Coming up with creative packaging tips that also get your products delivered safely to your customers is a challenge for any business owner, but it can be even more of an issue if you are shipping heat sensitive items like cosmetics. You don't want your customers to end up with melted tubes of lipstick or lotion bars that have been converted to liquid. The following tips can help you solve this shipping conundrum.
Tip #1: Set specific shipping days
During the summer months, the absolute worst thing to do is ship standard shipping on a Thursday or Friday. This is because there is a good chance that items could end up sitting in an unheated warehouse or shipping container until Monday. Instead, either set shipping expectations so that you only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays, or simply require express or overnight shipping on all orders that contain meltable or heat sensitive items.
Tip #2: Use cold packs
Although dry ice is sometimes used for items that are heat sensitive, it isn't usually a good option for cosmetics. This is because dry ice can freeze the items, which can change the consistency of a cosmetic. You don't want lipstick to become grainy when it thaws. Instead, opt for cold packs. These use a special type of gel that remains frozen longer than water, but they aren't typically cold enough to actually freeze the cosmetics.
Tip #3: Insulate the package
Another way to help keep cosmetics cool without freezing them is to ship in foam containers. These are designed to help prevent cold loss during shipping, and they are best used with cold packs. You can also use foam sheets inside the pack to add further insulation when you are shipping during the hottest part of the year.
Tip #4: Include customer instructions
For some items, such as soaps, you may be able to ensure they survive heat exposure if they are cooled before opening. Purchase packaging with a prominent warning or instruction seal on it, and request that customers place the package in the fridge for a specified period of time before opening. You will also want to make sure these instructions are provided at the time of purchase.
Keep in mind that many of these methods will increase the shipping and handling cost. You can offset this by requiring a minimum order, at least during the summer months, and by working with a packaging supplier that can supply corrugated boxes, foam inserts, and cold packs at a competitive price.
Share9 August 2016
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