Box alternatives for online order fulfilment

As lockdown continues, many retailers have experiences of “record breaking” orders for their products online, some are also managing the adversities of corrugate shortages caused by the unprecedented demand for boxes.

If you are struggling to source boxes to fulfil customer orders, here are some alternatives that you may want to consider switching to.

Mailing Bags

First, taking the size of your items into consideration, soft mailers are a great way to guarantee that your products can be delivered through the letterbox, reducing the need to leave packages on the doorstep or “whilst you were out…” notifications.

For items with no hard corners that can be considered as non-fragile, such as clothing or soft furnishings, mailing bags are a reliable option. Traditionally available in plastic, if you are looking to improve the sustainability of your packaging, there are now 100% paper options available.

Cushioned Envelopes

For more fragile items, or items with rigid corners that may be damaged in transit, using a cushioned envelope would be your best option. Available in a variety of linings including including paper fluting, bubble wrap, or padded with recycled paper, they offer cushioning to protect your products from knocks and drops.

Solid Board Envelopes

Consider using solid board postal envelopes for products such as books or video games. They are gusseted to expand to a width of 30mm and the rigid outer provides good product protection, making them suitable for use with a multitude of item depths.

Postal Wraps

Cleverly designed, not quite a box and not an envelope… a postal wrap falls somewhere in between. These wraps fit snugly around flat items like books and board games. A self-seal strip is provided for each closure. No additional packaging is required.

Postal Tubes

Postal tubes have been traditionally used to transport posters and technical drawings but, they are also effectively used for long “odd” shaped items too – umbrellas, golf clubs, flask bottles and cooking utensils will all fit in our various sizes of postal tubes. To hold your products in place, they come with a plastic end cap however it is worth bearing in mind, if you are shipping heavier items it’s a good idea to seal the closure with tape too.

If you are looking for a packaging solution that fits your product range, why not contact Macfarlane Online today?