5 Things to Consider Before Investing in Bulk Shipping Supplies

Keep up with your business needs

Shipping your wares comes with plenty of logistical challenges. Getting products from point A to point B is easy enough for individual packages, but when you scale that process to encompass your entire business model, things get a lot more complicated.

You can cut down on these headaches by ensuring you have enough packing and shipping supplies on hand. For smaller businesses, you’ll often find it more cost-effective to use bulk shipping supplies. Whether you make these purchases wholesale or retail, here are the key points to keep in mind.

What to know when purchasing bulk shipping supplies

1. Know exactly when to buy

Never wait until the last minute to buy shipping supplies in bulk. If you do, you risk stock shortages, delays or mistakes on rush orders. In turn, that can affect your company’s reputation for reliability.

Think about what you need to meet demand well in advance. First, earmark a portion of your bulk shipping supplies needed for regularly scheduled deliveries. Order more than you think you’ll need to give yourself a cushion for unexpected surges in business. 

By ordering supplies well ahead of when they’re needed, you can also reduce costs. The additional time gives you time to comparison shop or negotiate discounts with a supplier. Data analysis tools like Spend Analytics can help calculate the ideal time to restock bulk shipping supplies. As an added bonus, you won’t be paying rush fees in order to get your supplies in time to meet deadlines.

2. Choose the right tape for packaging

You truly cannot underestimate the importance of tape when shipping products. Of all shipping wholesale supplies, tape is responsible for holding packages sealed throughout a lengthy journey, including transitions. The longer the trip, the more reliable your packing tape will need to be.

Most packing tape is pressure-sensitive and creates a seal when a user applies pressure to its surface. While low-cost and easy to apply, some pressure-sensitive materials require several tape layers to secure a package fully.

Water-activated tape, on the other hand, requires water to prime its adhesive. It is slightly more expensive, but a single layer is typically far stronger than pressure-sensitive alternatives. More importantly, the seal is more likely to remain intact in changing weather conditions and variable humidity.

3. Properly package fragile items

Choosing the right box isn’t just about package size—businesses also need to be sure products will be intact upon delivery. Delicate items like glass, ceramics or crystal need special care. Simply adding a warning label to a package won’t be enough.

In short, fragile products should fit snugly into each package with enough room to add protective supplies. However, packages also should not be overstuffed—a tightly packed box is more likely to increase the pressure on fragile contents instead of reducing it.

It’s also worthwhile to remember that not all protective supplies protect contents the same way. Bubble wrap (or bubble cushion) protects objects against impact damage. Packing paper and foam sheets create a layer that defends against scratches. Packing peanuts restrict movement and jostling to keep the contents of a box steady. Choose the material that will best protect box contents and include enough of it to account for the box size without overpacking.

4. Seek out reliable retail & wholesale suppliers

When shipping products in bulk, sometimes the most vital consideration is your choice of partners. Whether you’re sourcing bulk shipping suppliers or choosing a new vendor, you must trust that all parties can fulfill their obligations. On top of these concerns, third-party partners may have their own supply and packaging requirements that you will need to comply with to ensure a smooth delivery.

Decision-makers should thoroughly research their shipping partners before closing any deals. Customer reviews are a good starting point, but seeking out peer references is also helpful. Wherever possible, prioritize experience, especially if you intend to ship products in bulk or across large distances. Finally, reliable 24/7 customer service is vital when resolving problems quickly and efficiently.

5. Select the most effective sustainability practices

Sustainable and eco-friendly practices are a must for any modern shipping company, especially one that intends to ship products in bulk. The good news is that as sustainability becomes an industry standard, it can help wholesalers enhance their cost-saving strategies.

For example, one of the easiest ways to support sustainable shipping is to limit the use of packing materials. There are several cost-effective ways businesses might accomplish this:

• Consolidate deliveries within individual shipping containers wherever possible.

• Prioritize the use of small and individual packages instead of oversized boxes.

• Use recycled packing materials such as corrugated cardboard.

• Emphasize package integrity by avoiding flimsy and poorly designed materials.

• Deliver eco-friendly mailer packs that consumers can recycle immediately.

• Work with couriers and other partners to logistically optimize delivery patterns.
  

Keep in mind that sustainability isn’t one-way. Returns also become sustainable when you consolidate them at depots, support storefront exchanges or develop package-free return policies. Each small change creates the momentum to achieve any sustainability goal within your organization. When these practices become the norm, the entire shipping industry will reap the benefits.

Make Walmart Business your shipping supplier

Walmart Business can help with your logistical and supply needs with its selection of workplace must-haves. If you already have an account, a Walmart Business+ membership can unlock additional savings. Sign up today for access to free shipping,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards for purchases over $250.³ It all adds up to over $500 in savings a year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply. 

³Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.

⁴Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).