Types of Packaging Boxes for Online Sellers
Packaging boxes for online sellers come in various shapes and sizes, from small boxes for jewelry and accessories to large boxes for furniture and electronics.
The packaging boxes for online sellers are crucial in the shipping process because they protect the products from the harsh conditions of warehouses or the weather outside. Packaging boxes also help keep the product safe if it accidentally gets dropped during shipping.
We will talk about several packaging benefits in this article and how the clients can select the appropriate cardboard type depending on their product type. Although our discussion for the sake of the topic will remain focused on online businesses, clients operating in the real world with similar needs can also benefit from it.
Let us read about the importance of packaging and how it affects the product and its market visibility. This article explores the best box packaging types and how they can be customized using various printing techniques. Moreover, the readers can learn about the void fillers that will not be hazardous to the planet and will help them add a cushion to their packaging while making it more compact for their products. So, let us get started.
The Impact of Modern Online Businesses
The individuals remember how their lives changed by the time we entered 2021. It was the time when the pandemic almost managed to cripple the economies globally in just eighteen months and left many grieving. There was no other solution than imposing lockdowns in the cities.
Schools and retails were closed, and the business employees got asked to work from home. However, businesses found a new way of operating in this suffocating environment. These businesses selected contactless online media to serve, becoming a hit worldwide. It convinced those who hesitated online shopping to rely on it in times of need and for convenience.
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Most individuals who have tried online shopping like it. Additionally, it led to a behavioral shift in the consumers and shoppers in the post-COVID era.
During the pandemic, the online business community boomed with sectors that tapped on virtual business potential during this time. The shoppers are now comfortable with contactless shopping and payment and have more confidence in the digital markets. They love exploring the best online deals, which has affected brand loyalty as now they can compare products online and select the best one for themselves.
Newer product categories get added to online shopping as shoppers demand the same service against more products. As a result, there is now demand for more product packaging that is product appropriate, secure, and adds to their worth simultaneously. Thus, adding to the need for creative packaging.
Importance of Product Packaging for Online Sellers
To fully understand the impact of custom e-commerce packaging, it is essential to know what product packaging is and what it offers for the products, businesses, and customers. Almost all tangible products come wrapped in containers of various sorts. These containers get composed of different materials like plastic, cardboard, wood, etc. These containers;
- Secure a product
- Help distinguish it from other products
- As act storage option post-sales
- Act as brand ambassadors, etc., for the product and their companies
Due to the increasing pollution, many companies have switched traditional packaging options to cardboard-based packaging tools. Packaging any product involves various processes that range from identifying the appropriate material, selecting the suitable layout, branding via printing techniques, adding inside box elements for security, and adding attractive features.
Product packaging using custom cardboard boxes allows online businesses to compete fairly with renowned local and international brands with an impressive shelf presence. Using a similar appeal, the online sellers can make their products look worthy and improve their profitability.
The customers almost often love such packaging as it is a surprising and pleasant break from the setup boxes they are used to receiving against their online orders. It reflects how much the sellers they have chosen to shop from value their product and invest in it.
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A unique benefit of using cardboard-based custom e-commerce packaging that often goes ignored is the opportunity to widen the customer base for any company. It is a great way to attract the green consumer market niche to the existing target market.
The environmentally conscious customers love companies that provide green packaging solutions and show their preferences by buying their products and recommending them to their friends. The simple step of switching from plastic boxes to cardboard ones is enough to attract the right customers and boost your businesses in the marketplace.
Materials Readily Used in E-Commerce Packaging
When it comes to e-commerce packaging, the reliance of the online sellers is more on different types of corrugated boxes than others.
There are several reasons why this packaging material is ideal for online companies. It lets the sellers change the thickness of the material quickly, adding fewer or more fillers and layers according to the product's nature and packaging requirements. Moreover, packaging companies can conveniently change the shape and size of these boxes without diminishing the material's protective feature. Additionally, these boxes are made from recycled material and remain pocket-friendly to their clients while providing them with several means to customize their looks and features. Some other non-corrugated cardboard materials include;
- Kraft
- Bleached cardboard
- White cardboard, etc.
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Types of Packaging Boxes for Online Sellers' Advantages
Some readily used layouts in packaging boxes include;
Custom Mailer Boxes
E-commerce sellers commonly use custom mailer boxes in various layouts, dimensions, and colors. Unlike the setup boxes, these eye-candy boxes remain easy to brand using different print technologies discussed further in the article.
All panels of these boxes can be printed with branding elements, taglines, and more to give a unique look that leaves a memorable impression on the recipients and helps them recognize the brand. Gone are the days when only the box exteriors got printed for maximum impact. These boxes now flaunt inside printing and give a distinct look to the packaging boxes used.
Clients can also order inside boxes, inserts, and other components to improve the security of their products packaged inside these boxes. These boxes remain ideal for delivering and shipping small to medium-sized products safely and without additional packaging. Kraft mailers are also trending in the marketplace currently.
Slotted Corrugated Boxes
When shipping heavier products, the online companies and brands order slotted corrugated boxes from packaging and printing companies. They also play a crucial role in keeping delicate items safe during shipping and transport. These boxes bring down costs related to distribution and production and remain revered for their efficiency. Their unique style includes outside flaps that come together to close the box at the center.
They remain a popular choice amongst eco-conscious clients who love this glue-free, easy, and quickly assembled and secure packaging tool for their products. They remain a favorite in the sectors dealing with pharmaceutical, fast mover consuming goods, and cosmetic items.
Cube Boxes
One problem that leads to product and financial loss during shipping and transport arises from tearing the boxes. In most cases, the leading cause of such complications is uneven stacking of products and imbalance in weight. The cube boxes help counter this problem and allow proper stacking for large product orders. Clients can fit even products in odd product shapes easily in these boxes. Like most other shipping boxes, these are delivered flat to the clients.
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Bulk cargo is another variation in these boxes designed to handle bulkier and irregular-shaped items in large quantities. The layers of this box can be doubled or tripled according to the shipping and safety requirements.
Some other variations include;
- Flat boxes – provide a tight fit for lesser-quality products like mirrors, etc.
- Long boxes – provide an appropriate fit for elongated but narrow items like canes, etc.
- Tall boxes – provide a secure way of packaging through easy sliding for items like pillar candles, etc.
Printing Options for Kraft and Corrugated Boxes
More online brands and companies aim to provide unforgettable unboxing experiences to their customers and recipients. It helps instantly connect with them by breaking through the market clutter.
It is a tangible reality of instant gratification as the customers feel they have received more than their expectations. Therefore, the companies are investing in making their packaging boxes attractive, inventive, and reliable. Instead of brown, white, and black boxes, they are now using different printing technologies mentioned below for distinct looks in packaging.
Flexo Printing
It stands for flexographic printing type that works well with rough and smooth surfaces. It is ideal for a few colors and non-photo printing shipping boxes in large quantities.
Digital Printing
It is a known fact that the companies must plan a season before to get their packaging box orders on time. However, sometimes companies may have an urgent need for retail and shipping boxes. In case small orders are required urgently in full-color printing with images, the printing companies often use digital printing techniques. It is also ideal for small orders with limited budgets.
Lithographic Printing
Printing companies often use this technique when there is a demand for premium packaging against large orders. It allows them to print on paper and then applied to the packaging box. It primarily deals with foil details and artistic design compositions utilizing many add-ons.
Offset Printing
When the clients demand clean, rich, and sharp images and print content on their packaging boxes, the printing companies often use offset printing. It gets used commercially as the setup provides a pocket-friendly printing platform against large orders with lesser wastage and precision in every outcome.
Add More to Your Custom E-Commerce Packaging
Use Recyclable or Green Void Fillers
When ordering custom e-commerce packaging, keep the potential clients and the critical issues like pollution in mind. It is vital to discourage using Styrofoam or other traditional void fillers, as they cannot be recycled and sit on landfill sites for several years. Moreover, they endanger marine species and disturb the food chain of humans and other animals.
There are countless green void filler options that the clients can choose instead. For example, wrapping the items in customized tissues will add another element of surprise and anticipation. The same way Kraft paper shreds look and work great as fillers for things with a retro feel.
Stickers
Explore the potential of stickers in packaging and how you can use them on the different types of packaging boxes. Almost all features and add-ons used on cardboard and paperboard remain usable on stickers ranging from embossing to foil stamping, etc.
Yet they remain a cost-effective tool for the companies that want to uplift their existing and new packaging boxes on a limited budget. Clients can add a customized sticker to boxes to replace the old logo or add product details, or even a seasonal greeting. They are easy to store to use when the need arises.
Another great utility that stickers offer is making the shipping and mailer safe. They seal edges and corners, which cause the product to slip out.
How-to Manuals
Use packaging to add instructions about usage and storage of the product. It works well for kitchen and personal gadgets and for brands that associate themselves with unique causes.
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For example, the companies offering feminine products like cosmetics and creams can always include breast cancer care awareness pamphlets on how to do self-examination and resources where the patients can get help and more information about the subject. It is an excellent tool for discreetly educating the potential target market. Additionally, these manuals can include information about helping centers and their comprehensive contact details.
Pop-up Cards
Another great way to add an element of surprise to packaging is by adding 3D pop-up cards to the inner lids as the recipients open the box. They are ideal for providing a memorable unboxing experience to a younger potential market. Including a personal note will appeal more to the adults, making them feel privileged.
Barcodes
It does not matter how small or big a business is; what matters is how efficiently it is run. One of the best ways to track inventory and connect it to the database is by printing a barcode on the packaging boxes. It is a great tool that can automatically update the database from start to finish and offers convenience for the clients.
Free Samples and Gifts
Try rewarding your recurrent and loyal customers with free samples of a new product, a variant, or a seasonal gift to retain their interest and excitement.
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Please go through the database to identify their products of interest and send in a sample with a request to send feedback. It will allow you to get free and genuine reviews and aid in cross-selling newer products.
Coupon or Discount Cards
Clients can reward the privileged customers of online companies by adding discount coupon cards in their packaging, with codes they can use when shopping online. Online companies can also provide special discount cards during annual sales for additional reductions to make the customers feel worthy.
These are not the only ways packaging companies and clients add more worth to their packaging. Sift through the blog section to explore more and find out what works for you and your product.
