How do you package your items?

[#1]

So I've been struggling a lot with the idea of how I'm going to handle shipping my eye shadows. First of all, I don't know much about the postal service and pricing comparison and I am also not sure how I want to package the shadows. I don't want to just send them in a bubble envelope because it doesn't send the message that I want, but I also want to ensure that I'm not spending a ton of money on packaging. What would you suggest?

[FarmAndSimple]

I use stamps.com for postage. I've purchased all my packaging supplies from etsy shops, and I include pictures of items in their boxes as one of my 5 images.

I wrap knitted clothing in tissue, include a handwritten card and business cards (as well as care tags), then wrap it up in a brown Kraft box with ribbon or washi tape. I put a branded sticker on the box then ship that whole shebang!

It takes a lot of care and time, bu it's well worth it in my mind ~

[happystitchery]

I personally wrap most of my items in tissue paper and tie divine twine around it with a bow and a thank you tag. I always try to put a small free gift (making it relevant to the item being sent) in with my orders to encourage repeat business. For my delicate items I use a bubble mailer or stiff card mailer to protect the item being sent & personalize it will washi tape and stickers/labels.

Experiment until you get a look you like ◕‿◕

[Former_Member]

I use a simple white box for mailing and then stuff it with crinkle paper.
Check out some of my listings. I have started taking pics and post them as my 3rd or 4th picture. The outside of the box is plain white and I use my name rather than the shop name. I mail and print everything through paypal.
If I have a direct checkout customer, I use www.paypal.com/shipnow to ship.
Cheapest way..and my mailman now knocks on my door if he doesn't find a package in the box to go out. Sweet!

[Former_Member]

I found fairly inexpensive bubble mailers that are biodegradeable, compostable and recyclable if you are interested:

http://www.mailersusa.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=51&Itemid=262...

My pretty packaging is inside, but it helps my customers and I feel better about the use of bubble mailers.

[ShopMissElla]

I find simple tissue paper looks really pretty and is very cheap and sometimes if it's a gift I'll wrap it in pretty fabric as I have boxes and boxes of scraps. I also include extras, normally miniprints, a card and sometimes pins depending on how big the order is. I put pretty labels on the package (bubble envelope/mailer), the lady in the post office always says they look lovely so it can't be that bad in a bubble envelope! :)

[silverthaw]

@Cher - thanks for the recommendation for nilecorp.com, I bookmarked for when I'm ready to order more!

I get my bubble mailers at Sam's Club. Well, rather, my manager at my day job gets them for me because he has a membership and I don't. But it is like $5 for a box of 25, so it definitely helps.
I make pretty little earring or necklace cards to secure my jewelry and then if it's the necklace card i wrap in tissue paper and secure with a sticker. Then it goes into a jewelry box, wrapped in ribbon. Then that, my card, and my Paypal invoice goes into a clear "treat bag" that I get at PartyTime. Then it all goes into a bubblemailer and I use Paypal for shipping.

[Former_Member]

I package my items for delivery in a nice box with a ribbon of some sort. Then I put that box into the shipping box. I hand write a Thank-You card and also put a hand stamped mark on the inside of the card. I write my shop name and sign the card. I also put the invoice in the shipping box before I seal it for delivery.

Linda

[Former_Member]

I've written a couple of posts about packaging (more to come...)
http://www.inklinks.co.uk/2012/05/pack-them-nice-packaging-your-etsy.html
and
http://www.inklinks.co.uk/2012/05/packing-and-gift-wrapping-for-etsy.html

[Former_Member]

Thank you for all of the suggestions!

[wildwomanbeads]

I sell jewelry so, like you, must be careful about how I wrap and ship. I use Kraft jewelry boxes, which are pretty sturday and have a good cotton layer, then add a cut-to-fit piece of bubble wrap on top of the jewelry piece so there are no rattles in the box indicating movement or shifting.

I tie the box snugly with silk sari ribbon (pretty effect), add a sticker two the box that says "Thank you!" and gives the shop address, then put that into a right-sized bubble wrap envelope to hold it tightly. This seems to work in a way that there's never been any breakage.

I buy the boxes on auction at eBay (could not find any suppliers on Etsy) and the silk sari ribbon in bulk on Etsy, then cut it into lengths. I think a finished (wrapped and ready to send) piece costs me about 1.25 each.

[DesignsbyCher]

Meredith, check out nilecorp.com for those kraft boxes... a case of 100 is usually about 17.99 plus 8.95 shipping, then they apply an 8% discount... final net is about 24 cents per box, which is cheaper than anyplace else I've found... and they're pretty quick to ship ;)

You might think 100 sounds like a lot, but you'll use them eventually, they don't take up much space and buying quantity will always save you $$ ... they're as much for protection of the contents as they are for nice presentation with a pretty sticker and ribbon. BTW, they do sell them in the white and turquoise colors too... I just prefer the kraft because they're made with mostly recycled materials.

[Former_Member]

I wrap my needle felts in tissue paper and a bow. I want it to look like a present also enclose a little personal note. I want to show my customers they are special to me