Imagine this: You’ve found a product online from a new company that you’ve never purchased from before, and you decide that you’re willing to try them out and order their product. A couple of days later, a package arrives on your doorstep. You excitedly open it up, only to find that the item you ordered was damaged or even worse — broken — before it ever even got to you. You probably wouldn’t be very happy, and the likelihood of you ordering from that company again is very slim, right? Now that you know how you’d feel if that happened to you, why would you ever risk that happening to one of your customers with your product? If you’re not shipping your product with the proper protective packaging or the best packaging materials, you’re putting your business’s reputation at risk.
Consequences of Customers Receiving a Damaged Product
Poor Customer Experience
Ensuring a pleasant customer experience is extremely important when it comes to any successful business, but especially when it comes to eCommerce sales, as you have no direct contact with the customer in order to make sure they’re satisfied. This means you have to focus on and rely on things like providing a pleasant unboxing experience. If a customer receives your product and it’s damaged, their experience certainly won’t be pleasant, and they’ll likely express their displeasure with your product and your company, which is exactly the opposite of what you want.
Decreased Sales and Negative Reviews
Depending on the level of displeasure that customers experience, it may result in them never purchasing from you again. Not only have you now missed out on a potential repeat customer, but you’ve also exposed yourself to receiving negative reviews or feedback online. In this day and age, online reviews are a big part of purchasers’ decision-making process. And if you have one too many negative reviews, your sales could drastically plummet as customers don’t see you as a reliable company to purchase from. Word of mouth also follows this path.
Don’t let this happen to you and your business. Instead, make sure you’re using the best packaging materials to ensure the safety of your product from your warehouse to the customer’s doorstep or mailbox.
Packaging Materials That Can Keep Your Products Safe
Polyurethane Packing Foam
Polyurethane foam is commonly found in most furniture and mattresses, running shoes, car seats, and much more as it’s one of the most versatile materials available. So versatile that it can be used as protection for your products during the shipping process. Polyurethane foam is softer than most other foams because of the way it’s built and is commonly made as “egg crate” foam, which offers slightly more protection.
It is a great option for products that are small, lightweight, or shock sensitive. Examples of this are different kinds of fragile electronics. Polyurethane is a great option for customized packaging because it can be tailored to the shape of your product and built to fit your specific needs. To learn more about the benefits of using polyurethane packing foam, check out our blog Keep Products Safe with Polyurethane Packing Foam.
Polyethylene Packing Foam
Polyethylene packing foam is slightly different from polyurethane packing foam in that it’s denser and more strong and durable. It is designed to last for a while, but unlike polyurethane, it is a closed-cell foam, which means it’s less flexible and breathable. Polyethylene is both shatterproof and extremely difficult to tear, while also having excellent buoyancy, which makes it perfect for products that need protection from liquids because of its low absorbency.
The closed-cell construction means it’s resistant to mold, mildew, bacteria, and more, meaning you shouldn’t worry about your product getting contaminated. It’s also an excellent packaging material for products that require strong shock absorbency. It is great at dampening vibrations and providing insulation for products that need to stay at a certain temperature. To learn all about polyethylene packing foam, read our blog Need Cushion? Use Polyethylene Packing Foam.
Air Pillows
Air pillows have recently become a very popular alternative to other packaging materials because of their affordability and ease of use. And customers love them because they aren’t messy and are environmentally-friendly. When it comes to choosing a packaging material for your product, air pillows are a great option because they work well to keep products in place, and away from the sides and walls of packaging, thus reducing the risks associated with shipping. From a business standpoint, they’re extremely cost-effective because the pillows themselves are inexpensive and they’re very lightweight, allowing you not to incur added shipping expenses.
Not all packaging materials are recyclable, but air pillows are. They’re also capable of being reused over and over again so long as they’re not damaged, making them a preferred option for many businesses and customers.
Bubble Wrap
Similar to air pillows, bubble wrap is also lightweight, convenient, and cost-effective. It provides great cushioning, can fit any shape, and is easily secured in place with packing tape. Since its invention, it’s been widely used to protect delicate items and awkwardly-shaped products during the shipping process. Bubble wrap is created by sealing together two sheets of plastic while allowing the entrapment of air in the middle in order to form a pattern of bubbles. These bubbles of air are what provides protection for products. Just like air pillows, bubble wrap prevents items from getting scratched or chipped during shipping. The benefit of bubble wrap is that no matter the shape of your product, you can wrap it in bubble wrap and know that it’s protected and safe from damage.
Need Help Determining What Kind of Packaging Material is Right for Your Product?
Once your products leave your warehouse, their safety is out of your immediate control. But by using the proper packaging material you can ensure that no matter what product you’re shipping, it is protected from even the worst falls. Protection for your product can come in many forms, but which one is right for you?
If you’re interested in supplementing your packaging solution with proper packaging material, then work with a packaging designer who will take time to understand your needs and your products to ensure you get the best fit and material for what you need. With decades of experience, robust capabilities, and industry certifications — including ISO 9001 accreditations — we’re ready to take on even the most challenging projects. Contact us today to ensure your products’ safety.
