Running a business is no easy task when you consider the rise in competition and the costs of payroll, equipment maintenance, supplies, inventory control, workspace upkeep and shipping. Juggling these expenses can be tricky and knowing how to minimise them could be the key to a more profitable business.
A few simple adjustments to your logistics and shipping strategies can help you minimise transport costs, streamline your processes and improve your company’s efficiency. One way to reduce shipping costs is to use bulk bags when you move and store your materials or produce. These are affordable packaging products that offer incredible durability, strength, reusability and versatility.
Custom Bulk Bags (CBB) is a major manufacturer and supplier of high-quality bulk bags in South Africa. These sustainable packaging products are made from woven polypropylene tapes, so they can be recycled. This fabric is tough and can hold up to two tonnes of material. We produce over 3.5 million bulk bags a year for customers throughout the region, which enables them to move bulk quantities of material and reduce their shipping costs.
How to reduce shipping costs
Increasing transport expenses are affecting all businesses, but smaller companies are the most hard hit. Poor planning and strategy execution will immediately affect your bottom line. Logistics managers and business owners need to know how to reduce their shipping costs per load, minimise lead times and have an effective distribution strategy between warehouses and branches.
Here are some basic methods to help you minimise transport expenses:
- Work with a reliable bulk bag supplier who can deliver products on time and at an affordable fee.
- Opt for bulk bags rather than cardboard boxes as they are more affordable, durable, robust and versatile.
- Develop and implement a streamlined shipping strategy with realistic timelines and expectations.
- Look into warehousing facilities nearby, even if you already have some. You may find cheaper solutions that are closer to your business.
- Find the right logistics company if you don’t have your own fleet. They need to be efficient, reliable and honest. Reevaluating your current logistics provider might be worth the time and effort if it saves you some money.
How bulk bags help to minimise transport costs
Consider bulk bags when looking for more cost-effective and durable packaging solutions. These flexible containers can store up to two cubic metres of material and, when empty, can be flat-packed to minimise storage space until their next use. Since the fabric is plastic-based, bulk bags are very strong but they weigh a minute amount, which helps to keep transport costs as low as possible.
Thick cardboard boxes can weigh quite a lot when you have several of them, which is certainly not the case with bulk bags. Less weight usually results in a lower transport fee. They are perfectly suited to heavy-duty shipping environments and are water resistant, which is not true for cardboard. They also don’t require bulky pallets for bottom support, which further adds to shipping costs.
CBB’s bulk bags range in volume from half a cubic metre to two cubic metres and have a load capacity between 500kg and two tonnes. They can be easily stacked on top of one another during transport and storage, which makes efficient use of the space inside a shipping container or warehouse. This helps to reduce the costs of storage space and warehousing.
Our products are also reusable, which means that you don’t have to buy new packaging products every time you ship your materials. However, always inspect your used bulk bags before filling them; look for any signs of distress in the fabric, seams, lifting loops and attachments. Any damaged bulk bags should not be reused. Send them to a recycling facility instead.
CBB can help you reduce your bottom line by supplying bulk bags when you need them and helping you to reduce shipping costs. Our team of experts are on hand for consultations and to guide you through the process of ordering the perfect bulk bags for your needs. For more information about our bulk bags, please contact us today.
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Custom Bulk Bags is a leading South African manufacturer of woven polypropylene bags for various industries, such as mining, chemicals and food. We are able to produce over 3.5-million bulk bags per year, keeping our customers in stock at all times. Our bags adhere to the highest levels of quality as a result of our stringent in-house testing and quality control programmes.
Custom Bulk Bags holds ISO 9001 certification and we currently have a number of UN-certified designs. We are a Level 2 B-BBEE manufacturer and supplier and fall under the ownership structure of Deneb Investments Limited. For more information on our products, contact sales@custombulkbags.co.za. Follow us on Facebook for our latest news and industry insights.
