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News Release from: Zendor | Subject: Fulfilment services
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 10 December 2004

Zendor Provides Expert Packaging Advice

Zendor Provides Expert Packaging Advice For Multi-Channel Retailers

Packaging goods for distribution by distance shopping channels is significantly different to packaging goods for the high street Multi-channel retailers need to take into account the type of products which do and do not travel well via the home delivery network as well as product protection, security, branding, legislation and optimising satisfaction for the customer

Distance shopping specialist Zendor, which handles thousands of home deliveries per day for retailers such as Daisy and Tom, River Island and Sony Computer Entertainment UK, provides the following expert packaging advice for retailers selling via the Internet or mail order: Select the right products - No matter how well a product is packaged, some items are problematic for home delivery, such as glass bottles and light bulbs! Therefore, from the outset, the retailer needs to identify which products are unlikely to survive a home delivery network so that they can decide whether they should include them in their distance shopping offering.

Protection - For a product to endure the extensive manual and automated handling that a home delivery operation involves without being damaged, the packaging needs to provide maximum protection.

This may involve wrapping the product in airbags and/or bubble wrap.

Security - By keeping the outer packaging plain, this does not draw attention to what the product is, especially if it is attractive to thieves e.g high value goods such as televisions and computer consoles.

But the contra to this is that a branded TV box, for example, with an address label is more likely to be handled with care in the delivery network, than a box covered with a plain outer bag.

Ultimately, the retailer must assess the highest priority.

Branding - The distance shopping operation needs to reflect the retailer's key messages to ensure a consistent customer experience.

This means that how a package is presented is vital - if a package arrives dirty and scuffed this will reflect badly on the retailer's overall brand.

To achieve branding consistency, some retailers choose to brand the inside of the outer box and/or ensure that the style and colour of packaging materials reflect the brand.

Legislation - Trading standards regulations such as the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations October 2003 need to be considered to avoid prosecution.

Trading standards officers are within their rights to prosecute businesses that use excessive amounts of packaging (regulations require that optimum amounts of packaging are used in terms of weight and volume).

Packaging for returns - Customers will sometimes want to return items and so the packaging needs to be robust enough to withstand a return journey.

Also, as some customers instinctively throw away packaging on delivery, there needs to be a clear reminder on the packaging and/or documentation which explains that customers should retain the packaging in case of returns.

Avoid letting the 'cat out of the bag' - Many home delivered products are intended as gifts, so keeping the contents of the package a secret in case the intended recipient of the gift is at home at time of delivery is an important consideration.

Therefore, keeping the outer box plain is not only a security consideration, but also helps to minimise disgruntled customers, especially around Christmas time, Valentine's Day and Easter.

As part of its end-to-end distance shopping services, Zendor provides multi-channel retailers with comprehensive advice, consultancy and practical help with packaging requirements.

Retailers interested in finding out further information about Zendor's fulfilment services should contact Zendor on curious@zendor.com visit www.zendor.com or call 0161 237 4900.

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