Packaging for eCommerce: 10 Best Practices for Online Sellers
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in eCommerce, packaging often shapes the first impression customers have of your product. Done right, it protects your product, ensures it arrives in perfect condition, and reinforces your reputation as a dependable seller. Get it wrong and the result could be damaged goods, dissatisfied customers, or costly returns.
But why focus specifically on packaging for eCommerce? More importantly, as an online seller, what best practices should you adopt to ensure you get your eCommerce packaging right? That’s precisely what we’ll explore in this concise and practical guide.
What Is eCommerce Packaging?
Isn’t packaging for eCommerce just like any other kind of packaging? Not quite—the main difference lies in how the product reaches the customer.
While all packaging serves to safeguard products, eCommerce packaging is designed to meet the specific demands of goods sold online. These products must withstand multiple handling stages, from warehouse storage to delivery trucks and finally to the customer’s doorstep. Durability and functionality are critical to ensure items arrive intact..
In contrast, retail packaging focuses primarily on shelf appeal, aiming to attract in-store customers with vibrant designs and eye-catching features. While it does provide protection during shipping to the store and stocking on shelves, retail packaging isn’t built to endure the rough, long-distance transit that eCommerce packaging must handle. This distinction makes packaging for eCommerce uniquely demanding.
Why Does eCommerce Packaging Matter?
Packaging for eCommerce is a strategic tool that can enhance your customer experience and improve your operational efficiency. Here’s why it counts.
Protection of Products
The primary role of eCommerce packaging is to keep products secure during transit. Items sold online often endure transportation over long distances and exposure to potential impacts or environmental factors.
Packaging must be able to prevent damage caused by shocks, compression, vibration, or moisture, ensuring the product arrives pristine and ready for use. This reduces the likelihood of returns or replacements, saving both time and money for sellers and customers.
Optimized Logistics
Packaging for eCommerce must also support efficient storage, handling, and shipping processes. Lightweight and compact designs help reduce shipping costs by minimizing dimensional weight fees, which carriers calculate based on size and weight. Additionally, standardized packaging improves warehouse operations by simplifying stacking, inventory management, and packing workflows.
Enhancement of Customer Experience
Thoughtfully designed packaging can create a positive unboxing experience, leaving a lasting impression. Features like clear labeling, easy-open mechanisms, and tidy presentation contribute to customer satisfaction. When packaging is functional and well-designed, it builds trust in the brand and encourages repeat purchases.
Branding and Marketing
From logos and colors to unique design elements, packaging can reinforce a brand’s image and differentiate it in a competitive market. Additionally, well-branded packaging increases the likelihood of customer engagement through social media, as customers are more likely to share their unboxing experiences when the packaging is memorable.
10 Best Practices for Smart eCommerce Packaging
Packaging for eCommerce is crucial for protecting your products, optimizing costs, and delivering a positive customer experience. Here's how to ensure your packaging is effective, efficient, and meets the highest standards.
1. Use the Right Materials for Protection
For fragile items, use protective materials like bubble wrap with 3/16” bubbles, foam inserts, or air pillows. For non-fragile products, 200# double-wall corrugated boxes or single-wall cardboard are ideal. For moisture-sensitive items such as electronics, consider poly bags or foil-lined wraps to shield against water damage.
2. Right-Size Your Packaging
Avoid oversized boxes. Your packaging should fit your product snugly, leaving only 2 inches of extra space at most. For lightweight products, poly bags, poly mailers, or padded envelopes are great alternatives to reduce shipping costs without compromising on safety.
3. Seal Packages Securely
Use reinforced gummed tape (at least 2 inches wide or 3 inches for heavier boxes) to securely seal cartons. For bagged items, opt for permanent adhesive seals like those on Supply Legends’ poly bags, which provide tamper-evident security and ensure contents stay intact during transit.
4. Brand Your Packaging
Leverage your packaging as a marketing tool. Print your logo and brand colors directly on the packaging or use branded packing tape. High-quality flexographic printing ensures durability. Enhance the experience with thoughtful inserts, like thank-you cards or care instructions, to leave a lasting impression.
5. Ensure Proper Labeling
Place clear and legible shipping labels on the largest surface of the package to keep them visible. Use standard 4” x 6” direct thermal labels for easy readability and carrier compliance. Include handling labels like "Fragile," "This Side Up," or "Handle with Care" where necessary to prevent mishandling.
For bagged items, include suffocation warning labels, which are legally required in several states, such as California, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. If applicable, add hazard labels for flammable or hazardous materials to ensure safety and meet transit regulations.
6. Prioritize Customer Experience
Make your packaging easy to open. Incorporate features like tear strips, pull tabs, or perforated seams for effortless opening. Consider resealable options to simplify returns and reduce waste.
7. Test Packaging Durability
Perform drop tests and use ISTA 3A or 6A standards to simulate real-world shipping conditions. Test packaging compression strength to ensure your products arrive in perfect condition, even in challenging transit environments.
8. Consider Shipping Costs
Keep packaging as lightweight and compact as possible to minimize shipping fees. Use appropriately sized boxes, or opt for poly bags, poly mailers, or padded envelopes for smaller products to avoid dimensional weight fees.
9. Ensure Marketplace Compliance
Most leading eCommerce marketplaces, such as Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), offer comprehensive order management solutions. However, before products reach these fulfillment centers, sellers are responsible for properly preparing and packaging their inventory according to strict guidelines.
For instance, Amazon FBA requires poly bags to have clear labeling, suffocation warnings, and proper sealing to meet their safety and compliance standards. Staying informed on these requirements is crucial to ensuring smooth processing and avoiding penalties or delays.
10. Choose a Reliable eCommerce Packaging Partner
Working with a trusted packaging provider can make all the difference in your operations. Not only can they provide high-quality, cost-effective materials tailored to your needs, but they can also offer practical eCommerce packaging ideas to optimize your process and meet platform-specific requirements. And that’s exactly where Supply Legends comes in.
Power Up Your Packaging eCommerce Strategy with Supply Legends
Getting your eCommerce packaging on point doesn’t have to be complicated or costly, especially with the right packaging partner. With Supply Legends, you can focus on scaling your business, knowing your packaging needs are handled by experts.
Our durable poly bags protect your products while keeping things efficient and affordable. Plus, with fast, free shipping, bulk order discounts, and premium materials, we’ve got everything you need to streamline your eCommerce operations and save big. If you’re looking for practical packaging solutions that deliver on quality and reliability, Supply Legends is here to help.
Take the guesswork out of eCommerce packaging—reach out to us today!