The holidays are just around the corner and that means a significant increase in online sales. In fact, eMarketer has projected that holiday e-commerce retail sales will grow 17% this year (Retail & Ecommerce, “Holiday Retail Ecommerce Sales Will Grow 17% this Year.) For the first time, digital sales will exceed 10% of total revenue. The anticipated growth translates to over a $100 billion generated from online orders from previous years and are predicted to keep rising. With so many packages being sent out for the holidays, it is vital for businesses to keep their packages safe and secure throughout the shipping process. This post focuses on how businesses and customers can safely ship packages during the holiday season. 

Safety Tips For Businesses

Package safety and security is critical for businesses aiming to foster trust from repeat customers. This is especially true around the holidays when businesses send out multiple packages a day and ship packages with expensive items enclosed.

Here are some tips for businesses to improve package security:

• Don't depend on labels to protect your product. Packages are not always treated with the utmost care even when they are labeled with a "fragile" sticker. Be sure to use protective inner packaging for valuable and fragile items.
• When shipping expensive items, make sure your shipping label does not include any reference to the fact that there are expensive items in the carton. Doing so is an invitation for theft. 
• Try not to reuse old, shapeless cartons. Corrugated cartons that have been used multiple times are fundamentally weaker than those that are new. Used boxes can leave your products vulnerable to breakage or theft.
• Use a strong and secure tape to enhance package security. A stronger and more effective carton sealing solution than using plastic, pressure sensitive tape is water-activated tape (WAT). Water-activated tape creates a strong, permanent seal with the corrugated carton. This tape literally bonds with the corrugate and discourages theft through its tamper-evident seal.

Safety Tips For Customers

Just as businesses should take extra safety precautions, so should customers expecting to send or receive holiday packages. While online shopping has become one of the most popular ways people holiday shop, it has also brought about an occurrence known as "porch pirating." According to a study by insuranceQuotes.com, "23 million Americans have had packages stolen from their doorsteps" 

Unfortunately, the holiday season brings out even more thieves that are just waiting for the opportunity to snatch packages off your front door step. Make sure when shipping gifts to family and friends, that you wrap any fragile items and tell them to track their packages. It's also a good idea to request a signature or have the package shipped to a different location where you're sure there will be someone available to pick it up.

Better Packages | Water Activated Tape 

Better Packages offers a full line of Better Pack brand water-activated tape designed to create a superior seal on your corrugated cartons. Water-activated tape (also known as gummed tape, gum tape, Kraft paper tape, reinforced tape, etc.) offers advantages other carton sealing methods do not. It is the preferred choice of packaging professionals when strength, security, employee safety, and professional appearance are critical. A wide range of paper and reinforced water-activated tape in natural and white is available in many lengths and widths along with custom-printed tape with up to four colors.

Download the free ebook below for more information on tape dispensing solutions.