Author Archives: Mathew Bell

How to Maximize Your Storage During the Holidays

When I think of Christmas, I think of my mom pulling out the decorations from under the staircase just before Thanksgiving would come around. Her storage typically consisted of big, long cardboard boxes containing her 7-or-so synthetic Christmas trees. Of course, there were other containers and boxes of ornaments, decorations, and wreaths—but Christmas, to me, felt like a house with long brown boxes strewn about. I even recall it being hard to walk around the house simply because everything was so crowded and out in the walkways. Nothing embodied the Christmas spirit better than getting ready for the season with decorations and the house undergoing a lot of change.

As I got to thinking about other storage purposes in which cardboard boxes could be used, seasonal decorations came to mind. Here’s a list of things you could possibly use them for:

From fake pumpkins with cords to synthetic spider webs and sheets, Halloween usually inspires people to put up decorations that surround the house (inside or out). Lights, children’s costumes, and various other fall decorations can be stored away easily in boxes.
As already mentioned, almost everyone seems to have a fake tree in a big box, whether it’s the one that the tree came in or otherwise. Ornaments, wreaths, stringed lights, and other baubles need put away for that one month a year!
Now, while not a holiday that one typically thinks of for decorating, spring has many “things” that need stored away. Whether it’s baskets and multi-colored grass or egg-coloring kits, there’s enough that could be put away in a single box.
Fourth of July. Spare fireworks, an assortment of American flags, and other patriotic accessories can be put away until summertime. Whether you store them in your attic, the garage, the basement, or elsewhere, boxes—yet again—come in handy.
Back to school. We all know that the kids celebrate summer break and can put the backpacks, books, school supplies, and sports equipment away. But you don’t want all those things tossed around haphazardly. Having it in an easily accessible location allows you to keep everything organized and at the ready for when it all starts back up again.

So, if you’ve got a few spare boxes lying around the house, put them to use! Don’t even think about discarding them or burning them—you know there’s always a section of your house or season of the year that could use some organizing. Think seasonally! Any holiday can surely spark your imagination to consider putting things away neatly. What most people regard as fodder for fire or simply trash, you can use for tidiness.

Growth of E-Commerce Creates New Packaging Challenges

Just ten years ago, e-commerce was mostly used for the purchase of relatively small items that would be shipped in a few days to your home or office. If you needed a large, bulky item, such as a new TV or maybe even a new toilet for your home, you would take a trip to the electronics or home improvement store.

You would look at the available items, compare their various attributes and prices, then make your pick. Once you’ve paid for your TV or toilet, you would just pull your car around to a loading area in the back of the store and have a staff member load the bulky item in your vehicle.

However, have you ever asked yourself how these big items would make it to the store to begin with? In most cases, it would be on a pallet. A big cube of items would be sent out by the manufacturer, then moved around in nationwide distribution centers until a retail store needed it.

Even though pallet shipment and distribution may seem like relatively straightforward concepts, there’s actually a lot of science behind them. During the last decade, we’ve perfected them and introduced new technology, such as robots that help create more efficient pallets and stack items in warehouses in ways that make the most optimal use of every square inch available.

Another thing that has changed in the last ten years is how consumers shop for big and bulky items, like the TV or toilet mentioned in the previous example. It’s becoming increasingly common for people to purchase home improvement and construction supplies, appliances and large electronics online and have them delivered to their home in one or two days.

Now, if you order a TV or toilet from an online distributor, your item will initially be sitting at a warehouse. To get to you, it would first need to be removed from its pallet, transported around the facility to a packing area and re-packed for delivery. This is where the challenging part comes in. Many e-commerce fulfillment centers aren’t well equipped to pack bulky and fragile items.

According to information from Sealed Air, big, heavy and fragile items are experiencing rates of damage during transit that hover around 20 percent. This results in losses for businesses and consumer dissatisfaction. E-commerce fulfillment centers need to work hard to find solutions that will make these items parcel-ready.

To improve their ability to handle such items, businesses can do a variety of things, including:

Package items in their primary shipping boxes right at the manufacturing point.
Identify which items need special protection during intra-facility handling and transfers.
Make changes to the design of their facilities so that parcel preparation areas are large enough and are fully stocked with the right type of shipping boxes for items of various sizes and weights.
Create a consistent packaging strategy and ensure that all employees are properly trained on how to safely handle, prepare and pack all types of items.

The latest trends show that consumers are increasingly shopping online for large items, such as car parts, home appliances, building supplies and more. This makes creating an effective pallet-to-parcel strategy that not only gets items to consumers fast, but ensures that they arrive in one piece, highly important for any business in the e-commerce world.

The Best Way to Pack Your Moving Boxes

Moving is a daunting and rather scary task. Part of any move means playing close personal attention to the boxes you are going to use for the move. Packing your shipping boxes carefully has many advantages. Doing so makes it easier for your movers to move your items quickly and easily. When you pay close attention to your moving boxes and make sure that all is contained properly, you’ll also reduce the risk that anything will break during the move. Packing up your boxes also ensures that you have enough boxes on hand to get the job done during the move. This means you won’t face a sudden run for additional moving boxes at the last minute.

The Bottom of the Box

The bottom of the moving box needs specific personal attention. This is where people pick up the boxes and lift them. It’s also where people tend to put most of their effort. You want to make sure the boxes have enough reinforcement. Reinforcement is typically done with enough tape. Packing tape is a strong substance that can hold up for a long time and still stay in good shape.

Packing Properly

When it comes to packing your items, you should think closely about the weight of the items. You want to make sure that the weight in the boxes is evenly distributed. Keep all of your heavier items on the bottom of the box. This can include items such as boxes and housewares. You can leave the rest of the box for lighter items. For example, think about packing your clothing in the same area as you pack all of your delicate dishes. The clothing can serve as a means of protecting the more delicate items as the move continues.

Avoid Overloading Your Boxes

Avoid the temptation to overload all of your moving boxes. You don’t want to put all of your items in a large box. Instead, it’s good to use many smaller boxes. Smaller boxes will keep the items in good shape and make it easier to sort through things and create categories for your stuff. For example, you can keep one box for certain types of cookbooks while another is about using and keeping your summer clothing in one place even if you’re moving during the warm weather.

Everything Should be Sealed Properly

When you’re packing, ultimately everything will wind up in the moving van. In many cases, your items will be stacked one on top of the other. You want to make sure that all of your boxes are completely sealed. Take the time to examine each box closely. Note and gaps that you see on the top. You want fix them as soon as possible. This will make it easier for your movers to bring the boxes inside the van without worrying that contents will shift or even get out of the box as the van moves. You should also make sure that you’ve taken the time to mark each box properly. You want to know precisely what’s inside the box once your mover brings it to your new destination. This will make it easier to sort through the boxes once you have them inside. It will also make it easier to place each box in the right space in your new home.

Boxing Basics, How To Properly Pack

There are so many ways to pack or move your belongings. However, what is the right way to go about it? Should you look into hiring a professional, or get starting doing the task yourself? Packing moving can be stressful, especially if you do not have the time to knock it out. Therefore, below is a few ideas of how to properly pack as well as a few boxing basic tips.

Pack Heavy, Travel Light
Let’s say the ultimate decision you chose was to pack your belongings yourself. How should you start? One of the first elements to always remember is to pack heavy and travel light. This means simply, get all of your belongings packed, and only leave out what you will need to travel with. For example, if you pack up your house and leave a set or two of clothes and toothbrush for the next few days, that would be packing heavy and traveling light. It is easier to get all of your stuff packed away, and not have to carry as much while you are traveling to your next destination. This will also help you when you are unpacking your stuff at your new location to not have to stress about where your clothes are or what box you put your toothbrush in.

Pack Smartly
The choice to pack your stuff yourself can be overwhelming; however, there are options to consider when you are packing. For example, finding cheap moving boxes that will allow you to get all your stuff packed fast and properly would be a great start. The moving boxes can be found in a variety of locations; however, you will want to find a company that offers different sizes of boxes. This is essential to do to make sure your belongings are safe and secure. You do not want to get boxes that are too big for a few small items; therefore, finding moving boxes in different sizes is a great boxing basic.

Pack with Your Mind, Not Your Heart
After you have gotten your boxes, you will want to gather your things according to size, weight, and durability. This means simply, to don’t just pack all your clothes in one box, you might want to leave a little room for that picture that you cherish, the clothes can be a great way to protect it during the move. Do not just pack all of your breakables in one box, for this could cause them to actually break is the box shifts during the move. Therefore, pack with your mind, and not your heart. Another great tip would be to separate the dirty items from the clean ones, no matter what the item is, you will not want items to be tarnished or spoiled during the move.

Should You Have Help?
If you were having a hard time moving your belongings, contacting a local moving company would be a smart decision. They are professionals that have chosen this career path in order to help with those heavy items or delicate. They have experience and care about your stuff as much as you do. Therefore don’t hesitate to contact your local moving company if you get overwhelmed, they will be more than happy to help, and to top that off it can save you time and energy since moving can be highly stressful.

Final Thoughts
In conclusion, moving can be an exciting time, or it can be extremely stressful. It’s up to you to decide how the move can be done efficiently and properly. Finding cheap moving boxes in different sizes or contacting a local moving company is one of the best ways to help relieve these stresses. If you chose to pack your belongings yourself, obtain the right packing materials to make sure you are properly packing the items in an ordained fashion, but do not hesitate to call your local professional, as they are customer service driven and want you and your stuff to be just as safe as you do.

Getting Ready For The Big Move

There are millions of people who move every single year in America. Many of these people don’t realize that moving is not just exhausting, stressful and labor intensive, but it can also be extremely dangerous if you don’t properly prepare. There are many tasks that you will perform during your move that only professionals are truly qualified to perform. For example, moving heavy boxes, properly transporting sharp objects and moving extremely large, heavy furniture and or objects in the home. Moving is not as easy as many people think it may be. There are many different safety issues to be aware of and many safe tips that you must learn before making your move, so that you can be able to enjoy a smooth move.

One of the first things that you want to remember is to not over-stuff your moving boxes. Moving boxes are designed so that they are made for only a certain amount of weight to hold in the box. Moving boxes are designed this way, so that you do not strain your body with overly heavy boxes. Carrying over-stuffed boxes can cause serious injury on the body, such as strain on your back, knees and or joints. You want to make sure that you don’t put more than 50 pounds in a small box, 65 in a medium sized box, and 70 in a large box. You can find out more details on weight by searching for cheap moving boxes.

Secondly, you want to make sure that you properly secure all knives and any sharp devices that can cause punctures through the boxes and actually cut you. All sharp objects that can cause injury should always be wrapped in bubble wrap or some quality packing paper. Never pack your sharp objects in boxes without being wrapped to prevent further injury. You can also make sure to enhance your safety by wrapping your sharp objects in towels with a rubber band securing it in place.

Third, you want to make sure that your dressed comfortably. Wearing clothing that restricts you and prevents you from properly maneuvering could cause you serious harm. You can also use shoes that will help you move more effectively and prevent you from tripping. Wearing shoes like flip flops and or sandals can be extremely dangerous and can actually cause a very serious injury if you are not careful.

Fourth, you want to make sure that you plan and organize your move efficiently. You want to try to prevent yourself from lifting excessive weight on your own. Moving extremely heavy furniture and or boxes could possibly cause you to lose your balance and injure yourself. Never try to lift more than you can comfortably afford to lift.

Fifth, you want to make sure you always use a dolly to safely move and transport your heavy items. You never want to try to lift heavy boxes and furniture that you cannot safely move. Testing yourself put you in a very unfortunate situation.

Overall, moving can be an extremely dangerous depending on the steps that you take. Make sure that you practice safe measures and stretch throughout the day to prevent injury of the muscles. Also make sure that you have a clear pathway when you are moving your items. Prior to the move, make sure to get enough sleep to prevent yourself from making moving mistakes. Like with all things that you participate in that are important, make sure to eat good, stay hydrated and listen to your body and know when to stop when you need to stop and take a break. If you feel that your move is too intense for your situation, then consider hiring professionals to ease your move.

Don’t Leave These Items Behind When You Move

When people move, they have to do lots of things. People need to keep track of items both large and small. They also need to think about how they’re going to decorate the new space and what they must do to finish the move and make sure all bills are paid such as the mortgage or rent even before they make their transition to the new space. In the rush of moving, it can be easy to overlook certain items. The last thing you want to do is leave things behind for someone else to find and possibly throw out.

These Things Can Be Forgotten

Stuff in the back of the kitchen cabinets can fall backwards. You’ll need to check each kitchen cabinet very carefully. You may also have a personal spot where you store valuables. Think about this spot and make sure you remove your precious jewelry. The same is true of items you’ve borrowed such as library books or outdoor tools from the neighbors. You want tn return them before you make your final move. Items can also get trapped in the attic or the basement. Take a flashlight and examine these spaces before you leave. Don’t forget the medicine cabinets as you might accidentally leave valuable medications you need to take every day.

Get Organized

Getting organized well in advance can help you avoid any further issues. Cheap moving boxes make it easy to store items before the movers show up. Knowing where you’re going and exactly how to get there is useful. Make sure you have the right directions. If the neighborhood is new, you can easily get lost. Organization will also help you keep track of all the stuff you’re going to bring. Think about creating a list for everyone in your party including your kids and your pets. Their needs should be met before, during and immediately after the move.

Room By Room

One of the best ways to avoid leaving any items behind is to treat each room as a separate space with a separate list. For example, in the kitchen you may have a long list that includes all your cooking items. In the bedroom, you’ll want to check all the closets and look behind the dresser and underneath the bed. Once you’ve completed a check of each room, you can proceed forward knowing you have made sure you’ve completed removed all of the items you must bring with you.

Important Commitments

If you’re leaving a neighborhood where you’ve lived for a long time, you want to think about all the ties you have to area businesses and other places. For example, you might have a gym membership that requires a gym membership card to use. You want to make sure the card is on hand so you can use it or get a refund. The same is true of your library card. A library card is a good way to fill the time in your new home. If you’re moving to a different system, you want your old one on hand and you want to make sure any fines have been cleared. Other items like paper checks can also be used in your new home so bring them with you as you go.

How to Choose the Right Shipping Boxes for Your E-Commerce Organization

Here is some advice that will help you to choose the right shipping boxes for your e-commerce organization. First of all, your e-commerce packaging should be personalized, and you should also make sure that it is always sent on time if you wish to enhance your company’s image. Moreover, you ought to also be aware that with regards to your customers’ perceptions your packaging is a crucial reflection of the level of service provided by an e-merchant.

Consequently, you should make sure that you select packaging that is protective, light but solid, with a neat appearance, practical, and packaging that comes in several exterior finishes. Furthermore, to provide some examples: you may choose to use reinforced cardboard, polyethylene, classic cardboard, or even colored packaging if you want to make your parcel stand out from the competition. Also, you should keep in mind that you may need to take some environmental concerns into account when it comes time for you to choose your packaging.

Also, you may be able to use environmentally friendly packaging to attract consumers who care about the environment. Hence, it must also be said that if you use the right choice of packaging, such as an environmental cushioning solution, for example, you may be able to win over new customers and thereby make even more money. On the other hand, it should also be noted that the choice of the right packaging is a personalized choice, which will depend on the requirements of each e-merchant and how they plan to participate in the development of their organization.

However, you might also wish to give some thought to the idea that selecting the right packaging should be a meticulous selection process. Consequently, you should be cognizant that choosing the proper packaging is a process that requires a lot of attention because any error in your shipping chain may result in damage to the parcel or a delay in the delivery of the packet. On the other hand, you should also keep in mind that cardboard is by far the most widely used packaging material.

However, the fact that cardboard has little reusability and gets easily damaged when it gets wet does not prevent this versatile substance from being by far the most widely used material in the world of commercial packaging. Also, you should be aware that you ought to make sure that you store all your products efficiently and by using the right warehouse equipment. Moreover, did you know that many businesses offer custom air cushioning systems for all sorts of different types of packaging?

On the other hand, you also ought to be aware that packaging is the first visual contact that exists between an e-commerce brand and a customer. Consequently, you might want to give some thought to the impression that will be formed by a customer when they see your parcel for the first time. Furthermore, a unique and premium form of packaging will help you to get more business from customers.

Hence, you should give some thought to the idea that having a high-quality form of personalized packaging will help your sales because your customers will be so impressed by your packaging that they will begin to associate your business with high-quality top of the line products. Also, the act of unboxing has indeed become a ritual that many consumers adore, and this is something that organizations should take advantage of.

Making Sending Parcels Economical by Cost Effective Packaging

Packing a gift or parcel correctly will help you save on the cost of mailing the parcel. Shipping a parcel can be expensive. The cost of shipping a parcel weighing 1-2 pounds is about $7. The number of parcels delivered by FedEx and UPS combined is about 32 million. Packing a parcel correctly can help reduce the cost of shipping. You can reduce the cost of shipping a small parcel containing a birthday gift or large parcels containing products to be sent to customers by cost effective packaging.

You should choose the method of packing and shipping according to the product. Shipping costs of heavier objects are more than lighter ones. If you are planning to send media related items like DVDs, manuscripts or sound recordings, the US Postal Service offers an affordable media mail service. The media mail service of the USPS is intended for those who plan to send media related or educational items.

One effective method of reducing shipping costs is to use a cheap and good box of a correct size. You can buy cheap packing boxes and cut them according to the size of the object you plan to send. The Goldilocks principle of ‘Just Right’ should be used when choosing or cutting the size of the box. A box that is too small will not protect the object you plan to send and if the box is too big, you will need to unnecessarily fill empty space with packaging material. Sending a large box is expensive as compared to sending a box that is just right.

Another mistake that one makes while packing is over packing. In your attempt to protect the object, you may over use bubble wrap or packing paper or peanuts. This will make the parcel heavy and you will increase your shipping costs. A few layers of packing material are enough to protect delicate items like a watch.

The smaller the package, the cheaper the shipping should be your guiding principle while packing parcels. Packing intelligently is the key to saving money. If you plan to mail a shirt, you will make your parcel heavy by packing the shirt in a box. Folding the shirt into a small bundle and placing it in a packing padded envelope will reduce weight and save shipping costs.
Sometimes you may not get a box of the size that is just right. When this happens you should get cheap moving boxes and cut them to the size that is just right. By cutting these boxes, you can pack the object in durable material that will keep the contents safe while you save on shipping costs.

You need to make a choice of a carrier that suits your needs. Shipping and mailing companies help customers find the correct carrier to help with their shipping needs. Different carriers are suitable for different types and sizes of parcels. Companies that focus on finding the best carrier for their customers help reduce the shipping costs for their customers considerably.
Finding a company that offers carrier solutions for shipping goods can help you save carrier costs. These companies find the best carrier that suits the needs of customers. They also find the most cost effective among carriers for the type of parcel content and the size of the parcel.

The Best 8 Ways to Reduce Your Shipping Costs

Shipping costs can really dig deep into your pocket. If you are not new in e-commerce, you will understand the fact that shipping charges can be so huge when shipping products to your customers. Here is a few tips to help you save on shipping charges.

A tip that can have an immediate effect on your shipping charges

When shipping products that weigh less than 2 pounds, it’s advisable to find a carrier who can offer First Class or Priority Mail. On the other hand, for packages weighing more than 2 pounds, which are usually for wholesale customers, it’s advisable to not use Post Office because it’s relatively expensive. Instead, look for a cheaper option among the many companies.

Instead of shipping directly from the store, create an account with the shipping company you have chosen to avoid more charges. You could have the package delivered to a business address rather than a residential address because it can cost more to ship to a residential address. Additionally, make sure the products are packed well in packages such as shipping boxes.

Other tips that can help you cut on shipping costs

Safety

The safety of parcels during packaging and shipping is paramount. You should endeavor to offer tracking services to reduce cases of lost parcels. Additionally, look for cheap packaging options such as shipping boxes to reduce packaging costs. Use the right size of packaging boxes to package products.

Explore the many carrier options

You should not stick with one carrier. Instead, choose the best shipping company for each individual order to save on shipping costs. It might seem time-consuming but it is worth it because shipping companies offer different rates depending on weight, destination of your package as well as dimensions of your package. There are companies that will charge you residential fees and others don’t. Therefore, it is paramount that you choose a company whose rates favor you.

Zone skipping

This service entails consolidation of parcels going to the same zone which is a distant region and shipped in one shipment to a consolidator who offers the service in the zone. Afterward, the consolidator distributes the parcels to customers within that zone. That reduces the shipping fees per package drastically.

Ship using freight

Shipping by freight will save on shipping costs. However, the package should be large enough for this option to be sensible. If a customer agrees, you could even split the order into two different freight trucks.

Negotiate with carriers

You should endeavor to negotiate with different carriers and find a carrier that can offer you the best rates. In a move to stay competitive, some companies can offer you an incentive and work with you at lower rates. Let them know your businesses strategies, goals and urge to grow.

Save on packaging costs by re-using packaging

Re-using packages such as those of mails, bubble wrap, among others will go a long way into saving money. The packages can be expensive if you will have to buy them each time you package a parcel.

Join a professional association

An association can negotiate for discounts and reduced rates in private carrier companies on your behalf.

Know the size of your box

If you ship by both freight and ground, make sure you know the size of your box. This will help you determine whether boxes are small and light enough to be shipped by ground. The more packages that are shipped by ground, the more savings you make on shipping.

Should You Hire Professional Movers?

Moving involves making a lot of decisions. Perhaps the most important one is whether you hire professional movers for the job or simply ask some friends to help you relocate. You’ll need to think about which solution is the best for your situation. Some moves are going to be more complicated and are better done with the assistance of pros, but many others can be handled just by a few friends with a rented truck. If you’re debating whether you should hire professional movers or do it yourself, here are some things you should consider when making that decision:

Whether You’re Moving Locally or Across the Country

If you’re only moving a relatively short distance, such as within the same city or to a surrounding town, you probably won’t have much trouble finding friends who want to help you out. But if your move is a long distance one, few people will want to spend the entire day on the road with you. Therefore, if you’re moving to another state, getting a team of professionals to help you makes more sense.

By hiring a licensed and insured moving company, you’ll also have the peace of mind knowing that everything will arrive to its destination safely. Moving companies know how to handle long distance moves and will be happy to do the job for you even if you’re moving thousands of miles away from your current home.

How Much Stuff You’ll Be Moving

The main factor that will determine whether it’s best to hire movers instead of moving on your own is how big your move is going to be. The more you have in terms of furniture and other belongings, the bigger the job will be. If you’re only moving a small studio apartment, it might be possible to rent a small truck and get the move done with just one or two friends helping you. On the other hand, if you’re moving an entire three bedroom home, hiring the services of professional movers is recommended.

Whether You Have Valuable Items

If you’re only moving a few boxes of clothes and some secondhand furniture you bought at a garage sale, you can trust your friends to do the job right, as there’s not much that could go wrong. Things are different if you have valuable items that require special attention, such as expensive appliances or pieces of art. If you have high value items, you’ll want to hire professional movers.

They can supply you with cheap moving boxes that will help better protect your items during the move. They also know the best techniques to use when packing and handling items to prevent damage. Another big advantage of using a professional moving company is that any legitimate mover will be insured in case an item is damaged during the moving process.

How Much You’re Willing to Spend

Moving isn’t always cheap. Even if you opt for a DIY move, you’ll have to pay to rent a truck and purchase the moving supplies you need. There’s also the cost of gas, which is a bigger consideration if you’re moving a considerable distance away from your current home. Depending on how much stuff you have to move and how far your new home is, hiring a moving company can end up being worth the price.