As a business, you are always looking for ways to improve the procurement process for your customers and encourage repeat business. The packaging you utilize plays a significant role in putting the right foot forward in the business/consumer relationship. A substantial part of this process is facilitated through your choice of void fill, also known as box filler.
In this first post of a shipping and packaging-based content series, we will discuss the benefits and application of bubble wrap to ensure your products are delivered intact and ready for use.
Regardless of your age, it can be hard to resist popping at least one bubble when it crosses your path. There is something so satisfying about that pop. I remember as a child the intense disappointment when I realized that my brother popped all the bubbles from a delivered package, and in my young adulthood I used it to decorate a wall in my apartment. It’s true that my affinity for bubble wrap likely exceeds the average individual, but I’m certain we all appreciate bubble wrap, even if for more practical applications than I’ve outlined so far.
Beyond the personal aesthetic, bubble wrap is an incredibly valuable component for any company that ships products to consumers. In the eCommerce era, it has become more important than ever to ensure products arrive as intended. Bubble wrap plays a key role in providing the desired unwrapping experience and in facilitating repeat business – not to mention it can cut down on shipping costs.
Lightweight, Safe, and Secure
The best way to cut shipping costs is through cutting down on the weight of the package – heavier packages equal higher shipping costs. Bubble wrap is an efficient way to fill the remaining space in your box while cutting down on the overall weight. As mentioned, bubble wrap is lightweight and flexible, able to fit the nooks of the box and secure your product. Buying bubble wrap by the roll allows you to cut the perfect sized sheet to fit any size package. Use just what you need and fit the bubble wrap around the corners inside the box to keep the item secure.
Minimizes Returns and Increases Customer Trust
Unless you deliver your products yourself, I’m sure you’re familiar with the customer service complaint of an item breaking shipping. This is an incredibly frustrating situation as the consumer loses trust in your business, and through no fault of your own as the business owner, you lose out on the expected sale and must now compensate the consumer with additional product.
On the flip side, if your package arrives without issue, the customer is excited and eager to share the benefits of buying from you. Enter rolls of bubble wrap to safely ship products wherever they need to go.
The History
Did you know that bubble wrap was invented accidentally in 1957 by Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne, New Jersey? Neither did I, but apparently they tried to originally sell it as wallpaper – I knew my apartment interior design idea had some merit! The goal was textured wallpaper, created using two pieces of plastic shower curtain put through a heat-sealing machine. While they tried several different applications for the product, it was only after IBM’s computer 1401 unit entered the market that the proverbial light bulb turned on. From there, bubble wrap has revolutionized the shipping industry and protected billions of products worldwide.
So, there you have it, from its humble origins as unappreciated wallpaper, bubble wrap has grown into the hero of the shipping industry. Improve your customer relations, save money on shipping, and provide everyone a lot of fun popping air bubbles.
Sources
1. Hiskey, Daven. “Bubble Wrap Was Originally Designed to Be Used as Wallpaper.” Today I Found Out, 23 Nov. 2011, www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/11/bubble-wrap-was-originally-designed-to-be-used-as-wallpaper/. Accessed 26 April 2021.
2. Kindy, David. “The Accidental Invention of Bubble Wrap.” Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2019, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/accidental-invention-bubble-wrap-180971325/. Accessed 26 April 2021.
