I promise, I'm not complaining about this...

[Former_Member]

but will I ever get into a packaging / shipping routine?

Granted, I've only been selling on a regular basis for the last few weeks, so I really am a newbie to all this, but sometimes I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

[jeanalt1]

Yes, you will figure out a routine/system that works for you.

I found organization helps.

I make sure I always have packaging supplies on hand and have my products easily accessible and ready to go.

With little ones around, I package up orders at night, so it is ready to go the next morning.

[NancyBags4U]

I agree with Jean. The routine will happen. The more you do, the easier it will be.

Organization is key.

[Former_Member]

Same, once you have your "system" down it will move faster. Still, I'm totally paranoid and check my orders like 10X before I send them out. Haha.

[EverythingMahjong]

Yep --
Have your mailing material all together.....envelopes, bubble wrap, tissue paper, scale, tape, scissors, computer and printer. It makes it so much easier. When I first started the supplies were on 3 different levels of my home. Not anymore. I used to dread shipping items but this has helped with the process.
Good Luck and Congratulations on your sales!
Dee

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

Continuing with what PortElizabethVillage said, if you have business cards or coupon codes you include with your orders, keep those with your shipping supplies as well. I finally got into a little bit of a routine a couple of weeks ago. I ran out of my little coupon code cards with my most recent sale. Now I have to print and cut a batch before I get another sale, otherwise it's going to throw a wrench in my routine! Too bad that darn day job gets in the way of Etsy tasks.

One thing I've found has sped things up tremendously is Etsy shipping. I was a die hard Paypal shipping label user until I tried Etsy shipping for an international sale. I was sold. It's so much faster to print labels from here.

[Former_Member]

Yeah, it just takes some time. When I first started out I felt the same way. I was such a mess at it that it would take at least 3 days for me to ship something out. But per advice of another seller, I started stocking up on shipping supplies and keeping it all together in a box, found a relatively nice way to package my items (not a nice as others here on Etsy, but I try), and since I'm lucky enough to have the post office next door, my orders are almost always shipped out the next business day.

[Former_Member]

I turned our outdated bar in the family room into my shipping center. I have the printer, then the wrapping materials, tissue paper, scotch tape, yarn for tying bows,, then i have the three sizes of mylar envelopes I use, and last the labels. i keep paper stacked next to the printer along with extra ink cartidges. i have to keep everything out in the open but it works for me. I package everything and lay it in a basket by the door.

[Former_Member]

My shipping process is so disorganized - I start in the basement and end on the second floor! I tell myself it's a good workout.

[Former_Member]

Haha what Dee said: When I first started the supplies were on 3 different levels of my home

Same! My studio is on the main floor and my computer was upstairs because that's where the cable comes into the house but my supplies were in the basement because that's where there's room. The stairs were a nice workout but the frustration was insane. Do I keep the scale upstairs by the computer, or downstairs on my cutting/sewing/packing table? Pack downstairs, go upstairs to weigh and print label/slip? Go upstairs, print slip, downstairs to pack, weigh, go upstairs to print label?

I finally got a laptop and a cheap wifi printer to put in my studio, and set up a box with supplies. Woo-hoo!

Rhonda,. your items are all small/lightweight, so you'll get up to speed in no time!

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

[lippybrand]

I feel like just last week I am finally organized with that! I put all my stuff I need for shipping in a clear shoebox size box and grab that when needed.
Includes-
tape, scissors, business cards, tissue paper, poly mailers, pen, notepad... and more. :)

[LuAtKeswick]

As well as keeping shipping supplies in one place keep them in one time, eg, shipping tasks all done before 11am in the morning, and any orders recvd during the day then get done the following morning. I go a bit further than that and actually have in my details that I ship Tues and Fri only - with a note that I'll make an exception if someone wants it quicker - that way i have control.
Lu

[RainnRoseArt]

I just started getting more sales in the last few weeks. Before I had only 4 sales and I had no routine because my sales were months a part. Then I found I was going to the post office every few days. I agree with Lu's way of doing things - I pick one day of the week( when i only have a few items) I set as a my post office day. All the orders you get for that week goes out on that day. It is must easier than going every few days. I always get all the packages ready right when i get the order in my email that way all i have to do in the morning is grab them and set off to the post office.

Don't worry, Once you get the hang of doing this, it will be second nature in no time.

Good luck to you!
- Devon.

[Former_Member]

thank god i only have to put my bracelets into an envelope and add a little note for the customer. i´m dreading the first sold painting, because i hacve never shipped something big as that before...

[Former_Member]

Janet V. and Deirdre, I still keep some of the supplies at the basement, and I have to get dressed to go there because to access the basement I have to leave the house :P

It's definitely annoying and I do feel like the headless chicken often: P
Must get the space to have everything at hand! Organization organization organization

[Former_Member]

Good question! Even after several months of selling, I still feel like my shipping/packaging process is dis-jointed. My sewing studio is downstairs, where my postage scale and shipping supplies are... but my computer and printer are allll the way upstairs.

I've been forcing myself to be more organized though, and have found it helpful! What I've been doing lately is: print receipts upstairs, grab tape and business cards, bring them all downstairs... sew the items; weigh the items; wrap/package the items (all in the basement)... then when ALL of that is done, go back upstairs and print the shipping label. It's now the least dis-jointed that it can be, unless I get a printer for the studio :)

Good luck, you'll be ok! =^-^=

[Former_Member]

I am very disorganized in my shipping right now! As I do it over and over, though, I'm getting the idea of what I need to be doing better. I'm going to finally get a desk, and I hope I will be able to organize everything in one room. A lot of good ideas in this thread!

[Former_Member]

Natasha Wiegand from Loopedwithlove4U says

I turned our outdated bar in the family room into my shipping center. I have the printer, then the wrapping materials, tissue paper, scotch tape, yarn for tying bows,, then i have the three sizes of mylar envelopes I use, and last the labels. i keep paper stacked next to the printer along with extra ink cartidges. i have to keep everything out in the open but it works for me. I package everything and lay it in a basket by the door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

so jealous,sounds like the perfect set up, like a mini shop haha

mine are in 3 shoeboxes in my tiny bedroom,the whole basis for my operation, glad I have small things, though my room is always covered in leather scraps, my bed is my workbench, so I have to check carefully for needles before I sleep!

[Former_Member]

so jealous,sounds like the perfect set up, like a mini shop haha

mine are in 3 shoeboxes in my tiny bedroom,the whole basis for my operation, glad I have small things, though my room is always covered in leather scraps, my bed is my workbench, so I have to check carefully for needles before I sleep!
******************************************************************************

You wouldn't be if you saw how outdated the bar was. Think '80s Miami Vice. The people that owned this house before us had great taste for 1982. :) I want my husband to tear it out and build this lovely cubby space but he doesn't seem inclined to do so anytime in the near future so I just have to work with what I've got.

Watch out for those needles. That is scary. You need an oversized magnet to run over your bed every night!

[Former_Member]

Yes!that would be great, 80's miami vice sounds great, though I guess it might be hard to live with :)

[Former_Member]

Hmm I heard a rumor that my little guy is getting a toy box for Christmas so maybe I'll be able to use one of his rubbermaid containers for my shipping stuff. Oh that would be nice!

[RadicalWorks]

Yes. It was difficult for me at first. Sales coming once a week, so I just grabbed what was convenient. Now, I have a formula on how to pack and ship items.

What helped me to a great degree, was picking a certain day to ship out items. I realized I didn't have to ship out items everyday.

[Former_Member]

YES!! Well .. I guess it depends on your personality lol
I don't have internet at home yet ... but my husband just got a replacement phone so now I'm able to use his Android Tether. AMAZING! But anyway, the point is that I had an okay shipping/packing routine that worked for my brain (note cards and a designated shelf), but it took a bit longer than I liked. Now that my hubby is willing to switch phones while he's at work (it goes in his locker anyway), I can actually use internet while working and my routine has gotten so much faster and easier.

Hang in there! If I had an actual work space with a large table and a bubble wrap roller thing, I could go even faster! Here's to dreaming ...