Abstract: A packaging assembly for efficiently packaging wheels includes multiple sheets of supporting and fixing members. A first set of wheels, each wheel having a and engaging a hub hole of one of the sheets, is located between two of the sheets. A first sheet supports a first set of wheels, and a second sheet is supported by the first set of wheels. A second set of wheels is located between the second sheet and a third sheet, each wheel of the second set including a hub engaged with a hub hole of the third sheet or of one of the first two sheets. The hub engagement of each wheel is laterally offset from the perimeter of all of the wheels of adjacent sets of wheels. The packaging includes means for preventing lateral movement of the wheels in each set.

Abstract: A method for managing physical distribution of products and returnable containers in which a first party send at least one product in a returnable container to a second party upon a request from the merchandiser to ship the products, and the second party sends back the returnable container to the first party is provided. The method includes receiving a request to shop at least one product from the merchandiser, determining a product inventory balance based on inventory information about the products and the request to shop at least one product, and based on the product inventory balance determination sending a product-shipping notice to the first party, and determining a returnable containers inventory balances based on inventory information about the returnable containers and the request to ship at least one product, and based on the returnable container inventory balance determination sending a returnable container-returning notice to the second party.