Order Packaging – Details Equal Sales

Often times, using great packaging for your online handmade shop items is an easy way to increase success.  Many potential buyers are trolling handmade sites looking for the perfect gift – and having packaging that stands out can make the difference!

We already discussed gift-geared marketing in the article “Gift Givers – Post Items Geared Towards Giving“, but more could be said on this subject.

As HandmadeMarketing.org reader and Etsy seller Bianca Woods agrees.   “How you package the items you sell on Etsy can do a lot to help brand your store, as well as make your items seem even more luxurious,”  Bianca told us  “No customer wants to receive their beautiful jewelry, one-of-a-kind art piece, or delicate hand-made soap just shoved into a bubble mailer without a care.”

The problem for sellers is to determine if the cost of great packaging is worth the hope of more sales, especially when sales are low.

Your answer?  Pre-made wedding favor boxes.  Now, just stick with us…

“The same boxes people put those scary Jordan almonds in as wedding favors!” Bianca tells us.  “As it turns out, they’re reasonably priced, easy to buy large amounts of, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They’re also a lot nicer looking than they used to be as well. As much as I’m generally irritated by Martha Stewart, I have to admit that her line of wedding favor boxes are absolutely lovely and sophisticated, as are many other lines now.”

Still skeptical on how this could work for your items… Are wedding favor boxes right for your shop?

“Wedding favor boxes are pretty easy to customize,” Bianca adds.  “Many of these pre-made boxes come in materials that are stampable and all can be stickered (make stickers of your logo and/or merchandise with www.Moo.com for added branding value!) . You can also personalize them with ribbons and tags as well.  Another nice thing about wedding favor boxes is their availability. With many people doing a lot for their wedding themselves, favor boxes are everywhere. You can pick them up everywhere from party supply stores, to craft stores, to Walmart.”

Sounds easy, right?  Bianca has another tip for sellers who are looking to cut costs.

“I’ve subscribed to my local craft store’s e-newsletter. Most weeks they send me coupons for 40% off. That makes favor boxes even more affordable. I’m actually currently using pillow boxes for my jewelry that I picked up from said craft store and I was happy with the price and the boxes.”

Love the idea as much as we do?  Make sure to take a look at Bianca’s blog for more great ideas.

Our HandmadeMarketing.org team received another great packaging tip from Etsy seller Mimi Guethee, from the Etsy.com shop thehappyhoneybee.  Mimi says, “One of the things I’m excited to offer in my brand new shop of plushies is gift wrap that I’ve made from vintage children’s books. (Yes, CSPIA compliant!)“

“I love, love, love children’s books and have always collected them. I decided to recycle many of the extra copies I have, many of which I’ve reread dozens of times, by creating unique wrapping paper out of the lovely pages of illustration and text. I think my buyers can recognize that I have a real love and fondness for the actual book I’m using, which makes the item all the more meaningful. After all, the experience of connection, rareness, and care are a large part of why people are as drawn to Etsy as they are,” Mimi says.

An example of Mimi’s wrapping is pictured here.

Thank you for sharing Bianca and Mimi!

Do you have ideas for great packaging?  How do you make sure your handmade items come packaged to impress?

Tell us your ideas to use packaging to impress buyers at your handmade selling platform!  If our editors like your ideas, we’ll publish you and link to your shop – consider it free handmade advertising for your thoughts!