Packaging and delivering

[krustyrj]

Hi folks
I’m planning to open a business and we will have an e-commerce website to sell my products from home.
I prefer not to say yet which product I’ll sell but imagine that a sneaker box can fits 2 of my products.
I have a question about the packaging and delivering process so if anyone have experience in this area please help me

I’m planning to sell at least 300 boxes each month to 3000 in the peak season.

How does it work:
- The courier service (e.g. Royal Mail) goes at my house everyday at a fixed time to get my product?
- What about the boxes, any idea of the price?
- Do I have to write in the box the shipping address or I can print a page and use a tape to fix it to the box with the shipping address?

Sorry for my English.
Thanks for any help

 

[J-Wholesale]

- What about the boxes, any idea of the price?

Some courier companies will provide you with boxes and bags as part of the deal, which can be a big saving.

 

[Jason L]

If you are going to use Royal Mail, you would ideally want to get a discount on their standard rates. But you can only do this if you can illustrate that you have 'X' volume. So to start with you will probably need to just send items out in the normal way via the post office until your order volumes pick up. Once they do, you should be able to get a contract with Royal Mail with a discount. Once you exceed a certain volume they will also pick up from you for free every day (but until then I think it's £5 per collection)

Re: boxes there are loads of online packaging companies. Again buy in bulk and you will get a reasonable discount. Normally there is a minimum order charge in order to get free shipping.

Re: labelling, it's much more professional if you print rather than handwrite You might also consider putting your returns address somewhere in case of returns/if items go astray in the post

 

[krustyrj]

Once you exceed a certain volume they will also pick up from you for free every day (but until then I think it's £5 per collection)

5£ per box or for a pick up of all the boxes?
if its for the pick up its a good price so I don't need to take this to the post office without a car..a litle dificulty
I think thatn a printed address is more professional but I would like to know if the couriers accept that you create and print it in your own computer or they give you some kind of software with a standard (you know what i mean?)

anyway thanks both for your help...as soon I arrive in UK i'll get in touch with the courier services

 

[Jason L]

5£ per box or for a pick up of all the boxes?

£5 to pick up all the boxes

If you get an account with Royal Mail (or other provider) then they will tell you what kind of franking/postage paid impression you need and this will contain your unique account number/identifier

 

[JamieM]

If you spend under £15k a Royal Mail collection starts from £500 a year.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?mediaId=51400697&catId=4800036

 

[thejoshm]

I’m planning to sell at least 300 boxes each month to 3000 in the peak season.

How does it work:
- The courier service (e.g. Royal Mail) goes at my house everyday at a fixed time to get my product?

You're going to send 3,000 parcels a month from your house? That's quite impressive!!

 

[krustyrj]

You're going to send 3,000 parcels a month from your house? That's quite impressive!!

When I reach this number I probably be renting a warehouse or a similar.
But from the beginning I expect only 300/month for a few months

 

[krustyrj]

Jamie
I'm taking a look at the Royal mail website that you sent
What about a start business, how can I know my "Spend per annum on Royal Mail Products"?? Can I just use a projection or I'll need to start using the less than 15000 for one year until i can show that i spent more than this to get a free pick up?
So the worst situation I'll need to pay 12,50 per pick up or 500 per year??

thanks

 

[JamieM]

Jamie
I'm taking a look at the Royal mail website that you sent
What about a start business, how can I know my "Spend per annum on Royal Mail Products"?? Can I just use a projection or I'll need to start using the less than 15000 for one year until i can show that i spent more than this to get a free pick up?
So the worst situation I'll need to pay 12,50 per pick up or 500 per year??

thanks

I'm not sure. I think you might need to pay initially and it will be refunded if you meet the criteria later. You should give them a call to ask though?

What weight will your products be on average and how quickly do you wish to deliver them?

 

[krustyrj]

I'm not sure. I think you might need to pay initially and it will be refunded if you meet the criteria later. You should give them a call to ask though?

What weight will your products be on average and how quickly do you wish to deliver them?

each product weight is close to 400gr and I belive I gonna follow the others websites that sell similars products that is within 2 working.

 

[JamieM]

each product weight is close to 400gr and I belive I gonna follow the others websites that sell similars products that is within 2 working.

Royal Mail is your best bet then. Speak to them about a Packetpost account and a collection.

 

[krustyrj]

Royal Mail is your best bet then. Speak to them about a Packetpost account and a collection.

Hey Jamie
Thanks very much
I'm not getting in touch now cause my plan is just for next year but it will be used to calculated the correct prices in my cash flow inside my business plan.
Thanks for everybody that helps

 

[retinaganshi]

The Packaging Store offer a range of boxes, packing tape (http://www.thepackagingstore.co.uk/scp/Tapes/General_Packaging_Tapes.html) etc... at amazing prices!!

 

[dymodeals]

Hi folks
I’m planning to open a business and we will have an e-commerce website to sell my products from home.
I prefer not to say yet which product I’ll sell but imagine that a sneaker box can fits 2 of my products.
I have a question about the packaging and delivering process so if anyone have experience in this area please help me

I’m planning to sell at least 300 boxes each month to 3000 in the peak season.

How does it work:
- The courier service (e.g. Royal Mail) goes at my house everyday at a fixed time to get my product?
- What about the boxes, any idea of the price?
- Do I have to write in the box the shipping address or I can print a page and use a tape to fix it to the box with the shipping address?

Sorry for my English.
Thanks for any help

Check out my site. A Dymo Label Printer would be ideal for you and there are so many different size labels you can get. The application is endless!!!

 

[TotallySport]

Check out my site. A Dymo Label Printer would be ideal for you and there are so many different size labels you can get. The application is endless!!!

IMO if he intends to do 3000 per month then it would be better and more economical long term to get a zebra printer, the consumable costs over a period of time will make the printer worth the initial layout.

 

[dymodeals]

IMO if he intends to do 3000 per month then it would be better and more economical long term to get a zebra printer, the consumable costs over a period of time will make the printer worth the initial layout.

Quite true. Not sure what the layout for the labels is on a zebra printer but i didnt think they were too cheap. But they are the best for industrial use

 

[TotallySport]

You can get zebra printers for about £130 for an office one, for an industrial one would be arround £200, you can get reconditioned onces, but average on Dynamo and brother QL you can get 300 (62mm x 300mm) shipping labels for around £10 plus vat, for a zebra we can get 470 x 6"x4" labels which are much bigger for around £7 plus VAT, and I know the smaller labels are less money per label.