Christmas is one of the most important trading periods of the year, but increased orders and busy delivery networks can also bring greater pressure on products moving through the supply chain.
For businesses, getting an order out the door is only half the job. Making sure it reaches the customer in good condition is just as important.
Research highlighted in Cullen’s festive campaign suggests that 59.4% of shoppers wouldn’t reorder from a retailer after receiving a damaged parcel.
It’s a reminder that damaged deliveries don’t just affect individual orders. They can influence customer satisfaction, repeat purchases and long-term business relationships.
The true cost of damaged deliveries
When a product arrives damaged, the immediate cost is often obvious: a refund, replacement or return.
But the wider commercial impact can be considerably greater.
- Replacement and return costs
Damaged products can generate additional packaging, shipping and handling costs. Businesses may also need to absorb the value of unsellable goods.
- Customer service pressure
Every damaged delivery can result in additional enquiries, complaints and administrative work, placing further demands on customer service teams during an already busy period.
- Lost repeat business
A disappointing delivery experience can discourage customers from ordering again, particularly when damage affects products purchased as gifts or for time-sensitive occasions.
- Reputational damage
Customer reviews and recommendations can influence future purchasing decisions. Repeated delivery problems may undermine confidence in a business, regardless of the quality of its products.
Why protective packaging matters at Christmas
Products can encounter multiple handling points between leaving a manufacturer and reaching their final destination.
Sorting, loading, unloading, storage and transportation can all introduce risks, particularly for fragile, heavy or awkwardly shaped items.
Effective protective packaging helps manage these risks by providing appropriate cushioning, support and structural protection.
The right solution depends on the product being shipped.
Glass bottles require protection against impact and movement. Paint containers need secure positioning and protection around vulnerable areas. Industrial products may require additional corner and edge protection.
There is no single packaging solution suited to every application.
Protecting different products with the right packaging
At Cullen, our moulded fibre and corrugated packaging ranges support businesses shipping a wide variety of products.
Drinks and glass bottles
Our moulded fibre drinks packaging is designed to hold bottles securely, helping reduce movement and the risk of damage during handling and transit.
Candles and fragile products
Protective moulded fibre inserts can provide support around vulnerable glass containers, helping businesses protect products intended for gifting and retail.
Paint containers
Our Protectin range provides moulded fibre protection for paint containers, helping businesses manage the risks associated with transporting liquid products.
Industrial goods
Protective corners, channels and heavy-duty moulded fibre fitments can help safeguard vulnerable areas of larger, heavier or valuable products.
Corrugated outer packaging
Appropriately specified corrugated packaging provides an important outer layer of protection, helping products withstand the demands of storage, handling and distribution.
Better protection starts with the right packaging design
Protective packaging should be selected according to the requirements of the product and its journey through the supply chain.
Factors such as weight, dimensions, fragility, handling conditions and transportation methods all influence the level of protection required.
Reviewing these factors can help businesses identify opportunities to improve packaging performance and reduce avoidable damage.
For businesses experiencing recurring transit damage, a packaging review may be a useful starting point.
Protect your products. Protect your reputation.
During the festive season, every delivery matters.
Damaged products can create additional costs, operational disruption and disappointed customers, making effective packaging protection an important commercial consideration.
With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, Cullen supports businesses with moulded fibre and corrugated packaging solutions designed to protect products throughout the supply chain.
Because crackers should crack. Your deliveries shouldn’t.
Christmas is one of the most important trading periods of the year, but increased orders and busy delivery networks can also bring greater pressure on products moving through the supply chain.
For businesses, getting an order out the door is only half the job. Making sure it reaches the customer in good condition is just as important.
Research highlighted in Cullen’s festive campaign suggests that 59.4% of shoppers wouldn’t reorder from a retailer after receiving a damaged parcel.
It’s a reminder that damaged deliveries don’t just affect individual orders. They can influence customer satisfaction, repeat purchases and long-term business relationships.
The true cost of damaged deliveries
When a product arrives damaged, the immediate cost is often obvious: a refund, replacement or return.
But the wider commercial impact can be considerably greater.
- Replacement and return costs
Damaged products can generate additional packaging, shipping and handling costs. Businesses may also need to absorb the value of unsellable goods.
- Customer service pressure
Every damaged delivery can result in additional enquiries, complaints and administrative work, placing further demands on customer service teams during an already busy period.
- Lost repeat business
A disappointing delivery experience can discourage customers from ordering again, particularly when damage affects products purchased as gifts or for time-sensitive occasions.
- Reputational damage
Customer reviews and recommendations can influence future purchasing decisions. Repeated delivery problems may undermine confidence in a business, regardless of the quality of its products.
Why protective packaging matters at Christmas
Products can encounter multiple handling points between leaving a manufacturer and reaching their final destination.
Sorting, loading, unloading, storage and transportation can all introduce risks, particularly for fragile, heavy or awkwardly shaped items.
Effective protective packaging helps manage these risks by providing appropriate cushioning, support and structural protection.
The right solution depends on the product being shipped.
Glass bottles require protection against impact and movement. Paint containers need secure positioning and protection around vulnerable areas. Industrial products may require additional corner and edge protection.
There is no single packaging solution suited to every application.
Protecting different products with the right packaging
At Cullen, our moulded fibre and corrugated packaging ranges support businesses shipping a wide variety of products.
Drinks and glass bottles
Our moulded fibre drinks packaging is designed to hold bottles securely, helping reduce movement and the risk of damage during handling and transit.
Candles and fragile products
Protective moulded fibre inserts can provide support around vulnerable glass containers, helping businesses protect products intended for gifting and retail.
Paint containers
Our Protectin range provides moulded fibre protection for paint containers, helping businesses manage the risks associated with transporting liquid products.
Industrial goods
Protective corners, channels and heavy-duty moulded fibre fitments can help safeguard vulnerable areas of larger, heavier or valuable products.
Corrugated outer packaging
Appropriately specified corrugated packaging provides an important outer layer of protection, helping products withstand the demands of storage, handling and distribution.
Better protection starts with the right packaging design
Protective packaging should be selected according to the requirements of the product and its journey through the supply chain.
Factors such as weight, dimensions, fragility, handling conditions and transportation methods all influence the level of protection required.
Reviewing these factors can help businesses identify opportunities to improve packaging performance and reduce avoidable damage.
For businesses experiencing recurring transit damage, a packaging review may be a useful starting point.
Protect your products. Protect your reputation.
During the festive season, every delivery matters.
Damaged products can create additional costs, operational disruption and disappointed customers, making effective packaging protection an important commercial consideration.
With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, Cullen supports businesses with moulded fibre and corrugated packaging solutions designed to protect products throughout the supply chain.
Because crackers should crack. Your deliveries shouldn’t.
