3 Key Packaging Components Your eCommerce Business Should Be Using

3 Key Packaging Components Your eCommerce Business Should Be Using

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eCommerce business has been booming in recent years – a trend that is predicted to ramp up even more. As an eCommerce retailer, your retail packaging plays a pivotal role in your business model. 

One of the most important functions of retail packaging is protecting your products during shipping. Read on as we explore three eCommerce packaging solutions you should be using for your online business. 

Mailer Bags

Mailer bags are a great option for smaller shipments or items that do not need a rigid layer of protection during shipping, like clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, and more. There are various types of mailer bags you can choose from to ship your items: 

• Hard-shell bubble mailers
• Soft-shell bubble mailers
• Poly mailers
• Kraft or paper mailers 
• Tyvek mailers, which are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fibers

For more fragile products, like jewelry, cosmetics or men’s grooming products, opt for a bubble mailer, as the extra cushion can help protect your items during shipping. Poly, kraft, paper, and Tyvek mailers are good options for soft goods, like clothing and textiles, as well as decorative household items, such as art and photos. We also recommend including additional packaging and wrapping on any breakable items to be on the safe side in all mailer bags. 

Printed Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated boxes are a must-have for eCommerce businesses. Their sturdiness makes them ideal for shipping large orders or heavy items. They are also great for fragile items that need a protective structure or products that need to stay upright, like food and grocery subscription orders. 

To prevent your shipments from getting jostled or damaged, fill the empty space inside with void fill, like air pillows, shredded paper, or packing peanuts – or wrap each product in kraft paper or bubble wrap. To mimic an in-store experience and provide a decorative form of protection, you can also use other retail packaging components, like paper shopping bags or rigid boxes with inserts to package your products.

You can customize both mailer bags and printed corrugated boxes by printing designs or choosing unique colors for the inside and outside. Include your company name on the packaging’s exterior to reinforce your brand. You also want to leave space in the design for the shipping label. 

Interior Packaging Components

Your packaging’s interior components can create a powerful unboxing experience. A few, simple finishing touches will make a lasting impression:

• Printed tissue paper that features an on-brand design, your logo, or your brand name.
• Solid-colored tissue paper that matches your brand colors.
• Customized tissue paper seals, which help keep the tissue paper closed and in place
• Packaging inserts – think, brochures, flat cards, folded cards, and more. With these the options are endless; you can use them to say “thank you,” share product descriptions, details, and instructions, promote your social media presence, announce upcoming products, and more. If you want to keep these assets to a minimum, consider adding QR codes to them or to the mailer bag or box itself. 
• People love a free gift with a purchase. Including freebies, like sheets of branded, custom stickers, reusable totes or drawstrings, fabric pouches, and more, is an easy way to create repeat buyers.

Create Excellent eCommerce Packaging with Edge2Edge

Along with protecting your deliveries, eCommerce packaging is also a direct representation of your brand. From your shipment’s exterior appearance to the interior finishing touches, you want to ensure every touchpoint not only represents your brand well but also separates you from your competition.

The packaging vendor you choose plays a big part in the quality, execution, and overall effectiveness of your retail packaging. Along with choosing a partner that can grow with you long term, you also want one that stays on top of the latest eCommerce trends and has innovative capabilities that enable you to think outside of the box. 

Our experienced team of packaging experts at Edge2Edge is happy to help you design high-quality eCommerce packaging. Contact us today to get started.