Method of packaging and shipping bulk material using reusable outer shell

A method of packaging and shipping a bulk material product in a combination container comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an inner paperboard container with at least one product receiving cell for the combination container and with notches in opposite sides of the upper portion of the inner container;
• b. providing at least one removable outer paperboard shell for the combination container designed to be fit over and to surround said inner container to add stability thereto;
• c. filling said inner container with a bulk material product at an original location, said inner container and said outer shell being constructed so that any frictional holding forces between the walls thereof are less than the combined weight of said inner container and the product in said product receiving cell;
• d. shipping said inner container with said product and with said outer shell thereon to a remote location;
• e. gripping said outer shell through said notches in said inner container,
• f. lifting said outer shell upward while gripped to remove said outer shell from said inner container and product;
• g. reshipping the removed outer shell back to its original location while allowing said inner container and the product to remain at the remote location for storage and use purposes;
• and
• h. fitting said outer shell over another inner container having at least one product receiving cell.