You can't deny it, receiving a parcel is exciting. You open it, create an unboxing video for Instagram and there it is, your purchase. It's exactly what you expected or even better.
This is the customer experience that retailers want to deliver to customers. Packaging your products in the right way will help you receive the positive feedback you need for your online store.
Whether you are shipping domestic or internationally, your parcel will be transported and handled by many people. It's very important to pack your items safely to avoid damaged products or delivery issues and, by consequence, customer disappointment.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to pack your parcel correctly and the materials to use that will protect the products for their journey. We’ve even thrown in some tips on how to ship sustainably.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Importance of Wrapping a Parcel Correctly
Preparing a package for delivery shouldn’t be taken lightly. Packing efficiently saves space and reduces delivery costs. Customers also expect well-packed items to arrive in perfect condition. Meeting these expectations will leave a positive impression, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty. Some of the other benefits include:
- Reduced losses: Inadequately packed parcels can split or open, causing the contents to get lost. Secure, sturdy packaging prevents this from occurring, ensuring your items reach their destination intact.
- Demonstrates professionalism: Your ecommerce business's credibility is reflected in the packaging quality of the items you send. Poorly packed items erode customer trust, while neatly prepared parcels convey professionalism and reliability.
- Prevents damage: Even non-fragile items can suffer minor damages if not properly packaged. Scuffs, cracks, or cosmetic issues can occur if products aren’t secured. It will result in customers asking for a replacement or buyers leaving a negative review of your online store.
Choosing the Right Packaging
Preparing a parcel for delivery begins with choosing the appropriate materials to secure the item you’re shipping. With over a decade of experience in the fulfilment industry, these are our recommendations for picking the right packaging.
Box Size Matters
Choosing the right box size will stop items from moving and touching each other. Plus, under-filled boxes will likely collapse, and overloaded ones may burst.
If you are sending a single product to a customer, your box should be slightly bigger than the size of your item. You should leave at least three to five centimetres between the product and the sides of the parcel and fill that space with cushioning materials for protection from impact.
For deliveries involving more than one item, you should leave three to five centimetres between each product. Sometimes, it is tricky to know which box to use when packing multi-item orders. If you get stuck, our Smart Boxing algorithm can recommend how to prepare these orders in as few boxes as possible.
Choosing the right size of your box will also allow you to save on shipping costs.
Always Use Double layers
For extra protection, use a box with double corrugated layers. It's stronger, handles heavy products and is likely to support the weight of other packages placed on top of yours. You will still need to use packaging materials inside your parcel. But double corrugated cardboard boxes will protect the outside from any sharp objects or items that can damage it.
Sending Satchels
Satchels are an eco-friendly way to send clothing or small and lightweight products. However, you should add extra protection by wrapping them with hex wrap or newspaper.
But we always recommend using a double-corrugated cardboard box regardless of the product. You should also never use satchels if you’re shipping fragile items.
Protect your items
The most important part of your product packaging is to secure your items to avoid damage. To do this you will need a variety of cushioning materials for the bottom, sides, top of the box and in between your items. The products themselves will need to be well wrapped and protected as well. Don't forget to leave between 3 – 5 cm (2 inches) between your product and the sides of the box.
Fragile items should be placed in the centre of the box, ensuring they don't touch the sides. Fill that void with cushioning materials on all sides.
Here's a list of materials you can use to properly pack your items:
Bubble wrap
How satisfying is cracking bubble wrap? Bubble wrap is an excellent cushioning option that allows you to send your products safely.
However, this option is not environmentally friendly, there are alternatives worth considering which offer the same result, such as…
Hex Wrap and Shredded Cardboard
Hex wrap and shredded cardboard are two packaging materials that have recently become more and more popular. They are Eco-friendly and if used properly, your items will be well protected against impact during transit.
Newspaper
If you are accumulating the newspapers on your shelf, why not re-use them? You will get the same result as the materials we mentioned before.
Foam packaging peanuts
Use foam packaging peanuts to fill the void between your products and for fragile items. This material is 100% biodegradable and economic. It will avoid your items from moving inside the box and being damaged.
Prohibited and restricted items
There are some products you can't send with our delivery partners, and others are restricted. Here are a few examples.
| Prohibited Items | Restricted Items |
|---|---|
| Aerosol cans/spray | All liquids/lotions |
| Batteries | Passports |
| Fireworks | Whitegoods |
| Perishable food items | Computer monitors |
| Furniture that is not flat-packed | Mobile phones |
| Magnets | Tablets |
| Tobacco products | TVs |
| Alcohol | Stringer musical instruments |
Sending prohibited or restricted items may result in surcharges, delays, or confiscation by authorities where appropriate.
Before you book a courier, head to prohibited and restricted items to learn more about what you can and can't ship with our platform.
Seal and securely stick your shipping label
Use strapping or strong tape to seal and secure your box, but don't over seal your package. Remember that shipments may be opened by customs authorities or inspected at collection.
Print your labels with a thermal label printer to save paper, avoid delivery issues and ship faster. Watch our video to learn how to print 6x4 labels with a thermal label printer:
Stick the label to the top side of the box. The driver will collect your parcel with the label facing up.
For a personalised touch you can add a sticker with your logo on the box, but remember to remove old labels and other indications on the box that can create delivery confusions, such as wrong delivery location or scanning errors.
Weighing and Measuring Your Package
Courier services typically rely on automated measurements and weight systems, meaning it's crucial that the figures you provide align with their technology.
To ensure there are no discrepancies, measure your box correctly by following these four steps:
- After the box is packed and ready for delivery, place it against a wall and note its length, height, and width.
- Round the figures up to the nearest centimetre or two as a precaution.
- Calculate the volumetric weight by multiplying these measurements and dividing the result by the dimensional weight divisor, which is 400 for domestic road services and 5000 for international air deliveries.
- To simplify the process and ensure the most accurate shipping weight, round the final result to the nearest kilogram.
Common Mistakes and Things to Avoid
Placing an item into a box sounds simple on paper, but there are some common mistakes many ecommerce business owners make when preparing items for delivery. Make sure to avoid these.
Choosing the Cheapest Products
Choosing packaging solely based on cost can compromise your product safety and brand integrity. Low-cost items may not be suitable for the products you sell and might fall apart easily during the delivery journey.
How to avoid: Research all your packaging materials and cardboard boxes to ensure they’re fit for purpose. Review the quality and find out what retailers say about them.
Complex Packaging Designs
Needlessly complicated packaging causes "wrap rage" among customers. It leads to frustration and sometimes potential injuries. Difficult-to-open boxes can deter shoppers from returning to your online store.
How to avoid: Keep it simple. Follow our do’s and don’ts guide for shipping parcels.
Wasteful Packaging
According to the 2023 Inside Australian Online Shopping report, three in four people look for sustainable options when buying online. Excessive packaging waste due to overpacking will leave shoppers questioning your commitment to the environment.
How to avoid: Use our Smart Boxing algorithm to maximise the space inside your parcel, especially for multi-item orders.
Improper Packaging Size
Choosing the wrong-sized parcel can lead to higher packaging costs and sealing issues. This mistake can also result in additional shipping expenses you may not have budgeted for.
How to avoid: Keep multiple-sized boxes available with enough room for your products but not too much that you’re paying for empty space.
Overpacking Boxes
Trying to fit too many items into a parcel is a common error ecommerce owners make. It’s an attempt to spend less on materials. But it can result in damaged products and warped packages, leading to unhappy customers.
How to avoid: Determine the maximum weight your parcels can manage and don’t exceed it. Never overfill your package, as it will damage your box and the products during delivery.
Pack Your Items With Eco-Friendly Materials
Our planet, our future. The use of plastic packaging materials damages the earth's environment. Plastics are littering our cities, oceans and waterways, contributing to health problems in humans and animals. Heaps Good offers you 100% compostable and plant-based packaging materials. It's a great way to start saving our planet and joining zero plastic waste movement.
Watch this video to learn how to pack your box using eco-friendly materials:
Your parcel is ready to send! Check out our Do's and Don'ts list for further tips to help ensure your parcel arrives safe and on time to your customer.
That’s a Wrap
There is more to packing a parcel than many people would realise. You need to choose the right materials, pick the best box and accurately measure it before it goes out for delivery. You must also avoid common errors to avoid paying more for shipping than you have to.
If you’re looking for personalised advice on how to optimise your fulfilment processes, get in touch with our team of shipping solution experts. They can offer you valuable insights and tailored strategies for your business.
Send an email, jump on a live chat or call them on 1300 006 031.
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