Every order matters to a small business that wants to make it big and become the ultimate customer favourite. With every order they pack, these hopes skyrocket. However, have you ever wondered what would happen if you received tonnes of orders in a single day? What would your packing strategy be? How would you secure the packages so they don’t break or get damaged during transit? 

While these questions are daunting and could be limiting your small business's ability to take bigger orders, there are simple and tangible ways to overcome them. With evolving technology, packaging materials like stretch wrap, courier bags, mailers, and even sturdy cardboard boxes have become popular ways for businesses to handle massive orders easily. 

Here are some quick, tried and tested strategies to pack bulk orders:

• Order your supplies in advance 

Regardless of how slow or uncertain your order rate is, having packaging supplies in advance will ensure your business can ship orders without any extended wait time. 

Know that once an order is placed, your customers are eager to get their hands on the final product. Having sufficient packaging material will enable you to pack swiftly and ship orders in a specified time frame. 

• Invest in securing material

When your product is en route to your customers, it will likely be handled by multiple people over a short period of time. While the logistics team will try their best to keep your packaging safe and upright, occasional pushes and collisions are unavoidable and often a challenge many businesses face. 

To ensure the impact of these movements does not reach your product, consider investing in high-quality securing materials like packing peanuts, bubble pouches, void fillers and packaging tissue paper. If you send bulk orders, use a stretch wrap to keep everything together in a tight fit. 

• Create a dedicated packaging station 

Designating a dedicated area to pack orders will do wonders for keeping your workplace organised and ensuring you do not skip anything that is to be packed. Ensure that this area is always kept clean and that all the packaging material is stocked up on shelves and drawers.

There are ample table attachments that you can consider including to facilitate access to packaging materials like wraps, tapes, and films. A dedicated space also allows for the creation of a predictable workflow that can easily handle bulk orders. 

• Use labels for everything 

A major setback that many small businesses face while dealing with bulk orders is tracking every order. Using appropriate labels ensures you are able to keep track of where the order is currently and how long it will take to reach the destination. 

Labelling also makes it easier to keep track of past orders from the same customer, making it simpler to reward your repeat customers with discounts, goodies and other special offers. Aside from these factors, your label is the first thing your customers will come across. 

A well-designed and thoughtfully placed label will make your customers feel connected to the brand instantly. Labels are an extension of your brand, adding more options to market your brand better. 

• Consider different package carriers 

There are different types of carriers that you can choose from depending on whether your business wants to deal locally or internationally. Furthermore, if you are planning to offer same-day delivery in your local area, there will be different courier services from which you will have to choose. 

Regardless of how small or extensive your range of products is, it is highly recommended that you understand the logistics and courier services that are available in your country. 

For instance, Australia Post (Auspost) and Fastway are popularly preferred carriers by many small businesses in Australia due to their speed and reliability.

The Bottom Line

Every small business constantly attempts to make its customers happy and satisfied with their unboxing experience. Irrespective of what your business deals with, it is crucial that your products reach your customers on time and in impeccable condition. 

Packaging and shipping every order using appropriate materials is the key to ensuring that your customers are filled with happiness and satisfaction when they open their orders.