When it comes to buying packaging supplies for your business or for sending the occasional package to friends and family, there’s no shortage of big and small retailers as well as wholesalers to choose from. While price is an important aspect to consider, packaging also brings with it many logistical considerations both in the short and long term.
For instance, as your business grows and evolves, so too will your packaging needs. But similarly, even if you’re an individual who only sends a few packages a year, events such as moving farther away or moving into a home with less space will also alter how much packaging you buy and the type of packaging you need. It’s therefore crucial that you find a packaging supplier who you trust that can continually fulfil your needs no matter how your business or personal situation progresses. Here are some strategies to find a trusted provider of packaging supplies.
Consider What You’re Packaging
The first step in identifying the best packaging provider for you is to accurately assess the items you’re packaging. It would be futile to choose a packaging supplier who simply doesn’t stock the type or size of packaging supplies that you may need. Think about the item you’re packaging, its dimensions, how fragile it might be, as well as any other special qualities the item possesses that may determine what kind of packaging you need to get it to its destination safely.
For instance, if the item is awkwardly shaped, conventional packaging may not be able to adequately cover and protect it. Therefore, you’ll need to find a supplier that sells larger cartons, boxes and packaging solutions or offers custom packaging for bulky and awkwardly shaped items.
Similarly, make sure the provider you choose can accommodate especially fragile items. In most cases, simply placing a sticker on your package that reads “fragile” won’t be enough to prevent the possibility of damage occurring. It’s much smarter and safer to trust valuable items to suppliers who know the exact type of packaging supplies to use in order to get fragile items to their destination in one piece.
Make Sure You Understand Minimum Quantities
You’re more likely to encounter minimum quantity policies when engaging with a wholesaler of packaging supplies. A minimum order quantity is the fewest number of units of a product a business is willing to sell to a single customer in a single transaction, and it is standard practice when ordering a large number of packaging goods.
It’s important to know what the minimum order quantity is for the packaging materials you need so you can know exactly how much it will cost. You can then factor this amount into your budget accordingly.
The advantage of minimum order quantities is that you can plan ahead and always have enough packaging materials on hand in the event that your sales unexpectedly surge or you need to ship a birthday or Christmas gift fast. You’ll also get discounts by buying packaging materials this way, as the savings scale up, meaning the more you buy, the more you save.
