WHAT IS E-COMMERCE READY PACKAGING?
What is E-commerce Ready Packaging?
E-commerce ready packaging is packaging that is used to ship your product to a consumer that purchased your items online. It also refers to packaging that has passed rigorous simulation tests to see if the packaging is able to withstand the usual motions and procedures of shipping. Essentially, having e-commerce ready packaging is packaging with wow-factor graphics, strong presentation, and is effective at protecting what’s inside. E-commerce packaging refers to packaging that is meant to be used for shipping goods, which differentiates from retail packaging, which is used for items that end up on store shelves. Retail packaging usually involves the palletization of many copies of the same item because they are all meant to be shipped to one retail location. Because e-commerce ready packaging is shipped directly to individual consumers one at a time, the presentation of the item is very important. This typically leads to packaging that is presentable and organized, as opposed to the large-scale practically assembled nature of retail packaging. Now that we’ve got the basics of e-commerce ready packaging out of the way, let’s discuss the specific simulations used to put e-commerce packaging to the test and the reason why they are important.
What is ISTA 6 Testing?
ISTA 6 testing refers to testing that ensures e-commerce packaging can handle the usual motions of shipping. The primary goal of any shipped package is protecting the product inside the box or mailer. ISTA 6 testing is a set of tests that were created by ISTA and Amazon that simulate the journey that any given package will make from the moment packages leave the facility they were packaged in, to the moment they arrive at the intended destination. The importance of ISTA 6 testing relies on the fact that it tests to see if the packaging in question can truly protect the product it’s holding. It’s not uncommon for the employees of FedEx and UPS to be rather careless with the packages that they are charged with delivering. E-commerce packages will ultimately go through a number of trials before they reach the consumer, and if they can’t handle a toss from a UPS worker, or a fall from a wide turn in the delivery truck, then they shouldn’t really be used in an e-commerce distribution setting. ISTA 6 testing makes sure that your packages are up to the challenge, before you even ship anything.
Why Does it Matter?
When a package arrives to a consumer, it’s important that it arrives in one piece. A damaged package might give the customer a bad impression regarding your company. Even if you had nothing to do with the actual delivery process, and the package was destroyed as the result of the actions of the shipping company, it still reflects poorly on you. That’s why ISTA 6 testing should matter to every company that deals with business online. While product protection is important, the presentation of your packaging is just as important when it comes to impressing your customer. We at Morrisette make use of ISTA 6 testing to make sure that your desired product will arrive in perfect condition every time. We strive to ensure that your customer is never unhappy with the final condition of their package and product, and ISTA 6 testing makes sure that we can reach that goal with each and every completed order. ISTA 6 testing and other delivery simulation testing has done wonders for the e-commerce industry, and every company that has an online presence of any kind should make use of it, not only to ensure that their products are secure, but to represent their brand to customers that are only seeing them online. Next, we can look at how much it can cost to ship packages, and how to effectively get that price down.
What is Dim Weight?
Dimensional weight, also known as dim weight, is based on how much space a package takes up compared to its actual weight. Whenever a shipment is made, the shipper will be charged either based on the package’s dimensional weight or its actual weight, with the larger of the two being what determines the price of the shipment. It is important to be aware of dim weight because most major shipping companies will charge for shipments based on dim weight, which means that the more efficiently you package your products, the less you will have to pay to ship them. This ultimately creates an interesting issue for companies that make use of an e-commerce distribution model. First, you want to make sure that your packages can survive in shipment. Second, you want to make the packages as small as possible to save money on shipping. Having packaging that reflects the actual size of the product being shipped is also environmentally friendly, due to the fact that it will lower fuel emissions if the box is only taking up as much space and is only weighing as much as it needs to. This is something many customers look for in companies nowadays, as interest in environmental issues keeps rising. With the topic of the actual dimensions of shipping packages still on our minds, let’s now look at the final piece of the shipping puzzle – frustration free packaging.
What is Frustration-Free Packaging?
Frustration free packaging is another shipping package standard that was coined by Amazon. The most important part of a frustration free package is the idea that this package is using as little material as possible when being packaged. Basically, Amazon is trying to encourage shippers to lower the number of components that go into every package in an effort to lower the amount of waste that comes out of any given package. This is not only environmentally friendly, but also a good way to reduce costs in shipping. The “frustration free” part of this packaging comes in the form of packaging that is designed to be easy to open. The idea behind this is that the consumer should only need minimal effort to open the package. This packaging is also supposed to be made of 100% recyclable materials in an effort to be environmentally friendly. Frustration free packaging is starting to gain traction even outside of Amazon, and the basic ideas of it are certainly something to consider for your business’s own shipping and purchasing needs.
Why Does It Matter What The Packaging Looks Like?
Something that can often be overlooked by e-commerce based companies is how your packaging reflects your brand, and what the unboxing experience is like for a customer that purchased something from your online storefront. Perceived value and first impressions are everything in the e-commerce biz. Have you thought about using your packaging to advertise your brand and spread your message? It can oftentimes be the case that the unboxing experience is the most exciting part about purchasing a product.
The frustration free packaging mentioned above is also something to take into account to make this experience the best it can be, but you also need to consider the design of the box itself from an aesthetic standpoint, rather than just how it holds up physically. The customer should see your package on their doorstep and know immediately that it came from you. The design on the box should reflect the craftsmanship that went into the product. It’ll show the customer that you care about every aspect of their order, and that may incentivize them to return to your company in the future. A good unboxing will only enhance a good product, and the satisfaction that a customer gets from that unboxing will ultimately have a hand in how they view your company. Don’t just send a blank box, put a logo on it, put a graphic design on it of some kind, make it exciting, make your customer remember how it felt to open a package from you, and they will certainly return to do it again. Packaging that is aesthetically pleasing, and fun to open will always bring a customer back more than a blank box that says nothing about the company that sent it. Your packages are a reflection of your brand and should have just as much thought put into them as the products within them. Once you begin to view your packaging as a tool for customer retention and brand awareness, you’ll definitely start to see a positive change in your business.
How Does Morrisette Approach E-Commerce Packaging?
We at Morrisette strive to make everything as simple – and eye-catching – as possible when it comes to packaging your products for e-commerce distribution. As was aforementioned, we make use of ISTA 6 testing to ensure that your packaging is able to withstand the shipping process and we strongly believe packaging presentation is just as important as the product inside. When you partner with us, we will collaborate to make sure your packaging arrives at your customer in pristine condition and that the unboxing experience is reflective of your brand message. Don’t settle for another company based on price alone – a Morrisette solution is a high value, long-term brand packaging solution!