Packaging Your Products for Shipping

[sj]

If it is tiny then i use a small box -  If it is a larger item then I wrap in special tissue paper i have...  I 9/10 put in a business card - But NOT always to the same person if they buy a lot from me.  I put one in occasionally.. 

I used to put tags on all my work - but someone said it was a waste and 9/10 ended up in the bin.  I was shocked cos the tags i made were not cheap and the charms i used were not either..  so I stopped doing it.

I think it depends on the item you are doing and How large your selling is.  For a small seller like me the odd sale then paying out for inner packaging is a lot of extra money i couldn't afford and sometimes it makes the package heavier- If I was selling an awful lot of work then I would certainly consider boxes for my creations..   I have personally looked into it all -  ;D    It doesn't mean I don't think about it any less - I just try to keep my costs minimal without having to pass it on to the customer..!!

[kpajutee]

I am curious...

Other than taking precautions when packing your miniature artisan creations for shipping/mailing (shredded paper, bubble-wrap, tissue, foam peanuts, foam, etc.) - do you place your items in any sort of a labeled box with your marketing information on it (inside of the shipping box or envelope)? 

In other words, do you use a gift box or add any special labels (i.e., your name, logo, contact information, enclose a business card)?  OR, do you personally believe all that additional packaging is an extra expense or hassle, and simply wrap up your item securely and ship it out with little or no thought?

[patriziaeguido]

I wrap my fairy with a sort of acrylic tissue, then I wrap again with pluriball, then I put the fairy into a strong box that match her perfectly, then into another larger box with pluriball... So far no breakages... My buyers said they were very well packaged! So double box, girls! ^_____^

[tmcminiturnings]

I do take quite a bit of time to package my mini turnings in a method I feel is safe and secure (no problems yet in two years).  I normally package my items in a piece of coffee filter and then place the item in a cut piece of PVC pipe.  I buy 10 foot lengths of pipe at Home Depot for between $1 and $2 depending on the size.  I wrap it then in bubble wrap.  I use a large envelope which I apply wide tape to in vulnerable spots.  I always mark FRAGILE in two places at the bottom of the envelope.

This has kept my mailings fairly lightweight.  If I'm mailing four or more items I do usually use a box, but still wrap the items in bubble wrap and use peanuts to surround them.

Tom McMillan

[crafterstudio]

I forgot to add yesterday, for very tiny minis I use a polyfil filled 35mm film canister,bubble wrapped, and mailed first class.~Susan

[crafterstudio]

   I usually work in clay, so most everything I make is fragile.My smaller minis I package in polyfil (stuffing used in pillows),place in a ziplock bag,then in a small box, or wrap in bubblewrap, then wrap in newpaper and mail in an envelope.
   My larger dolls and minis I package in polyfil, then in a gallon ziplock bag, then in a small box,or recycled coffee can or cardboard canister,then surround that box/canister in bubblewrap, newspaper,or styrofoam peanuts and place inside a larger outer box.       
    Dolls made entirely of clay, that have no flexibility at all(vs cloth body dolls that can be flexed),I tie down inside their inner box to make sure they do not make contact with anything that would damage them throughout handling/shipment. ~Susan

[karens-mini-bears]

For my smaller pieces i wrap them in tissue paper first then put them into a little plastic earring box which i then wrap in in bubble wrap , I have to make sure that i cover the outer envelope package in brown tape otherwise the envelope has been known to get torn in the post .

x karen x

[Cath]

Helen...that is good information for the fairy and doll makers.  Thanks for posting that.

[kachookie]

I also try to pack minis in a box inside a box which seems to help a little.

[tid]

I always try to wrap in a bit of tissue before I get to the serious packing. I think it makes it seem more like a gift than a purchase if the item is wrapped nicely.

Tina

[luiseno-lady]

I don't package - I buy - - - OOAK hand sculpted fairies.  I have over 400 in my collection so I have unpacked quite a few.  Somewhere (probably in Los Angels) in California there is a postal employee who is brutal on packages.  I have experienced a good bit of breakage.

I've found that larger (than miniature) delicate fairies survive better if packaged so that they are tied down to something so that delicate finger tips and toes don't bump against the sides of their inner box. Fairies packaged with foam cut out to fit the lines of their bodies work out well if the fairy is tied down.

My postmistress told me that a box (fairy) needs to be packaged well enough to take a hit from a 100 pound box.

Helen

[sj]

I use   a shredder for my paper ect.  I find that the shreds are absolutely Fab for packing my minis in... ;)

[*marlene*]

What do you do special, if anything, about packaging your products for shipping?