Make sure your parcels get there safely
If you run an online shop, you know how important packaging your products can be. There seems to be a shift toward recycled and environmentally friendly packaging, which is great. However you also need to think about the practicalities of making sure your package gets there safely.
Last week, I sold a book through my online shop. It was pouring with rain in Melbourne and in many other places in Australia, and I wanted to make sure the book arrived dry. So, when I was getting it ready for posting, I put it in a plastic freezer bag to make sure it would arrive dry. The freezer bag is also light so wouldn’t add to the weight of the book, and also wouldn’t add to the bulk of the envelope. The primary thing I was thinking was to make sure the book arrived at its destination dry and ready to read.
What considerations do you have in sending out your products?
Do you send things that are a fragile or if they get wet they don’t work as well? Do you need to make sure your products aren’t crushed?
Look at your packaging and take these practicalities in to account. Then go and look at the presentation of your packages and any other factors such as being environmentally friendly.
For example, if you need to make sure your products arrive dry, can you get some coloured cellophane in your business colours that is bio degradable to wrap your products in? Can you find some other solution that will make sure your products arrive dry and usable and meet the values of your business?
Please share some of your packaging solutions by adding a comment. I would especially like to hear some tips on keeping books dry without using a freezer bag!
I’m particularly careful with my packaging – apart from the actual giftwrap around the item purchased. I usually send in a box, I line it with coloured tissue paper and place the purchase (gift wrapped), a little sweet treat (in a ziplock bag in case it melts!), a postcard with a handwritten thank you note and the receipt.
In your case of wanting to ensure you keep your book dry, I would get a 100pack of large ziplock bags – they’re only a few dollars and well worth it as they’re waterproof and sturdy enough to retain a crisp clean look. You can get them from packaging and/or party supply shops.