A part of owning an online store is working out how to do your packaging. You want to keep it cost-effective and practical, but also a little unique to leave a mark on the customer. As a customer and a shop owner, I’ve learnt some lessons along the way. Here’s what to look for in good, great, fantastic shop packaging!
Good packaging will always take care of your items.
For fabric, this means being wrapped in plastic to protect from the elements in case of water damage. Some shops use lightweight plastic bags that have a sticky seal edge, similar to an envelope, others use snap lock bags. The Fat Quarter Shop packages every order in a snap lock bag, protecting your order and also useful to keep and reuse when sending bee blocks, fabric swaps, etc!
Great packaging is memorable.
I love getting orders from Sew Lux Fabric – every order comes wrapped in pink and brown tissue paper tied in string with a handwritten note on the back of the business card. And inside, your fabric is carefully protected by plastic. Now that’s some personal service! Adding something unique and special to each order will make your store memorable, and the customer knows you’re taking that little bit of extra time and effort for them.
Fantastic packaging looks great from the outside.
The envelope is also an opportunity to be fun and memorable. Choosing stickers or tape that matches your brand will add to your image and add to the customer’s excitement at receiving special mail! Maureen Cracknell Handmade uses some cute tape and her brand sticker on the outside, which adds to her whimsical brand image.
When you order from me, you will receive your gorgeous Japanese fabric carefully wrapped in a cellophane bag and sealed with my BHQ stickers from Moo. On the front I washi-tape my mini business cards (also from Moo!), before adding another touch of washi tape on the envelopes with my sewing pins roll.
What kind of packaging strikes your fancy?!
Melissa says
I adore your packaging and the customs label on the front makes it even more fun! I just got some fabric from Sew Lux and can’t wait to see that packaging in person! I couldn’t agree more with how the packaging makes it even more fun. Oh, and I love fat quarter shop’s bags and their boxes. 🙂
Ros says
Totally agree with you! This is where a few of the bigger online fabric stores fail. The smaller ones do it so much better. FQS are slightly more expensive that some of the others but I’m more inclined to buy from them these days as their packaging is great quality and they treat your purchases with so much care.
Linda H says
I ordered from a company once, I won’t mention the name. My fabric was a mess, it was wadded up and shoved into a box. It was so unprofessional and careless, I never ordered from them again. I look forward to getting items I have ordered -like a little gift to myself, and unwrapping a pretty package (no matter what little touch it is) makes it so much better. Keep up the good work!
Erinn LaMattery says
Really enjoyed reading this article, and seeing some ideas for good packaging!!
DeborahGun says
Couldn’t agree more – opening a package to see all your expensive fabric just stuffed inside is so so disappointing. I personally love the fabric to be wrapped in plastic rather than tissue paper as the customs here just rips the tissue paper when they check the package. With plastic they can see that it really is fabric!
Paula says
I’m not too bothered by what’s on the outside of the envelope as that is often covered over by various postal and customs stickers by the time a package gets to me. What’s most important is that the contents of the package are well protected and that means wrapping it in plastic. Tissue is defintiely beautiful but envelopes rip and can get get damp and the tissue doesn’t protect, and when customs open the envelopes as they often do they just rip the tissue to see what’s in the envelope or on a search for an invoice/letter that indicates whether the item is truly a gift or truly worth what is declared on the package. I love ordering from FQS as I know that every single order will be well packaged and that no matter how much or little I order it will arrive to me in pristine condition, even if the envelope has taken a battering en route.
shirley tener says
I love the all of these packages have arrived at my house, I even save your stamp ! For future mix media art. I love the way the FQ shop sends theirs with a label in a plastic bag, because its labeled for stacking and future reference.
Amy @ Butterfly Angels says
Sadly, I just shipped 3 quilts to customers. In an iron, and diaper boxes. With neon pink duct tape. Yeah—I was trying to spout the “going green” theme, but I really don’t buy it either. Time to look a tad more professional. I posted a picture of it on the blog… lol http://www.butterflyangelsquilting.com/2013/08/20/my-sweet-babies/
Your packaging is beautiful. I DO have brown paper bags with handles that I’ve added fabric strings to the handles. Those are for my craft fairs. it’s just the big stuff where I’m lacking.
Lisa C says
I appreciate receiving fabric in bags from the FQS because I usually order before I know what I’m going to do with the fabric. If I need more, the label is right there to tell me where I bought it. I appreciate the way Intrepid Thread’s is wrapped in tissue and sent with a bonus of charm squares and a hand-written note — but you do have a point about the packages possibly getting wet. Nice post.
Flying Blind says
Love yours.
I know we should all be Eco-conscious, but I do like a sticker, some tape and/or twine to make it look like an effort has been put into putting the package together, because when it comes to it, there’s a lot of choice over where to buy, so sellers need to be memorable, quick to mail and have the fabric arrive not looking we were an interruption to their day!
Heidi @ Fabric Mutt says
What a great post, Alyce! I love it!!
Amy Morinaka says
Thanks for the great post that is both informative and fun! I enjoyed peeking packaging from various vendors – and yours look fabulous! I totally agree with you that fantastic packaging looks great from the outside as it does with inside!