Packaging ideas for small businesses

Packaging for small businesses NZ

Are you a small to medium-sized product-based company? Product packaging is a major element of your business so it pays to know the range of options available to you.

In this article, we focus on packaging ideas and recommendations to ensure your products are delivered to your customers in the best possible condition. We also include packaging options for improving sustainability and optimising the customer experience.

Packaging recommendations for small businesses

Boxes and cartons
Delivery instruction labels
Doculopes and order labels
Courier bags
Protective packaging
Packaging tape
Custom packaging
Smart packaging
Sustainable packaging

1. Start with the right box

Boxes or stock cartons keep your products safe and secure. To start with, we recommend having at least a month’s worth of boxes on hand. They are easy to store so it’s worth having extras for when your order frequency increases.

We suggest starting with fishtail cartons for a sturdy and efficient design. The base folds out and locks into place without any glue or tape so you can cut down assembly time dramatically.

2. Use delivery instruction labels

If the people delivering your packages don’t have adequate instructions, there’s a high chance of product damage along the delivery chain. To reduce this, consider using labels to indicate when a package is fragile, heavy, urgent, or requires certain storage conditions.

We recommend using adhesive labels with clear, visible messaging, like the following examples from our instruction labels range:

3. Use weatherproof doculopes

Every customer order needs a shipping receipt and delivery information. Doculopes allow you to display these in one convenient place for warehouse staff. To keep your receipts safe from the elements, we supply high-visibility doculopes with a bright red background and toughened plastic for durability.

4. Use the right courier bags

Courier bags and mailers are lightweight and ideal for smaller orders. They are typically made of paper or plastic, with a layer of padding material to protect the item being shipped. Mailers are cost-effective, easy to store, and come with built-in protection.

We recommend the following options:

5. Use the right protective packaging

When it comes to running your small business, you can’t risk product damage. That’s where protective packaging solutions come in. To keep orders safe during dispatch and transit, we recommend investing in the following:

For more information, see our 7 ways to reduce damaged inventory in your warehouse.

6. Invest in quality packaging tape

Quality packing tape keeps your orders contained and secure. When choosing the right tape, look for a strong adhesive, tear resistance, and enough width to effectively close your boxes.

For excellent performance at an affordable price, we recommend Maestro economy packaging tape. If sustainability is a top priority for you, we suggest our recyclable PET tape, paper packaging tape, gummed paper tape, or cellulose tape.

If you aren’t sure where to start, read our full article about types of packaging tape.

7. Customise your packaging

It’s also vital to consider how your packaging appears to customers and if you can make it stand out. We recommend customised packaging to provide your customers with a memorable experience.

With a range of custom cartons, custom printed tape and custom labels available, there are many ways to make your product stand out. To find out more about your options, ask our team for advice.

8. Implement smart packaging

The term smart packaging is used to describe packaging systems that have additional functionalities beyond simply containing and protecting the contents. The two specific forms of smart packaging include active packaging and intelligent packaging.

Active packaging

This involves adding or removing components from your package or its surroundings to improve shelf life or product quality. It is commonly used in food packaging to ensure that the quality of the product stays the same before it reaches the customer. Common examples include desiccants and vacuum packing.

Intelligent packaging

Intelligent packaging refers to packaging that has 'intelligent' capabilities. For example, you may use barcodes or tracking codes.

9. Opt for sustainable packaging

Looking for sustainable packaging supplies? At Primepac, we have a wide selection of sustainable packaging and e-commerce essentials. From tapes and courier bags to pallet wrap and protective eco bubble wrap, we have everything you need.

Sustainable packaging tape

Sustainable packaging bags

Sustainable courier bags

Sustainable protective packaging

Sustainable pallet wrapping

We also supply a range of other sustainable supplies, including recycled bin liners, compostable bin liners, and string produce bags.

Sustainable Choice Packaging

At Primepac, our Sustainable Choice Logo is designed to indicate which packaging products are compostable, degradable, biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable.

Plastic Recycling Scheme NZ

To reduce landfill waste, we work closely with the team at Future Post who convert our waste plastics into durable fence posts. This way, your used packaging can have a new lease of life and support New Zealand’s agriculture industry at the same time.

Small business packaging NZ

As a small business, it's crucial to keep up with shopping trends. Fortunately, the Primepac team is here to help with all your packaging needs. Contact us today for tailored advice or browse our full range of packaging materials, including:

For more information, download our retail and e-commerce catalogue. Inside you’ll find our recommended packaging supplies and advice for optimising your small business product packaging.