E-Commerce is Transforming Holiday Shipping Needs
It’s the time of year where consumers have hit the panic button on their holiday shopping and are desperate for that two-day shipping. In fact- according to a survey by SealedAir, 56% of millennials now expect free two-day shipping. However, with faster shipping comes the unintended side effect of more broken or damaged goods. Goods damaged during shipping likely occur because the product was packaged incorrectly for its transit, or the packaging couldn’t withstand the perils of travel. Besides lost inventory, the most unfortunate result from a botched delivery is that retailers ultimately have the most to lose, not the manufacturer or delivery company. Research reveals that 68% of shoppers credit retailers for their good experiences vs. the shipper. Furthermore, 70% of them are not likely to repeat a purchase with said retailer if they have a poor shipping experience.
Solving the Issues
The simplest way to fix the problem of broken and damaged shipped goods is right-sized packaging. While large, standard boxes with tons of void fill like Styrofoam peanuts and air pillows used to do the trick for most items, dimensional weight charges have eliminated that option as a cost-effective approach. Instead of reducing the actual weight of products, retailers and manufacturers alike should focus on reducing damage, which comes with a side effect of reduced dimensional weight; it’s a win-win for companies.
Sold for Shipping
One of the best ways to ensure an improved shipping experience is designing a product’s original packaging to endure transit. A new report shows that a staggering 30% of US consumers buy products online at least once a week. This is the best indicator that products are just as likely to be hitting the inside of a delivery truck as they are brick-and-mortar shelves. Historically, packaging for shipping hasn’t been in the forefront. Designing primary packaging for immediate delivery improves the shipping experience and eliminates the need for excessive secondary packaging.
The Unboxing Experience
In addition to protection, redesigned packaging gives retailers the opportunity to optimize their packaging for a premium unboxing experience for customers as well. A positive unboxing experience can deepen a customer’s emotional engagement with a company or brand and is often the final chance to make a positive impression (besides the actual product, of course!). This is especially true of high-ticket luxury goods. Research shows that consumers are 33% more likely to repeat a purchase of a luxury item after a premium unboxing experience- and are more likely to spend twice as much.
While we are amid the heaviest online shopping season of the year, post-holiday bustle is no time to let off steam on the potential to make a shipping and packaging impression. Begin the new year with a few things in mind: Is your product successfully reaching consumers? And are customers receiving an optimal unboxing experience upon delivery? Let DIM Weight Solutions conquer both in 2019.