How packaging and shipping decisions impact your bottom line
If you have a new product to take to market, then you have done the research to help it sell. You know your target market and you’ve designed packaging that meets their expectations. You know your store’s needs and know what they expect from you.
But in the rush to go to market, have you considered the impact your shipping and logistics choices will make on the success of your product? Packaging and shipping decisions aren’t sexy, and may not improve your top line.
The wrong decisions can cost you time, and money and damage relationships.
At Ashtonne Packaging, we focus on the beginning, middle, and end, “from Concept to Customer”. That includes shipping and all facets of the supply chain.
Here’s 5 critical elements we are thinking about when it comes to making sure your product is ready for “the long haul”.
1. Potential Financial Loss: 
This one is obvious. If it’s broken when it arrives, it can’t be sold, and you and/or the stockholders have a hard road ahead. Spend some time to learn what will happen, when, where, and by whom. Then pack accordingly.
2. Reputation: 
A business partner should have your back. Shipping damaged products can harm a company's reputation. This negative experience can lead to bad reviews, reduced customer trust, and a damaged brand image. Your shipping and packaging partner shouldn’t let that happen.
3. Customer Dissatisfaction: 
It's not just the retailer relationships that can be broken. Damaged products can lead to customer dissatisfaction and may result in product returns or exchanges. This costs you dearly when it comes time to secure repeat business.
4. Operational Disruption: 
Your staff may be as excited about the new product line as you are. They’ll also be just as discouraged when poor packaging causes damaged products.
5. Supply Chain Disruptions: 
This is a big one. What you do impacts others. Frequent product returns and replacements can strain relationships with suppliers and distributors, potentially affecting future shipments. The supply chain is fragile. Your product should not be.
We have also seen legal issues arise, insurance premiums increase, and competitors getting ahead by taking advantage of your unfortunate situations.
Yet, all of these issues can be avoided when you plan for shipping, logistics, and packaging. It’s impossible to know whether you should spend more on your packaging and shipping plan. You should spend what it takes. It is guaranteed that poor planning will cost you a lot of money in the long run.
Choose a reliable partner who cares about these behind-the-scenes issues. Make the decisions that make a difference from the beginning. The packaging the customer sees matters. But it’s what happens before that that makes the product launch successful.
From a new idea to the next expansion, Ashtonne Packaging has been helping both large and small businesses launch new products and expand product lines with product packaging and display strategy, design, and development for over 15 years.
Are you a new or start-up business, or an existing business looking to compete online? Do you have a direct-to-consumer product that needs to make its mark in e-commerce and also be able to utilize packaging as a branding tool for your company? if so, learn more about how we can help with MVP Concept to Customer planning, call Ashtonne Packaging at 877-522-6937 or contact us here, and let’s set a time to talk. Let’s plan on it.
