Managing Your Business

Colored shipping tubes are both cute and a fantastic way to organize the items that need to be shipped. You can color code mail that's going overseas, that's going to different zones that your favorite shipping company uses, and even those items that need different shipping times. The appeal of the tubes is how bright the color is; people want to see that rich emerald green tube color, not a faded, sickly green tint. Storing the tubes properly helps preserve them so that you can buy a bulk amount and not worry about having some of them ruined.

Keep Them out of Direct Sunlight

The tubes aren't vampires that will crumple to dust if they come into contact with a sunbeam. But you don't want to store the tubes long term in an area where direct sunlight will hit them for hours on end. The sun's UV rays not only fade carpets and furniture, but any paper and plastic goods in their path, too. If you leave the tubes where they'll be in the sun for a long time each day, you could end up with faded tube colors. Not only do those look bad, but they also look like you just don't care. Your customers may think twice about buying from you again.

Store Them out of the Way

Whether you get cardboard or plastic tubes, you have to be sure they won't get crushed. Mailing tubes are really strong, but even they have their enemies, from heavy boxes falling on them to people walking into them and scratching the outer surface. Beaten-up tubes don't leave a very good impression, and they may be a lot weaker once the damage is done. Store the tubes out of the main traffic path. They can be along the path, just not in it.

Don't Stack Them Too High

If you store these on their sides, stacked up in boxes, for example, don't stack them too high. Even light cardboard tubes can add up and damage the tubes at the very bottom of the stack. You may want to store them standing upright if possible, though that would require more space.

Store With End Caps On

Regardless of whether the tubes are on their ends or sides, keep the plastic caps on both ends. Those caps will keep out dust and pests, which are two items you never want to ship to a customer. You should clean the area and have good pest control for your work space, but even with the best, you can have a small bug or two randomly enter the tubes. Keep the caps on to prevent that.

Take a look at your storage area and see how you could rearrange things so that the tubes are stored properly. Contact a shop, like Chicago Mailing Tube Co., for more help.