{"id":13685,"date":"2023-06-20T15:11:44","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T15:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/?p=13685"},"modified":"2023-07-06T14:06:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T14:06:09","slug":"small-business-shipping-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/e-commerce\/small-business-shipping-guide","title":{"rendered":"Small business shipping guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13685\" class=\"elementor elementor-13685\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0fa48e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0fa48e8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1567a9\" data-id=\"c1567a9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9c21ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c9c21ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Customers\u2019 expectation for lightning-fast shipping and delivery continues to defy expectations even as bigger brands offer more services and options.<\/p><p>Although customers are having a field day, for small businesses, it can be an extreme challenge that can be detrimental to the success and survival of the company.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>An efficient supply chain and shipping management are among the key components that can help small business owners to keep up with the competition<\/strong>.<\/p><p>In addition, cost-effectively executing these processes is vital to the success and longevity of your small e-commerce business.\u00a0<\/p><p>This small business shipping guide should serve as your handy guide, especially if you\u2019re not sure where to start.\u00a0<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"#second-heading\">A guide for small business shipping<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#third-heading\">Develop a good shipping strategy<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f531d8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f531d8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Shipping-items-as-a-business.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13690\" alt=\"Shipping items as a business.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Shipping-items-as-a-business.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Shipping-items-as-a-business-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Shipping-items-as-a-business-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71c31a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71c31a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">A guide for small business shipping<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26afc6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"26afc6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Find the right shipping partner<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-620234c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"620234c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before you can start shipping out your packages, partnering with a shipping partner is the first step. A third party shipping will influence the shipping times and shipping options that you can offer your customers.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Most importantly, working with the right shipping company will help you keep your costs low and run a successful business<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5bf1bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c5bf1bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Choose the platform to sell<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9084598 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9084598\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It is not easily affordable for most small business owners and start-ups to start off with a dedicated website. However, there are several solutions as you can sell your products and services on a number of marketplaces.\u00a0<\/p><p>Amazon and eBay are the primary choices for most small business owners. In addition, Shopify and Etsy are also among the credible names that you can consider for multichannel selling.\u00a0<\/p><p>Marketing your products on these channels is not completely free of cost since you have to pay a certain amount of fees.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, these nominal fees are a better option than building a website from scratch, especially if you need to hire a professional web designer to do it for you.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829f913 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"829f913\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Decide your shipping zones<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-042d738 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"042d738\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Much of the shipping costs will be determined by where you are going to ship your products. Local shipping is understandably a cheaper option than if you choose to ship internationally.\u00a0<\/p><p>For instance, third-party shipping companies calculate their shipping costs based on the zones and postal codes.\u00a0<\/p><p>In addition,\u00a0<strong>the speed of shipping and delivery times will also be determined by the geographical location<\/strong>\u00a0of where you plan to ship.\u00a0<\/p><p>Local shipping within a province or a country is a smart move for small business owners. As your customer base increases and so do your business profits, you can consider expanding your shipping perimeter.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8378fb8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8378fb8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Packaging-an-item-to-ship.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13691\" alt=\"Packaging an item to ship.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Packaging-an-item-to-ship.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Packaging-an-item-to-ship-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Packaging-an-item-to-ship-768x436.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fda6b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4fda6b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Invest in a shipping software<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b362cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b362cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Shipping software is a feature that not many small business owners consider at the start. This is understandable since some of the top software comes at a premium price.\u00a0<\/p><p>However,\u00a0<strong>shipping software can automate a lot of the processes and improve the entire shipping management<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p><p>With shipping software, you can \u2013 reduce shipping rates, generate shipping and return labels, and have a summary of shipping history, so you don\u2019t have to manually keep track of addresses and other important details.\u00a0<\/p><p>Finally, shipping software is relatively easy to use and has no learning curve. It is as simple as hooking it up to your computer and running it in most cases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f202e15 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f202e15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Consider your package\/printing label solutions <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49a6d70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49a6d70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After you nail down which shipping carrier is best for your business and other important details, it is worth deciding how to package your products.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>T<\/b><strong>his is a crucial consideration because the product\/package is what will reach the customer\u2019s hand and is the only contact between them and your business<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meyers.com\/packaging-printing-statistics-2021\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Statistics reveal<\/a>\u00a0that more than 72% of shoppers value a good packaging experience, greatly influencing their buying decision. It includes the package design, color of the packaging, information on the packaging, and so on.\u00a0<\/p><p>The same survey also reveals that an increasing number of online shoppers prefer sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions.\u00a0<\/p><p>Paperboard packaging, carton-based packaging, and using recyclable materials appeal to customers and make them want to buy from the brand.\u00a0<\/p><p>When it comes to\u00a0printing labels, the volume and frequency of your shipments can help you decide the best options. Smaller businesses that send out a smaller volume of packages a few times a year can very well manage with handwritten labels.\u00a0<\/p><p>On the other hand, getting a good printer will get the job done if your small business orders are more frequent.\u00a0<\/p><p>Regardless of the labeling options you choose,\u00a0<strong>legibility with good writing or large fonts and protection with clear tape are among the top good shipping experiences<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eeb39c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eeb39c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Decide if you need a fulfillment center<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-717fe53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"717fe53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most successful smaller businesses that have taken their business online, first ran the fulfillments in their spare room or a garage. However, this may not be feasible or convenient if your small business has a steady customer base and you ship regularly.\u00a0<\/p><p>Partnering with a fulfillment center can seem unnecessary, but there are several advantages that you can enjoy.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Reducing shipping costs and expanding your shipping perimeter<\/strong>\u00a0are among the top reasons why fulfillment centers can be invaluable to small business owners.\u00a0<\/p><p>But similar to working with a third-party shipping company, collaborating with a fulfillment also requires upfront payment. But of course, working with these third-party companies is an investment worth considering.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4f2d1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b4f2d1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Sending-a-package-for-shipping.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13692\" alt=\"Sending a package for shipping.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Sending-a-package-for-shipping.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Sending-a-package-for-shipping-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Sending-a-package-for-shipping-768x428.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a676c58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a676c58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">Develop a good shipping strategy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-147ef39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"147ef39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Running a small business successfully, especially in the first few years, can throw up a lot of challenges and drawbacks.\u00a0<\/p><p>And shipping management is one of them.<b> Customers greatly value a\u00a0good shipping\u00a0experience,<\/b> and it starts with working with great partners, deciding the package, and so on.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, if you have a great shipping strategy in place and you can calmly and professionally handle this part, you are set for a great start.\u00a0<\/p><p>Not only will you be able to work efficiently when your customers engage with you, but you will also run a successful business for several years to come.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Customers\u2019 expectation for lightning-fast shipping and delivery continues to defy expectations even as bigger brands offer more services and options. Although customers are having a field day, for small businesses, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[58],"class_list":["post-13685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-commerce","tag-canfleet-delivery-management"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13685"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13701,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13685\/revisions\/13701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breadstack.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}