
For some time, consumers’ shopping habits have been changing. The steady shift from in-store purchases to online purchases has accelerated significantly in recent years. According to a study, more than half of American consumers prefer to shop online. This shift in consumer preferences presents online retailers with both challenges and opportunities. Of course, running an ecommerce business entails more than just your products and prices. Furthermore, print on demand products custom packaging is an excellent way to strengthen your brand identity while also giving you greater control over your shipping costs. Here are some print on demand products packaging tips to help you provide the best customer experience possible.
WHAT IS E-COMMERCE PACKAGING?

E-commerce packaging is how your product is delivered when customers order from your online store. It includes both shipping materials and print on demand products packaging. E-commerce packaging’s purpose is to protect the product while representing your brand. You must go beyond simply fulfilling the purpose of well-designed e-commerce packaging.
Well-designed E-commerce packaging is important for a variety of reasons. First, the packaging protects the product from distributor to consumer. Because customers aren’t visiting a physical store and carrying their purchases home, extra care must be taken in delivering the product. Second, e-commerce packaging lets you showcase your brand’s personality and provide a personal touch to your customers without needing face-to-face interaction.
6 TIPS FOR PRINT ON DEMAND PRODUCTS PACKAGING
1. Find the right sizes for your packaging needs.

The first thing you should consider when it comes to packaging is the size of the containers you’ll need. One of the most common causes of an unpleasant unboxing experience is when the shipping box is far too large for the product. Thinking about the appropriate size for your e-commerce packaging also applies to other packaging options. If customers order something small, such as a USB drive, they will likely consider it a disadvantage if they must cut through a lot of plastic. Finding the right size is beneficial to more than just the customer. It eliminates the need to stuff void materials like tissue paper and peanuts into every shipment.
2. Utilize Innovative and Sustainable Packaging

Sustainability is appealing. Consider developing eco-friendly e-commerce packaging. Whether you use 100% recycled cardboard or bioplastics for your poly mailer, emphasize how your packaging is gentle on the environment. You can take it a step further by purchasing paper packing materials infused with wildflower seeds to help the environment even more. As a result, you and your customers will work together to help the environment. Creating packaging too beautiful to throw away is an easy win for certain high-end products. Product packaging that has a second life as a decorative storage container extends your advertising reach far beyond the life of the original product.
3. Tell Your Brand’s Story Through Packaging

Your e-commerce packaging can be used to educate customers about your company’s values. Use your box and other packaging elements to convey your distinct message. Print your mission statement inside your boxes, or include a brief description of your company on the product’s outer packaging. Sharing your company’s story makes customers feel more connected to you and makes them more likely to buy from you again. Because shipping materials with your branding and mission statement are easily visible, they reach more people. Many hands come into contact with your products as they travel to your customers, whether you use a logistics company or not. Why not capitalize on that exposure?
4. Choose your shipping options carefully.

You have more to worry about as an ecommerce brand owner than just your products and packaging. You must also consider your supply chain and logistics. Using an ecommerce fulfillment center that has trouble shipping on time or a habit of delivering packages to the wrong location is one of the simplest ways to save all of your packing efforts. Understandably, the COVID-19 pandemic has made fast shipping difficult to achieve. Still, you need to keep your supply chain as efficient as possible, which means finding a print on demand service provider that makes accurate deliveries, offers low-cost fulfillment shipping, and can get your products to your customers on time.
5. Use Custom Inserts To Add Value

The consumer is a captive audience when they open your box. Stickers, coupons, or an informational brochure describing your product’s unique value proposition will keep their attention longer. Customized packing inserts are inexpensive to produce and can punch far above their weight when used creatively. Handwritten notes are especially effective for small businesses looking to establish long-term relationships with their customers. Consider using an insert or a sticker to request a positive review on your prospective customers’ platform. Include the website URL with the request or use a custom QR code.
6. Make your packages return-friendly.

Despite your best efforts, deliveries occasionally need to be corrected. Whatever the reason, customers will occasionally need to ship items back, and making this as simple as possible is an important part of your packaging efforts. Making your boxes easy to open and seal again is one of the best ways to facilitate returns. If a customer has to completely rip apart your difficult packaging to get to the item in the first place, they’ll have to supply their own container to return it, adding to the frustration. Including a physical receipt with every order is also critical in packaging, even if you have already distributed an electronic receipt. Including a physical receipt in the package saves customers from printing their own and simplifies returning the product.
FINAL THOUGHTS

When running a successful ecommerce business, you have a lot to think about with so much competition out there. Providing the best print on demand products packaging options from the beginning is a great way to show your customers how much you value them and can help you stand out in a crowded industry. Brands create a new, powerful touchpoint by strategically packaging products that appeal to the target audience, which they can use to increase consumer engagement and the likelihood of future repeat sales.
The box could be the key to propelling your business forward.
Fulfillplex is a top ecommerce fulfillment company that works with packaging experts to bring your brand vision to life by using custom packaging and premium materials. Contact us today to find out how you can improve your e-commerce packaging. Our team of fulfillment experts is eager to help your business with care and excellence.