Ship It, Ship It Good
We’re finally to this stage of the process! After having a nightmare time with shipping when I was making aromatherapy products (what happens when your sugar scrub or lip balm sits in the sun on a truck all day and explodes inside the package?) I knew that I had to get this part of the process right. Especially since I am making one(or two)-of-a-kind bags that can’t be replicated easily if they get damaged in shipping. After all the problems with shipping in this pandemic year (and a half) along with the what happened to the USPS, I had to be realistic about how I am going to ship my bags safely. And I’ve seen stories in my sewing Facebook groups about packages being stolen or some customers claiming they never received a package so they could get a second one for free. So, in this day and age, shipping decisions can make or break your business and your bank account.
I started with the goal of trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. After learning so much about the plastics that can be recycled and repurposed (not nearly as much as you think) I wanted to avoid any plastic materials, even those that say they can be recycled. I’ve received quite a few Etsy items over the past year (translation: retail therapy while stuck in my house) and I really appreciate the attention to detail that some sellers give their wares. It makes the experience seem that much more special and handcrafted.
I especially liked that several included handwritten thank you cards. And here is where I’m really grateful that past-Heather decided to purchase lots of handmade card supplies a few years ago. I have a whole rolly-cart filled with acrylic stamps, 6x6 scrapbook paper, and other acutremonts for make cards. I thought it would be fun to handmake the cards as well since I already have all the supplies. And this is something I can do for fun while craft zooming with my sister and mother!
I also knew that I wanted to use some sort of kraft paper instead of tissue paper to wrap the bags in. My thinking is that it will be more durable and resuable, as well as being more recycle-friendly because it doesn’t have a coating on it. I designed and purchased some round stickers with my lemon tree logo on them to secure the paper once the bag is wrapped. I also went through my bag product line and figured out the best boxes to order for shipping. This way I have a selection of sizes ready to go. I also ordered some bubble envelopes for the slimmer, smaller pouches I’ll be making. I was aghast at the shipping price once I completed my order but was even more shocked when it arrived…on a pallet! What?? I hadn’t put that all together in my mind and didn’t realize how much stuff I had ordered. I just envisioned a little corner of my studio being used as a shipping station. I don’t have room for any of this stuff so it will have to stay in the garage for now. Boy was my husband surprised!
I’ve been watching this wonderful Youtuber, Katie Green Bean, who lives in England and is an illustrator and knitter. She makes the cutest stamps and I couldn’t help myself - I had to order some for my project tags! One is of a sheep wearing a knitted sweater and the other is a dog wearing a sweater. I also got one that says “handmade” that I can add to anything. This led me down a rabbit hole of what to use these on. I decided to make little tags that I can attach to my bags - this can either just be a tag on something I ship that someone can re-use or I can use them as price tags when I sell at a craft fair. She also included a cute square business card in her shipment and I thought it was so cute that I ordered some of my own.
I also did the practical things like researching pricing from all the usual shipping companies for the size boxes I ordered and laid that all out on a spreadsheet. While I would really like to send things USPS priority and support the postal service, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to go with a more expensive option given all the issues and horror stories. I just want to make sure that my customers receive their items and that I can track the packages and make the experience more professional. Unfortunately this means that my customers will wind up paying more for shipping. I might be able to give an option with a disclaimer but not sure how that will work in my shop setup on the website.
And the final item will, unfortunately, be a plastic bag. I just can’t get around this. I need a way to seal and protect the bags in transport from water damage or packages being slightly ripped or opened. I have received so many packages over the past year and I have mixed emotions about this. If I get something like a few yards of fabric and they are in a plastic bag I just cringe. But then I’ve had the experience of them arriving without protective plastic and being damaged. I’ve looked into eco-friendly bags and recycled materials but most cities’ recycling programs don’t accept bags like these, so even with the good intentions they wind up in a landfill anyway. My other idea is to use ziploc bags - that way the customer can re-use the bag for something else at least.
A super cute idea that I read about is including a penny in every bag. Apparently it’s bad luck to give someone an empty wallet or bag. So this is a great idea that I will be encorporating into my packaging. I’ve also received packages from sellers with a bit of candy in them. It’s always a special treat but hard to figure out if the person receiving it is going to like it. But in this case I think I have to because sending Lemon Drops or Lemonheads is just too perfect to resist!
