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Preparing Tape Inventory for Holiday Shipping Peaks
The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means your ecommerce, retail, or fulfillment business is about to get extra busy. Prepare for the high season by stocking up on packing tape for all of your shipping operations.
The Seasonal Shipping Rush Is Coming
The holiday season is the peak shipping season for ecommerce, retail, and fulfillment centers. Starting as early as October, the season spans all of November and December, including Black Friday and Small Business Saturday in late November and Cyber Monday in early December.
The time to prepare for peak season is now. When you're securing your holiday shipping supplies, be sure to include tape on your list. Many shippers and distributors overlook or underestimate the tape they will need until it is too late. Avoid common mistakes - use this guide to determine your tape needs, including volume, tape types, and storage recommendations.
Know Your Tape Needs by Shipping Volume
When preparing your operation for the holiday season, don't underestimate your tape volume. Insufficient tape can complicate and slow down order fulfillment, ultimately diminishing customer satisfaction.
Follow these steps to estimate your tape usage for the holiday season:
- Average orders per day: Calculate the length of tape you use for packaging on a daily basis, as well as your weekly or monthly average.
- Box size and type: Identify your most common box sizes by their dimensions, specifically length, width, and height. Note the amount of tape necessary to seal each box by using the following formula: Box length + (2x overhang) = tape length per seal. Multiply the result by two for the full tape amount used per box.
- Consider the sealing process: Calculate tape use based on whether you use manual or automatic tape dispensers. Manual taping usually requires multiple strips, so you should calculate based on sealing the top and bottom using two strips. Automatic reinforced tape typically uses less tape per box.
- Estimate holiday increase: Forecast your order volume for the holiday period. Add this to your average orders per day. A good rule of thumb is to estimate 15-25% more than your usual order volume.
- Calculate tape order: Multiply your tape usage per box by the number of orders you expect during the holiday period. This may require calculating for multiple box sizes or tape application methods.
Pro tip: Buffer for 15-25% more tape in November - December.
Choose the Right Tape for Holiday Shipping
Holiday shipping tape is not one-size-fits-all. The best tape for your application depends on many factors, including your shipping and storage locations, packaging materials, package weights, and branding needs. Below, we break down the best-fit use cases for different types of tape.
Standard Packing Tape
General-purpose biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) with a water-based acrylic adhesive is one of the most popular shipping tapes for warehouses. It is highly versatile, with good adhesion and excellent strength for a wide variety of carton and box sealing applications.
BOPP acrylic tape is highly economical, but has limited cold resistance. The tape can lose adhesion when exposed to low temperatures typical during the holiday season in many parts of the world. If you are warehousing, distributing, or shipping products in the northern hemisphere during the holidays, consider using a sealing tape more suited to the cold.
Cold-Temp Tape
For use in refrigerated warehouses or unheated facilities in winter climates, we recommend carton sealing tape with natural rubber adhesive. This polypropylene tape features a natural rubber-based adhesive, ideal for cold-temperature applications.
Whether you are storing, packing, or shipping in low temperatures, you can rely on this cold-temp tape to instantly adhere to recycled, used, and rough surfaces, as well as corrugated cardboard, in temperatures as low as -150°F.
Heavy-Duty Tape
Heavy cartons and packages destined for long-haul shipping require additional reinforcement to make sure they are securely packed. We recommend using heavy-duty acrylic carton sealing tape for temperatures between 32°F and 140°F. This tape features premium-grade, high-strength biaxially oriented polypropylene film with a water-based acrylic adhesive. It offers a long shelf life and reliable performance for heavy packages and long-distance shipping.
In conditions below freezing, consider sealing your heavy-duty packages with Intertape USA QT machine-grade packaging tape. This cold-temperature hot melt application uses polypropylene backing and a pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive with a superior holding force in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 140°F.
Custom Printed Tape
Make your holiday packaging pop with custom printed tape designed the way you want it. Ideal for Q4 promotions and festive unboxing, you can add a custom logo or message to every package. Add messages like "Handle With Care" or "Holiday Special" to convey important information or create a festive holiday mood.
Custom printed tape comes in three tape materials and multiple grades:
- Standard polypropylene (PolyPro): Our most versatile and popular option for custom packing tape, PolyPro offers vivid colors, a glossy finish, and 85-90% opacity. It comes in general purpose, heavy duty, industrial, and Hi-Tak for cold temperatures.
- Premium polyvinyl chloride (PVC): Ideal for upmarket brands, cold climates, and irregular surfaces, this material is softer and more opaque than Standard PolyPro, with an opacity of 90-95%. Available in heavy duty and industrial grades.
- Water-activated paper: Professionally branded and tamper-evident, this paper seal bonds to almost any cardboard material when water is applied. The paper is composed of recycled material and has a matte finish that is 100% opaque. Available in general purpose, heavy duty, and industrial grades.
Water-Activated Tape (WAT)
For your high-value holiday orders, use secure, tamper-proof water-activated paper packing tape. This natural tape is manufactured with a starch-based adhesive and contains 100% recyclable and biodegradable components, making it an ideal choice for sustainability-conscious brands.
Our reinforced VENOM paper tape features fiberglass in the machine direction and polyester strands in the cross direction, providing added support. Both standard and reinforced paper tapes are perfect for sealing inner cartons or lightweight product containers shipped on pallets.
Factor in Lead Times for Custom Orders
When selecting the best tape for your holiday shipping operation, consider the lead time for custom tape orders. Custom printed tape is an excellent choice for outstanding holiday packaging, but production times are longer, so you need to move quickly.
Lead times for custom orders are as follows:
- Standard print: 10-14 business days
- Complex/multi-color: Up to 3 weeks
Order before mid-October to avoid delays and have your holiday packaging supplies on hand when you need them. Please note that you may need to restock during or after a busy holiday season.
Calculating Your Tape Reorder Point
Rather than waiting until you run out, consider setting a reorder threshold by first calculating the difference between your maximum and average daily tape usage. This is referred to as your "safety stock."
Then, calculate your reorder point using the following calculation:
(Average Daily Usage x Tape Order Lead Time) + Safety Stock = Reorder Point
Once your tape inventory reaches the reorder point, it is time to order more. During the holiday season, consider increasing your safety stock and ordering time to avoid running out.
Storage & Efficiency Tips for Holiday Fulfillment
Tape storage and use efficiency can help you save money on packing supplies during the busy holiday season. Follow these shipping season packaging tips to conserve supplies and improve packing efficiency:
- Tape storage: Store adhesives at a stable temperature between 60°F and 80°F, with a relative humidity of 40-50%. Avoid freezing or overheating your packing tape, and keep it out of direct sunlight, which can degrade the product.
- Organization: Organize your tapes by type, so you know which type of packing tape to use for each application.
- Dispenser check: Check your dispensers at the beginning of the season and regularly throughout. Replace dull blades as needed and consider automatic dispensers to boost packing speed and enhance tape-use efficiency.
- Correct tape: Make sure to use the right tape for your packages. Incorrect tape can result in broken or damaged products, reduced client satisfaction, and unnecessarily high packaging material usage.
Pro tip: If it takes more than three strips to seal a box, it's time to rethink your tape.
Tape Jungle's Holiday-Ready Solutions
At Tape Jungle, we offer a wide range of adhesive tape solutions to address your seasonal packaging needs. We offer custom printed packing tape, cold-temp tape, and printed holiday-themed tape to spruce up your seasonal packages.
We understand that time is of the essence when dealing with the seasonal rush, which is why we promise a fast turnaround for both standard and custom printed orders. Our company maintains a high inventory of seasonal packaging tape, allowing us to ship your orders and reorders promptly. We also offer bulk packaging tape and tiered pricing options tailored to your specific needs.
Final Wrap-Up
Whether you need tape for your ecommerce shop, a large-scale warehouse, or a distribution operation, we have the supplies you need to get started this holiday season.
Attentive Q4 tape prep can help you avoid delays and ensure more efficient holiday packing and shipping operations. By planning your tape order in advance, you have the time to enhance your branding by preordering custom tape for shipping.