Packaging Supplies Guide

Shipping products sounds fairly straightforward. You receive an order, you pack up the product, and send it on its way. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. When packing and shipping products, you must do it with care. No customer is going to be happy if they receive a damaged good. Even if the items you ship arrive in perfect condition, if your product is shipped poorly and sloppily, the customer will likely think you are unprofessional and may not shop with you again. For both these reasons, shipping must be taken very seriously, and you must always choose the right packaging materials for the job.

We’ve put together this quick guide to help you find which packing materials go best with what type of products. The right materials can make a big difference when it comes to how your company is viewed.

Boxes

When it comes to boxes, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First off, you need to choose the correct size of box for the job. You do not want there to be too much void space for filling, but you also don’t want it to be such a tight fit that there’s no room for void fill at all. Another important tip to keep in mind is that there are many shapes and strengths of corrugated boxes. Some boxes are designed for specific types of goods, which can be a great asset to you. Corrugated boxes also have different levels of strength. Heavy duty boxes, for example, are much stronger than the standard carton and are ideal for heavy weight products.

Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is arguably the first thing that most people think of when they think about packing materials. Bubble wrap can be used to pack your most fragile items safely. It protects against shock, vibration, and abrasion. Examples of products you certainly want to use bubble wrap for include china, mirrors, artwork, glass products, electronics, and more. There’s multiple variations of bubble wrap so you can get the packaging that is best for your product. For example, anti-static bubble wrap provides static protection for your electronics.

Foam

Foam can offer much of the same protection as bubble wrap with several differences. The first is that it is thinner, so there will be a smaller cushion between your product and the carton it is being shipped in. Foam is also very flexible, so it can be wrapped in strange and unusual shapes easily. This also makes it great for fill around the edges and corners of boxes. It can be harder to wrap foam around products, though, but its protection is still ideal for a wide variety of delicate items.   

Loose Fill (Packing Peanuts)

Loose fill is designed to protect products from all sides during shipping. The even distribution of loose fill is great for impact resistance and shock absorption. The biggest problem you’ll run into with loose fill is that it will not secure your items within the box. Products may still shift during shipping. For this reason it is best to use loose fill for products that still need protection, but are not very fragile.

Kraft Paper

Kraft paper does not offer the same shock absorption of other packaging materials, but it is still useful when it comes to shipping. It makes for great void fill to stop products from being jostled against the side of corrugated boxes. Strangely shaped items can benefit from being wrapped in Kraft paper, as can less fragile items such as movies, CDs, and more. As with many types of packaging supplies, there are multiple options available when it comes to Kraft paper, including options that are made only from recycled materials.

Make sure next time you’re shipping you’re shipping using the correct materials. It only takes a few negative reviews for you to start seeing a dip in your sales. Invest wisely!

Packing Fragile Items

It’s nearing the end of the month, meaning many young adults are heading off to college. Packing up your life and moving to a new place is very daunting, no matter who you are, and this is particularly true when one has a lot of fragile items to transport. Having corrugated boxes isn’t enough. You need to have a strategy to pack your breakable items so they stay intact throughout a trip. If you find yourself at a loss, don’t worry. We have some great tips that will make this process much easier on you.

The item people probably think of first when it comes to protecting breakables is bubble products. Bubble

products have been used for decades as excellent padding to keep items safe. You can use bubble products in many ways to keep your items safe. Use bubble wrap to pad your items and pack them into a corrugated box. This is a simple but effective strategy. Something many people don’t realize, however, is that you can purchase more than just bubble wrap. You can also purchase items such as bubble pouches. These pre-made pouches allow you to simply insert items, no wrapping or cutting required! There are advantages and disadvantages to both options, so it is important to find the method that works best for your needs.

Another great item you can use to protect items is foam products. You can use foam in multiple ways. First, you can use it to actually wrap up your items. You can also use it as a cushioning layer between items. This is very effective with dishes. Foam is very lightweight and won’t scratch up your items when you use it. This makes it a good option for your valuables.

Newsprint is a great economic option for packing and moving fragile items. You can use it to wrap and pack multiple items into one box! You can use it to pack around any shape of item, whether it is something as standard as a plate or a more complicated household decoration. Newsprint isn’t only good for wrapping items. It also makes great void fill. Use it to stuff between objects in a corrugated box to stop the items from moving around and bumping each other.

Speaking of void fill, you may be looking for an item specifically meant to add extra cushioning in a box. Loose fill is the answer to that problem. It acts as a shock absorber for your products and fills in some of the space in boxes to add protection while your items are in transit. There’s a reason people have been using loose fill for so long…it works.

There’s additional ways you can pack fragile items as well. Try wrapping fragile items in towels or clothing. They offer a great deal of protection. Styrofoam is another good option, particularly for larger items. It’s always a good idea to save the box and Styrofoam large electronics came in to safely pack them up again later.

There you have it! Those are our best tips on how to pack up fragile items. We hope that we’ve been of some help to you.

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Today is bubble wrap appreciation day! There are all sorts of types of bubble wrap to suit everyone’s needs. At ShippingSupply.com we have a large selection of bubble wrap. Shop standard air bubble rolls, dispenser packs, anti-static bubble products, and much more!

But everyone knows about the standard use of bubble wrap. It is an economic way to protect items that you are shipping. It can be used in mailers, corrugated boxes, and more. But there are other ways bubble wrap can be useful too. Read on to discover what to do with your leftover bubble wrap!

• Insulate Windows: Winter can be rough on your heating bill, especially if you have older windows. Some people use plastic, but bubble wrap works just as well! Keep the drafts out, the warmth in, and the heating bill down.
  
  
• Pad Sleeping Bags: Sleeping bags are a great invention, but sleeping on the ground can still be uncomfortable. Place a mat of bubble wrap under your sleeping back for additional padding while camping.
  
  
• Protect Produce: It is common to keep produce in a drawer in the fridge, and it is also common for this storage method to bruise said produce. Line your drawer with bubble wrap to prevent this. It also makes cleaning the fridge easier…simply remove the bubble wrap and replace it!
  
  
• Take on Vacation: We often pick up souvenirs while on vacation, and often those souvenirs can be breakable. Add extra protection for the trip home by bringing bubble wrap.
  
  
• Protect Perishables in Travel: If you’re taking a dish to a dinner party, bringing home leftovers, etc, then a good way to keep items from spoiling on the way is to wrap them in bubble wrap to keep food insulated.
  
  
• Cover Windshields: If you hate scraping snow and ice from windshields in the winter, simply put a sheet of bubble wrap over the windows. In the morning removed the bubble wrap and head to work!
  
  
• Get Crafty:  There’s tons of crafts and silly activities out there that require bubble wrap. Make a dress out of it. Use it as a unique paintbrush. A simple Google search will yield all sorts of results. Get searching and have fun!

 And there you have it! These unique ways to use bubble wrap may not be traditional, but they are useful and fun. Enjoy bubble wrap appreciation day!

Stock Up for the New Year

The holiday season is over, and that leaves many companies low on shipping supplies. If that is the case, ShippingSupply.com has you covered! We have thousands of products to keep you stocked for 2015. Today we’re going to feature the products that are most often depleted by the end of 2014.

Bubble Mailers: Bubble mailers are used to ship all different sorts of items. Clothing, CDs, DVDs, you name it! These small, economic mailers are a great option when it comes to shipping. They offer big protection in a small package. Choose from many varieties, such as self-sealing or tear strip.

Corrugated Boxes: Perhaps the most common item to ship products in, corrugated boxes are heavily used during the holiday season. There are thousands of styles and sizes to choose from. Shop with us to replenish you stock and be ready for all your new orders in 2015!

Corrugated Mailers: Corrugated mailers offer sturdy protection while being smaller than standard corrugated boxes. Shop standard mailers or ones specifically designed for items such as books, audio, and more. There are plenty of options to look through!

Bubble & Foam: There is a lot more to shipping items than simply placing them in a box. You also need to protect them from damage, which is where bubble and foam comes in. Using these items protect products during shipping and are used in high quantities from Black Friday through New Years. Restock today!

Mailing Bags & Envelopes: The last item that is significantly depleted after the holidays are mailing bags and envelopes. These offer less protection than many of the other options, so are often used with less fragile products. There’s, again, many types to choose from. We are sure we have the type of envelopes and mailing bags you are looking for!

Don’t get backed up due to a lack of shipping and packing supplies. Be ready for a great new year full of sales and timely orders. Happy New Year everyone!

Shopping Resources

Shopping for shipping supplies can be a challenge if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for. Even if you’ve been working in shipping for a while, sometimes you will find a need for a new item and not be sure where to start. That’s where ShippingSupply.com comes in. We have some great resources to help you find exactly what product you should be looking for.

Tape Finder

Our tape finder tool is a great resource for anyone who needs tape but doesn’t have a type or brand in mind. We can make your task easier with our handy tape finder. Browse from a list of different types of tape, such as water activated, duct, masking, and much more. From there you can narrow your options further by following the sub categories. This makes shopping for the tape you need fast and easy.

Box Finder

There are many ways to search for boxes with our convenient box finder tool. Like our tape finder you can search for boxes by category such as side loading boxes, multi-depth boxes, cube boxes, and more. Much like our tape finder, some categories have further sub categories to search through. In addition to searching by category, you can also search for boxes by length. You can even search by size if you know the dimensions you need. Our box finder makes it easier than ever to find the supplies you need.

Label Finder

We’ve made it easy to find the types of labels you need to ship your items. Our labels have been separated into convenient categories for your convenience. Some of these categories are inventory labels, shipping & handling labels, label dispensers, and more. It’s never been easier to find the type of label you require.

Poly Bag Finder

We want it to be simple and fast to find the type of poly bag you need, which is why we’ve created the poly bag finder. We’ve broke down our selection of poly bags into simple categories so you don’t have to spend an extended time browsing. Simply find the category you need and see what items we can provide you. Some examples of our categories are reclosable bags, flat poly bags, and gusseted poly bags.

As you can see, we have a lot of resources to help make your shopping experience better. So go try it out! 

You know what else you should check out? Our deal of the day! Today our deal is on 3/16" x 12" x 175' - (1) U.P.S.able Perforated Bubble Wrap® Roll

This bubble wrap roll is perfect for cushioning and working as void fill to protect your products. Use a product you know you can trust to eliminate your concerns during shipping.

Deal Price: $11.66
Normal: $12.95

Want to keep up with our deal of the day? Like us on Facebook and never miss a deal again!

Spend $75, Save $10

Welcome back, readers. If you’re here looking for the latest deal, you’ve come to the right place. This week ShippingSupply.com is giving back. For a limited time, save $10 when you spend $75 or more.

All you need to do is spend $75, and you’ll get $10 back. If you’ve planned on shopping with us already, now is the perfect time to do so. We have tons of amazing items to choose from. Anything you might need for shipping we are sure to have. Don’t believe us? Go browse the site for yourself!

To give you an idea of the types of items we carry, this week on the blog we will be featuring a few, select items. It will give you an idea of the range of products we have.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Bin Organizers 

 These organizers are a great item. Every business needs to be organized, and these bins are a convenient way to do that. The bins give plenty of space for storage. We offer floor racks, wall mounted racks, and more. No matter how much space you have available, we are sure to have an organizer that will meet your needs.

        Square Mailing Tubes

Square mailing tubes are a great alternative to traditional mailing tubes. The shape prevents the tubes from rolling, making them easier to pack and ship. They come in a variety of sizes and fold together easily without any tape or glue required. 

Fragile Labels

These labels display warnings and instructions for your shipments. They come in bold, bright colors that will be noticed by the people handling your packages. 500 labels come in a roll. There are multiple phrases to choose from such as “Fragile – Handle With Care”, “Fragile- Delicate Instruments”, and more.

Multi-Depth Boxes

Corrugated boxes are important for any company that does shipping, and these boxes are particularly useful. The boxes are scored at intervals on the side of the box. This way, you can cut to the desired height you need without buying tons of different boxes in different sizes. 

Air Bubble Rolls

Air bubble is great for cushioning and void-fill during shipping. It is sold in 48” master bundles and protects items against shock, abrasion, and vibration. You cannot simply ship items without protecting them, and air bubble is a reliable way to do this.

That’s just a sampling of the many products we have to offer! So go ahead and browse. Want to learn more or have specific questions? You can always all us at 1-877-501-7225.

 

And don’t forget to like us on Facebook! You can go there daily to check out our Deal of the Day. Today’s deal is:

15" x 60 Gauge x 2000' Cast Hand Stretch Film

Deal: $110.81

Normally: $123.12

Happy shopping! Don’t forget to use the promo code 10OFF75 during checkout to get this great deal.