When creating an online store, start with the basics. You need to select an e-commerce platform, list your products, process payments, and ship the products.
After completing a sale, you need to ship the purchased items to your customers quickly, efficiently, and securely. Since you ship every item you sell, you need to select the right carrier, set shipping rates, and choose packaging.
Selecting a Carrier
While choosing a carrier may not be the most exciting decision you’ll make when starting an online store, it is an important task and a choice that should not not be rushed.
You need a carrier that offers fast, reliable and affordable shipping options. There are several things to consider when selecting a shipping partner, including:
- The types of products you ship. Some carriers have restrictions on the types of products they will ship, so make sure the carrier you select will ship your products.
- Where you ship. If you’re considering shipping worldwide (even if you’re not ready yet), it’s essential to find a carrier that offers worldwide shipping. You need to know what criteria to follow and what rates they offer.
- Shipping speed. Customers expect packages to be delivered quickly. It is important to select a carrier that offers fast delivery times at the best price.
- The price and shipping costs. Of course, one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a carrier is cost. When looking at shipping prices, consider the size and weight of your products, as well as the areas in which you sell them. You should also look into the supplements they offer.
- Their reputation. When selecting a carrier, your customers will feel more secure when their package is delivered by a company they are familiar with, such as UPS, FedEx, or USPS.
- The commodity. When you’re shipping lots of orders, you want a convenient carrier. Before you select a shipping company, find out if they will pick up your packages (and what fees they charge) or if you need to drop off the packages (and how far away the drop-off locations are and their times).
- Tracking options. To give your customers the ability to track their packages, make sure the carrier you select provides this information.
Set your shipping rates
You have several options when determining the shipping rates you will offer your customers.
- Free delivery: Offering free shipping on your products can help drive sales. However, someone still has to pay for shipping, so you need to figure out how to cover the costs. You can raise your product prices to cover expenses, pay shipping costs yourself, raise product prices slightly so that you and customers pay the costs, or offer free shipping only to certain customers or in as part of a promotion.
- Real-time carrier rates: You can charge carrier rates in real time to use live pricing costs from different carriers so customers can select the service they want based on price.
- Flat rate shipping: Flat rate pricing is a popular option and is best when your products are generally the same size and weight. It also takes finesse to ensure that you don’t significantly overcharge or undercharge your customers.
Choose your packaging
Selecting packaging may not seem like an exciting task, but it is a necessary decision. The right packaging not only protects the products, but the presentation can also be part of your brand experience.
- Packaging materials: You have many options regarding the type of packaging materials you can select for your products, including boxes, padded envelopes, or unpadded envelopes. You also need packaging materials such as tape, tissues, putty, boxes and stickers.
- Inserts: You can add printed materials inside each package: flyers, postcards, coupons, samples and other promotional materials for your online store.
- Tags: You need to create shipping labels for every package you send. This will require purchasing labels, printers, and a process to easily collect shipping information and the label address.
In conclusion
An important part of building an online store is finding the right shipping partner. It is essential to find a carrier that offers the best rates and the quickest delivery times. You also need to decide what type of packaging you want to ship your products in and how much you will charge your customers for shipping.