The At-Home Entrepreneur: Ship Like the Big Guys

Office Depot, Category Manager

Posted November 11, 2015

A home-based business lets you reach your customers without the middleman, but that means bridging the gap between product and client yourself. How do you ship products to far-away customers without sacrificing professionalism?

Start with some home shipping basics including shipping tape, a strong pair of scissors and packaging materials that match the handling needs of your products. For instance, choose padded envelopes for books and magazines, or use corrugated boxes for baked goods or handcrafts. A handwritten label is great for informal packages, but for your at-home business, you’ll want to invest in an all-in-one printer for running off shipping labels with a more professional appearance. Use personalized business labels for an extra touch of class.

If you're shipping breakable items, use plenty of shipping paper or packing peanuts to pad your package, and use air-tight plastic packages to keep out moisture, if needed. Don't forget to use handling labels such as "fragile" stickers to avoid mishaps during transport. Whether you're shipping fresh-made cookies, handcrafts or antiques, let Office Depot help you boost your business with shipping products hand-picked for the home-based entrepreneur.


Earn Bulk Discounts

Shop All Padded Mailers

If you mail out a great deal of products, purchasing packaging supplies in bulk is a great option for reducing shipping costs by cutting back the spend on boxes, mailing envelopes padded mailers and other shipping supplies. These items store easily in your garage, basement or attic, so you can invest early and save money later.

Padded Envelope for Products needing Protection

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Simple & Safe Shipping Container

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Love Your Labels

Shop All Shipping Labels

Avoid mistakes on handwritten addresses by automating your shipping labels as much as possible. This means buying labels compatible with your computer or getting a mini label maker that has an LCD screen to input an address. Make sure your labels fit with your favorite carrier's guidelines for clarity.

Big and Permanent Label

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Smudge-Free Shipping Labels

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Print Your Own Stickers

Shop All Preprinted Shipping Labels

Much like mailing labels, print your own stickers with sticker templates to save time and money. This lets you print only the stickers you need as opposed to ordering extras that you may have to keep on hand for years. You can even customize the verbiage on your stickers for your own unique messaging.

"Fragile Handle With Care" Pack of 500

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One Color Oval Advertising Labels

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One color Circle Advertising Labels

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Varied Packing Materials

Shop All Packing Paper & Foam

If you ship fragile items, consider bubble paper or polystyrene foam blocks to secure breakables in small boxes. Packing materials keep items from moving around inside the box, so feel free to use smaller boxes or packing paper.

Office Depot® Brand Newsprint Paper Roll

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Piles of Packing Peanuts

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Office Depot® Brand Foam Roll

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Just Roll the Tape

Shop All Packing Tape

Save time on packaging and get more done in a day. Don't worry about jammed tape rolls or the disappearing line of tape against the entire roll. Find a tape dispenser that fits your grip and simplifies the sealing of your boxes and packages.

Superior Packing Tape

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Digital Scales Work Best

Shop All Postal Scales

Don't overpay for shipping costs. Calibrate a digital postal scale properly so you can determine the exact shipping weight. Plug in the weight to your carrier's website or smartphone app so you know your exact shipping cost before your delivery carrier arrives for pick up.

Dependable and Digital Postal Scale

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Low-Profile, Low-Maintenance Postal Scale

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Poly Bags for Any Size

Shop All Flat Poly Bags

Poly bags keep small items secure and are often a more cost effective solution than shipping items in boxes. Buy small, medium and large poly bags to accommodate items of various sizes and cut down on the need for excess packing materials in bags that are too large. For added protection, pack the bag with flat pieces of cardboard as a safeguard against breakage.

Tough & Light Protection

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Tie, Tape or Seal These Bags

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