3 Consideration for item packaging of private-label FBA products.

As a seller of a private label product, there are many decisions you make while bringing the product to market. One of the most important ones, is product packaging. While it is easy to put your product into a generic cardboard box, I suggest taking a second look at your item packaging.

1. Does your product really belong in a box?

While some experts say that a box makes the product seem more upscale and valuable, ask yourself if your product really belongs in a box. Can you package your item in a polybag or a lay-flat bag and get the same impact that a box would? There are a number of benefits of using a poly bag:

• Less storage space required, smaller Amazon storage fees.
• More items fit into an inbound shipment box, leading to quicker processing of the inbound FBA shipment and smaller shipment fees from manufacturer and inbound to Amazon (if not shipping directly).
• Polybags are among one of the most cost-effective packaging options, significantly cheaper per unit than a cardboard box

If you decide to go the polybag route the thickness of the bag must be at least 1.5 mil per Amazon requirements. Pro-tip: To brand poly bags while avoiding paying to have them custom printed consider using a branded sticker. Also consider including a hang tag to make the bagged item seem more professional and upscale.

2. Unique box design

Don’t be afraid to look at custom packaging solutions like Packlane or Arka. Not only can you get custom sized boxes (remember, smaller boxes mean less fees), they can also be branded with your imagery and brand look and feel.

Product unboxing videos are some of the most popular videos on YouTube, there must be a reason for it. As you think about a customer unboxing experience, which is their first physical interaction with your brand, can you make it feel special with a minor upgrade to your box? Many custom packaging companies offer simple-to-use web tools to create customized boxes, do not be afraid to play around and see if you find something that works for you.

3. Print information on the box, versus insert cards

Think about what can be printed on the packaging instead of being put inside as a paper insert. When unboxing, customers want to get to the product, most of the paper inserts are typically tossed aside.

To relay important information to your customers, make sure your packaging includes:

• Website, social media and other contact information
• QR codes linking to coupons/reviews/email list signup
• Product barcode (UPC or FNSKU)

And of course don’t forget to include other required information like country of origin, suffocation warning, product certifications, age warnings and anything else required for your product.

Bonus: Avoid “Oversize” Package Trap

Amazon considers any box over 18in x 14in x 8in in size to be oversized. You will pay $3.00 + 8c per pound in extra fees for oversize items, than if your item were regular sized dimension. Carefully consider your packaging options to see if there is any way to fit your items within the standard dimensions.

And no matter what you decide to do, follow the Amazon prep and packaging requirements accurately and don’t forget to include the country of origin on your packaging, failure to do this can cause issues at customs.