Freebies in the package?

[ShareMyMoon]

What do you include when you ship?

Which do you think is best, something small that you make or goodies from other shops? Or both?

I'm thinking I may recycle some broken vintage necklaces into earrings and include them in my packages. My packaging is lovely, but I need to add a little more pizazz to my shipments.

[exZuberant]

I typically tie a small heart bead that I made to the bow around the box. I've never heard any feedback from buyers about that, though, so don't know if it's used or thrown out. These earrings are made from the same beads:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/93463514/on-sale-polymer-clay-earrings-red-and?ga_search_query=heart

[Porzana]

I use blank thank you cards and do my own sketch on the front before writing inside. Sometimes, I will also include a little ACEO drawing or painting. Since most items in my shop are animal-related, I try to draw or paint something related to what the buyer bought :)

[HouseOfMoss]

I include a felted wool acorn with each order. They're one of my best sellers (in sets) and I like to include a stowaway one just to make people smile when they receive their order. I've gotten a really good response about this.

It's important with freebies to make it something small (affordable to you as a business), light (not adding a lot to the shipping price), and related to what they bought (I have other shops too, but I keep them separate). To me, a freebie is a sweet little thank-you, not an opportunity for advertising.

[Former_Member]

I print business cards on magnetic paper, just a pic of a meerkat and my url - hoping it'll end up on the fridge and not in the bin, like most business cards!

[CatherineMarissa]

Nope, I don't include any freebies. I just take the time to package things nicely and write a thank you.

As a buyer, I have mixed feelings on freebies. I've received soap samples with bath & body orders and liked those ... but on other occasions, I have received freebies that aren't related to what I purchased and they just seem wasteful since I will never use them.

[Former_Member]

I think freebies are nice, but I don't expect them. I'm happy when I get my order on time, it's packaged nicely and has a simple 'thank you' included.

I don't include freebies with all of my orders, but I have done it for repeat customers and during the holidays. I figure that if my customer won't use it, they could give it as a gift.

[FarmersSoapery]

I always include a soap sliver in a bag with my business card in every order. They average about 1oz each, and I make sure it's a scent the customer did not already order.

[PaperFlora]

I include a little cello bag with an assortment of buttons, maybe some ribbon and a few paper flowers and business cards.
I attach it to a hand stamped 3x2 hangtag. I don't write on the actual hangtag so they can reuse it on something else.
Remember to calculate your costs it can add up.
I use recycled and odds and ends. Alone they are leftovers together packaged with a pretty bow they a sweet little extra!

[Former_Member]

I don't include freebies either. I've received them in past orders, and it's not something I would use, and it's also unrelated. I kind of thought it may have been an after thought of the seller.

I make sure to include a thank you, usually on the back of a business card, and make it personal regarding what they purchased and who it's going to, if you have that info. A small cleaning cloth to keep their jewelry nice and polished. I make sure the package is neat and secure before mailing.

[Former_Member]

I always write a little thank you on the back of one of my business cards. And (almost) all of my items come in little organza gift bags with a little jewelry surprise. It could be one of my adjustable wire rings in a similar color to what has been purchased or a simple pair of earrings. Cute, inexpensive and it's always nice to get a little something extra, makes you feel special!
(Ex. I ordered a necklace from someone on tophatter and he threw in a handmade ring that I LOVE and I wear it all the time. simple, probably cost him $0.05 to make and 15 mins, but it's not the price tag, it's the thought that counts!)

[Former_Member]

I sell different types of puppets, so I throw in a free finger puppet with each purchase. It's mostly just to make them smile, but also a little enticement to buy more (you can't have just one finger puppet, right?). I've had some good feedback about them so it's totally worth it for me.

[DorothyJanePaperie]

I always send an extra tag or single, blank thank you note. I try to send new designs and I always send the big orders some extra, extra love. it does not cost me much and I figure you can always use a gift tag!

[LeslieGallery]

i wrap my boxes in decorative tissue paper, tie it with a ribbon and loop a handmade thank you card onto it. I don't include freebies but I do like to make it as though they are receiving a present. I found it's a great way to reuse the tissue paper I get from stores when I shop. most places these days wrap you purchases in such pretty paper I can never throw it away.

[wildwomanbeads]

I love to receive bead freebies, and am always happy when a beadmaker sends them. Often, they're just the right bead to give a little pizazz to my next project or to make a pair of earrings. I DON"T like candy freebies and would just as soon never see one again. I never eat them or give them away. I just think there's a kind of Ick factor in receiving food of any kind through the mail.

When I send a package off, I have these darling little cut butterflies from a paper artist in the UK 9bought on Etsy). I package nicely in a pretty box with my label on it, a silk sari ribbon tied around the package and slip in one of the little butterflies in green, blue or lavender. I've never gotten any feedback about my packaging but I'm proud of how it looks when the package goes out.

[ShareMyMoon]

The general consensus seems to be to include something small related to your own shop, if you are going to include something.

I better get busy raiding my box of broken beaded necklaces and see what I can come up with.

Thanks for the input, much appreciated...

[Former_Member]

I include a bead in a different style than the ones ordered.

[LoveJewelryByJ]

i only do a freebie for a repeat customer - i usually add a little charm to the clasp side of whatever they bought and in my thank you note I attach to the box, I say something along the lines of "in appeciation for your loyalty, I've included a little surprise"...

i just started doing that, so i haven't had feedback yet

[HausofAriella]

I don't include freebies in most cases, but I do sometimes throw in one of my magnets with larger Doctor Who-related orders.

For me as a buyer, I like getting a small freebie that's related to my order, but I don't expect it. I think that freebies work best for edibles, supplies, and bath and body products. It's nice to get to try something I might not have thought of getting myself like a different type of earring setting, a sample of body butter, etc.

I hate finding random store-bought candies in my packages though - I don't really eat candy and I just end up throwing the damn things out (and I hate wasting things).

[wildwomanbeads]

Just want to add that I received an order today from a bead artisan who put in two sets of matched beads for earrings pairs as a freebie, and I was over the moon. I loved the beads I bought and was happy the order arrived safely, but the freebie beads will be sure to send me back as a repeat customer.

[Former_Member]

I include eye shadow samples with my orders. But I think that it really depends if you are sending something relevant. Once I bought a dozen different black cameos from a seller and I was delighted when they sent me an extra Cameo in a pretty pink color! However if they had sent me anything else that wasn't directly related to my order I probably would have been confused.

[PIXELGRINphotography]

@catherine - I ADORE your rings!!!

[NakedRatDestash]

i usually include die cuts or handmade tags that people can use.

[Former_Member]

I always add a handmade thank you note and some handmade jewelry or some kind of special envelopes. I love giving away freebies! :)

[Former_Member]

I have, but not every time, a pearl knitting marker with a needle set someone bought, a pair of barrettes in the same color family to someone that bought a crochet kerchief....I don't feel obligated to, but if something goes, I really like doing it. Every time, I make sure my packaging makes it feel like a treat, thank you note, tissue paper, little decorations on the padded envelope or box.