Are You Spending Too Much On Shipping?

No matter how long you’ve been in business, there’s a good chance you’re spending more than you have to on shipping costs. Your shipping costs can have a huge impact on your bottom line. By reducing shipping expenses, your company will gain additional revenue, and it isn’t even that hard.

Here’s how to know if you’re spending too much on your shipping costs.

1. You Aren’t Consolidating

Sending large shipments can get expensive, but by consolidating your shipments you can save a lot of money. Work with a consolidating freight service to find the best way to do this. By doing this for larger, heavier orders, you can save a huge amount of money, and so can your customer!

2. You Aren’t Tracking Carrier Performance

By tracking the costs and services of your carrier, you can actually save a lot of money. Your carrier may be costing you more than you even realized. Late deliveries, damaged products, and unexpected fees can quickly add up to more than you expected.

When tracking carrier performance you’ll want to pay close attention to:

·        Is the carrier meeting pickup and delivery times?

·        Are you being charged non-essential fees?

·        How does the carrier respond to customer feedback?

·        What do your customers have to say about their deliveries?

3. You’re Not Negotiating For Discounts

Did you know that carriers will often provide discounts to customers who ship frequently and in high volumes? Browse a variety of carriers to see who can offer you the best price. From there, you can negotiate with your preferred carrier to see if they can match the rate or give you a discount. And don’t forget, you don’t need to stick to just one carrier. You can always branch out if a specific shipment will be cheaper through a different carrier.

4. You Aren’t Being Strategic With Your Shipping Supplies

The shipping supplies you’re using can either make or break you when it comes to shipping costs. As a rule of thumb, you should try to sue the smallest box you can to package your products to reduce costs. You also want to be sure to properly pack products with void fill and other cushioning items so your product won’t arrive damaged.

It’s also smart to buy your shipping supplies in bulk, which costs more upfront but gives you big discounts. ShippingSupply.com offers bulk pricing on all products, so keep that in mind next time you’re looking for packaging products.

5. You Aren’t Buying Postage Online

You can get some nice discounts when you pay for your postage online rather than taking your packages directly to the USPS. Staffing a Post Office is expensive, so the USPS offers discounts as an incentive to buy postage online. If you use the USPS for a lot of your shipping, this is an important tip to keep in mind.

Don’t let these shipping mistakes happen to you!

Choose The Right Mailer

There are many shipping options out there, and mailers are no exception. How do you pick the right mailer for your product? We’re breaking it down for you today.

Corrugated Mailers

Corrugated mailers are made from the strong material you’re used to from boxes, but are smaller and lightweight to help you save on shipping. Choose corrugated mailers for lightweight items. You can buy corrugated mailers for specific products such as literary mailers or audio mailers. These could cost you a bit more in terms of shipping than some of our other mailers, but they do offer a lot of protection for your products.

Bubble Mailers

Bubble mailers combine a simple mailer with bubble technology to cushion your products during shipment. These are perfect for a range of semi-fragile objects. Use bubble mailers for small electronics, jewelry, DVDs, and other similar items. They come in a variety of sizes, though you usually use bubble mailers for smaller items. Bubble mailers are going to be a little bit more rigid than poly mailers, so that can make a difference when choosing which to use.

Poly Mailers

Poly mailers are strong, though they provide very little cushioning for your product. This makes them ideal for items that require protection but aren’t very fragile. They’re great for clothes, literature, and media products. Poly mailers are difficult to puncture or tear, and they’re ideal for keeping out moisture. Poly mailers are also a more eco-friendly option, as they’re easy to recycle. Poly mailers will reduce freight costs as they take up less space than some of the other mailer options.

Kraft Padded Mailers

Padded mailers use expandable fiber padding to keep products safe from damage due to punctures, moisture, and tears. The padding expands as the package is handled to absorb shock. You won’t need any additional padding when using a mailer like this. Padded mailers are more Earth friendly than some of the other options.

Kraft Flat Mailers

Use Kraft flat mailers for photos and documents. You won’t need any additional stiffeners when you use these, just slip your product in, seal it, and send it. The mailers are flat and rigid, keeping products from bending during transit. These are the easiest way to mail documents or photos out there, so we highly recommend them.

Jiffy Rigi Bag Mailers

Use these mailers for additional corner and edge protection. The laminated fiberboard construction stops your products from moving around and also resists bending and folding. You won’t need additional stiffeners with this mailer, though we still recommend using flat mailers for photos and paper documents.

Wrap Up The Holidays The Right Way

Christmas is less than two weeks away, but until then you’re going to be busy packing and shipping. We’ve talked about preparing for the holidays, but today we’re going to give our best advice to help you get through the next two weeks.

The first thing you need to do is keep track of shipping deadlines. You have no control over when orders will come in, but by knowing the shipping deadlines you can get prepared now. Customers will want items to arrive before Christmas, so make sure you have plenty of shipping options that will make that happen. You always want to stay updated on shipping news. UPS, for example, is reporting delays. This should factor into how you ship.

You can’t control your package once it is in transit, but you can control how soon you ship it. Try to ship orders the same day as the orders come in. You want to mail as quickly as possible to keep your customers happy. One of our holiday hacks for this is to package popular items now, even if you don’t have orders for them. You’ll probably get them, and this can save some time.

And while you are packing up your products, make sure you package them to avoid damage. This means use void fill, don’t skimp on shipping supplies, and make sure each item has the proper padding. And if your product is damaged during shipping, replace it. Customers will appreciate it, especially if you make it easy for them.

Go the extra mile to make sure your products make it to their final destination. Add an address label to the inside of packaging in case the label on the outside of the box is damaged. Use extra tape or even multiple boxes to reinforce your package.

You can also make yourself stand out by making your packages more personalized. Include a generic holiday card with all shipments, a free sample, or something else that your customer won’t be expecting.

Most of all, remember that the madness will end. You can do it!

Organize Your Shipping Station

If you are a large ecommerce company, you likely already have a large shipping station organized and ready to go. For you the shipping process is probably pretty streamlined. But if you are a smaller business you may have shipping supplies all over the place. By keeping your shipping supplies organized all in one place, you can reduce the stress of shipping and make the process go faster. Here’s our guide to making that possible.

Observe Your Available Space

The space you have available to you will vary greatly. You may have space in a building you’ve rented or a studio, or you may be working out of your garage or just from the kitchen table. Before you begin to stock supplies, you need to look at this space you have and decide, realistically, how much of this space can be dedicated to your shipping supplies. You can’t stock all of your boxes on your kitchen table, for example. Once you understand the space you have to work with, you can begin to get organized.

Assess The Supplies You Need

There are certain shipping supplies you should always have on hand. Some of these are the basics, and some of these will be specific to your business. You will likely have labels, bubble wrap, corrugated boxes, and other similar items. Figure out what items you will need regularly and make sure you have them.

Larger Items Lower, Smaller Items Higher

You don’t want to have to extend your reach to pull down large boxes. This can easily lead to injury. Instead, keep larger, more bulky shipping supplies lower where you can easily reach them. Maybe you store them under a table or desk, or maybe you stack them besides your workstation. This depends on the space you have available to you. Storing things vertically and higher up can save on space, but only do this with smaller, lightweight items.

Keep Regularly Used Items Nearby

Scissors, packaging tape, and labels are the types of items you will be using for just about anything you ship. Keep those at your packing station at all times, placed somewhere out of the way but within reach. Needing to leave the room for scissors while packing up shipments wastes a lot of time.

Keep It Comfortable

If you have occasions when you work at your shipping station for long periods of time, you need to make sure your workspace is comfortable. Install enough lighting so it is easy to see. Make sure you have air flow, such as by using an indirect fan. Having a portable electric heater for the winter months can keep you warm while you work. Consider these things and make space for them.

Use Labels

Labels are essential, especially if you are storing items in storage cabinets. Make your labels clear and color-coded to make it easier to find the items you are looking for. This is also great because if you need to bring in extra help, these people will be able to quickly find each shipping supply they are looking for.

We hope these tips will help you keep your shipping supplies better organized. Have any tips of your own? Share them in the comments!

Choosing Your Envelopes

Last month we featured our mailing bags and envelopes, but it got us thinking that we could have gone into a lot more detail when it comes to choosing the type of envelope that is right for your needs. When shipping you can’t simply choose any type of envelope, you have to choose one that is the best for your item. Despite what you may think, there is a huge variety when it comes to envelopes, and we’re here today to go into the different types in more detail.

Styles

Redi-Seal – You’ll be able to present documents professionally and without fuss with this type of envelope. These envelopes feature a self-seal, meaning you don’t need moisture to close them. Simply close the flap and press.

Self-Seal – These envelopes are easy to seal. All you have to do is pull off the tab and press the envelope closed. Fast, convenient, and uses minimal waste.

Gummed – The flaps on these envelopes are heavily gummed to ensure you get a secure seal. These envelopes require moisture to be sealed.

Clasp – Metal clasps on envelopes are easy to use and allow you to reuse your envelopes, making it a great economic option.

Jumbo – These oversized envelopes are perfect for mailing and transporting oversized documents. The flaps are ungummed allowing the envelopes to be reused.

Expandable – Expandable envelopes do just that, expand, so that you can more easily ship bulky items such as books.

Flat – These envelopes are great for use as stiff enclosures to prevent documents and photographs from being bent while in transit.

Materials

Paper – Paper envelopes are best for lightweight documents and products, typically in a personal or business setting. Our paper envelopes are made from 100% recycled content. These envelopes provide basic protection and are relatively inexpensive.

Ship-Lite – Ship-lite envelopes are made of paper that is reinforced with mesh screen poly fibers, making them six times stronger than standard paper envelopes. This type of material is strong enough to handle documents, catalogs, magazines, and even some books.

Nylon Reinforced – If you’re shipping items that don’t require extra protection or padding, this material is perfect. They are extremely lightweight and cheap compared to most other mailers.

Kraft – Kraft corrugated is tough and stiff, making this type of material ideal for items that need to not be bent or damaged.

Cool Shield – Keep perishable and temperature sensitive items at the correct temperature with this type of material. It is designed to also be puncture and water resistant to keep objects inside safe.

Tyvek – This material is ten times stronger than typical paper envelopes. If you need something that has extensive puncture, moisture, and tear protection, this is the type of envelope you want.

Poly – Lightweight, affordable, and resistant to tears and moisture, these are a great option for shipping items.

Jiffy Rigi Bag – Perfect for corner and edge protection. This material is stiff due to it being made from Kraft laminated fiberboard. Mailer won’t bend, fold, or crease.

Padded – If you need some extra protection, go for padded envelopes, which are made using expandable fiber padding to protect items from damage. 

Product Feature: Mailing Bags & Envelopes

We’ve not done a product feature in a while, so this month we’re going to focus in on a category that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves; mailing bags and envelopes! These bags and envelopes can be used around the office or when shipping items. We’re going to dive into this category a bit to give you some more information.

First, let’s talk about mailers. These are the items you’ll be using to do more of your shipping. Mailers come in a wide variety of styles, so we’ll dive right in to advise you about which mailer is right for you. If you’re mailing clothes, DVDs, books, and other similar items that need some padding but aren’t too fragile, you’re going to want to go for a poly mailer, padded mailer, or bubble mailer. Poly mailers are going to be the best bet if you want your mailing bag to be puncture resistant and water resistant. If you’re not so worried about that but still want good cushioning for your shipment, go with the trusted bubble mailer. Padded mailers are a great choice to help protect products inside from moisture and tears during shipping. If you need to keep an item flat or it isn’t particularly fragile, try flat mailers, nylon reinforced mailers, or Jiffy Rigi bag mailers. Look at each of these mailers for more details to better determine which mailer is perfect for you.

Next we’ll discuss envelopes. We have several different kinds of envelopes to suit your various needs. We have a huge selection of paper envelopes for you to browse. Take a look at our business envelopes, self-seal envelopes, inter-department envelopes, and so much more. If paper envelopes won’t cut it, Ship-Lite envelopes are six times stronger, making them great for paper documents, magazines, and catalogs. And if you want to be extra safe and get great tear resistance, Tyvek envelopes are ten times stronger than traditional paper envelopes.

We even have paper bags for your merchandising needs! Get the bags you need for groceries, hardware, general merchandise, and more. These various bags allow for all sorts of different items to be packaged. Even better? These bags are 100% recycled and recyclable.

We hope you enjoyed our featured product category! If you have any questions feel free to give us a call at 1-877-501-7225.

Five Common Shipping Mistakes

Shipping may seem simple on the surface, but there are many layers to the process. Here are five common shipping mistakes you may be making and not even realizing it.

1.      Not Keeping Track of Price Changes

Shipping prices change regularly, and you’ll be unhappy if you get hit with a bigger bill than expected. The USPS quietly increased the pricing on many of their mail services less than a month ago, but unless you were watching for these price changes you likely would not have noticed. Not only does this result in unexpected expenses for you, it often results in lost time. When pricing changes paperwork often changes, which can end up delaying your shipments and making your customers unhappy. This will usually happen at the start of the year, but it is smart to check on pricing periodically.

2.      Using the Wrong Packaging Materials

When you have a product you’re trying to get out the door, you want to ship it quickly. Unfortunately this can lead to poor decisions. Maybe you decide to re-use your boxes. Maybe you don’t have the right box size, so you package an item in a box that is too large. This type of behavior can lead to very negative results. Boxes get weaker the longer they are used, making them less able to protect the items inside. Shipping products in the incorrectly sized box can not only make a difference in pricing, but it can lead to the product being damaged.

3.      Not Giving Customers Shipping Options

Customers like to have options when it comes to shipping. For some, they are willing to wait several weeks to receive their product if it means free shipping. Others will pay extra to get their product as soon as possible. Offering these different options will give you appeal to a larger customer base. If you have a customer that needs a particular item within days and you can’t do that, they will go to your competitor. Likewise, if you have a customer on a budget but have no cheap shipping options, they will find someone who does.

4.      Not Listening To Customer Feedback

This includes both negative and positive feedback. You may be tempted to ignore that one bad review or skim the good ones, but reviews, feedback forms, and emails are a valuable source of information that can give insight into your business practices. Pay attention to opinions on delivery times. Note if anyone had any problems with objects not arriving in perfect condition. Look for what your customers wished you offered, and then start to offer it. You’ll never improve without feedback from your customers.

5.      Having a Poorly Organized Shipping Area

This is a huge problem because it costs you a lot of time. If you have boxes and packaging materials spread out with no organization, it will be a huge waste of time trying to find the items you need. Not only that, it can lead to you not being able to find the correct box or void fill, leading you to use subpar materials that can damage your product. Make sure everything has a place and keep it organized.

These mistakes are easy to fix and can have a huge impact on your business. Are there any shipping mistakes you’ve rectified or want people to know about? Let us know in the comments! 

Amazon FBA Resources

If you’re ready to start selling your products on Amazon, it may seem a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot of rules and policies that you need to follow, and you also need the right shipping supplies to get started. Luckily ShippingSupply.com can help with both of these!

The process of using FBA is fairly straightforward. You send your products to Amazon and Amazon stores them. Once customers order your products Amazon packs and sends them. To do this though, you must follow some policies and requirements. Amazon has laid them all out nicely right here.

While shipping your items to Amazon isn’t complicated, there are a multitude of ways to do it, depending on the product and the amount of that product you are sending. Again, Amazon has put together a very easy to understand chart to help you out. Find it here.

Amazon also provides you with a resources page, which can give more general advice. There’s also a great newsletter you can sign up for that is sure to help you!

Now, what about the shipping supplies themselves? There’s plenty you’re going to need to get this business running! Luckily we have an entire webpage dedicated to helping you get the supplies you’ll need. Click here to find it.

Our FBA page only lists the essentials. There are plenty more items you may want or even need to invest in down the line, depending on what you plan to sell. It is extremely likely that you will be able to find anything else you need on our website. If you need any assistant please give us a call at 1-877-501-PACK (7225) and we’d be happy to help!

Prepare For The Holidays

The holiday season is upon us. Are you ready with the shipping supplies you need for this busy time of year? ShippingSupply.com carries all the supplies you need to make the holiday season run seamlessly. Whether you’re shipping products out or packaging up items at a brick and mortar store, we have the supplies you need to make the holiday season go smoothly.

Corrugated Boxes

We carry a wide range of corrugated boxes to suit your needs. There’s way too many to list them all here, but we’ll give you some highlights. All of our corrugated boxes are durable cartons designed to safely move your product from point A to point B. We carry gift boxes and apparel boxes for packaging in-store. We have all types of boxes for shipping products, whether those products are large, small, or oddly shaped. Shop now to get all the corrugated boxes you need for the holidays.

Corrugated Mailers

If you’re looking for something smaller to do your shipping in, or for something designed for specific products such as literature or audio materials, then corrugated mailers are perfect for you. We carry a large selection of corrugated mailers to give you the perfect fit for your items. We even offer corrugated displays in case you have a storefront and have items you want to sell at the register or on other counters.

Gift Grade Tissue Paper

Make your packaging stand out with premium quality tissue paper. The special dye resists both bleeding and fading, giving you a product that will be cheery and bright for the entire season. We carry tissue paper in a number of colors, including colors that are complimentary to the holiday season. Some examples include white, blue, red, and green. We also carry tissue paper assortment packs so you don’t have to buy each color individually!

Paper Bags

Efficiently package items in a retail setting with our wide range of paper bags. Need paper shopping bags? Merchandise bags? Hardware bags? We carry them all and more. All of our paper bags are 100% recyclable and re-usable. These heavy-duty, durable bags resist punctures and tearing. Whether you’re looking for a flat bag or a bag with handles that is capable of standing up, you will find it when you shop with us.

Crinkle Paper

Crinkle paper is a great packing material for gifts. It helps to protect items from damage during transport, and it is festive! We carry many different colors for all sorts of occasions. We even have a Christmas blend, specifically made for the holidays. Click the link above to browse additional solid colors and blends of Crinkle paper. You will receive 10 pounds of Crinkle paper per case; plenty to help you out during the busiest shopping season of the year!

These are just a few of the many items you can invest in to prepare for the holiday season. We have plenty of items for both retail settings and ecommerce. Don’t wait! Get the holiday shipping products you need, today!

Top Shipping Considerations

Is the way you handle shipping losing your business money without you even knowing it? Managing products, marketing, and customer service is likely on the forefront of your mind, but ignoring shipping can be a costly mistake. Read on for our tips to keep the costs of shipping down, as well as small ways to make your business actually profit from your shipments.

•         You don’t have to settle for a standard corrugated box or bubble mailer. There are so many options when it comes to shipping supplies now! For example, computer packing boxes are specifically designed for shipping computers and computer accessories. CD mailers are perfect for sending out CDs. There’s so many options out there that will show your attention to detail, and make your products safer during shipping. A product that arrives in perfect condition due to the perfect packaging will receive better reviews, and lead to better business.
•         Consider packaging your items in a way that will help them stand out. You may choose to order custom boxes with your company logo. If you can’t afford custom boxes for every product, why not use some type of custom label? There’s a lot you can do to stand out, which leads to more repeat customers.
•         Keep in mind ways to save money on your shipping supplies. This has to go beyond just sales online, though they certainly help. Consider the shipping supplies themselves. Using the same sized box for every product actually loses money, because you are charged for shipping based on the size, weight, and destination of the package. Having a variety of supplies allows you to always choose the most economic box or mailer for your product.
•        But no matter the price, never skimp on void fill and other cushioning items. It will be you that loses if your products are arriving to the customers in damaged condition. Make sure to budget for bubble wrap, loose fill, newsprint, or whatever type of void fill you choose to use!
•         Use an inventory management system to keep track of how many shipping supplies you currently have. You don’t want to have business thriving, instruct a product to be packaged, and discover you’ve run out of the necessary supplies. Have a system to track the quantities of your supplies so orders never get backed up.

While it is important to monitor products and marketing, it is equally important to monitor your business’s shipping habits. We hope this post was able to help! 

Use Shipping to Build Your Brand

If you do a lot of shipping, it is likely that you have a lot of online customers. It is possible that you have no brick and mortar location and rely on the internet for all of your sales. This is great, but customers can be quick to switch between online businesses. There are many strategies you can use to keep their attention on you, but you may not have considered how your shipping can be a big impact as well.

Be sure to package everything well. This is, of course, your biggest priority when it comes to items you are shipping. We already wrote a blog post about packaging properly, so check that out if you need a refresher. So why is this important? It’s not just important because you need your products to arrive in good condition, but because you want your customers to see that you know what you’re doing. If you ship out a product using the wrong packaging materials, customers may not trust you to ship them products again, even if the product arrived safely. Check out our packaging supplies guide for more details about choosing the right supplies for the job.

Make your packaging stand out. This doesn’t mean that your box or mailer has to be a bold color, though it certainly can be. Glamour bubble mailers, for example, are sure to grab your customer’s attention. But you can also add a company label that clearly showcases your brand. Ideally, your customers will receive a package and know it is from you.

Make it easy. Have a receipt printed and easy to spot inside the packaging. Include a phone number your customers can call if they have any concerns. You may also choose to include information about returns. While this may seem like it is encouraging customers to send something back, it is the opposite. Customers will appreciate having the information right in front of them in case something is wrong, versus having to check all over your site or give customer service a call. You really don’t want negative reviews due to issues with your products.

Add incentive to return. There is a multitude of ways to do this. The easiest way to do this is to include some type of coupon for a future purchase. This can be a general coupon or, even better, specified to the type of product your customer just bought. Including information leading to a survey, with a chance at a prize, is another great way to get feedback and keep your customer’s attention. Drawing a customer back in is incredibly important, especially in e-commerce.

Include information about your website, social media presence, etc. This may be included on paperwork or some type of flyer. It will remind your customer of your website and point them towards social media. This is also a great way to ask them to sign up for an email newsletter. Making a connection in the digital world is extremely important, so use this opportunity to do so.

Make it personal. This is probably the easiest step of all. Simply including a note, handwritten or not, is a great way to show you appreciate your customer’s business. Depending on the industry you may even choose to include a free sample. This really stands out and will make you stand out as a company.

The Right Poly Bag is Waiting

Poly bags are widely used across a multitude of industries. This versatile item can be used for packaging needs, whether those are shipping or retail. The only downside to this is that finding the right poly bags for your specific needs can feel overwhelming. Luckily we’re here to help.

The first thing you have to consider when it comes to purchasing poly bags is that poly bags come in multiple styles. Selecting the right style for your needs is extremely important. Some poly bags are designed with more protection than others.

Flat poly bags are cost-effective and can be used to show off the contents of the bag. They’re great for shipping flat items such as documents. A flat poly bag will provide some protection from dust and dirt as well. A gusseted poly bag is perfect for items that are shaped irregularly. That is because a gusseted poly bag will expand when something is put into it. This creates almost a custom bag, as the bag will become fitted around whatever is inside. While these bags are generally closed with twist ties, you may also invest in recloseable poly bags. These can be re-used, which is ideal for some industries. Recloseable poly bags may use a slider or pinch closed mechanism. Anti-static poly bags are great for shipping electronics. These bags will protect products not only from dirt, but from static build up. And of course, you can always find colored poly bags, which are great for a multitude of reasons. Not only do they prevent your product from being seen, they can be used for branding, to make your company stand out, and to keep your products better organized.

This of course doesn’t account for more custom poly bags, such as garment bags or furniture covers. Poly bags come in all shapes and sizes, including tubing and sheeting to make it easier for you to get exactly what you need. Once you have a style selected, it’s time to figure out what strength you need.

Poly bags generally come in some type of Mil. A “Mil” is one thousandth of an inch and is used to measure the thickness of the bag. A higher Mil means your poly bag can hold more. Generally you will find poly bags with a Mil of 1-6. 1 Mil is lightweight and best used for temporary storage, though it can also be used for very lightweight items such as documents. The most popular thickness is 2 Mils, which is great for shipping clothing and light parts. If you need more protection you’ll want to upgrade to 3 Mil poly bags, which are often used by kit manufacturers and the healthcare industry. If you need to ship hardware and industrial parts, you’re better off with 4 Mil poly bags, as they offer more protection. And, if you need a very strong poly bag, invest in one with a strength of 6 Mil. This strength of bag protects against punctures and tears and is most often used for parts and metal objects.

We hope that these guidelines will make it easier for you to choose the right poly bags for you. You can follow this link to browse our large selection of poly bags to find the perfect ones for your company.

Box Buying Guide

There’s tons of options for corrugated boxes out there. This allows you to find the exact box that is perfect for your needs. What this also means is that it can be easy to get overwhelmed with so many selections. Because of this we’ve put together this handy guide to help you narrow down what boxes you should be considering.

There are some important factors to consider when you are purchasing a box. The biggest one? How heavy the contents of your box are going to be. Here are our guidelines. Please note these are only recommendations. Be sure when packaging your products that the weight is always distributed evenly.

Up to 65 lb.        200#/ECT-32 Single-Wall Corrugated
66 lb. – 95 lb.     275#/ECT-44 Single-Wall Corrugated
96 lb. – 100 lb.   275#/ECT-48 Double-Wall Corrugated

The dimensions of the box you need may seem obvious, but keep one thing in mind. If you are shipping products that are going to require cushioning, purchase a box which allows for 2” – 3” of extra space on all sides. This includes above and below the product. Doing this means you can use bubble products, foam products, or whatever other type of void fill you want to keep your product safe during shipping.

Not only are there different sizes and strengths when it comes to boxes, but there are different types as well. Fixed Depth Boxes are the standard cartons you are probably used to. Most of them will meet mailing and shipping specifications. These will work well for most of your shipping needs. HeavyDuty Boxes are 40% stronger than your standard shipping container. They provide your products with greater protection and have higher stacking strength. Multi-Depth Boxes are prescored, meaning you can easily adjust them to fit your specific needs. You can simply cut to the height you need, meaning each of these boxes can be customized. Moving Boxes are specifically designed to meet moving needs. Many of them come with pre-printed instructions. They come in many styles to make any move easier.

You can also narrow your box search even further. Computerboxes, file storage boxes, side loading boxes…there’s tons of specific options for people in specific industries.

We hope this guide has been some help to you. The perfect box is out there waiting, so go find it!  

Upcycle Shipping Supplies

In honor of Earth Day on April 22^nd, we want to provide you with some great ways to upcycle your shipping supplies that you may not have ever thought of! We all have to live on this planet, so it is important we all do our part to keep it as healthy as possible. Instead of simply trashing old shipping supplies, find a way to make them useful again!

·        Use old shipping materials for crafts. There are countless craft projects on the internet that use recycled materials such as cardboard, bubble wrap, newsprint, and more. A simple Google search will give you thousands of results. If you have kids, doing a craft from recycled materials is a great way to introduce them to Earth Day!

·        Save shipping boxes for storage. This can be storage in your basement, storage while you move, or even to store a gift! Boxes are designed to ship items, so they work great for holding and storing items, whether they are in transit or not.

·        Speaking of shipping boxes, use shipping boxes more than once! This isn’t in good taste for a major company, but it’s a great idea for the average consumer. After receiving your product hold on to that box so next time you have to send a package you have one on hand.

·        Hold on to your poly bags for next time you go on vacation. Poly bags can keep small electronics safe from water, keep smaller items organized, or keep specific items separated from each other. Poly bags protect items from dirt and moisture, so anything you need safe from dirt will be safe in a poly bag.

·        Don’t pop that old bubble wrap! Bubble wrap is a great item to use to cushion your fragile possessions. That may be while you go on a trip, while you move, or while items are in storage.

·        Use old shipping supplies as costumes. Use them for Halloween, for a birthday party, or even just for kids to play dress-up! We did a post on how to use packing supplies as costumes back in October. You can find it here.

·        Corrugated boxes can be upcycled to just about anything you can imagine. Use it for organization. Transform it into a toy box for your kids. Make it into signs for an upcoming rummage sale. There’s too many options to list in just one blog post!

·        If you’ve run out of options when it comes to upcycling, make sure you still recycle any shipping supplies you can. Recycling can dramatically reduce waste across the planet.

It may be tempting to just toss shipping supplies you no longer need. Instead, find a way that you can re-use these materials and help the environment in the process. 

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!

Big Box Savings

Starting tomorrow, ShippingSupply.com has a fantastic sale going on. We’re placing our most popular category on sale! From February 3^rd through February 9^th, 2016, you will receive 12% off corrugated boxes with the code SALE12. Corrugated boxes are an extremely versatile item. They can be used for much more than shipping, and come in all sorts of styles that many people don’t even seem to know about. Today we’re going to feature some of our favorite styles of corrugated boxes.

Moving Boxes & Supplies are perfect to fit your moving needs. We have all sorts of boxes that are

perfect for different items you need to pack away. Just a few examples of this includes dish packing boxes, lamp boxes, wardrobe boxes, picture frame boxes, combo packs, and more. These different types of boxes are specifically designed for different household needs. Easily pack and move difficult to pack items by shopping for the combination of boxes you need.

Multi-Depth Boxes allow you to have multiple box sizes with just one carton. The boxes are scored

at intervals on the sides of the box. All you need to do to get the size box you need is cut to the desired height. These handy boxes are great to help you keep your inventory down while allowing you to have the sizes you need. Follow the link to see the various dimensions we offer. We’re sure at least one of them will be what you are looking for.

Computer Packing Boxes help you to pack and ship computers safely. This isn’t just for computers,

but computer accessories as well. Ship desktop computers, laptops, keyboards, and more with these durable corrugated cartons. We offer these boxes in multiple dimensions to fit multiple computer sizes. Computers are of course very fragile, so even with these specially designed boxes make sure you pack them properly.

Telescoping Boxes are adjustable 2-piece sets that you can use for oddly shaped items that are

anywhere from 48” to 90” in length. To make a set, you will need to purchase an inner box and an outer box (sold separately). All these boxes have a full over lap bottom for additional strength. Some products that need to be shipped require something special, and that’s just what these boxes deliver! Browse our multiple sizes to find the carton that is a perfect fit for you.

Insulated Shipping Containers & Supplies are designed so you may safely ship perishable items
such as medical supplies and food. Insulation helps to maintain a specific temperature range inside the shipping container. These containers also have a foam insert to prevent items from being damaged. Not only that, but our insulated shipping containers are reusable, so you can use them again and again! Mix them with our supplies such as ice packs and you have a carton that cannot fail!

That’s just a sample of some of the boxes we have that our customers may not always think about. Browse our site to see all our options, and don’t forget the code SALE12! It’s only good for one week.  

Christmas Wrapping Tricks

If you celebrate Christmas, then it’s no surprise that the holiday is nearly here. Have you finished wrapping all of your gifts yet? Not only that, but do you have curious children or friends and family that can easily guess you gift just from looking at it or touching the wrapped parcel? If so, we have some wrapping methods that will help you disguise your gifts until your friends and family have them unwrapped.

1.      Place items in boxes that don’t match the boxes’ content. Placing a sweater inside a clothing box is easily guessed. Try instead to wrap your sweaters in a cube-shaped box or a long box. You may place books or DVDS in media boxes or literature cartons. Instead, place them in clothing boxes. The shape alone is sure to confuse some of your recipients.

2.      Make step 1 even more efficient. If you place a video game in a clothing box, the recipient may know it is not a clothing item by shaking the box. There is an easy fix for this. Fill the box with something that can cushion the product. Great examples include bubble wrap, tissue paper, newsprint, and loose fill.

3.      Place items in a basket and wrap layers of tissue paper around the basket. This type of gift cannot be shaken and doesn’t retain the shape of the present, so it will be impossible for people to guess it.

4.      Combine your gift cards with small items from the location of the gift card. We have some examples for you. Giving a gift card to a bookstore? Buy the recipient a book or journal from the shop and tape the gift card in the front page. Giving a gift card to a movie theater? Attach it to a bag of popcorn. This is a fun way to present your gift cards, versus just placing them inside a card.

5.      If all else fails, go with the classic gift bag.

We hope these tips help you with your Christmas wrapping. Happy Holidays!

Holiday Wrapping Products

The holiday season is nearly here. Now is the best time to stock up on supplies for wrapping! Don’t wait until the last minute. Doing that will only result in lots of stress while you're waiting for your supplies, plus you could be left wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve. Get your items now to avoid that! Today we’re going to feature some of our favorite wrapping items for you to use this season.

20” x 30” Red Gift Grade Tissue Paper:

What better way is there to show the holiday spirit in your packaging? This red tissue paper is made with special dyes, making it resistant to fading and bleeding. This popping red color is sure to remind people of stockings, Santa Claus, and more! With soft texture on both sides, this seasonal tissue paper is a great item to use to package and wrap gifts. Not only that, but leftover paper can be saved for Valentine’s Day in February!

20” x 30” Green Gift Grade Tissue Paper:

Much like our red tissue paper, this green tissue paper will add some festivity to your wrapping. Like the red paper, this green tissue paper also resists fading and bleeding. You can even choose to pair it when the red tissue paper! This tissue paper is great for wrapping gifts, packing into boxes, and packing into bags. You will get 480 pieces per case when you purchase this item.

10” x 10” x 6” Holiday Red Gift Boxes:

These holiday red gift boxes are great for the holidays for a number of reasons! First off, in terms of hiding the identity of your gift, a box is the right way to go. Add padding, and it will be very difficult for the recipient to guess what the gift might be! In fact, you can use these red boxes as an excuse not to wrap at all. No messy paper, tape, or cleanup! If you’re shipping gifts across the country, these boxes add some festive flair. You can’t go wrong with these boxes. Also available in additional sizes.

Precious Metal Shreds:

Looking to add extra appeal to your gift this year? These precious metal shreds are perfect to do just that! They add a beautiful festive sparkle to your gift while also cushioning your product at the same time! These precious metal shreds are sure to make your package seem more upscale. You can get it in a variety of holiday colors including red, green, and silver!

10lb. Christmas Blend Crinkle Paper:

Add fun color and unique texture to your gift and packaging with this Christmas Blend Crinkle Paper! This crinkle paper offers a combination of green and red paper. It’s sure to get people’s attention! Use this blend of paper in gift boxes, bags, or even baskets! And don’t worry, because if you don’t like the Christmas blend you can purchase our crinkle paper in many other colors!

There you have it! We hope this sample of products will get you excited for the holidays.