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Post by Dixie - dixsterling on Mar 14, 2015 19:11:38 GMT -5
Sun came out.
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Post by wildazaleastudio on Mar 14, 2015 19:40:42 GMT -5
I can see I need to think about this - a lot! The jewelry is sent in a white box tied with a hot pink or green ribbon, tissue paper around it, then placed in the small usps box. It would be cheaper to send it in a different box but I haven't figured out how to figure the shipping that way and I'm afraid a padded envelope will let the post office destroy the white box. With usps boxes it's always the same and the boxes are sturdy. I need to work on more "handouts" like Deb F. I like the idea of a discount coupon code with the order. I included a "Thank you" card with the shop name and logo but obviously need to work on this more.
The stained glass items are a bit difficult since they're larger and more fragile. I have sent some to Greece in a hard foam material that I cut in half and hollowed out enough room for the item. Not beautiful but it didn't break. Of course, my source is gone so I need to come up with something different for padding. Any ideas for shipping larger (up to 2 feet square) stained glass would be appreciated. So far I'm limiting what I put on etsy to sizes that will fit usps boxes with padding.
I am going to check on colored padded envelopes. I didn't know there was such a thing. I could use that instead of the white boxes. The jewelry isn't very fragile.
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Post by patchworkgal on Mar 14, 2015 21:22:44 GMT -5
I can see I need to think about this - a lot! The jewelry is sent in a white box tied with a hot pink or green ribbon, tissue paper around it, then placed in the small usps box. It would be cheaper to send it in a different box but I haven't figured out how to figure the shipping that way and I'm afraid a padded envelope will let the post office destroy the white box. With usps boxes it's always the same and the boxes are sturdy. You can order small sturdy boxes from places like U Pak n Ship or Royal Mailers. The boxes designed for mailing VHS tapes (does anyone use those any more?!) are about the same size as the small flat rate USPS box. Figuring shipping is easy if you invest a few bucks in a postal scale. I got one off Amazon for $16. It is supposed to be accurate up to 20 lbs. I don't know how heavy your larger stained glass pieces would be, but it would be perfect for your jewelry. It was well worth the money as it saves me trips to the post office. It is always cheaper for me to send things First Class because my items are so light weight. And frankly, First Class frequently arrives quicker than the "guaranteed" 3-day Priority delivery. I am very fortunate in that my items are also mostly unbreakable. I use the inexpensive opaque plastic mailers. My biggest worry is making sure the items are protected from moisture because packages do get wet sometimes. So I put them inside cellophane bags before putting them in the mailer. Occasionally I will place rolled bubble wrap in the folds of a quilt or something to avoid hard creases forming in the fabric during shipping. I also worry sometimes about things just getting damaged in the processing equipment, but even very good packaging can only protect things so much. That's what insurance is for, I guess. I should consider the colored platic mailers. They might make a better impression than the generic white ones with the grey interior. But the only other color available from the company where I buy them was "boutique pink" last time I ordered. I really didn't want pink! Obviously most of my items are going to have to be folded in some way, so I try to fold them so they make a nice presentation when taken out of the mailer. I use a piece of poster weight card stock to fold the item around so it will stay the way I fold it during shipping. I enclose the receipt, a business card and most of the time a hand-written note on a post card I printed up to match by business card. I do offer a returning customer discount code, which I include in the note as well as write it on the back of the business card. I have sometimes wondered about using tissue paper as well. If I did use tissue, should it go inside the cello bag? Do I even need tissue paper?
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 15, 2015 1:52:23 GMT -5
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 15, 2015 2:41:36 GMT -5
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 Thank you Rhi I'll work on making the inside stickers for the origami boxes a little bit bigger I started adding them to help keep the 4 corners together and to let people know I actually made them. I've thought about using a colored mailing envelope, but they are a little bit pricey for me right now, but I continue to look for a green recycled envelope that I could use.
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 15, 2015 2:44:31 GMT -5
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 Thank you Rhi I'll work on making the inside stickers for the origami boxes a little bit bigger I started adding them to help keep the 4 corners together and to let people know I actually made them. I've thought about using a colored mailing envelope, but they are a little bit pricey for me right now, but I continue to look for a green recycled envelope that I could use.
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 15, 2015 2:51:36 GMT -5
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. Maybe taking a picture of the background and imposing it inside a word document with the page margins expanded to almost the edges of the printing area would work. It would only give you a 8 1/2 by 11" piece of wrapping paper, but would let you use your background fabric for "wrapping" paper
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 15, 2015 3:05:37 GMT -5
I have sometimes wondered about using tissue paper as well. If I did use tissue, should it go inside the cello bag? Do I even need tissue paper? It sounds like your packaging is very nice, and if you did tissue wrap and tie with a curling ribbon and then put the item inside the cello bag it would be kind of like opening a present
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Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 15, 2015 3:07:52 GMT -5
I like the card on top of the box
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 15, 2015 4:08:53 GMT -5
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 Thank you Rhi I'll work on making the inside stickers for the origami boxes a little bit bigger I started adding them to help keep the 4 corners together and to let people know I actually made them. I've thought about using a colored mailing envelope, but they are a little bit pricey for me right now, but I continue to look for a green recycled envelope that I could use. I knew you would of already looked into them & discounted them because of the high 'novelty' price that is currently attached too them
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