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Post by TammyA on Mar 13, 2015 15:46:10 GMT -5
Okay, I'm adding some info in the beginning post about packing packaging, which is also a big part of branding.
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Post by Samson on Mar 13, 2015 18:38:21 GMT -5
Okay, I'm adding some info in the beginning post about packing, which is also a big part of branding. I would love to hear on this! I always make sure to include a business card in my packages that I had custom made with my logo and all, but I am wondering if there is something I can improve.
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Post by TammyA on Mar 13, 2015 21:43:35 GMT -5
Okay, I'm adding some info in the beginning post about packing, which is also a big part of branding. I would love to hear on this! I always make sure to include a business card in my packages that I had custom made with my logo and all, but I am wondering if there is something I can improve. Just as an example, and this may not be right for your brand: I don't know what your packages look like, but I know every time I get an order from one of my favorite artisan component makers, it makes me smile even before I open it. Her packaging is memorable and it goes with her style. She makes whimsical little bird and woodland critter beads and puts them in little paper nests inside jewelry boxes, which she then decorates with a band of patterned paper and coordinating color raffia ribbon. I save the packaging. It shows her creativity and that she cares about the customer experience from beginning to end. She also includes a printed card with a code for percent off future orders. In contrast, some other folks I buy artisan beads from just wrap the beads in bubble wrap or tissue paper to protect them from breakage and toss them into an envelope. Practical. But it says nothing about their brand. And it's very impersonal. Like when I get an order from Amazon and it was clearly just tossed into the closest size box that fit it.
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 14, 2015 6:13:39 GMT -5
Great food for thought about how the customer feels when they receive your product. I have both my business cards and a postcards printed at Vista Print. I'll try and take a picture of them on Sunday, as Saturday we're mostly a rainy overcast day. I offer samples in 2ml glass vials. I use parchment paper to print my logo, the name of the item and include its ingredients. Then I cut the squares of paper out and put them in a 2" X 3" clear plastic craft bag. The 2ml vial has a small label with the product name and my logo on it. These get cut out, tape on the top, and then the small label is put around the vial. This all takes time but I think it says a lot about me, my product, and my attention to detail. It also lets them have a sample of my product that is clearly labeled so they'll have no problem remembering where they got it from. Now, when someone orders a sample, or they receive a free one, I'm taping the sample bag on top of the back of the post card with a handwritten note, thanking them for their order. I started using the postcard due to the size and the sturdy protection it offers in transit through USPS, and think it's harder to "get lost" than a regular sized business card. It also has my Return Custom discount coupon written on it I've been making my own boxes using MS Word, printing them on 65lb card stock and cutting them out and gluing them together to hold a lot of my products. Or I make a origami hand folded box for a lot of them. All my products are bubble wrapped before shipping, and usually I just put the bottle on the bubble wrap and tape them up. My bubble wrap is a necessity, as it protects my breakable products, and helps insulate lip balms against heat and cold. I do think I'll try and do a little tissue wrap of them before bubble wrapping, just to give them a little pizazz and probably design a small 1" round label with my logo and company name to use for "taping" the bubble wrap in place. I always include a Sales Receipt, a personalized letter, information and usage sheets on products like my Varicose Vein or Dark Circle Eye Serum. My letter has my address and phone number and customers are encouraged to call me if they have any questions. I'm always pleasantly surprised when one calls me, and often the conversation leads to a custom order, or information supplied about another product they had questions about. Usually I follow up delivery of my products within 7-10 days, checking to make sure everything arrived in fine condition, letting them know I'm hoping they like the products, and letting them know I look forward to their Review in the future. In this Convo I usually include a link to the Etsy "How to enter a Review" and the Etsy "How to enter a Coupon Code". I've found that my Reviews have increased since I started doing this, and more people are using my Return Customer Discount code Is there something else I should be doing ? Any quick and cheap packaging ideas are welcomed.
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 14, 2015 7:04:49 GMT -5
Okay, I'm adding some info in the beginning post about packing, which is also a big part of branding. I would love to hear on this! I always make sure to include a business card in my packages that I had custom made with my logo and all, but I am wondering if there is something I can improve. I can give an honest feedback of the packaging on my order if that would help? and a few easy (relativley low cost) ways to improve branding! Business card is great - seeing Lola looking up at you when you open your package your in no doubt what lies inside. (lola is Samsons store mascot for everyone else, it is also her avatar on here) The sweets you included were very tasty, sorry i mean in keeping with your store (they were cute little skull candies). I know a lot of people say bad things about sending candy with orders (what if they melt/effect the product/the product effects the candy), but as they were sealed in their original packaging & due to the type of candy they were (sugar candy) none of these issues were a problem of course it helps that i have a sweet tooth & they were tasty The necklace was in a bubble wrap envelope if i remember correctly: for branding purposes you can now buy colored plastic/bubble wrap envelopes (im sure i have seen pastel colors that would compliment your colors) switching to them would be a relatively low cost way to improve branding. The necklace & business card were packaged inside a plastic zip lock bag, which while practical didnt add to your branding. you can create your own or buy stickers of Lola - sticking these on to the bag would definatley increase branding; sticking with stickers maybe creating a return address sticker with lola on for the back of your envelope - this way the customer will know what is inside before even opening the envelope. I have to be honest; i was pleasantly surprised the necklace arrived safe & sound; i remember opening the bag with extreme trepidation and then being releaved beyond words when it was in one piece This is probably because i sell a fragile product, so i tend to look at packaging from the perspective of would my stuff survive. (i only mention this because I promised an honest feedback). your product is strong; and your packaging is clearly sufficient. but maybe using plastic shipping envelopes and loose bubble wrap; to wrap just the item will from the customers perspective be better phychologically (it is also much cheaper than bubble envelopes) I think it would be nice if you offered gift wrapping; and they can be as simple as for example tissue paper with ribbon, wassi tape or a sticker which reads Sammy's Jewels. or using gift boxes in your store colors. or even making individual packaging from simplified origami. - offering this as standard, will mean increasing your prices.
- offering it on request as a separate listing or as an option within the listing, using variations - which would let the customer decide if they wanted it.
gift wrapping could also use up a photo slot - which i saw you said earlier you usually have spare slots it would be amazing if you could get your (background) fabric made into wrapping paper/gift boxes/envelopes etc - but that would be very expensive.
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 14, 2015 7:33:01 GMT -5
Is there something else I should be doing ? Any quick and cheap packaging ideas are welcomed. I havent placed an order from you yet, but my chocolate lip balm/xmas gift is running lowish so i will need to get me more soon. But as i did get an xmas pressie off you I can give you some feedback. THE ORIGAMI BOX IS AMAZING! in fact everything about the packaging of the 5ml pots (including the healing salve within) was great. the green card compliments your logo, the instructions were on a paper that was strong enough to survive folding but light enough to be folded, the instructions also included your logo, and the font/size was clear enough to be read. The only suggestion i would make: the tiny little flaherty natural stickers you use on the insides of the box (i asume to hold them together in some way) could be bigger, either just the shop name; or the shop logo this way they could double as structural support & branding (they are so small they are easily missed atm) TBC i still have the box; it is sat on my 'entertainment' unit, it is open but nestled within itself. i consider it an ornament you sent the tubes individually wrapped inside a velvet bag; when i first looked at the tube i thought how am i going to open this? its so intricatley wrapped! however a simple pull on the string and it unravelled - you clearly know your knotts. I know there are added options in your store & well worth the extra when ordering a gift Im not sure how you could improve on your branding; as you appear to have it worked out quite well: but i will mention that packing envelopes are now easily available in a range of colors; so choosing one that would compliment you existing branding may be something to consider: but i know that you battle to keep your prices competative, so im sure this is something you have already considered and discounted (until the prices are within an acceptable level)
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Post by TammyA on Mar 14, 2015 10:48:01 GMT -5
Is there something else I should be doing ? Any quick and cheap packaging ideas are welcomed. I don't think you're leaving a single thing out, short of hand delivering.
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Post by Dixie - dixsterling on Mar 14, 2015 13:24:37 GMT -5
Okay, my recent packaging has been to put item(s) in a jewelry box, put a plastic baggie and non-tarnish paper under the cotton liner, bend a business card across the item to reduce the amount it can shift during shipping. The box is topped with a sticky label. I was printing those labels with my swan logo, including name of my shop but am now using a bracelet on shell photo as that says more about my products than a swan If we get some actual daylight today, I'll take a photo of the new boxes (which I can also use as one of my 5 photos when appropriate) and post it. I put one of my postcards with the box. On the card, I handwrite a thank you and a note about the baggie & paper. I insert box and card into a sheer organza bag and ship in a bubble envelope along with copies of the etsy invoice and a Certificate of Origin (required for US customs). Packaging is a bit of a pain as the boxes add depth to the envelope and Canada Post gets to charge me more than if I just used a jewelry bag but the only time I tried that, the item was returned for a refund because it arrived damaged. I am on a long-standing hunt for thiner but strong packages
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 14, 2015 13:24:57 GMT -5
Is there something else I should be doing ? Any quick and cheap packaging ideas are welcomed. I don't think you're leaving a single thing out, short of hand delivering. you know she would if she could!
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 14, 2015 13:28:02 GMT -5
Okay, my recent packaging has been to put item(s) in a jewelry box, put a plastic baggie and non-tarnish paper under the cotton liner, bend a business card across the item to reduce the amount it can shift during shipping. The box is topped with a sticky label. I was printing those labels with my swan logo, including name of my shop but am now using a bracelet on shell photo as that says more about my products than a swan If we get some actual daylight today, I'll take a photo of the new boxes (which I can also use as one of my 5 photos when appropriate) and post it. I put one of my postcards with the box. On the card, I handwrite a thank you and a note about the baggie & paper. I insert box and card into a sheer organza bag and ship in a bubble envelope along with copies of the etsy invoice and a Certificate of Origin (required for US customs). Packaging is a bit of a pain as the boxes add depth to the envelope and Canada Post gets to charge me more than if I just used a jewelry bag but the only time I tried that, the item was returned for a refund because it arrived damaged. I am on a long-standing hunt for thiner but strong packages there are companies in the UK that are prepared to make boxes to custom sizes (i know this is a very expensive option) have you tried making your own like Deb Flaherty does? maybe she could offer advice.
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