How is your brand being perceived? In the big jungle that comprises ecommerce, branding is indeed everything to your bottom line. But branding spans far greater a scope than just how you package your items; it runs the gambit from customer service to being eco-sensitive, to how you manage returns and even down to the shipping prices you charge.
How is your brand being perceived? In the big jungle that comprises ecommerce, branding is indeed everything to your bottom line. But branding spans far greater a scope than just how you package your items; it runs the gambit from customer service to being eco-sensitive, to how you manage returns and even down to the shipping prices you charge.
If you want to rock your brand and earn more customers, then it never hurts to follow in Zoolander’s footsteps. His Blue Steel look helped create a blockbuster movie that’s now being rebooted for the sequel. We’ll borrow a page from Hollywood here with these ecommerce packaging tips, and help you get your brand revamped so you can win over more loyal followers.
Turbo-Charge Your Fulfillment Process
The first step that you are going to want to take in order to really give your brand the Blue Steel look is to supercharge your fulfillment process. This is an effort that will require measurable steps on your part, but we have you fully covered. Check out our Definitive Guide to Ecommerce Shipping and Fulfillment. It provides great detail and scope on every step you need to take in order to get your fulfillment process in perfect order.
Be Eco-Sensitive
One way to win over more customers and set your brand aside is to be eco-friendly about the packaging that you are using. There are a number of companies that offer affordable, custom-branded and eco-friendly packaging, like Pack-Spec. It’s a wonderful way to reduce your carbon footprint while being able to let your customers know that you are conscious of your impact on Mother Nature. It’s also a strong selling point for your brand, too; something Zoolander would entirely approve of.
Protect the Package
Every year, retailers absorb millions of dollars in the cost of returns over damaged packaging. But there’s no good reason for this. And who says that you can’t make your safely packaged goods look awesome, either? Take for instance this nifty wine bottle protector that’s custom branded on Alibaba. It’s a great way to solidify your brand and reduce returns due to damaged items.
Tape Like a Pro
Want to really go Blue Steel on your brand? Then make sure you take a look at this eco-friendly packing tape that’s custom branded. Imagine your nifty logo outlining all of your packages with eco-friendly appeal. It makes a bold statement about your business and helps you reduce your carbon footprint while managing cost and uplifting your brand. It’s a cost effective way to make your products truly stand out before they are ever even removed from the packaging.
Include Handwritten Thankyous
People want to know that you appreciate them buying your products. Custom thankyous, such as these awesome ones we found on Etsy, are a great way to preserve the after buying experience. Make sure you print a meaningful message on them and let the customer know that you really are thankful that they chose to spend their money at your online store. A simple gesture such as this goes a long way in preserving future customer loyalty and with improving retention rates.
Offer a Future Deal
Make sure you don’t forget about offering future deals. Include a future deal or discount code in your packaged goods that let shoppers know that there’s a special bonus offer or discount awaiting their next purchase. It’s a wonderful way to improve sales and generate more buzz about your brand, just like Zoolander does. What’s more, take a look at these mobile couponing statistics – you can get a good idea of just how effective and widely and commonly used these codes are for online retailers.
Include Information About Return Policy
Your return policy matters, greatly. In fact, recent studies have found that over 65% of shoppers take the time to read it before they make a purchase. Furthermore, over 80% base their buying decision on it. If you really want to make your brand have the Blue Steel Appeal, then be sure to craft a return policy that is hassle-free and generous for the customer. To help you get started, read our guide on How to Create The Perfect Online Product Returns Policy. It will get you started in the right direction, and will also better educate you as to why your returns policy is one of the most important aspects of your overall brand and image.
Use Custom Packaging
Custom packaging is a surefire way to set your brand apart from all others. It also serves a great marketing appeal and helps attract word-of-mouth advertising, too. But you do not have to break the bank just to deliver handsomely packaged products. One of the best ecommerce package presentation tips we can offer is to look for discounts on custom branded packages. A good place to start is with PSIMD. They offer a wide array of custom branded packaging materials that won’t break the bank.
Avoid Common Shipping Mishaps
Shipping mistakes can be costly to your brand and to your bottom line. They can result in expensive returns and lost customers. In fact, 65% of returns are the retailer’s fault, not the consumer’s. One of the leading reasons products get returned is because the wrong product was shipped or the product was dead on arrival. But you can counter this by reading up on How to Prevent the Commonest Shipping Errors. This complete guide will teach what to do and what not to do, so you can minimize shipping errors and reduce the rate of returns.
