How to Ship Apparel without Breaking the Bank.
Date: September 8th, 2020
How to Reduce Spending on Shipping Charges
With many carriers shipping products from point A to B, it can be difficult to decide which shipping method will suit your products.
Cost and convenience are an entrepreneur's top concerns when making choices regarding shipping methods.
Shipping charges are a major expense for small businesses, and it takes proper knowledge of the available options to get it right.
Some of the ways to ship your products cheaply include:
- Use your carrier's packaging boxes.
- Make prepaid shipping a priority.
- Make the most of any available discounts on shipping.
- Consider the shipping charges before placing an order.
- Use online shipping services like USPS that offer free pick-up services.
The goal for any business is to max profits, so any cost-effective opportunity should not be taken for granted.
That being said, you need to understand how product shipping will be like, especially if you're in the clothing and attire industry.
There are three main carriers in the US dedicated to helping merchant ship items globally. They include UPS, USPS, and FedEx.
How to Trim Shipping charges With Clever Packaging
Good packaging gives a customer a good impression of your brand before setting eyes on the product.
With that in mind, you still want to ensure proper secure packaging without breaking the bank. Below are ways to pack clothes for shipping while cutting on shipping fees.
- Choose a strong package for delicate clothes because no customer or supplier wants to incur damage costs.
- Shipping orders addressed to the same customer in a single package.
- While packing, weigh your parcel and make possible adjustments.
- Reduce cushioning because it may just add up extra weight and space.
- Send all your receipts via mail. Avoid packing them with the products.
- Ensure you fold your clothes properly.
- Make your package as small as possible because size matters in shipping.
- Try to compare the shipping fee between flat-rate services cost and "weight cost."
- Consider volume discounts where applicable.
- For heavy products, shipping to long distances, take advantage of the USPS flat rate option.
Remember that reducing shipping charges and appropriate packaging alone is not enough cost-cutting for a savvy entrepreneur. You will still find the differences in shipping expenses, depending on the method you use.
And this may prompt you to want to use multiple carriers depending on how much product you deliver.
Below are the most convenient ways to ship clothes without breaking the bank.
Through USPS.
Using USPS to ship clothes can be more economical when the package is weighing less.
Any item weighing less than a pound can be shipped using first class mail
USPS becomes a little expensive when shipping bulky products over distant destinations, and in this case, it's advisable to use flat rate shipping to get volume discounts.
Shipping clothing through USPS first class mail.
USPS offers an added advantage while shipping clothes that weigh not more than a pound.
Make your package small enough to enjoy the first-class mail shipping at an affordable price.
You will have to pay more when you want your item delivered to a post office that is your preferred pick-up point.
Zipcodes and domestic zone charts are normally used to determine how much you will be required to pay on shipping distance.
USPS only works on shipping fro, and to so any additional distance is treated as domestic zone, and extra charges are included.
If the weight of your package is above one pound, use an alternative carrier. Or the flat rate may be an excellent idea.
USPS flat rate shipping and clothes.
Shipping clothes through USPS comes with multiple benefits to the retailers because you can choose from the many available options.
The many options allow a business owner to plan regarding the shipping charges they are likely to incur.
USPS flat rate enables you to send your products using Priority Mail, which is very fast and affordable.
Low USPS shipping rates.
You are likely to enjoy low USPS rates when shipping an item not more than three pounds or shipping a bulky package, and a volume discount applies.
USPS also has a shipping management platform like a pirate ship, which gives discounts as high as 40% and guarantees commercial pricing.
The discount is usually given to business owners who parcel large volumes of products annually.
On the other hand, frequent customers also stand a chance at great offers when they use a third party to send their products.
Why choose USPS to package.
It is true the USPS do not have multiple rates and services to offer to their clients. So you can only enjoy its benefits if you understand how it works.
For instance, the flat-rate service allows you to save more when shipping bulky goods but not light ones.
1. Clothe shipping through UPS.
UPS also offers affordable shipping charges. It takes 1-5 business days to ship a product via UPS to customers within the US.
UPS offers customers many options of shipping and pricing at national and international levels, and products move within the shortest time possible.
Speed matters in any kind of business, and having your deliveries done on time can leave a good impression on customers.
UPS has no limits on weight and size; therefore can be suitable in unusual shipping needs like large boxes packed with long wedding gowns.
The UPS offers a variety of product delivery options making if flexible, thus giving customers a unique experience than the USPS.
UPS also offers a Time and Cost tool to help merchants find a suitable shipping service for their item.
2. The FedEx shipping of clothes.
When sending items over a long distance and would like them to arrive faster than FedEx is the most recommendable method.
Like UPS, it offers multiple shipping options and gives you a chance to have a carrier assist with packaging. FedEx also provides for the unique shipping needs of its customers at affordable prices.
The cost of shipping an item using this method depends on the option you chose, the weight of the package, shipping distance, and the type of shipping service.
Customers with a special need can benefit more from this shipment method instead of UPS and USPS.
How to Pack Clothes for Shipping.
Now that you know the various methods to use in shipping clothing, you must also learn how to package clothes properly.
Cloth packing should not be an uphill task since they do not require any special packaging material or handling.
Some factors to consider while packaging clothes are the type of fabric, and the various prints on the clothing.
Here are some ways to make your items presentable for shipping, ship more items at a go, protect sensitive clothes, and reduce the shipping charges of delivery.
How to pack casual clothes.
Casual apparels only need proper folding to minimize the wrinkles and give customers a good impression when they finally receive the package.
Use a box if you have to pack lots of items.
Packing of shirts
- Fold the shirt to ensure it fits what you intend to use in packaging.
- Put the shirt inside a plastic bag for protection.
- Use tape to seal the bag
- Put the sealed plastic bag inside a poly mailer.
- Add a shipping label on the outer part of the mailer.
How to pack pants
- Make your folding not more than four times.
- Place it inside a plastic bag for protection.
- Put the plastic inside a large poly mailer to accommodate its weight and size.
Lastly, do proper visible labeling.
Packing of Formal Clothing.
Formal clothing such as formal gowns, wedding gowns, and tuxedos needs proper handling and protection
Always handle formal clothes with caution to ensure the recipient gets their apparel in excellent condition.
Expensive clothing must also be handled with care to avoid any damage claims.
Therefore, it is advisable to use a spacious package with extra cushioning to avoid damages when handling these kinds of goods.
How to pack a formal product:
- Use a box big enough to fit the item to avoid tampering with decorations or desired prints.
- In case you do the folding, then use a tissue paper for wrapping.
Lastly, add extra material for cushioning to prevent damages.
Conclusion
You can now make the right decision on how to ship your clothing at a relatively cheaper cost after going through the above techniques and methods.
Managers should improve their customer experience through shipping by ensuring the package is presentable, and the delivery is fast.
Depending on the season, you can do away with the shipping charges as an after-sale service or even offer reasonable discounts on shipping to boost your business-customer relations.
Quick deliveries and good packaging can boost customer experience, making clients happy and drive more orders to your ecommerce.