If you’re setting up a subscription box business, you need to carefully consider how you will package the items you are shipping to keep your costs low while simultaneously heightening the customer experience.
Here are four different packaging options you’ll want to consider.
First Things First
By selecting the right way to package your subscription box, you can reduce your overall costs and create a higher margin. In turn, you can generate higher profits.
Make sure you first work out your subscription box pricing, as subscription boxes can be sold for anywhere between $10 and $100, before you look at packaging options.
You may decide to spend a little more than you intended on your packaging if it enables you to promote your brand and create a better customer experience.
And once you do decide on the way you want to package your subscription box, make sure you place a prototype order. It will cost more to buy a single item than you would pay for a single item as part of a bulk order, but it’s worthwhile doing so to ensure the packaging is right before you spend money on bulk packaging.
1. Padded Mailers
If keeping costs down for your packaging is a top priority, padded mailers are one of the best choices. They’re inexpensive and offer good protection for lightweight items.
But the customization options for branding are limited. And padded mailers may not accommodate the size of your subscription box, so whether you use them will need to be partially based on the types of items you are shipping and the size of your subscription box.
2. Rigid Mailers
The same things concerning size and customization apply to rigid mailers.
But you may like to consider rigid mailers as an affordable option. Plus, they have paperboard layers that add durability to the package to help prevent bending and damage.
3. Mailer Boxes
Mailer boxes are often the best choice for subscription boxes.
They will cost more than padded and rigid mailers. However, you could place all of your items directly into a mailer box rather than having to place your box into exterior packaging, so you may actually be able to save costs.
Furthermore, it’s easy to customize mailer boxes with your branding.
And mailer boxes will protect the interior contents while in transit.
4. Custom Boxes
If you want to customize your subscription box packaging further to create a better customer experience during the unpacking stage, you can use custom boxes and design them to perfectly match your brand identity.
You can even customize things like inserts to enhance the unboxing experience more.
Custom boxes will cost more than the above options, but by enhancing the customer experience, you could gain more repeat customers. Therefore, it may be worth splashing more cash on custom boxes for your packaging.
Make Sure the Packaging Is the Right Size and Can Hold the Weight of Your Items
Before you begin exploring the above options for packaging, first find out the length, width, depth, and weight of the items you will be shipping.
You can then ensure that you find packaging that is the right size and which can easily hold the weight of your items.
It may not be best to tightly pack everything in as much as possible, as that could diminish the unpacking experience for customers.
If there is extra space in the packaging after you have added your items, you can use packaging materials like shredded paper or air pillows to ensure everything is secure and doesn’t slip around while in transit. Though, of course, you’ll have to pay additional expenses for packaging materials.
If you’re shipping heavy items, ensuring the packaging can hold the weight is crucial. Pick something like corrugated cardboard to prevent the packaging from splitting under the weight.