How to Pack Apparels for Shipping in India

Looking at fashion e-tailers like Myntra and jabong, one would wonder about the kind of packaging required to safely deliver apparel to the customers. The reason behind such curiosity is the lack of “fragility” of clothes. Clothes are not fragile and they can’t get damaged if you handle them roughly. Then why is there so much concern regarding their packaging?

All ecommerce businesses are evaluated on the basis of their delivery efficiency. Since there are no physical outlets or presentations that may be physically visited, the average customer perceives the quality of service on the basis of delivery time, quality of product received, packaging, personalization, and brand appeal. This is why a lot of emphasis is laid on logistics and packaging of apparels. The focus should not be only product quality but shipping quality as well. This would help you to enhance user experience and welcome repeated orders and new customers.

Here are some important considerations that need to be made before packing and shipping apparels in India.

Apparel Should be Delivered Wrinkle-Free

If you think you can impress your customer with wrinkled clothes, then you are grievously mistaken. The apparel may be made of the most exquisite fabric with out-of-the-world designs, but if it has wrinkles, then the customer will be terribly put off. To avoid such situations, make sure that the apparel is ironed and carefully put in the appropriate packaging before being sent off. Using a plastic cover would not only protect it from dust and moisture, but it would keep the apparel intact and properly sealed in a tamper-proof packaging.

Packaging Should Be Perfect

Packaging matters a lot when it comes to online shopping. Put your heart and soul into the package’s design because it will deliver long term benefits in terms of repeat purchases and enhanced brand perception in the eyes of the customer. If you have an attractive package, then customers will be more than happy to share its photos on social media and also spread the good word around. This will bring more benefits than your strongest marketing strategy, and that too at no cost at all. However, it is important that the attractive elements do not come at the cost of safety of contents. 

Package Should be Taped Properly

It is needless to say that all the packages need to be taped off properly. Cover all the (existing or potential) cracks, holes, openings, etc. with a good quality tape so that nothing falls out. A properly sealed package will reduce the chances of tampering and will keep moisture and dust out. No one would want to receive a damp and dirty piece of cloth, no matter how creative it may be.

Don’t Mess Up The Labels

Consider the situation where you (as a customer) are waiting eagerly for your package, and you receive an intimation that it has been delivered to a wrong address. This is the plight that your customers would go through if you mess up the labelling on the package. Make sure that the package is double checked before being dispatched to ensure that the information mentioned on it is accurate to the last detail. The efficiency of this process would depend on the QA checkpoints implemented by you. 

Add a Personal Note and / or Goodies

It won’t take much efforts to add a personal note of thanks or some goodies like discount coupons, free memberships, etc. Trust me, this goes a long way in ensuring a strong customer bonding with the brand and if you manage to win the heart of a customer, then he / she will not only make repeat purchases, but you will get the benefit of referrals. All this and more can happen with a simple personal note to the customer. After all, a happy customer will result in enhanced business prospects.

Use an Efficient Courier Service

Perform an extensive search for finding the best and most efficient courier service that would be able to deliver your products to the customers in time and without causing any damage to the package. Reliability is the most important factor when deciding upon a courier service as the performance of the courier service would reflect upon the customer’s perception of the business / brand.

Moreover, you need a courier service that is transparent in its approach and offers real time tracking for the shipments. This not only helps to reduce the anxiety of the customer, but also keeps him / her informed about the current position of the package. With such advanced communication technology around us, this should not be difficult to achieve. 

Some Important Points

In India, each apparel type is usually made in keeping with a particular occasion. This gives you a lot of scope to personalize the packaging by incorporating the applicable thematic elements matching the merchandise type, size, and weight. With online shopping comes the convenience of sending gifts to friends and family by purchasing products online and having it delivered to the intended recipient. This is a clear hint that the option of “gift packaging” should be offered to the customers. In my opinion, the packaging should involve customized packing boxes, appropriate padding, and a strong branding approach. These are quintessential to ensure the successful and safe delivery of apparel in India.

Do you have any queries? Would you like to share your views and ideas? Go ahead and pen down your thoughts in the comments section below. 

“Where can I get packages made for shipping books?”

“Where can I get packages made for shipping books?”This is one of the most common enquiries that are received by packaging material providers. These queries are not usually related to actual packing boxes which are used in conventional storage and shipping methods. The queries are related to the modern packages used by e-commerce businesses for shipping books.

Flipkart is a popular online retailers for books today and it had gained prominence with its impeccable and fast delivery method coupled with the strong yet simple packaging. If you look at the design, then it’s nothing more than a sheet of cardboard material that you wrap the books in. Depending on the amount of protection needed, you can either use just packing tapes to secure the package or you may also use plastic wrap or even bubble wrap to secure the contents further.

This particular “package” is more of a DIY thing where you can source the materials and pack up the books yourself. I would suggest that you go to an online packaging material store and order yourself some corrugated sheets (or even corrugated rolls), some packing tapes and plastic / bubble wrap. These are all the things that you would need to come up with an easy yet effective package for shipping books.

The plain surface of the corrugated surface gives ample opportunities for branding and you can place sufficient information on it. It is a really good and affordable package for small businesses (ecommerce) or even start-ups that are a little low on budget. However, for those who can afford it, it is always good to go for customized branded boxes as they are prepared specifically to your needs and not much work needs to be done for packing the books.

I would personally suggest that you consult a packaging expert to determine the kind of package that would justify your packaging requirements. There are various factors that need to be considered, even if you are packing something as simple as a book. DCGPAC offers amazing deals on custom branded boxes that are made from the highest quality materials. You can visit the site anytime and send in your requirements for a free quote. It cannot get easier than that, can it?

Dare to Use Packing Boxes Made from Elephant Poop?

Before you get all puckish about the thought of handling paper made from elephant poop, know that this is a really eco-friendly option and is one of the best way to make something useful from animal waste. This is probably the weirdest source of paper but it can offer really affordable (yet durable) packaging materials, especially packing boxes. Apart from providing cheap packing boxes to manufacturers and individuals, the commercial trading of this particular paper could open up a lucrative opportunity for people in the rural areas. Now that’s a well thought business approach, right!

 

Why Elephant Poop?

Isn’t it obvious? Elephants are amongst the largest animals to walk the earth and their diet consists of plants and vegetation which means that the dung is nothing but a processed form of organic materials. 250 kg of elephant food can yield 100 kg of dung on a daily basis. The digestive system of elephants is not very effective, so the waste tends to be rough with a greater percentage of preserved fibres. This is easy enough to clean and process for making it fir enough to be processed into usable paper. 

The colour of the paper depends on the diet of the animal and the season prevailing at the time of collection of waste. Most importantly, the paper does not have any odour at all. I am sure that all of you have thought about the fact that the paper could let off an unpleasant smell just because it was processed out of dung. But trust me, you won’t even know the difference between this paper and other recycled papers, except for the textural differences which are an obvious occurrence. Apart from that, it’s just regular paper. Even the waste water that is discharged during the process, can be utilized as fertilizers in nearby fields.  
 

Is It Effective?

Speaking of effectiveness, packing boxes made from elephant poop are almost similar to cardboard boxes, and they have god branding potential. Not only does this offer a rustic looking packaging, but it also grabs the interests of customers who would order your product at least once just to check the package in which the product is supplied. So you now have a greater chance of reaching out to customers with a weirdly interesting packaging material which is gaining popularity.

Its cheap, its effective, its different, and it is one of the most eco-friendly packaging materials around. Dare to try it yourself? Share your views in the comment section below.

Plastic or Cardboard: Which is the Best Material for Packing Boxes?

Cardboard or plastic? Can’t seem to decide? This is not only your confusion, but it happens with most customers who just can seem to make their mind about the choice of packing box for their products. Corrugated cardboard boxes have been the choice of packaging material for ages and generating acceptance for plastic boxes.

There is nothing wrong with using a plastic corrugated box. In fact, it is encouraged that such boxes be used for shipping as well as storage because they can be re-used effectively. These boxes are also more durable and do not incur damages easily. Cost may be a factor that might deter a few people, but nowadays the availability of recycled plastic boxes has made it feasible to purchase these packaging materials without burning a hole in your pocket.

While I would prefer a plastic box any day, it would be best if we let the facts speak. Both packaging materials have their pros and cons. The determining factor depends on the extent of use and benefits delivered by the box. Let’s do a comparative review to make things clearer.

Protective Capability

This is the most obvious determining factor that should be mandatorily present in any packaging material. Plastic boxes have a clear advantage over cardboard in terms of protection of the contents. Corrugated boxes may be effective and popularly used, they just don’t cut it when you need really secure packaging materials that are able to create a safe internal environment for the contents. Plastic boxes also offer better protection against pets and rodents. This is something that is difficult to achieve with cardboard boxes.

Handling

Plastic boxes are the winner in this category as well due to the high convenience in handling provided by these packaging materials. Haven’t your come across plastic boxes with wheels and handles yet? You can easily add these components and make it really easy to handle plastic boxes. This just doesn’t work out in the same manner for cardboard boxes which means that you have to lift up these boxes manually or with machines. In either case, it doesn’t feel as convenient as using a plastic box with handles and / or wheels.

Durability

There should not be any doubt about this one. Plastic is the clear winner in this category and it is definitely more durable than cardboard on any given day. The plastic containers offer greater protection and can withstand rough usage without harming the contents.

Waterproofing

It is possible to waterproof the cardboard packing boxes with the use of appropriate materials. However, this won’t be as effective as plastic boxes which have greater water repellence and the boxes do not lose their strength when wet. This is a huge advantage for shipping beverages and liquid products. Moreover, the plastic cases can protect sensitive contents from being damaged by moisture or water.

Environmental Impact

Both cardboard and plastic are capable of being recycled and have proven themselves as an effective packaging material (in terms of sustainability). However, plastic is turning out to have a greener footprint than cardboard in various aspects. For example, paper production is much more energy intensive than producing plastic. Cardboard forms almost 30% of the dump in landfills worldwide and the decomposition of paper yields methane which further aggravates the greenhouse effect.

Versatility

Plastic is used in the production of boxes and sheets, while cardboard can be made into rolls also. Cardboard is the clear winner in this segment as the number of applications and the ease of working with cardboard makes it a really versatile packaging material. The same is not feasible with plastic, at least not with the ones that are used in the preparation of packing boxes.

Cost

In terms of resource cost, cardboard is definitely cheaper than plastic. But if you analyse the overall value per investment, then plastic is a better option as the high durability allows increased reuse of the packaging material without the need for replacing the existing resources frequently. Plastic packing boxes can even be taken up on rent which adds to the total savings that you can achieve. However, this is a relative advantage and the final decision remains with the buyer.

The Verdict!

Plastic is turning out to be a better packing material than cardboard mainly due to the developments which have made plastic a better and greener option. Moreover, the increased use of recycled materials means that plastic corrugated boxes are not only getting more affordable but they are also helping customers save up on cost of shipping supplies.

How to Manage Relocations During Monsoons

The monsoons may be a good time to hangout and enjoy with your friends, but it definitely does not signal a happy moment for relocations. I am sure that you would not even want to imagine the kind of mess and hassles that would have to be borne while keeping away the rain waters and also protecting the packaging boxes.

It is not difficult to manage a relocation during the rainy season, if only you know how to manage things in a smart way. Preparation is the key to a successful move on any given day. Check out the following suggestions which can prove to be pretty useful during a relocation that is initiated amidst rains. 

Track Weather Reports

There is nothing better than getting an idea about the severity of the oncoming weather conditions before you actually set out to move your stuff. Rains during the monsoon are an unavoidable occurrence so it cannot be ruled out of the equation. Keep track of the local weather conditions with reports generated through mobile apps or get the information from the news channel. It is best to be prepared with the right information so that you may select the best packaging materials accordingly. 

Ensure Adequate Protection for Your Belongings

Plastic is the best material for ensuring hassle free moving during rains. It is the best solution for getting adequate water resistance that would protect the contents from damage. Be it plastic covers or shrink wrap, you need to cover everything completely. If you have packing boxes, then keep all of your stuff in it and once you have completely sealed the box, cover it with shrink wrap for added protection. 

Once you have finished covering everything with plastic covers, use a heavy duty masking tape to seal the plastic. You cannot afford to let any moisture damage the contents of your packages. Do this yourself as getting it done by professional movers could burn a hole in your pocket.

Get the Right Packaging Boxes

Don’t even think about using old boxes or already used materials as they would lack the required durability. Use only clean and strong boxes, preferably the ones that have virgin fibres. Do not use any oversized box because it would make handling all the more difficult. Even though you would cover the boxes in shrink wrap, try to get the best possible boxes for packing your stuff. The quality of the packaging materials count a lot during rough weather conditions. 

Check The Streets for Clogging or Potholes

Before moving out with your packages, take a small tour of the path that would be traversed to get an idea about the extent of water logging and potholes that might exist. This could turn out to be a major problem if adequate precautions are not taken. Suppose the transport vehicle were to get stick along the way and there is a long period of heavy shower, then your packages could get wet from the continuous rain and it would render your efforts as ineffective. So make sure you check the path for possible obstacles that could result in a messy situation. 

Get Free Packaging Materials for Your Shipping Requirements!!

Haven’t you always wanted to find a way in which you could get packaging material for packing your stuff without having to pay for the materials? Well here is your chance to get all the materials that you want and not pay anything at all. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it is true if you can relate to the fact that getting “free packaging materials” means finding ways in which you can get it included as part of a shipping service, or you could re-use materials.

I know that the minute you read the “free packaging materials” phrase, you were super excited because you thought this could be a super give-away sale. It may not be a sale in the literal sense, but I could provide you some suggestions which would help you to save up considerably on costs. 

Here is what you need to do:

Ask for “Free Packaging” At the Post Office / Shipping Centre

“Does the shipper / postal service centre offer free packaging?” You should definitely find the answer to this question as it could help you to save up on costs considerably. Sometimes, the carrier could provide a free box or a large enough package for you to put the item and send it to the recipient. Since the box comes as an inclusive part of the offer, you don’t have to pay extra for the packaging materials. 

Find Used Packing Boxes and Leftover Supplies

The problem with most people is that they tend to dispose the used packing boxes and supplies. They never consider re-using it for further applications. While this may be an indirect loss for them, this gives you ample opportunities for getting your hands on some freebies.

The best place to start searching would be local supermarkets and grocery /retail outlets. These facilities have a continuous supply / removal of packing boxes so if you approach them, then you can get the required number of boxes on a regular basis for an almost insignificant cost. You could also convince them to give it to you for free. 

The next best place to check is your home / office. It might seem like the first option when it comes to finding used boxes, but trust me, the chances of getting one are higher in retail outlets than your home. Ask around for any recent items or gifts that you may have received. There is a good chance that the box (in which it came) is lying around the place somewhere. All you need to do is find it.

Learn to Save Resources

Never throw away packaging material that is good enough to be used again. Save every box and all the packaging supplies that you can manage feasibly. Make sure you use only as per requirement and save the resources. This could prove to be an important supply of packaging materials when you need to pack your stuff. You could also ask around for used boxes and other supplies. Neighbours are usually ready to help (if you are nice to them).

Getting free packaging material isn’t difficult if you know how and where to find them. The most important aspect of this is to inculcate careful use of resources and to re-use materials as much as possible. Monetary benefits might be the primary agenda on your mind, but in a way, you would also be contributing to environment safety and sustainability. Now this is something that you could be proud of! 

So go on and find your free packaging material. It might be lying there waiting for you to claim it! In the rare situation that you have not been able to get your hands on free materials, then check out DCG Pac’s collection of packaging materials and supplies at www.dcgpac.com. 

How to Prevent Damage to Your Packaging Boxes (and its Contents) during Shipping

Shipping damage is a very real occurrence and it is one of the major causes of loss incurred from shipments. It is not an unavoidable scenario. With adequate precautions and preventive measures, you can easily ward off the agents that could cause damages to the packing boxes.

The problem lies in the lack of effectiveness in the packaging of the products. If care is not taken during the packaging process, then there is a good chance that the package might have ruptures or it could open up. Such “opened packages” are almost always subjected to slower processing times, which often results in delays that extend beyond 1-2 days. Such a delay might not seem quite a lot if it is a personal package comprising a single item, but for other consignments this could mean a complete loss of business opportunity. This is not acceptable for any business transaction. More than often, the products are carried forward to a new destination after the products have been received at a particular place. Moreover, no one likes to receive an opened / damaged package because the quality of the products cannot be assured (at least not to the customer).

If you want to save yourself from the hassles of filing claims and dealing with angry customers who have not yet received their packages owing to faulty packaging methods, then follow these tips and you should be able to avoid damages during shipping.

Get the Right Size of Packing Boxes

The packing box for your products should be of the right size. Too big a box would require a lot of cushioning along with other materials for filling up the excessive void. Too small a box would cause the product to be fit very tightly and this can damage the packaging during shipping. The best packing box is one where your products fit nicely and there is a little space for adding cushioning (if required). For items such as clothes which do not require cushioning, make sure that the box is filled completely to avoid damages.

Place the Product Correctly Inside the Packing Box

The product’s placement inside the packing box is crucial for assuring the safety of the contents during shipment. Fragile items need to be mandatorily kept in an upright position with the top portion of the product facing the largest side of the corrugated boxes. Try to avoid placing it along the narrow top of the box as this position is not effective in keeping the product upright.

Add Sufficient Amount of Cushioning (Whenever Required)

Cushioning is an absolute must if you really want to add a good amount of protection for your items. The trick to getting the job done in the right manner is to cover the product with cushioning all around in an even manner. While packing peanuts are preferred by almost all shippers, you would find bubble wrap to be a better choice for fragile products (with no sharp ends).

The bubble wrap engulfs the product while keeping it protected from all sides in an even manner. If you need more protection, then you could opt for a bubble wrap with larger bubbles or you could also wrap it around multiple times. In either case, you would be able to put a thick layer of protection around your fragile products.

Be Generous With The Packing Tape

If you are stingy with the packing tape, then it is possible that you would end up making a weak packaging. While less number of tapes will not cause any direct damage to the package, it would certainly cause the contents to spill out during transit or handling. The best way to secure the package would be to apply three strips of packing tape along the seams and the flaps. Additionally, you may also apply two more strips right across to secure the package further.

Don’t be casual if you have light weighted materials in the box. They can rub against the adhesive and loosen the bonds, resulting in the contents spilling out from the package. If you have heavy components, or maybe a small box containing a lot of metal items, then the best thing would be to secure the package with lots of tape. Trust me, it would save you a lot of hassle which you would have to bear otherwise.

Be Nice to the Shipping Executives

Instead of being overly bossy or rude to the employees of the shipping company, try being nice for once. It makes a world of a difference in the way your packages are handled. They won’t deliberately manhandle your packages, but they do have their own frustrations (resulting from being underpaid as compared to their manual efforts and lack of appreciation for their contributions).

By flashing unpleasant gestures or being rude, you only aggravate their frustrations and in turn, they do not handle the packages with care. So if you don’t want your consignment to get damaged, then flash a smile at them and be nice. Trust me, it works every time!

Why Recycled Cardboard Should Not Be Used for Chocolate Packaging?

Recycled packaging materials are preferred by everyone these days because they help to keep the costs low and also contribute towards establishing adequate sustainability for the respective business. However, chocolate packaging is a rare exception to this practice. Apparently, any cardboard packaging or packing boxes for chocolates must be made up of virgin fibres only.

Taste and odour neutrality are the most important factors that are considered during the selection of packaging materials for chocolates. Since the products / contents are brought directly in contact with the packaging material, the possibility of issues pertaining to tainting, odour and migration are high. Recycled materials may not be completely ineffective, but the risk of contamination is always there.

Moreover, the ongoing debate on the possibility of mineral oils in the recycled fibres contaminating the contents, also makes it difficult for a chocolate manufacturer to settle for recycled packaging materials. It is therefore important for the manufacturer to stay updated with the latest developments on the environmental impact of recycled materials and the way that these materials could have an effect on the quality of the contents. 

Even if you consider wrapping up the chocolates individually and then storing the entire lot together, you need to be absolutely certain that the packing box would provide a neutral environment. Usually, any new packaging material that a chocolate manufacturers selects, is tested thoroughly for 6 months (minimum) in a controlled environment to analyse its impact on the contents. 

This is an important consideration because the chocolates need to have a decent shelf life. There is a good probability that the package would have to spend quite a long time on a shelf in a retail outlet before a customer picks it up. Even during the transportation of the consignment, the immediate surroundings / environment cannot be controlled completely. This clearly indicates that the packaging needs to be able to protect the contents and preserve them with no negative impact being witnessed on its quality. 

As a preventive measure, experts believe that manufacturers should stick to virgin fibre cardboard boxes to ensure the maintenance of the quality of their products once they have been packed and prepared for shipping. The cost of packaging would be comparatively high, so the manufacturer needs to consider the profit component of the packaging so as to set a final selling price for the product. This has to be further accentuated with the maintenance of high quality levels in the product so that the customers do not mind bearing a slightly high price resulting out of the use of virgin fibre cardboard packaging material.