11 Tips & Cheapest Ways to Ship Clothes to Your Customers

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You may have read my article on How to open your own fashion brand and want to turn those theories into concrete actions. Or you have your own fashion brand and have earned your first profits. Now is the time to take a closer look at the costs so you can sell your goods at the most affordable price and earn the most profit possible.

Obviously, you need to minimize the costs incurred in each stage such as manufacturing, testing products, selling on the market, etc. However, there is an essential type of cost that I believe that your product will have a very affordable price for your customers to increase the profits of your brand when you lower that cost. That is the shipping cost.

So in today’s article, I will introduce The cheapest ways to ship clothes to your customers.

How to pack clothes for shipping?

One of the most important factors when shipping clothes or anything is the packaging of the product. You must ensure that your products are packed well until they reach the customer but does not increase the cost of the product’s weight. I will introduce to you the secrets to complete the process of packing clothes most perfectly.

How to mail clothes and packing materials

Fortunately, clothes are the easiest item to pack. However, before packing, you should make sure the quality of packaging material to avoid tearing and damage during transport. There are some tips for you as follows:

• Use cardboard boxes for shipping large quantities of clothes, especially if they are for the same customer.

• Use paper envelopes for small, single pieces of clothes.

• Use bubble mailers and flat clipboard mailers for more delicate items with small trinkets or buttons attached.

• Use corrugated boxes or shipping clothes to long-distance locations.

How should I pack clothes for shipping

For casual clothes that do not require too much protection, just make sure that they are folded neatly and not wrinkled when it reaches the customer. You can follow these steps:

1. Fold clothes to fit into shipping mailers. You can roll it to avoid wrinkles

2. Wrap them in a plastic bag

3. Seal the plastic bag with tape

4. Put them in the shipping mailers and seal them carefully

5. Put a shipping label on the outside of the box

For formal and luxurious clothing such as wedding dress, gown, etc that requires thorough protection, you can follow the following packaging steps:

1. Choose a box that is just large enough to hold the item without special decorations or fabric. Avoid using a box that is too big because the item has plenty of space to move in and is damaged.

2. Place the item in the box. If you fold it first, wrap it in tissue paper.

3. Add packing materials and cushions to protect decorative details.

What are the cheapest ways to ship clothes to your customers?

An important step in reducing shipping costs is to choose the correct shipping carrier for your products. Currently, there are 3 main carriers that sellers often choose to use shipping services at the most reasonable cost.

Shipping clothes with UPS

One shipping company worth considering shipping clothes is UPS. Their UPS Ground service takes 1 to 5 days to send a package in the United States at a reasonable cost. You also have a range of shipping options and prices, if you need international shipping or change your shipping speed.

UPS can also be a good option for shipping more unusual apparel needs, such as large boxes containing complex wedding dresses. Because USPS has a specific size and weight limitations, and may not offer many options when your items arrive, you have more flexibility with UPS shipping that can help customers spread Unique experience easier.

When you ship clothing items, UPS recommends using their Time and Cost tool to help you determine the best service level for your shipment.

Shipping clothes with USPS

USPS may be more affordable to ship some items, especially light items. If your packages are less than one pound, you can use First Class Mail for your shipment. Your costs may be higher if you send to a farther recipient or send heavier packages. If you can, look for opportunities to use Flat Rate shipping and get volume discounts.

Shipping clothes with FedEx

Shipping via FedEx is another option, especially if you want your items to be larger or arrive quickly. Like UPS, FedEx offers a wide range of shipping options and gives you the choice to have your carrier assist with packaging. Their customized shipping solutions may be worth it if you have unique shipping needs.

Prices depend on the weight, distance, and type of shipping service and options you choose.

Estimate your shipping rates with FedEx to see how much you can expect to pay.

8 Best tips to saving your money shipping clothes internationally

If you complete the above steps and still see the cost has not decreased much. So let me show you 8 tips that help you save money on international shipping.

Pack As Small and As Light As Possible

Large and heavy items often cost more than light and baby items. So please pack your item as small as possible. Order a large selection of shipping supplies that can fit in a variety of sizes and shapes you can easily have your product fit in.

Use Quality Packing Materials

Using quality packaging materials will help your products be better protected against scratches when being hit hard during transportation. So invest a little in the quality of the packaging material and it will be of great help to you.

Use USPS For Light Shipments

USPS is strong at shipping light items. In addition, they also offer incentives for service packages for transporting light products. For example, if you use USPS Priority Mail service, you will be provided with free packaging boxes and a $50 premium for qualified packages. It is very beneficial, right?

Get Packaging Materials For Free

Currently, to attract customers, many carriers have launched a service that provides free packaging materials. It is an effective way for you to minimize the costs incurred when transporting goods. Do not ignore it.

Ship With Bubble Mailers

Bubble mailers are the perfect way to send those less-than 0.3kg products through USPS. If your products (like clothing or books) don’t need much padding, try sending them with a bubble mailer. It’s a light, inexpensive packaging method, and merchants absolutely adore it.

Look Into Last-Mile Delivery

If you usually ship shipments via shipping units and you’re looking to cut costs, you should consider using final shipping options. Using these services will add one day or longer to your delivery time; However, they will also make your shipment cheaper by eliminating residential surcharges. You will have to consider the value of speed and cost when deciding when to use last-mile delivery.

Ship With Multiple Carriers

Do not depend on only one carrier. Please use at least one more shipping unit. Each unit has different strengths. From there you can choose a cheaper shipping service for each item.

Automate With Software

For many online sellers, juggling multiple carriers is an essential part. However, if you don’t have a sitemap about shipping, using more than one carrier can be painful. However, there are many apps and websites available to help you manage your shipping. So you can fully take advantage of technology to make sales more convenient

Conclusion

Minimizing shipping costs has never been an easy thing for businesses. However, if you follow the instructions above, you absolutely can save some money for your brand. Hopefully, the cheapest ways to ship clothes to customers above will help your fashion brand increase profit.