12 Pains of Holiday Shipping

Unlike Santa, most of us don’t have elves to take care of properly packing up holiday packages. With shipping deadlines coming up quickly, it’s time to start thinking about getting those presents in the mail. If you don’t know where to begin with sending gifts across town or around the world, we're counting down the 12 most common holiday shipping headaches and sharing solutions to help you “get your ship(ping) together” early!

12. Gift wrapping woes

Unfortunately, those gifts won’t wrap themselves! Let your presents take center stage when they reach their destination by trying Duck® brand Crystal Clear Invisible Tape. The translucent, gloss-finish is ideal for holiday gift wrapping.

11. Materials you can't find under the mistletoe

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the store, not a shipping supply was found, not even one box more. Last-minute shoppers should get ahead of the game and purchase necessary tools as soon as possible to ensure they can secure their preferred products. Stock up on your shipping supplies early.

10. Too much time away from the tree

Mailing gifts to their destination isn’t just pricey – it’s downright time consuming. Spend less time transporting and more time merrymaking by planning ahead to avoid last-minute rushes to the post office – the closer to the holidays you mail, the longer those lines will be.

9. Grinch-like tape guns

Some tape guns can feel like coal in your stocking. To eliminate the frustration of using them, see how to replace your roll of tape on your gun, and step-by-step instructions for sealing a box with one.

8. Boxes too big for the chimney

The best present isn’t always shipped in the biggest box. A cardboard container may be a bit too large for small and dainty items, which is likely why 25% of consumers* expect to use mailers for holiday shipping in 2022. We have you covered with lightweight, yet durable, Kraft Bubble Mailers, available in a wide range of sizes.

7. Poor packing tape that would never make it to the North Pole

Don’t let packing tape that rips and tears make you a Scrooge this holiday season! Duck® brand EZ Start® Packing Tape is made with Frustration-Free® technology, so it always unrolls smoothly, easily and quietly. Its strong adhesion provides a long-lasting hold, and its unique design eliminates the annoyance of losing the tape end so you can pack up your gifts and leave the stress behind.

6. Lack of sustainable ways to show holiday (shipping) spirit

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to many consumers but finding eco-friendly goods can be challenging. Never fear – you don’t have to cancel Christmas. Instead, ship in an environmentally responsible way with Flourish® Brand, a line of shipping products made up of recycled content that do not contain plastics.

5. Costs so high, you think you’re on the naughty list

Between purchasing materials and paying postage fees, shipping costs can feel sky-high. Prepare to mail presents by factoring the cost of shipping and mailing supplies into your holiday budget. To start, create a list of how many gifts you’ll need to send, the anticipated size of each and what materials you already have on hand. However, when using what you already have, you’ll want to ensure that they are the proper size for the item being shipped so you don’t overpay for box size or weight.

4. Ho-ho-ho heavy boxes that break

Keeping heavy boxes sealed for their trip in Santa’s sleigh can be challenging. We offer a strong and durable packing tape that is designed to seal the heaviest boxes safely and securely. Duck Max Strength® Packing Tape offers instant quick stick for a variety of temperatures, so its tough adhesion isn’t threatened by winter weather.

3. Shipping in a winter wonderland

A visit from Jack Frost is all fun and games until your holiday gifts are damaged in transit due to cold and wet conditions. Duck® brand Bubble Cushioned Poly Envelopes are a water-resistant, all-in-one solution for mailing small objects. The tough poly shells resist tearing and wet weather so you can be assured your item will arrive in the same great condition as when you mailed it.

2. Festive fragile items being damaged

Leg lamps aren’t the only fra-gee-lay items being delivered during the holidays! Duck® Brand Small Bubble Cushioning Wrap is the key to items arriving in one piece. Air Lock Technology® maintains consistent cushioning and long-lasting protection to keep objects intact. Properly pack delicate items with bubble cushioning following tips from Duck brand. And of course, you’ll want to mark the box as fragile.

1. Packages arriving after the First Noel

No one wants to be the person whose gifts arrive after the holidays. That’s probably why over a third of respondents to the Duck® brand survey* said that the biggest aggravation when it comes to holiday shipping is packages arriving at their destination in a timely manner. Avoid this issue by planning ahead and shipping your parcels according to shipping deadlines. This year’s USPS shipping deadline for arrival by Christmas Day is December 17, for standard ground shipping.

For more holiday shipping tips and supplies, visit https://www.duckbrand.com/products/mailing-shipping.

*Research conducted by Shurtape Technologies, marketers of Duck® brand mailing and shipping
products, in a survey of 442 general population respondents.