Do you sell your crafts online? How do you wrap your wares? I try to keep it fairly simple and "green" if possible. See also Kat's great post about recycled envelopes on the NaturalKids Blog
http://www.natural-kids.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day-how-to-make-upcycled-shipping.html
I like to use as little plastic as possible. Ideally I would like to find a way to ship without using plastic at all. At the same time, I want my wares to be protected and look pretty when they arrive at their destination.
If you are mainly an on-line shopper, I would love to hear your opinion. I think my worst experience as a shopper was a package I once received from an etsy seller, who wrapped my item in several layers of cardboard and taped it like a mummy. I loved the item I ordered, but boy, was it a challenge to get it out of it's package. You really don't want to make your customer dripping with sweat - worried sick they will destroy the item in the process of unwrapping it...
So I have come to the conclusion that there are some strategies one should avoid at all cost:
- Recycling is wonderful, but don't sent your beautiful handmade item in a crummy old cerial box.
- It's good to protect your goods, but don't turn them into mummies!
- Don't forget to add a personal note to your order expressing that you care about this sale. I always add a handwritten "Thank You" note card. I, as a customer, really appreciate that personal touch. I feel more obliged to go back to a store when they show me they do care about my purchase.
- If you sell fabric, please do wrap my yardage in plastic or some protective layer. I know you like to get as much yardage into that free cardboard envelope by the postoffice, but they often get destroyed en route and my fabric may arrive stained =(.
Though they are expensive, I do so love my Moo cards. I started using them about two years ago. They may be small, but they sure add a special touch to my products. I wrap my miniature dolls and doll clothes in a sheet of tissue paper, use a piece of wool yarn, and tie a personal " Thank You" note plus moo card to he package. I often get compliments from people. So I guess I am doing all right. But I'd love to hear from others how they wrap things up. Maybe you would like to share your idea of the perfectly wrapped package?
They arrived traveling in the back seet of a pick-up truck. Our friends John and Jane ordered them from a supplier in California. Today John and Jane installed five different swarms all over town - spreading the bee love. We where happy to receive our share of 10,000 new pets.
