Custom Packaging and Branded Inserts | Portless Help Center
Custom Packaging and Branded Inserts
Updated over a week ago
Portless supports custom packaging, including branded cartons, poly mailers, inserts, and protective inner packaging. Because your inventory is fulfilled directly from China, packaging can be sourced locally and be ready at the warehouse in days. Significantly faster than shipping materials from your home market to a US 3PL.
Supported packaging types
| Type | Supported | Who sources it |
| Custom-size cartons | ✓ | Portless sources locally, or merchant ships |
| Poly mailers / plain bags | ✓ | Portless sources locally, or merchant ships |
| Branded inserts, thank you cards, and flyers | ✓ | Portless sources locally, or merchant ships |
| Protective inner packaging (bubble wrap, air columns, corner inserts) | ✓ | Portless sources locally |
| Discreet exterior packaging (no visible branding or origin) | ✓ | Standard on request |
| Branded mailers/tissue paper | Contact the Services Team directly and get more information here. |
How packaging is applied to your orders
All packaging configurations are set in your Packaging SOP, which is shared with the Portless fulfillment team during onboarding. The SOP defines:
- Which packaging type applies to which products or order configurations
- Whether inserts are included on every order or under specific conditions
- Any discreet or unbranded exterior requirements
Changes to your packaging setup, like new packaging types, seasonal swaps, and new inserts, are handled by contacting your CSM, who coordinates with the fulfillment team to update the SOP.
Important notes:
- Please submit your Packaging SOP to implementations@portless.com at or before your onboarding kickoff call. Once you are live, any future packaging SOP updates should be coordinated directly with your Customer Success Manager.
- If you run out of packaging materials, please notify the team by emailing both serena@portless.com and ella@portless.com.
Getting packaging to the warehouse
Option 1. Portless sources locally (recommended)
Share your specs with your CSM: dimensions, material, print requirements, and target quantity. Portless's sourcing team in China will quote the job and send specs and pricing for your approval. Once confirmed, the order is placed and the cost is billed to your Portless invoice. New orders typically arrive within one week; reorders take 4–5 days.
Option 2. You ship the packaging to Portless
Ship your materials directly to the warehouse with your inventory. Two inbound paths apply:
| Path | When to use | Requirements |
| Bonded warehouse | Standard route | UPC barcode on each unit, commercial invoice, packing list, and Inbound Product Information Form |
| Non-bonded warehouse | No barcode available | No UPC required. Portless transfers to bonded on receipt |
Importing from outside China? Sourcing locally avoids import fees. Shipping packaging from your home country incurs customs clearance fees (~1,500 CNY) plus transport and declaration charges. Ask your CSM for an estimate before shipping.
Inserts
Inserts are placed manually on every order by the fulfillment team. Two supply options apply:
- Merchant-supplied: Ship your inserts to Portless with your inventory. Specify in your Packaging SOP that they should be included on all orders (or under defined conditions).
- Portless-sourced: Provide specs and artwork to your CSM. The sourcing team handles procurement, shares specs and cost for approval, and bills through your invoice.
Contact your CSM about per-order insertion fees and minimum quantities for locally sourced inserts.