Helping yourself with consignments- Packaging goods correctly before shipment

Helping yourself with consignments- Packaging goods correctly before shipment

Your goods must not be properly packaged and labeled before shipped, they must also meet certain packaging requirements to ensure that they are delivered safely to their destinations. Here are some ways you can help yourself with consignment packaging;

• Make sure that sensitive or dangerous goods are packaged inside “Over packs”, and use the proper markings and labels for such. Make sure that the functions of the packaged goods are not impaired by the over-pack materials used.

• Mixed packaging of sensitive or dangerous items must be labeled individually to avoid mix ups.

• Markings on shipment containers must be readily visible; such markings must withstand open weather exposure without fading out. Markings and labels must be displayed on the background if contrasting colours are used in designing the packaging materials. Make sure that salvage packaging materials are marked as “Salvaged”.

• Packaging items that contain environmental hazards must be durably marked as “Environmental hazards” for proper identification. Inner packaging must be used in packing dangerous liquids and other materials

• All labels used in packaging shipments must clearly identify any primary and secondary risks within the shipments.

• You must include special symbols and directives that can help in the storing , handling and transportation of any sensitive shipment.

• Placards must be clearly displayed on the exterior of transporting units and can also be displayed at the background of contrasting colours to avoid confusion.

• Make sure you inspect all packages and see that there are no leakages, breakages and misinformation on them before they are finally loaded for shipping.

• Fragile items should not be at the bottom or arranged too close to sturdy packaged shipments to avoid breakages.

• Make sure you use a check list and exercise caution when loading each box of consignments into trucks or any other transporting medium. All documents listing all shipment items must be provided by the shipping company.

Developing strong relationships with your suppliers

Developing strong relationships with your suppliers

Any successful business will strive to bridge the gap between it and its suppliers. Suppliers contribute immensely to the growth and sustenance of any business. Don’t exploit the relationship between you and your suppliers by placing unreasonable demands on them. When you invest quality time to build a strong relationship with your suppliers, you will end up saving more money and getting better quality products and services to your clients.

How to develop strong relationships with your suppliers

• Meet your suppliers face-to-face and check how they operate, this will help you figure out how their mode of operation can benefit your own business.

•Ask your suppliers about the future plans of expansion and see if that will affect their business dealings with you.

• Help your suppliers’ businesses by placing your orders on time and making payments for their supplies on timely manner. You must be clear to them about deadlines in their supplies.

• Always check some opportunities you can pass to them. A good relationship with your business partners is all about creating a strong network where opportunities can be shared with each other.

• Coordinate and plan your business schedules with theirs, it helps both partners keep to time. Analyze and forecast your sales strategy and inform them about it on time so that they can meet up with your demands.

• Always review your suppliers’ performances. Make sure you are getting your supplies at the right prices, and quality.

• Respect, Trust and be Honest with your suppliers. If you don’t respect a supplier, you can’t build a strong relationship with him. Trust becomes an important factor in building a relationship especially during difficult periods. Trust must be cultivated over a period of time. Lying and cheating will only result in a short term benefit because when the truth comes out, it will break a relationship, therefore you need to be honest when dealing with your suppliers.

T Ward Shipping have been trading as shipping agents for over 100 years, we still maintain close ties to Leith, Edinburgh's main port to provide direct access to main shipping channels