When I started out selling on Etsy I decided to include a handwritten thank you card with every order. I think it adds a nice personal touch. It wasn't very much of an effort when I only had a few orders but now I'm selling more it is getting to be a bit of a chore and also an extra expense.
I would be interested to know what other people include - handwritten thank you card, a note on the invoice, something pre-printed?
Also do you think it's good to include the personal touch?
I include an A5 sheet of nice paper with a "Thank you" and care instructions. I just print it though and then sign it by hand ;) Because I thought a customer is more likely to keep care instructions, I print my business card on the back too and I add a couple business cards to pass onto friends.
I write a personalised thank you on the back of my business card, but don't think its efficient use of my time to write a full on thank you card... packaging takes long enough as it is. There being a handwritten card wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to what I thought of the product to be honest, or whether I'd use the shop again. Its the product that matters to me.
I include a handwritten thank you note that has a thank you coupon code on it. I don't usually include any other extras, but do spend time packaging it nicely, like a gift.
With each of my 1500 sales I include a hand written thank you note saying: "Dear Heather, Thanks for supporting Handmade. Enjoy 10% off your next order!" If the item has special care instructions I include that as well.
I add a business card with the coupon code on the back, wrap the item in white tissue and a ribbon with a sticker (branded with my business name) and stick it in a recycled content poly envelope. I print the shipping label via Etsy and leave the packages for my mail carrier.
It does add a little extra time, but a large part of my business philosophy is the personal touch and extra attention you get with Handmade. It's all part of the brand. I try to keep my thank you notes under ten cents.
I also include a hand written thank you note. Including a two business cards. One has a thank you coupon code on it for 15% off their next purchase. Depending on the size of the order I sometimes put in a couple of photo notecards/greeting cards.
I always include a thank you card, and I try to include a hair clip when I remember :-) The card is always handwritten, and is usually a postcard that I've collected on my travels :-)
Thank you for the responses so far - keep them coming!
I like the idea of writing something on the back of my business card. That would save money and limit me to a short note.
Currently I put my jewellery in an organza bag with my business card (which has a thank you coupon code on the back). I also include a thank you card and an invoice. My items are fairly low price items and I think I am spending too much time on packing
I use a "Thank You" stamp in my shop color, aubergine, on my business card and wrap in tissue and ribbon. Very simple, but it looks nice. I appreciate that touch when I am the buyer, so I assume my customers do, as well.
I send a invoice with the order and use that paper to write thank you with a note of any extra's I put in or coupon code for next order - usually just 2 or 3 sentences. It's a personal touch but doesn't cost a thing. Then like many of you I wrap in quality tissue paper and seal it with a sticker with my branding and shop name :-) Oh yeah and don't forget the business card.
I include a hand written thank you card. I hand stamp tags, one says thank you, the other says handmade with love, I attach those to a business card and add them to the ribbon I tie the packages with. I also include mini soaps from a teammate
short and simple answer: yes, always! I haven't had that many sales yet that I have to review that, so for now, I'll keep on sending a hand written thank you note with every order.
I write a thank you message on the invoice. The coupon code is printed on the invoice. Sometimes I include a pertinent extra comment or 2..it just depends what they bought.
I always include a small, handwritten thank you note. I think it's important for my customers to know that I appreciate their purchase from my handmade business! :)
I usually write a short thank you note. I ordered stationery note pads that match my business card and shop banner. I attach the thank you note to my tissue wrapped item with a circular thank you sticker. The sticker also has my shop logo on it. (both stickers and stationery easily ordered thru VistaPrint).
Since my items are digital, I send a simple note thanking my buyers. I'd love creating my handmade cards but that's when I start shipping actual goods.
I always do with my custom orders; full size postcard I've created with a lovely handwritten message on it. The 'smaller' orders get care instructions (as applicable) and a quick thank you with business cards.
Thank you everyone for your feedback on this. It looks as though most of you feel that including a handwritten note of some kind is important. Taking inspiration from you suggestions I have been to my local craft store and bought some paper and a thank you stamp/inkpad. This will allow me to make thank you cards at a fraction of the cost of the notelets I currently use and I can make them quite small so that I'm not tempted to spend time writing too much!
I hand stamp thank you cards with our logo and write a brief note on it. I have gotten many e-mails from customers thanking me for the personal touch. Sometimes they even mention it in feedback.
Yup. I have quite a card collection...I'm working my way through it. I write a thank you and include the buyer's invoice. I write the buyer's address on the outside of the envelope. That way, if the box/mailing label gets destroyed somehow, the USPS still has SOME idea of where the contents are supposed to go.
