia, the first person to get their hands on the new iPhone 6 dropped the phone as soon as they opened the box. Not a great customer experience\u2014so what went wrong? Because the box didn’t open smoothly, the customer used too much force on it, and the phone fell out when the box opened. This was especially unusual for Apple, a brand that is known for the attention it pays to how it feels to unpack a new product, even paying attention to tiny details like the smell and feel of removing the phone\u2019s protective film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is, if you\u2019re a small business, it\u2019s easier to experiment and make sure you avoid known frustrations like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Test your packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n2. How to design product packaging that makes your brand stand out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choose your colors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Choose a print<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Choose sustainable materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. How to give your customers the best unboxing experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let your brand personality shine through<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\nDon\u2019t fuel frustration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n