Shipping & Packaging for Small Business

For online sellers, shipping supplies are the second biggest recurring cost after inventory itself. Buying the right sizes in bulk, printing thermal shipping labels instead of paper labels, and picking mailers that match your typical product profile can shave 30-50% off shipping cost per package.

Poly mailers work for anything soft or non-fragile — apparel, jewelry pouches, printed goods, small accessories. Grab a mixed pack of 6x9, 9x12, and 10x13 to cover most orders. Bubble mailers add cushioning for small fragile items without stepping up to a full box.

For fragile or rigid products, corrugated boxes in a few standard sizes beat trying to reuse random boxes. Consistent packaging looks more professional to buyers and speeds up your pack station because every order flows the same way.

Pair the picks below with a 4x6 thermal shipping label printer to eliminate ink, sheet-feed paper, and cut-out labels. The upfront cost pays back within a few weeks for anyone shipping more than 10 orders a week.

What to look for when buying

• Buy poly mailers in the 3 sizes you use most — mixed packs waste money on odd sizes.
• Bubble mailers for small fragile items; boxes for anything rigid.
• Stick to 2-inch clear packing tape with a hand dispenser.
• Kraft paper cushioning is cheaper and greener than bubble wrap.
• A 4x6 thermal label printer eliminates ink and label sheets entirely.