Online Business 101: What Shipping Materials Do You Need?

Starting a home or small business can mark a new and exciting chapter in your life. But if you’re not investing in the right shipping materials, you may struggle to get your business off the ground.

Before you start listing your items online, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got all the right packaging supplies on hand. Business fulfillment goes far beyond accepting orders; you’ll need to make sure they get to their destination!

Let’s review the most crucial shipping materials to keep your business moving and growing.

Shipping Material Guide

There are dozens of shipping materials and packaging supplies that can benefit your business. But a handful of these items are relatively commonplace throughout all businesses.

For example, if you’re planning on shipping items to customers, you’ll need:

• Packaging Tape
• Cardboard Boxes
• Padded Envelopes
• Bubble Wrap

And if you’re not eager to make daily or weekly trips to the post office, you’ll also want to invest in a package scale, a home printer, and adhesive printer paper.

How to Ship Orders

Learning how to ship orders might be one of the best ways to get familiar with your necessary shipping supplies. After all, it can be tricky to know what you need if you’re not sure how to ship orders.

Most shopping platforms offer in-platform calculators and price points to help make shipping easier. Still, it’s vital to ship items immediately after purchase to maintain positive reviews.

You’ll want to have the right packing supplies ready to go.

Choosing the Right Packing Supplies

Though you might be more familiar with common shipping materials and the shipping process, you might be a little confused about which supplies are right for your business. But choosing the right packing supplies is a simple process.

To ensure you end up with only the best and most necessary supplies and materials, you’ll want to:

1. Consider Size and Weight
2. Think About Package Protection
3. Plan For Long-Term Savings
4. Create a Workspace

The right type of packaging often depends on the size and weight of your sold goods. Padded or flat envelopes are great for smaller items like jewelry, books, or DVDs. Boxes are more suitable for larger goods.

You can also use clear plastic packaging tubes. These are especially useful when shipping posters. You can find them here: https://www.petropackaging.com/plastic-tubes/clear-plastic-tubes-sealed-bottom/

Package protection is another aspect you’ll want to consider. If you’re using a padded envelope, you might not need to add much bubble wrap to keep your item safe during shipping. But boxed items often need more protection.

And while you might be tempted to avoid buying a scale and home printer, these items can result in long-term savings. After all, when you’re not rushing out to the post office to ship your items, you’re saving time!

Lastly, you’ll need to create a workspace. If you don’t currently have a packaging area for your sold goods, now is the time to get organized. Doing so will help illuminate any additional items you may be missing, like a desk.

Pick the Best Shipping Materials Now

Are you looking to expand your business and keep your growing customer base happy? If so, you’ll want to invest in the right shipping materials to keep your sold items safe during transit.

The best packaging supplies for your business depend on the size, weight, and fragility of your goods. But you’ll likely benefit from stocking up on packaging tape, printer paper, and bubble wrap.

Are you interested in learning more? Check out our related small home business articles now!