How to Pack and Ship Wholesale Candle Orders Ship your candles safely and strengthen your wholesale relationships with these proven tips.

Shipping wholesale candle orders comes with unique challenges and considerations that retail shipping doesn’t have. You’re dealing with larger product quantities, bigger boxes, and concerns that your carefully crafted products will arrive safely. 

This article is here to show you exactly how to pack and ship your wholesale orders so you’ll feel more confident that they’ll reach their destinations intact and ensure your retail partners are happy with every delivery. 

While the aesthetics of an unboxing experience take center stage when shipping candles to retail customers, wholesale shipping requires a more practical approach that’s focused on one critical goal: getting products to stores without damage. 

Wholesale customers, whether independent boutique owners or larger retailers, need products to arrive in excellent condition and be ready to sell. Because of this, they prioritize function over form when it comes to how their orders are packed. 

This means that you still want to provide a neat, professional presentation overall. But focus on using packing materials that will best protect your candles and other products. Even if your business operates in a high-end tier of the market, and you would never use bubblewrap or peanuts to pack your retail orders, it’s entirely appropriate to use them in wholesale shipments. 

Successful wholesale shipping comes down to one fundamental principle: preventing movement inside the shipping boxes.

When candles can slide, shift, or knock against each other in transit, breakage becomes nearly inevitable.

The best way to prevent your candles from unwanted movement is to cushion them. This means aiming for 1-2” buffers of packing materials both horizontally and vertically throughout the shipping box. These buffers of fill materials act as shock absorbers that protect fragile contents.

When you shake a well-packed box, you won’t hear or feel any movement inside. If products can shift even slightly, more packing materials are needed to fill those gaps and create that snug fit your candles need for safe transport.

Having the right materials makes all the difference in protecting your candles and streamlining the packing process. 

The essential packaging and shipping supplies for wholesale orders include:

• Shipping boxes of various sizes
• Packing peanuts
• Shipping tape and tape dispenser
• Cardboard dividers
• Bubblewrap or honeycomb wrap
• Candle container cases 

And one of the smartest strategies for wholesale shipping is reusing packaging materials. Save packing peanuts and bubble wrap from orders you receive, as well as the case boxes your candle containers originally came in. You can pack the finished candles in their container boxes or pull the cardboard dividers from them and use the dividers directly in shipping boxes to create protective compartments.  

Depending on your order minimums, or product sizes, you may be able to comfortably fit some wholesale orders in a single shipping box. If that’s the case, you may want to pack the items directly into the shipping box. To do this:

1. Begin by wrapping the products if preferred.
2. Assemble the shipping box with tape and dispenser.
3. Pour a 1-2” layer of packing peanuts in the bottom of the box.
4. Nestle a cardboard divider into the bed of peanuts.
5. Place the items inside dividers.
6. Pour additional packing peanuts into the box.
7. Push the peanuts down in between the products and around the inside perimeter of the box.
8. Check for movement by shaking the box; add more peanuts as needed.
9. Top off with a final layer of peanuts.

What these steps in action!

Larger wholesale orders of candles are often packed in cases, which are then placed in a shipping box. This method provides an additional layer of protection and makes handling easier for your wholesale partners. To pack larger wholesale orders:

1. Prep products to go into case box(es) by wrapping with bubble wrap or honeycomb wrap, if desired.
2. Prepare case boxes by removing any supplier labels.
3. Place candles in their case boxes, making sure they cannot move or are not in contact with neighboring candles. If there is movement inside the case, fill any empty spaces using packing peanuts or additional layers of wrapping materials to immobilize the products.
4. Label the contents and quantities on top of each case. Your wholesale customers will appreciate this organizational touch when they unpack and inventory their order.
5. Tape each case closed or fold the box flaps securely.
6. Assemble the shipping box with tape and dispenser.
7. Pour a 1-2” layer of packing peanuts in the bottom of the shipping box.
8. Place the cases into the shipping box on the bed of packing peanuts.
9. Pour packing peanuts into the shipping box; push them down in between the case boxes and around the inside perimeter of the box.
10. If packing more cases into the box, add a layer of peanuts, and repeat steps 8 and 9.
11. Check for movement by shaking the box; add more peanuts as needed.
12. Top off with a final layer of peanuts.

See how a larger wholesale order is packed:

While many small businesses initially rely on USPS to ship retail orders, UPS and FedEx often offer more competitive commercial rates for larger, heavier packages. These carriers frequently provide better value for the more substantial weights and sizes typical of wholesale candle orders.

Makers have two main options for shipping wholesale orders:

1. Use a third-party shipping platform that gives access to commercial pricing
2. Set up accounts directly with the carriers

Pirate Ship offers completely free access to USPS and UPS shipping with commercial pricing. There are no monthly fees, subscription costs, or hidden charges. You simply pay for the labels you purchase. It’s an excellent starting point for businesses new to wholesale shipping or for those with lower shipping volumes.

Shippo provides makers with more carrier options, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, and international shipping access through carriers like DHL. Their free plan accommodates up to 30 monthly labels, perfect for businesses just starting their wholesale journey. Paid plans begin at $19 a month for 200 labels, scaling to $29 for 500 labels, and $54 for 1,000 labels each month.

Both platforms handle the complexities of carrier relationships, provide tracking information, insurance options, and offer better-than-retail pricing.

Direct accounts with carriers like UPS and FedEx are worth considering when your shipping volume reaches levels where you can negotiate better rates than those offered on third-party platforms.

This typically occurs when you ship dozens of packages each week and can demonstrate consistent volume.

The primary advantages of direct accounts are personalized service and more favorable pricing.

However, most growing candle businesses find that third-party platforms effectively meet their needs while they build towards volumes that justify direct carrier relationships. 

Before taping up that shipping box, there are a few final details to complete the shipment—and that contribute to building lasting wholesale relationships. These additions demonstrate professionalism and thoughtfulness for your customers:

• Include a printed invoice or receipt so it’s simple for your customers to process the order on their end, along with a thank-you note to show your appreciation for their business.
• Add candle care cards for them to share with their customers and branded materials like shelf talkers to help reinforce your brand presence in the store.
• Provide product samples so shop owners can discover new items or scents (and encourage a re-order), or include testers for the shop to showcase fragrances to their customers. 

Becoming a wholesale shipping pro creates a competitive advantage for your business that extends beyond getting your products from Point A to Point B. When your wholesale customers consistently receive their merchandise intact and shelf-ready, they develop confidence in your business that translates to repeat orders and sometimes even referrals. 

Remember that every package you send represents your brand, so the time invested in properly packing and thoughtful touches pays dividends in customer satisfaction and business relationships. 

Professional shipping practices not only protect your products, they enhance your business’s reputation!