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Packaging For Ecommerce vs. Retail

Posted on 14 January, 202529 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Packaging is a critical element in the delivery process, serving not only as a protective layer for products but also as a key touchpoint for branding and customer satisfaction. However, the requirements for e-commerce and retail packaging differ significantly due to the distinct challenges each channel presents. From safeguarding products to creating memorable customer experiences, businesses must navigate these differences to stay competitive. Here’s how.

Balancing Protection and Practicality

One of the most significant distinctions between e-commerce and retail packaging lies in product protection. E-commerce packages must endure extensive handling, long-distance transportation and exposure to various environmental conditions. To address these challenges, businesses often rely on sturdy corrugated boxes, impact-resistant inserts and void fillers like air cushions or paper stuffing to shield items from damage during transit. The focus is on durability and functionality so that products arrive intact regardless of the journey.

In contrast, retail packaging prioritizes visual appeal and ease of handling within a store environment. While it still provides basic protection, it’s designed to stand out on shelves and capture consumer attention. Lightweight materials and sleek designs are common, allowing packaging to emphasize branding while maintaining practicality for in-store displays. For example, an elegant cardboard box with bold visuals works well for retail shelves but would not withstand the physical demands of e-commerce shipping.

The Role of Branding and Presentation

Branding plays a crucial role in both channels but manifests differently based on customer interactions. In e-commerce, packaging is often the first physical connection a customer has with the brand, making the unboxing experience an essential marketing tool. Custom mailer boxes, personalized thank-you notes and branded tissue paper can be used to elevate this interaction, turning it into a memorable moment that can lead to social media shares and increased brand loyalty.

For retail, packaging must catch the eye amidst a sea of competitors. Bold colors, unique structural designs and clear product information are prioritized to help customers make quick purchasing decisions. Retail packaging often conveys the product’s benefits at a glance, standing out on crowded shelves.

Efficiency in Fulfillment and Delivery

Efficiency is vital in both e-commerce and retail packaging as well, but the focus varies depending on the channel. E-commerce packaging must prioritize space optimization to reduce shipping costs and maximize the number of packages transported per shipment. Lightweight, right-sized boxes or padded mailers are commonly used to streamline logistics while maintaining protection. Automating processes with tools like automatic conveyors can further enhance efficiency, allowing fulfillment centers to handle high volumes of orders quickly and accurately.

Retail packaging, on the other hand, focuses on storage and display optimization. Products need to be shelf-ready and easy to handle for store staff. Packaging must balance durability for bulk shipping with the ability to be displayed attractively upon arrival. Tamper-evident features and stackable designs often play a key role in retail packaging strategies.

Addressing Customer Expectations

Consumer expectations are a driving force in packaging decisions. E-commerce customers demand their products arrive in perfect condition with minimal waste. Sustainable packaging options, such as recyclable materials and biodegradable mailers, have become increasingly important.

Conversely, retail customers are drawn to packaging that reflects quality and innovation. Reusable or multifunctional packaging designs can add value, enhancing the perceived worth of the product.

Why Understanding Packaging Differences Matters

For logistics and supply chain professionals, understanding the distinct demands of e-commerce and retail packaging is essential for reducing costs, safeguarding products and enhancing customer satisfaction. By tailoring strategies to the unique needs of each channel, businesses can streamline fulfillment processes and maintain operational efficiency.

When done right, thoughtful packaging design can transform a functional necessity into a powerful tool for success, enabling businesses to thrive in today’s fast-paced and competitive marketplace.

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Sustainabile e-commerce Packaging at LogiMAT 2025

Protective Safety Gloves

Posted on 12 June, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Leading online packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has added a new range of industrial use safety gloves to their offering, including a polyurethane coated and cut-resistant variety.

Suitable for a range of industries, such as warehousing, automotive, engineering and mechanics to name a few, these gloves provide the ultimate grip strength for tasks requiring accuracy, precision and dexterity. Both varieties are EN 388, ensuring high quality and compliance with European Committee for Standardization safety standards.

The polyurethane gloves are durable, offering light resistance to liquids, improved grip strength and flexibility, whilst providing a comfortable experience to the wearer thanks to their soft inner lining. These gloves are latex free to reduce the chance of irritation or allergic reactions occurring.

Safety Gloves

Designed to be lightweight and flexible, Kite’s cut resistant safety gloves offer enhanced grip strength, acting like a second skin for the wearer. Thanks to their polyester and glass fibre lining, these gloves provide high performing cut resistance against mechanical risks while their elastane and polyurethane construction ensures comfortability and durability.

These safety gloves can be purchased from Kite Packaging at market-beating prices with further discounts available when buying wholesale quantities.

Kite loves solving packing problems using expertise to ensure customers are using the right range of products for their business. No matter how simple or complicated packaging is, their skill is ensuring the right solution. With over 2,500 standard products and tens of thousands bespoke lines in stock, Kite provide a Just-in-Time solution available immediately.

Partnership Drives Growth and Success

Posted on 15 December, 202031 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for Brandsafe, considers the critical role aftersales care and partnership plays in delivering the highest standards of safety and protection in the warehouse and logistics environment.

It should really go without saying that taking care of your customers once you have provided and installed products is best practice and the number one priority for any supplier. But too often in the scramble to deliver and look for new customers, it can be to easy to fail to follow through or appreciate that active aftercare can be beneficial for business. Indeed, aftersales care and support reflects a genuine insight into customer needs as well as an opportunity for a supplier to secure additional business in future: it’s been estimated that margins generated by post-sales activities can be several times higher than those of initial product sales.

Good customer service does not stop once a purchase has been made, installed and your team has left the building. It’s only right that customers investing significant sums in safety and impact protection systems – indeed, any products – deserve the highest quality service, fast and effective resolution of problems or queries, as well as a touch of added value.

Understanding demand and managing the supply chain efficiently to secure product stock levels, supported by the deployment to customer sites of skilled, well resourced service teams, who understand the nuances and critical issues on the ground when it comes to onsite installation of systems and products, are key ingredients in a recipe for getting things right first time, every time. For example, if you cannot supply customers with the right part or product when they need it, and then install properly, they will go elsewhere.

Positive experience

Customers will be far more satisfied if they see your demonstrable focus on service and aftercare support, too. They’re more likely to purchase from you in the future if they have a positive experience of your company and project management capabilities – they may even recommend the brand to other potential customers as a result. For most companies, better service and aftersales support boosts revenue, delivers greater profitability and inevitably creates a powerful competitive advantage for the brand. Simply put, it’s good business.

Undoubtedly, the current pandemic is re-shaping the way many organisations conduct business. And this can be reflected in the role partnership plays in areas such as project management – and how sector suppliers such as Brandsafe go the extra mile.

Suppliers and customers who adopt a partnership approach can see rewards and reap significant benefits; particularly in the warehouse and logistics industry, which has been prone to accusations of unwillingness to share best practice and engage collaboratively on safety matters to drive wholesale improvements for the benefit of all sector operators.

Supply chain collaboration has a lot to offer. Relying on your supply partner to effectively project manage critical installations, for example, can reduce costs while improving quality and service levels. As we see online sales surge as a result of the pandemic seemingly without end, many retailers and distributors are peddling fast to re-organise and invest to either upgrade or redevelop existing warehouse infrastructures, or build new multi-complexes and international distribution hubs to accommodate strategic growth and expansion.

Operators may be rightly concerned about investing at a time when managing the bottom line is crucial but, with so much current change in consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions, there is no time for businesses to rest on their laurels.

Indeed, online sales in 2020 are expected to grow 19% year-on-year, up from pre-pandemic estimates of 11%, rising from a total of £66bn in 2019 to almost £80bn this year. Some forecasters suggest UK e-commerce will grow in value by as much as £5.3bn by the end of the year. Supermarket supply chains are also seeing big surges in demand, placing additional pressure on their distribution and supply chain infrastructure.

Partnership delivers

Skilled labour, which should be utilised effectively, is a resource in short supply, whose use must be effectively deployed. Many businesses in the warehouse and logistics sector might not be able attract or retain all the skills they require to support their capital investment and redevelopment plans, or may need these skills on a more flexible basis. Working in partnership with your supplier, who will have the requisite experience and expertise in place and available for use, will add even more supply chain value and allow people to benefit from skilled resources.

Innovative approaches can be shared throughout our sector, opening up advantages and delivering benefits for all. Partnership can make things a lot easier, quicker and cheaper, helping to support your health and safety commitments as you move into new geographical areas, expand operations or enter markets to access new customers and opportunities.

It will unquestionably facilitate new dynamics in the supplier/customer relationship, paving the way to mutually beneficial commercial and operational advantages. So in a sector that constantly evolves to meet the ebb and flow of changing consumer tastes and faces challenges around keeping people safe and secure while maximising productivity, surely there’s no better time to explore partnership with your suppliers and the role it plays in delivering the highest standards of protection?