As fewer people head to physical retail stores and ordering what we need online becomes the new normal, New Zealand businesses are having to embrace e-commerce to keep sales coming in, and their customers satisfied. With more and more businesses heading online this has brought about new challenges. Challenges like, how do we get our products to customers once they’ve purchased them online? How do we make our online experience as memorable as offline? How can we make sure things arrive in a great condition?
Not surprisingly there’s quite a bit of work that goes into running an online store and every different step of the purchase process. Courier delays, as well as an abundance of Kiwis purchasing their goods online, can all contribute to issues in the shipping process, however one thing that you can control is how you send your packages, and the packaging that they’re delivered in.
So whether you’ve been in the e-commerce game for a while or perhaps you’ve just moved your retail store to an online shop (maybe you’re doing both), it’s always helpful to know the different types of packaging that you can use to get your items to their final destination.
Find out what you should be considering when sending your goods and see which packaging supplies are always helpful to have on hand, for shipping supplies around New Zealand.
Shipping considerations
Now that you’ve set up your online store it’s important to decide just which process you’ll take once your customers have ‘added to cart’ and then completed their purchase. It’s not as simple as packaging up your goods and sending them on their way – think about which courier company you will use and how much you’re willing to spend on shipping costs. With COVID-19 upon us you’ll also need to make sure that strict hygiene practices are followed when packaging items.
Choosing a courier company
There are a number of courier companies available across New Zealand that deliver goods nationwide. Some of these courier companies include:
The courier company that you choose will often come down to your shipping budget, and how quickly you want your goods to arrive at your customers. Many of these courier companies will offer overnight shipping, however, this will generally come at an extra charge depending on your location. Many people will choose to do local deliveries themselves to save on courier costs, and so that their customers can get their purchases the same-day.
You’ll want to check out reviews about these companies and ensure they’re able to deliver consistently and with care. Delivery is a huge part of the online shopping experience and partnering with the wrong company could see you lose customers. This quality of service is especially important if you’re looking to deliver food or fragile goods, or items people need urgently.
If you will be offering international shipping you’ll need to look into the shipping options available in those countries, customs charges and if you need to supply certification with any items that you will be sending.
Sending products safely
COVID-19 has changed many things – from how we shop and take public transport to eating out at restaurants and cafes, there are general hygiene practices that must be followed to limit our contact with others, and to help reduce the spread. This applies to how we package our goods as well.
Like with everything nowadays it’s important to wash your hands before you handle goods that will be sent to someone else, to avoid any possible contamination. If you can (especially for food items), you should be wearing disposable gloves to further protect yourselves and your customers.
What to know when shipping goods around NZ
There are some important things to know when shipping items around New Zealand. We’ve covered a few of the most important ones!
Shipping restrictions
While most items are fine to be shipped across the country, there are a few things like flammable liquids, compressed air and corrosives that should never be shipped. These items have the potential to be dangerous while in transit and could increase your liability exposure. Some restricted items can still be shipped however they must meet set conditions of carriage. NZ Post has a helpful list of items classed as either prohibited or restricted which you can view here.
Shipping delays
With many Kiwis choosing to do their shopping online, this has resulted in a huge amount of goods being sent though our courier networks which has then caused some delays in parcels arriving at their final destination. It’s important to be clear with your customers that there may be some delays due to the number of goods being shipped across the country, and that they may have to wait an extra day or two for their item(s) to arrive.
Damage to goods in transit
As we mentioned above, there are certain items that you shouldn’t send via courier – these restrictions apply to valuable and fragile items. While it’s not prohibited to send these items you must ensure that they can get to their destination in one piece. Fragile items have more chance of being damaged in transit so it’s important that these items are as protected as possible.
Packaging that will keep your goods protected during transit
Luckily you have a number of packaging supplies at your disposal in NZ to ensure that your goods are protected during transit, and arrive at their destination in one piece!
Protective packaging for smaller and more fragile items includes:
View our full range of protective packaging supplies >
It’s not just the smaller items that require protection – heavier and more robust items also need to get to their destination in one piece too!
Items that help to protect and keep heavy-duty items from moving around include:
View our full range of strapping and accessories >
It’s also important to communicate the desired handling of items being sent to help the courier company give the items the care and attention required. Packaging products that can help to achieve this include:
View our full range of rippa labels here >
Sustainable packaging supplies
For those of you that are environmentally conscious and would rather package your items in sustainable packaging supplies, there’s an abundance of eco-friendly products now available to keep your goods protected during transit!
From cardboard boxes, to kraft paper and gummed tape, here are a few sustainable items that we recommend:
- Cardboard boxes and cartons (custom options also available)
- Corrugated cardboard
- Kraft wrapping papers
- Compostable courier bags
- Paper tapes
View more sustainable supplies here >
There’s a lot to consider when moving your business online and particularly the shipping of your goods. If you would like some further guidance on packaging supplies in New Zealand that would be suitable for your business such as tapes and boxes, then we encourage you to get in touch with our friendly team here at Primepac. And with a number of custom packaging options available, we’re sure you’ll find the packaging solution that’s just right for you!
