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One of the most significant expenses e-commerce businesses incur is shipping, and shipping clothes is no exception. You need to find the cheapest way to ship clothes in Canada, and that’s just one way to help you stay cost-competitive.
Studies show that customers don’t want to pay for shipping either. Canada Post reports that 92% of shoppers abandon their carts if shipping is too expensive.
Looking for the cheapest way to ship within Canada? Let’s explore the most cost-effective ways for SMBs to ship apparel across Canada.
Shipping rates for clothes vary based on the factors listed above. You can find the cheapest way to ship apparel by shopping around courier companies and comparing prices. This helps you find the cheapest way to ship and a service that fulfills your business needs.
If you offer fast shipping for clothing in Canada, you may incur higher shipping costs for expedited shipping.
Sometimes, the differences are only a few dollars between shipments with similar delivery timeframes. While these numbers may be small on a single shipment, saving dollars over many orders adds up!
Better yet, use an online shipping software like Ship Expert to compare shipping rates from multiple carriers, and ship as often (or as little) as you need. You’ll save every time.
Like most businesses, shipping companies offer promotions. There are many tactics for keeping tabs on carrier offers like signing up for carrier emails. UPS, for instance, offers discounts just for creating a free account.
Shipping large volumes? Carriers offer special pricing agreements to high-volume shippers as an incentive to keep using their shipping services. As an example, Canada Post gives a small business discount based on how much you spend on shipping.
By partnering with a shipping and logistics company, you can unlock exclusive discounts from carriers.
Even better: Small businesses don’t have to ship large volumes to get discounted shipping rates across multiple carriers.
If you have an account manager, negotiating your shipping contract is also an option. Gather data on the volumes you ship and the amounts you pay, and see what your provider can discount. You can bring these data points to a competitor company for an even better option.
When shipping clothes, the size and weight of your packaging can affect the cost.
To keep costs low:
Please note: Packaging isn't just about cost-savings.
Some customers pay attention to the touches that enhance their unboxing experience, whereas others prefer less packaging altogether. How you package and send clothing can impact your brand’s perception.
Adjusting your pricing strategy can also help cover the costs of shipping. Instead of using your profit margin, consider charging your customers for shipping. If you know the average shipping costs for your products, you can add a flat rate for shipping upon order confirmation.
Curious about flat-rate shipping costs? Check out our flat-rate shipping guide.
Free shipping is a major factor for online shoppers in Canada. In fact, 50% of shoppers will abandon their order if free shipping isn't offered.
You could offer "free" shipping by raising your product prices to cover costs or experiment with offering free shipping at peak seasons like BFCM. Consider setting a minimum order value for customers to qualify for free shipping and help offset some of the cost.
Limiting the shipping options available to customers can also help. For example, you may only offer regular delivery instead of express shipping. If you follow this route, let customers know how many business days until they receive their order, as it may be challenging to continue offering cheap clothing and fast shipping for clothing to customers in Canada.
Operational surcharges for labor and administration may vary between courier companies.
Generally speaking, the factors that impact shipping costs in Canada are:
Package size
Package contents
Shipping destination
Delivery speed
Courier company
Shipping volume
Additional surcharges
The cheapest way to ship clothes in Canada and the United States will vary based on the factors mentioned above. In most cases, comparing carrier rates is the best way to lower shipping costs.
Compare prices with shipping software like Ship Expert to:
For next-day shipping on your Canadian clothing, input your shipment requirements, select your carrier, and the courier will pick up and deliver your shipment.
Did you know…  Source: Government of Canada |
The cost of shipping a shirt will vary based on the specifics of the package weight, size, and available options.
Generally speaking, the most cost-effective small parcel carrier in Canada is Canada Post. They offer various delivery options, including flat rate shipments for under 5 lbs, to help small businesses control shipping costs. You can compare Canada Post rates with other carriers here.
What constitutes a “large box” will vary based on courier, but generally speaking the most cost-effective large box carrier in Canada is Canada Post.
Costs will vary based on the factors already mentioned above. In this case, it is best to use shipping software to find the most cost-effective solution.
Like with domestic shipments, international clothes shipments will depend on the factors listed above, as well as the destination country. If sending a small, light parcel like a t-shirt, Canada Post will likely have the most competitive rates for international shipments as well as fast shipping on clothing in Canada.
Flat rate shipping is a good option for heavier international shipments. For a flat rate of $350 USD, FedEx ships packages up to 44 kg from Canada to the United States. For US companies who ship to Canada, USPS offers flat rate pricing. You can send up to 20 lbs starting at around $30 USD.
Alternatively, Ship Expert provides discounts usually reserved for large-volume corporations when shipping to the US.
Of course, it's always best to compare rates and options from multiple carriers to find the cheapest and most reliable solution for your business.
Stay ahead of the competition: Delight your customers with cheap clothing and fast shipping. When you work with Ship Expert, you work with a shipping partner that negotiates the best shipping rates on the behalf of small businesses just like yours. Ship as much or as little as you need—no contract lock-ins, no volume minimums.
Get your quote and start saving today.
Director, Ship Expert
Greg Woo is a seasoned expert in the logistics and distribution industry, with a career spanning over two decades. He has a comprehensive understanding of shipping and distribution needs, and has extensive experience integrating with e-commerce stores as well as customer specific WMS (warehouse management systems) and ERP’s (enterprise resource planning software). His tenure in the industry and established courier and LTL partnerships have allowed clients to benefit from reduced shipping expenses, as well as improved operations through software and specialized integrations.
Greg is currently the Director at Ship Expert Inc., a role he has held since February 2015. Prior to his role at Ship Expert, Greg held significant positions at Juxto, a telecommunications and managed internet service provider.
