Reducing Shipping Expenses

More and more consumers are opting to purchase essentials online. This means that modern companies are facing an increased demand for shipping. Shipping boxes offer an affordable way to safely send online purchases to a consumer's home.

The way that you pack your boxes can have a direct impact on the quality of your products once they arrive at their final destination. Follow these steps to ensure you are packing your shipping boxes the right way.

1. Select the Right Box

A properly packed shipping box can only be created using the right box for the job. Don't be tempted to reuse boxes that you might have lying around your mailroom to ship out online purchases.

Cardboard tends to get weaker with each use. Reusing boxes creates the potential for box failure, which can result in product and profit loss for your company.

You also want to find a box sturdy enough to support the weight of the item being shipped. Boxes with multiple rows of flutes, which are the holes or tubes you can see when you examine the end of the flap, are better suited for bulky or fragile items.

2. Use the Right Cushioning

All products being shipped to online customers should be packaged using cushioning. The most popular types of cushioning are packing peanuts, thick pieces of foam, or wadded paper.

Cushioning is critical when it comes to protecting your items against damage during shipping. If a product can move within the box, it can sustain damage upon impact with the interior walls of the box.

You should use enough cushioning that you can't feel any movement inside your shipping box once a product has been packed. Cushioning materials are lightweight and will not increase shipping costs. What cushioning materials will do is prevent financial loss caused by shipping damage.

3. Use the Right Tape

The type of tape you use can affect the strength of your shipping boxes. You want to use a tape that is strong enough to adhere to itself without coming loose.

A lot of packing tapes have the potential to rip off the outer layer of cardboard, allowing the contents of the shipping box to spill out. Some tapes can even interfere with the scanning devices used by shipping companies to track package deliveries.

A tape with small twine reinforcement fibers can add structural stability to your shipping boxes and help keep your products safe during transit. 

For more information on shipping boxes, contact a shipping supply store near you.