What are the benefits of E-commerce packaging?

When it comes to online purchasing, the packaging is much more than a cardboard box.

You have most likely come into contact with some type of E-Commerce packaging in the last 12 months. In 2017, global E-Commerce sales climbed by 13% over the previous year. In the United States, the largest E-Commerce market, 51 percent of consumers now prefer to buy online, with 80 percent having made an online purchase in the previous 30 days. When it comes to transporting their products, AERIS packaging systems provide e-commerce enterprises with peace of mind. Our drop-tested and FedEx-certified packaging eliminates breakage and improves out-of-box experiences for your customers.

01: Crucial Role of Packaging

When another story in the press about Amazon (or another huge online merchant) sending a modest good in a ridiculously oversized box appears, everyone laughs.

Furthermore, most people have had the misfortune of a shipment arriving battered and bruised or, worse, the product itself being damaged.

While these cases are both humorous and unpleasant, the vast majority of internet orders are delivered successfully and without incident. For many people, and depending on the nature of the transaction, the thrill (or lack thereof) of getting the order means that the packing in which it is sent is mostly forgotten.

However, this can cause e-commerce retailers to ignore a possible opportunity.

Successful, well-thought-out e-commerce packaging can have a significant impact on the success of your business. It can aid in reducing the amount (and expense) of returns. It can aid in the development of client loyalty. It has the potential to increase the visibility of your brand.

So, while packaging must perform its core function – getting your items to your customers safely and as cheaply as possible – there are a number of other benefits that may be utilized if you are know-how.

02: 7 E-commerce Packaging Facts

A variety of facts and numbers obtained from different studies and research undertaken over the last few years demonstrate the importance of e-commerce pretty clearly.

With the growth of e-commerce, intelligent online businesses have paid more attention to packing, which has resulted in the following conclusions.

1: Consumers create their first impressions of a brand (and many other things) in about 7 seconds. It is then extremely difficult to modify. 2: According to research, nearly as many consumers (10%) regard a product's packaging as significant as the brand itself (12 percent). 3: It has also been noted that online sellers/businesses that pay attention to their packaging claim a 30% boost in consumer interest on average. 4: Approximately 90% of all products in the United States (and a similar number in the United Kingdom) are shipped in some form of cardboard packaging. 5: A slow shipment time – which can be influenced by slow packaging processes – will dissuade approximately 40% of buyers from completing a purchase. 6: On the other hand, if you can absorb the expense of shipping and packing to give free delivery, your clients' average purchase value will likely increase by 30%. 7: Approximately 52% of online buyers who receive their product in bespoke packaging say they are more inclined to return to the same company for future orders. So, what does this mean for your online store's packaging? Please keep reading to find out how you may use your postal boxes to capitalize on these facts. 03: First Impressions Count As previously said, people create their first impressions of anything or someone within 7 seconds. The same thing will happen when you ship e-commerce orders to your consumers. Obviously, the person has looked at your online store, done research, and decided to place an order with you. But what is their first physical interaction with your company? Your packing is excellent. If a shabby, damaged box is discovered, it makes a bad first impression. And, while this should be avoided at all costs, it is possible to focus on much more than just ensuring the delivery arrives in one piece to your consumer. Clever branding, personalization, and other techniques can make your customers feel cherished and add to the excitement. In fact, this is why there has been such a surge in unboxing videos on platforms like YouTube.

Finally, consider how you would feel in person giving up a broken, shoddy-looking box to a customer who has just spent potentially hundreds of pounds with you. Make certain that this does not occur. 04: Packaging is (almost) Equal to Branding According to studies, nearly as many individuals believe that the container itself is as significant as the brand from which they purchase. However, it may be claimed that is quite clever. Your online store's packaging should be an extension of your brand. It should play an important role in communicating what your company and products are all about, as well as how they can make your customers feel. Consider Apple as an example. From iPods to high-end Mac Books, all of their items are effectively luxury, high-end products. And if you've ever bought one of their products, you'll know that the packaging is just as good, being durable, aesthetically beautiful, and very tactile. In effect, it corresponds to their brand values, proposition, and market position. 05: Increase in Interest / Retention Following on from the preceding, it should come as no surprise that online firms that take the time to carefully craft their packaging receive up to 30% more interest from customers. This could be due to a variety of Factors. Maybe they've earned a solid reputation by never delivering faulty or damaged goods. Maybe the brand ideals that drew the customer in the first place are represented in the packaging. It may even increase the excitement of receiving an order, promoting loyalty and repeat business. Beyond that, great packaging, particularly those with a wow factor, will most certainly assist your business through word of mouth, the oldest and possibly most powerful kind of promotion. A consumer who receives an eye-catching gift is far more likely to tell their friends and family about it, and they may even keep the pack (with your logo on it) for much longer, if not permanently. 06: Cardboard Shipping Cardboard boxes are frequently regarded as one of the most boring and/or simple goods that we use on a daily basis (just try starting a conversation about them at the gym or pub to see how boring they are!).

This is a difficulty as well as an opportunity. If your competitors are merely utilizing conventional, brown, unbranded boxes with no distinguishing features, you have an immediate point of differentiation and may utilize this to place yourself anywhere you want in the market (e.g. the luxury, a premium option perhaps, or maybe the eco-friendly option). This will enable you to begin building your brand and adding actual value to your items. It can even be worthwhile to place some orders with your competitors merely to observe what they're doing - so you can outdo them! Make certain that your company does not blend in with the throng or is overshadowed by your competitors. 07: Order Values Much of this will be determined by your courier or delivery partners, but your packing will still be costly. Even if you just spend 20, 30, or even 50 pence per box, this might add up to a large amount over the course of a thousand purchases. Furthermore, the size of your box might have a significant impact on your shipping prices, especially since the introduction of volumetric (i.e. by size) and pricing in proportion to shipping charges. As a result, it is vital that you have adequately sized boxes for your order (or pay to send fresh air or void fill such as foam and airbags), and that this is matched with a reasonable unit price for your packaging. It may be tempting to pass on shipping costs to your clients, but statistics show that doing so will substantially limit your potential for growth. 08: Slow Shipping While a dependable courier is important, many consumers overlook the fact that picking and packing an order takes time as well. While you should have a solid plan and processes in place for picking e-commerce orders, the actual packing process is often overlooked.

Slow or difficult-to-assemble and/or-seal boxes might add important time to the fulfillment process. If you have a particularly large and complicated inventory, retrieving boxes for packaging may be necessary. If you know you can pick and pack an item as quickly and efficiently as possible – with the help of your packaging – you have a fighting chance of giving next or even same-day delivery alternatives. 09: Customer Loyalty More than half of those who have received bespoke packaging say they will use the same company again in the future. That in and of itself is a compelling reason to consider custom e-commerce packaging. Even beyond that statistic, custom packaging will be less expensive to send (because a custom size reduces volume and thus shipping charges), will protect the contents better by eliminating movement during transit, will be better for the environment by using less material, and will also eliminate secondary packagings (and the cost) such as foam pellets or polystyrene. It also provides you with the opportunity to drive client loyalty, improve brand recognition, and generally please your customers.

Summary While it is sometimes ignored – particularly as a marketing tool – your e-commerce packaging has the genuine power to improve sales, generate customer loyalty, and position your brand where you want to be in the market. To preserve your products, AERIS packaging offers custom-designed inflated air-chamber packaging. Their packaging solution is not only environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective, space-saving, and recyclable. Whether it's computers, cell phones, electronics, or medical devices, our packaging ensures that your valuable items arrive undamaged.