Smart e-commerce companies know what types of shipping supplies to choose for their product and how to manage those efficiently. We want to share those decisions they make with you when you’re starting up your company. You don’t have to overspend to give your customers a great experience; instead, it just takes a bit of planning.

Select supplies that meet your needs.
Shipping goes far beyond brown cardboard boxes. There are three main points to keep in mind when choosing the right supplies for your product:

Price. The price of supplies is typically the first factor you want to consider when ordering supplies. Even though the overall cost of supplies is important, don’t short change your packaging. Your store’s brand and even product could suffer.

Weight. Be sure to remember that shipping carriers charge based on the package’s weight, size, and destination. Save yourself some money by using lighter and smaller packaging versus large boxes. Don’t use large cardboard boxes if a smaller box or bubble mailer will do the trick.

Spice up your packaging.
Now is the time that you should select the right supplies for the branding of your package. There are a few common shipping options for packaging:

Boxes. Boxes can be heavy duty, which are ideal for heavier items, or even smaller mailers for things like books, albums, or other smaller, flatter items. Just be sure to give your product some room on each side when you’re choosing the right box. You want to be able to pack cushioning material within the box for your product’s safety.

Aesthetics. Packaging is closely related to your brand experience. Make sure it differs from your competitors and makes your customers intrigued and pleased with the unboxing experience. Whether you’re branding the boxes themselves, wrapping your packages in specialized paper, or including twine on the package, make it unique to your business.

Cushioning. Cushioning is very cheap and will help ensure your product arrives intact and in good condition. You can go with bubble wrap, peanuts, air pillows, or even packing paper when stuffing your boxes. Again, be creative with the presentation of these things to show you put in the extra effort for your customers.

Choosing the right shipping supplies is important if you want to maintain a good brand for your product. The product that your customer receives isn’t the only thing that will stick in their mind—it’s the experience of opening that product that will really tie your customers to your brand.