From: "Saved by Internet Explorer 11" Subject: Packaging: Think outside (and inside) the box Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2016 08:53:00 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01D23A66.ACDEBF40" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01D23A66.ACDEBF40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.globalsources.com/NEWS/SIC-packaging-think-outside-and-inside-the-box.HTM =EF=BB=BF
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
Path: Sourcing News & = Advice=20 >> Smart=20 Sourcing >> Packaging: Think = outside (and=20 inside) the box
By John Edmonds
Ever=20 seen a kid open their first gift, and play with the gift wrap instead of = the=20 gift? Let=E2=80=99s get you as excited about packaging. Sure protecting = your shipment is=20 prudent (and boring) but did you know that great packaging can slash = costs?=20 Suddenly not so boring, right?
Protect=20 Against Damage And Theft
Safety=20 comes first. So make sure that your packaging is providing the = protection=20 required for your shipment. Fragile shipments should be double-boxed. = Having two=20 boxes not only adds an extra layer of cushion = from=E2=80=A6rugged..handling but it also=20 reduces the chances of the product moving when the box is jostled. = Wrapping the=20 first box with bubble wrap and peanuts will secure it even further (but = watch=20 out, some fulfillment centers, like Amazon FBA warehouses, = won=E2=80=99t let you use=20 peanuts).
Unless=20 you have a full container load, your goods will be consolidated with = other=20 shipments in a container. Same goes for planes: unless you are Apple chartering entire cargo = planes, your=20 goods will be consolidated with other shipments in the hold. With all = those=20 shipments huddled together, it=E2=80=99s easy for packages to get mixed = up at unloading=20 or . So make sure that your packages are clearly marked. But not too=20 identifiable. If you are shipping something attractive to thieves, you = should=20 remove any brand identification, or any other labeling that might spill = the=20 beans (take a note from this bike company).
If=20 You Now Think Packaging Is Exciting, Wait Until You Try Instant Freight = Quoting=20 On The Freightos Marketplace!
Cost-Effective=20 Product Packaging
You=E2=80=99re=20 probably catching on that over-packaging will increase freight costs, = and=20 reducing packaging is likely worth the chance of a marginal increase in = damages.=20 So time to take it to the next step, because some radical thinking will = be=20 required.
Have=20 you ever thought whether you are unnecessarily paying extra freight = because of=20 the wasted space caused by the standard packaging that your product = comes in?=20 This is something to consider carefully. It isn=E2=80=99t as simple as = changing the=20 cardboard box, or the packing material. Your supplier will likely need = to make=20 changes to the machinery and make special production runs. Expect that = your=20 supplier may not initially be receptive, but if your product is selling = like=20 hotcakes, you should do the math. Chances are that you will quickly = recoup any=20 set-up costs, and be saving a mint. Amazon has mastered this (and even passes on = savings to=20 customers).
Cost-Effective=20 Packaging For Ocean Freight
Cargo=20 ships have a lot more space than airplane. But have you seen any of = those horror=20 pics on the internet showing container ships buckling or lurching = because of=20 weight? Well, that=E2=80=99s why weight more than volume drives ocean = freight costs.=20 Just as with freight, you still want to reduce gaps between packaged = products,=20 and not go overboard (pun intended) on packaging material, but you = probably=20 won=E2=80=99t get the same magnitude of cost savings you will get with = air=20 freight.
Remember=20 though to stick with standard sized boxes. They fit nicely on pallets. = This=20 standardization is what makes it possible for shipments to smoothly move = from=20 factory floors onto trucks, and onto ships.
There=E2=80=99s=20 an extra cost with using pallets if you are importing from = China. The=20 wood will need special treatment before it can make it into the US. Same = goes=20 for some other export countries, and some other import countries = too.
Cost-Effective=20 Packaging For Air Freight
There=20 isn=E2=80=99t much space in a plane=E2=80=99s hold. That=E2=80=99s why = air freight costs are based on = volume more=20 than weight. And that means that your goal is to reduce gaps between = packaged=20 products inside the carton, and between other cartons.
Here=E2=80=99s=20 some hints to reduce volume.
=E2=80=A2 = Forget=20 pallets =E2=80=93 they take up a lot of costly room.
=E2=80=A2 = If=20 your cartons are light, have them packed together wherever possible, and = use=20 non-bulging, lightweight but strong packing materials.
=E2=80=A2 = Is=20 the packaging your supplier is recommending the smallest box possible? = If not,=20 use an online dimensional weight calculator to see how much extra you = may be=20 paying for the larger box. Then you=E2=80=99ll know whether you should = be insisting on a=20 smaller box.
Expert=20 Packaging Ideas
So=20 far, the advice has been to pack products closely, use less packaging, = and=20 consider changing the product packaging, but how do you do any of this = without=20 compromising safety?
And=20 beside, isn=E2=80=99t this going to be detrimental to sales? We all know = that impressive=20 packaging helps sells those products, right? In effect, you really have = to be an=20 expert to get it right. So here=E2=80=99s a protip =E2=80=93 talk to an = expert! Contact a=20 packaging company near you for some creative ideas so that your product = will=20 still look great, your stock will stay protected during transit, and you = will=20 save a bundle on freight costs.
There=E2=80=99s=20 a little more to packaging than meets the eye, but it will be well worth = your=20 while taking up on these tips. Like the young child unwrapping = it=E2=80=99s first gift,=20 it really is worth the time checking the packaging out.
Want=20
to learn more sourcing best practices?
Join the Global Sources Summit that combines conferences =
and=20
networking, co-located with our Hong Kong trade shows. The event will be =
held=20
April 17-19, 2017, and is geared toward online and Amazon=20
sellers.
John=20 Edmonds is an online freight evangelist at Freightos, the online freight marketplace where = importers=20 instantly compare, book and manage freight shipments online. A career = spanning=20 phones, electricity and gas has seasoned him for finding the fascination = in=20 freight...but he always makes time for cricket. Check out ship.to for more of John's global = shipping=20 tips.
Read more Sourcing=20 News & Advice