{Handmade Business in 31 Days — Day 28, How to creatively package an order.}

Day 28// When you shop online from a handmade boutique, receiving an adorably packaged gift in the mail is half the fun! At least I think so, and t’s one of my favorite things about shopping handmade. Just recently we received a package from Barn Owl Primitives and Kristi’s use of kraft paper + twine was the perfect compliment to the colorful artwork we found inside.

As a shop owner, creatively packaging your wares is just one way to continue your branding. Your brand is an extension of what your business represents and the emotions + experiences you work so hard to cultivate to each customer.

Here are a few different styles for packaging your handmade wares, ranging in price + aesthetic…

If you sell small items, such as jewelry, supplies or candy {yum!}, use these fiber egg boxes to create a darling package for customer to open. And… let’s take a second to talk about that bright, turquoise-y green color? Do you love it or what? Add a sprinkling of confetti, ribbon/bow closure, and a business card nestled under the bow to polish it off:

via Torie Jayne

Or maybe it’s better to go with a box that’s a little more neutral? Get creative with color from washi tape {or bows, tags, twine, stamps} and let this simple embellishment take center stage, instead of the outside container. As holidays + seasons come around, adjusting the color palette or design through appropriate colors/images is super fun — all the while you’re able to maintain the brand you’ve worked so hard to create:

via Chykalophia; purchase brown boxes [style 1; style 2], pillow boxes, paper bags or washi tape

Maybe you like to package your items a bit more like we like to do? If the products you sell are colorful totally on their own, use clear poly bags as the outside container, then embellish with ribbon, washi tape or another fun “closure” to seal ’em up before you send them out.

WANT A FEW MORE PACKAGING IDEAS?

• Get creative with drawstring muslin bags. Stamp your logo or a fun message/print onto each bag; learn to make your own with this tutorial

via Something Turquoise

• Have you seen these chevron gift bags or red striped gift bags? Talk about CUTE {and colorful}
• Include a handwritten note or gift tag with each order. They take a handful seconds to write and are so meaningful

via Pen and Paint

Lastly, when deciding on your product packaging it’s important to know the cost of all materials used. For example, if you buy a 12 pack of note cards and include one card with every order, divide the note card price by 12 to determine the individual price. Repeat this simple formula across every material you use to package an order to determine the individual price, including business cards, ribbon, tissue, boxes/bags and/or confetti.

You can add the total packaging material costs to the shipping price, product cost {the item that sold}, or you can split the material costs between the two. Either way, make sure you also include what it costs your business to package the product and of course all postage expenses/fees.

Homework// Review your list of packaging materials, everything you use to creatively package an order should be accounted for. Then breakdown all individual material costs to determine your packaging costs. The next step is to add the material costs to the cost of postage/insurance. Lastly add in the cost in labor {determine your hourly rate and divide by the amount of time it takes (from start to finish) to package it}. If you need to, revise your shipping prices and/or product costs to reflect your packaging costs. Not including an accurate cost of all individual materials, postage + labor means your business is losing money.

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