Present Time! How to Pack Parcel for Smooth Delivery on Valentine's Day?
Valentine’s Day, one of the most exciting dates ever, is just around the corner! And what this day usually means to a lot of people is the gifts we send and gifts we get from our loved ones! So before and on Valentine’s Day, a lot of gifts are sent away globally. And when the receiving party gets the packaging box after a smooth delivery, it means a lot to both of the people involved. If you are gifting someone on this special occasion too, how to pack your parcel is a matter which you should take good care of. Similarly, if you are the sender company sending some shipments away, how well you handle the shipment process will be an important part of your reputation in the eyes of your customers.
Why Does Packaging Matter?
Basically delivering the gift safely is as important as the gift itself because no one would like to receive their gift as a broken or damaged parcel. And we all know that the transportation line is not always safe and sound, it has bumps on the way. What likely happens is your parcel, after getting first sorted by a machine, is placed in a van with hundreds of other parcels, then it is driven to its destination. So in this article we are going to talk about the importance of packaging for gifts and e-commerce products as well as how we can choose the right packaging material for them.
Tips for Safe Packaging
So to make sure that your parcel arrives in the best condition, there are some precautions for sender parties and sender companies to take. So let’s take a look at them and see why they are important.
1. Choosing the Right Packaging for Your Products
Choosing packaging boxes in the correct size can determine whether the safety of the items held within is provided or not. Generally you can package your items in cardboard boxes for gifts, or into all other packaging products that can be made of paperboard, plastic, rigid, chipboard, corrugated boxes; or poly bag, foil sealed bag.
If you will send the package in a packing box, make sure that you choose the right sized box. Under-filled boxes are likely to crumble, whereas overloaded packing boxes may tear apart, so you need to find the one that is just the suitable size you look for. If you opt to use a shipping box that is too big, your goods have the risk of moving around internally, causing damage from knocks and bumps. However if you get a box that is too small, gifts have the risk of getting crushed.
How to choose the right packaging for your gifts and products?
There are some steps to be followed in order to choose the right packaging when we are packing a parcel. Let’s start off then:
a) The weight of your product
The heavier the product, the stronger the packaging material needs to be. Through its manufacturer’s stamp, you can check the strength of the box you’ll be using. Weighter items sometimes need double or even triple-layered corrugated cardboard boxes for posting. On the other hand, lighter ones can be packaged in a polyurethane bag.
b) Size and shape of your product
There should be enough space left for cushioning material, if you’re using a box. No corner of the item being packaged should be touching the sides of the box.
c) Fragility of your product and its value
High-value goods and/or fragile goods need protection and extra cushioning. Put a fragile label on the box for good measure. If needed, you might want to consider the box-in-box method when packing parcels.
Apart from these, for packaging, you should always opt for high quality cardboard boxes with single or double wall corrugation, as it is the safest option out there. With such boxes, the risk of your goods getting damaged will be minimum.
If you are sending an item that has a different shape and is also non-fragile, like pants, you may pack it into a polyurethane bag with some packaging tissue.
And if you are reusing a used box, you must get rid of all previous stickers or labels; otherwise, it can create confusion during delivery, such as scanning errors or wrong delivery location. Furthermore, make sure that the box is in good shape and does not have any holes or tears.
2. Wrap All Items Separately
After you chose the type of box such as a cardboard or paperboard boxes for gifts, now is time to choose the cushioning material for the solid security. Reliable cushioning materials to be used that will keep your package protected include foam packing peanuts, bubble wrap, newspaper, hex wrap and shredded cardboard. When packaging your products, you should place various cushioning materials at the sides, bottom, top of the box and between the items. The product itself should also be wrapped and protected properly too. As a rule, you need to leave between 3 – 5 cm (2 inches) between your product and the sides of the box. Especially fragile items should be located in the centre of a package, ensuring they do not touch the sides.
For the ultimate safety packaging, items that are likely to be affected by dirt, water, or wet conditions should be placed in a plastic bag within your box.
3. Seal Your Parcel
We are now at the final step. You need to make sure your parcel is securely fastened to bear up transit by sealing and securing the box sides and lids tightly with packaging tape.If your parcel needs a box to be delivered, make sure to use appropriate tape with the right width (around 2 inches/ 5 cm).
Your heavier packages or your logistics service provider’s machinery could be damaged by straps or strings.
Do not use straps or strings as much as possible.
FAQ
How do I safely pack a parcel?
There are 4 steps to deliver a parcel.
1- Choose a suitable packaging cardboard box for your needs.
2- Wrap your item in a protective material (such as bubble wrap).
3- Close up the box and seal it properly with a packaging tape.
4- Address your parcel depending on the requirements stated by the carrier company you have chosen.
What are the methods of packaging?
There are several ways of packing a parcel:
The U-shaped method: Used for light packing boxes, this method consists of sealing the top and bottom of your box along its entire length, leaving your tape overflowing on each side.
The L-shaped method: Adapted for light packages this method consists of taping your package along the length while leaving a part of the adhesive on the width.
The H method: Suitable for all types of shipments (fragile or not), this method consists of placing the tape along the entire length of the packaging box at the top and bottom, as well as at the 4 ends.