BEWARE OF EXCESS PACKAGING: IT CAN DAMAGE YOUR IMAGE!

Beware of excess packaging: it can damage your image!

With an ever more ecological mindset, the customer is paying more and more attention to the packages they receive. A package containing excess cushioning is synonymous with a business that does not care about the environment. This negative image of your brand can cost your business dearly, with customers who will not repeat their order or even a bad buzz if one of them posts a photo of this excess packaging on social networks ( consequence: all his contacts will refuse to order from you). This is why, product packaging is no longer a step to be taken lightly!

Zoom On The Phenomenon Of Unboxing

Unboxing, or “unpacking” in French, is a phenomenon created on social networks which consists of filming the unpacking of a package that has just been received. We observe many influencers realize it when they receive, for example, a beauty product to test but also fans who receive a collector's item of their favorite saga.

You only need to look at the large number of videos of people unpacking a package but also the millions of views they generate to understand that unpacking a package is an integral part of the shopping experience. It is therefore essential to make this experience enjoyable a fortiori if it is filmed and broadcast on social networks!

Some Examples Of Excess Packaging

The problem most often mentioned is the size of the box which is disproportionate to the product (s) to be delivered. As a result, order pickers are forced to put a lot of wedging to ensure the protection of the product or products contained (s) inside. Result: you order a day cream and you end up with a box that can contain ten large format books!

The excess packaging also concerns excess timing especially if it is unjustified. This is the case, for example, of a package containing slightly fragile food products (such as peanuts) which find themselves bundled up between dozens of air cushions!

There is no shortage of examples of this kind on social networks. It is better to avoid publicizing your brand through a negative image like this.

How To Avoid Over-packing While Effectively Protecting Your Products?

Above all, it is imperative that you think carefully about the packaging that you will use for shipping your packages. Thus, you will avoid choosing oversized packaging in which it will take a lot of wedging! Sometimes you have delicate items to pack for which you make custom boxes like, Custom CBD Boxes, Custom Popcorn Boxes etc. You must avoid over-packaging for such products.

Cardboard, A Safe Bet

As for shipping packaging, cardboard remains the most used material by e-merchants and they are right: four out of five consumers think that cardboard is the most suitable material for parcel shipments (source: Pro Carton Study - EHI Retail Institute, 2015). Why? Because the cardboard is biodegradable, recyclable and reusable in addition to knowing how to resist knocks, shocks and crushing. It has only assets in short!

It is very important to choose a cardboard box adapted to the dimensions of your product. Thus, you will not need to put a lot of wedging products. This will save time and money but will also make you greener in the eyes of the customer.

Trick : use our search engine to find the most suitable cardboard boxes for your products!

The Choice Of Timing Is Important

Choosing a setting is not an easy task! Indeed, it must be protective while being light in order to avoid an additional cost in terms of postage ... but it must also please your customers! Some dunnage products are not liked by the general public like dunnage particles and air cushions to a lesser extent (source: Pregis White Paper 2016). The choice of timing therefore also counts in the general impression of the package when it is opened.

How do you know what kind of calibration your customers like? Simply by asking them the question! Do a little opinion poll to get concrete feedback.

But be careful not to go overboard and do not put enough stall. Otherwise, the risk is that the product will arrive broken, which has an even more negative impact than the excess packaging because the customer feels neglected. A study shows that 73% of customers who received a broken product no longer recommend to the merchant concerned (source: Package Insight for Prégis 2016). The best is to make test packages with your different packaging from all partner carriers in order to check the level of protection of these.

Packaging Recycling Is Also Taken Into Account

Another important point: the recyclability of shipping packaging. Once the package has been sent, it is up to the customer to throw the packaging in the trash. So, as long as they are few and recyclable! Prefer therefore the cardboard and paper packaging to simplify the sorting of waste: they will all go in the same bin. This will also allow you to reduce the environmental impact of all your parcel shipments and save on the cost of transport.

Source: https://blog24.mystrikingly.com/blog/beware-of-excess-packaging-it-can-damage-your-image