Why is WAT the Best Choice for Online Furniture Retailers?

The online furniture market is growing rapidly. In fact, according to eMarketer, U.S. ecommerce sales of furniture and home furnishings will exceed $50 billion this year. While those sales are a small percentage of overall retail ecommerce, the furniture category is growing faster than any other at over 18 percent. What’s driving that growth? A couple things.

Technology is one contributor. Advances in computer monitor display quality, website capabilities, and other factors make it easier for consumers to “see” a product and be comfortable purchasing it online. The other enabler of online furniture sales growth is improvements in shipping processes. Leading retailers are learning important lessons about how to package and ship their product so that it not only arrives safely, but also increases brand awareness and enhances the company’s reputation.

The Challenges of Shipping Furniture

There are many factors that make shipping furniture a challenge, including:

• ✔ Size. Many pieces of furniture are large and not easily packaged.
• ✔ Shape. Items like a tall lamp with a large base and head require unique cartons.
• ✔ Weight. Many pieces of furniture are heavy and this must be considered when packaging them.
• ✔ Fragility. Features like the slender legs on a stylish nightstand or the detailed woodwork on a chair back make protection from damage more problematic.
• ✔ Multiple components. It is helpful if a piece of furniture can be broken down into smaller components, but then you face questions about whether to pack the pieces in one box or multiple boxes.

How you address your packaging challenges can have a significant impact on profitability for a number of reasons. First, the more efficient your packaging process is, the less it costs you in labor and the more revenue that goes to your bottom line. Also, ensuring that items arrive undamaged is key to avoiding the time and expense of handling returns.

Plus, the packaging decisions you make can affect shipping costs. You need to protect your product, but excessive packing material can affect the weight of a carton. Finding the right balance is crucial.

“How you address your packaging challenges can have a significant impact on profitability for a number of reasons.” TWEET THIS

Why Water-Activated Tape Should Factor into Your Packing Process

Water-activated tape (WAT), also known as paper tape, gummed tape, and Kraft tape, is unique in its ability to help you meet all the objectives of furniture packaging. Here’s why:

• ✔ WAT is strong. When applied to the surface of a carton, WAT creates a physical bond with the material, essentially merging with it. Other forms of tape do not do this. That strong seal is your best bet for preventing the in-shipment opening of a box and damage to the product inside.
• ✔ WAT is easy to apply. Using a water-activated tape dispenser, your packaging team can apply a strip of WAT in seconds, smooth it down, and move on to another package.  The adhesive will work its magic to rapidly bond with the carton’s surface.
• ✔ WAT provides a professional appearance. If you use other forms of tape, effectively sealing a shipping carton may require multiple strips. One strip of WAT is all you need to seal a package, meaning the shipment will look neat and professional when the customer receives it.
• ✔ WAT can be branded. Your logo, tagline, and other elements of your branding can be printed on paper tape. That added visibility can help increase awareness, help you stand out from other online furniture retailers, and grow sales.
• ✔ WAT can deter theft. Other forms of tape are more susceptible to a thief pressing down on the top flaps of a carton, gaining access to the contents, and then letting the flaps spring back into place. This leaves you, the shipper, and the customer wondering at what point items were stolen. WAT’s tamper-evident seal gives thieves second (and third!) thoughts about trying to get into a carton.

A Packaging Upgrade That Pays Dividends

Switching to WAT is about more than getting a better form of tape. It’s about getting better financial results. You may not see that initially as you look at a carton sealed with that one clean strip. But over time, your books and the feedback you get from shippers and customers will tell the story. And, making the switch is easy. You simply purchase one or more water-activated tape dispensers and rolls of WAT, and you are on your way to more effective packaging.

If you have questions about our water-activated tape, water-activated tape dispensers, and other products, please contact us at your convenience. 

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[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]

How to Prep Mattresses for Shipping: 5 Proven Tips

Careful packaging of your mattresses is more than just "the right thing to do."

If you are an online furniture retailer, you are well aware that New York City-based online mattress company Casper completely disrupted the industry a few years back. The innovative organization took a product that had historically been marketed and sold exclusively in brick and mortar furniture store showrooms and began offering it online. Other companies, from startups to industry giants, soon followed suit. According to Forbes, dozens of companies have entered the rapidly growing online sales segment of the $15 billion mattress market.

For any company looking to capitalize on consumers’ increasing interest in purchasing mattresses online, proper packaging and shipping is critical. With so many providers to choose from, shoppers will quickly look elsewhere if you don’t take great care in how your product is protected on its journey.

Why Proper Mattress Packaging Pays Off

Careful packaging of your mattresses is more than just “the right thing to do.” It’s also a wise business strategy for many reasons. First, it helps create satisfied customers. People who receive a shipment that has been thoughtfully packaged are much more likely to have a positive opinion of your company.

There are also cost savings to realize from proper packaging, in part because when you use a proven process for boxing your mattresses, you minimize material waste and associated expenses. You also accelerate the packing process, decreasing labor costs. Further, you cut down on the expense of returned merchandise.

“Careful packaging of your mattresses is more than just ‘the right thing to do.’ It’s also a wise business strategy for a number of reasons.” TWEET THIS

How to Prepare Mattresses for Shipping

Follow the five tips below to help ensure that your mattresses withstand the rigors of shipping and arrive at their destination in excellent condition.

1. Carefully select the right shipper. With all the tasks on your “To Do” list on a given day, it can be tempting to choose a shipper based on just a few general criteria, such as their proximity to your location or a recommendation from a colleague. However, taking the time to research several shippers can help you find the one that provides the best combination of proper handling of large items like mattresses and cost.
2. Use durable, high-quality shipping materials. To protect your mattresses from damage, use a durable carton made of corrugated cardboard. When sealing the carton, use water-activated tape (WAT). WAT creates a powerful physical bond with the cardboard that is stronger than other types of tape. You only need one strip of WAT to seal your carton.  This efficient use of material saves you money. 
3. Provide additional protection. Securing the material inside thick gauge shrink film not only reduces the profile of the mattress itself but allows for the smallest possible carton to be used. It also keeps the mattress clean in the process. In doing so, the material presents itself to the customer in a vacuum sealed package which is rolled tight and under tension. Securing the product, as well as the case, with additional strapping tape, like IPG’s RG300, provides additional security and peace of mind as the heavy package makes its way to the customer.
4. Use custom-designed cartons. The capital you invest in having cartons designed to meet your shipping needs can be recouped very quickly in the form of reduced damage and returns. Using cartons that are too big, too small, or a shape mismatch for your shipments is a recipe for disaster.
5. Brand your shipments. Having your logo, slogan, company colors, and other branding elements visible on the outside of your shipping cartons doesn’t help protect the contents. However, it does capitalize on these “moving billboards” to increase brand awareness which can help you grow sales in a competitive market. Be aware that WAT can be custom printed with your branding.

How to Prepare Mattresses for Shipping 

To be successful as an online mattress retailer you must, of course, have great products. However, the value of even the best products is greatly diminished if they don’t arrive to the consumer in attractive and pristine condition. Consequently, in many ways, your shipping processes are just as important as your mattress production processes.

If you have questions about our water-activated tape, water-activated tape dispensers, and other products to help with our shipping, please contact us at your convenience.

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[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]

Important Tips: How to Protect Your Next Furniture Shipment

When the furniture that a customer purchased arrives intact and undamaged, it is positive experience both for them and for you. When the opposite occurs, and merchandise is damaged on its way to a customer, it can be costly in more ways than one.

First, there is the expense of returning and/or replacing the damaged item. That includes staff time, materials, shipping costs, etc. Second, disappointing a customer can also tarnish your reputation. Especially in the age of social media, you don’t want a shipping incident to be publicized and affect your standing in the market and impact future sales. Consequently, it pays to take the necessary action to ensure your furniture merchandise shipments are properly protected.

While reviewing shipping practices is one of those things that is easy to move to the back burner, the time to address them is now. Revising your procedures today can prevent a damaged shipment and the associated repercussions tomorrow.

“When merchandise is damaged on its way to a customer, it can be costly in more ways than one. It pays to take the necessary action to ensure your furniture shipments are adequately protected.” TWEET THIS

Strategies for Protecting Your Products

There’s low-hanging fruit to be had changing your shipping processes and procedures.  Below are some simple steps you can take immediately to better protect your furniture merchandise shipments.

• ✔ Use the right shipper. Some shipping companies have a reputation for being more careful with packages than others. Do some research about potential providers and then choose wisely. It may be that a more conscientious shipper charges a slightly higher rate, but if the result is undamaged products and happy customers, it may be worth it.
• ✔ Employ blocking and bracing.  Fragile and or high value items need to be immobilized and protected so they do not move around during shipping and handling and get damaged. Alternative product protection materials include air pillows, paper packaging systems, bubble wrap and protective foam. 
• ✔ Pack in corrugated cartons. With their multilayer design, corrugated cartons provide both exceptional strength and a higher strength to weight ratio than other types of boxes. Corrugated cartons also tend to be very cost-effective.
• ✔ Use water-activated tape (WAT). Water-activated tape creates a strong and secure seal with just one strip. This can help keep heavy items from popping open a carton’s flaps and exposing the shipment to damage. The seal created with WAT is also tamper-evident, which makes shipments, especially of smaller items like accessories, more secure.
• ✔ Secure items properly. Make sure that items shipped on a palette are securely fastened to it with straps and/or stretch film.  Also, inspect the palette before you begin the packaging process to ensure it is structurally sound and big enough to accommodate the items.
• ✔ Remove components that can be taken off and wrap them separately. Legs, drawers, and other items should be removed if possible and wrapped separately. Legs in particular are subjected to major stress during shipping and a primary source of customer complaints when they arrive cracked or broken.

Assess and Enhance Your Furniture Shipping Practices

Finally, it is important to track and compile data on damages. Doing so can help you identify problem areas, whether that is a certain item or a particular shipper that is involved in more damage claims than others. With that information, you can modify your shipping practices to help prevent future incidents.

And, of course, if despite your best efforts a customer receives damaged merchandise, be sure to take action promptly to turn an unfortunate incident into an example of exceptional customer service.

How can water-activated tape and water-activated tape dispensers play a key role in helping you get your merchandise to consumers in pristine condition? Contact us at your convenience to learn about these and other products we offer.

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[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]

Packaging Furniture: How to Stay on Brand

For online furniture retailers, branding is more critical now than ever before. Why? There are a couple reasons. First, according to Forbes, e-commerce furniture sales are expected to reach $32 billion by 2018. As the market expands, new furniture retailers will surely be entering the fray looking to cash in. This means it will be more challenging to stand out in a rapidly growing crowd.

According to Forbes, e-commerce furniture sales are expected
to reach $32 billion by 2018.

Second, Forbes also quotes the Consumer Buying Trends Survey conducted by Furniture Today, which shows that millennials are now the largest consumer group in the U.S. furniture market. Millennials are notoriously hard for brands to win over, so staying top-of-mind with them is crucial to your success.

Make a Bold Statement by Branding Your Furniture Shipments

Your company has likely spent significant time, effort, and capital to develop and refine a strong, polished, recognizable brand that reflects who you are as an organization and draws attention to your offerings. Unfortunately, without ongoing support, today’s “go to” brand can quickly fall out of favor. Miss out on an opportunity to reinforce your status as a market leader, and you may find your products and your company being relegated to “irrelevant” status. 

Branding your furniture shipments is one of those opportunities. Proudly displaying your logo, tagline, and color palette, both on the outside and the inside of a shipping carton, makes a bold statement about your pride in your products that will instill confidence in your customers…and maybe a bit of fear in your competitors.

“Today’s ‘go to’ brand can quickly fall out of favor. Miss out on an opportunity to reinforce your status as a market leader, and you may find your products and your company being viewed as irrelevant.” TWEET THIS

How to Showcase Your Brand Through Packaging

Successful companies of all kinds, including furniture retailers, are increasingly seeing a boxed product as a sort of “mobile billboard.” How can you turn this blank slate into an effective form of advertising? Here are some proven tactics:

• ✔ Use water-activated tape (WAT) branded with your logo or tagline. Not only is WAT exceptionally strong and cost-effective as a one-strip sealing solution, it can be printed with anything you feel will be informative or engaging to recipients.
• ✔ Use the color scheme from the visual identity you’ve established in your packaging. Everything from cartons to packing materials can take on your signature hue.
• ✔ Ship in boxes customized with your branding and sealed with WAT printed with promotional material. Entice recipients to make a future purchase with WAT that touts special offers. Incentives only available to existing customers (like the recipient) can produce a feeling of exclusivity that serves as an even more powerful motivator.
• ✔ Ensure that stickers and tags reflect your brand. Items adhered to the carton or the product itself should reflect your brand through colors, images, or text.
• ✔ Include branded flyers and other promotional materials in the carton. Not only are they another visual reminder of your company, the satisfied recipient may share them with friends and family, thereby extending your reach to additional potential customers.
• ✔ Use on-brand stretch film. If you wrap items—to hold cushions in place on chairs or sofas, for example—consider using custom-colored plastic film. It works just like transparent film but continues the color theme you’ve established on the outside of the carton.   

Whatever strategy or strategies you use, you are helping to create a buzz around your products.

General Packaging Best Practices

In addition to using branded packaging for shipping your products, below are some other helpful tips for ensuring your merchandise arrives undamaged.

• ✔ Pack in strong, lightweight corrugated cartons.
• ✔ Use custom foam inserts designed specifically for the item. Not only will this provide optimal protection, it can increase packing efficiency.
• ✔ Remove doors, legs, and other fragile components and wrap them securely.
• ✔ Use multiple cartons if necessary. If including all an item’s components in one carton makes that carton especially heavy and hard to handle, you are better off shipping in multiple cartons.
• ✔ Give cartons the rattle test. After you have packed an item, give the carton a series of progressively more vigorous shakes. It at any point it starts to rattle, open it up and make padding modifications as needed. The additional work is much better than having to deal with broken merchandise and an unhappy customer.

If you have questions about our water-activated tape and how it can be printed with your branding or would like to know more about our water-activated tape dispensers and other products, please contact us at your convenience.

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[This post republished from the Better Packages Blog]