Shipping Handmade Bags

Shipping Handmade Bags - Andrie Designs

“How do you ship your bags?”

This question has popped up a few times in the Andrie Designs Patterns Facebook group and today we are going to share our top tips for how we like to ship our handmade bag. Plus a few bonus tips to make them arrive safely so read on below!

Packing

The easiest way to ship your bags is in tissue paper or newsprint. It allows the bag to keep its shape without distorting things and is an inexpensive environmentally friendly option! The one thing you want to keep in mind is the colour of your tissue paper. Use something similar to the colour of your bag or just use white. The tissue paper will bleed if it gets wet. If you are shipping your bag during a wet or snowy season, pop it into a large ziptop baggie and it will keep it safe! I generally just use white tissue paper to be safe. (Sparkly paper is purely for photo purposes so you can see it 😉 )

Envelope or Boxes?

It is a purely personal preference when you are shipping your bags along with the number of them you are shipping! I prefer to use bubble envelopes because they are cost-effective and generally give you lower shipping prices than a box! When you are shipping larger bags in an envelope, always get one an inch or more larger than what you think. It will reduce the amount of squishing/wrinkling on your bag!

Placed in envelope - Shipping Handmade Bags - Andrie Designs

Tip for boxes: If you must use a box, use the smallest one you can. Most shipping companies charge by weight and overall size. If I have to use a box, I base it on the width of the gusset on my bag and don’t go any taller. The bag will move around less inside and cost less to ship!

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Larger Bags

When shipping larger bags, you can treat them the same as smaller ones, you just need to watch for straps and gussets! For straps, fold them lightly onto themself and place them into the top of the bag. It will stop them from getting squashed if they were on the outside.

Folding of the strap - Shipping Handmade Bags - Andrie Designs

For the gusset, it is tempting to just flatten the bag BUT if you press them inwards, the bag pops out beautifully once opened. It also helps to keep the shape of the edges!

Squishing the gusset - Shipping Handmade Bags - Andrie Designs

You can cover them with tissue paper as well, it just may take a few extra pieces and stickers!

All wrapped in tissue - Shipping Handmade Bags - Andrie Designs

A few bonus tips to remember:

  • Make sure to always include a business card or some way for your customer to get in contact with you!
  • Care instructions are a must to include if you are sending something that is made from a special material that can’t be tossed in the wash!
  • A little thank you note makes all the difference and will make your package memorable!
  • Some people like to add in a coupon for their next order or other little goodies! If you do this, make sure it won’t affect your sales immensely. It’s a free goodie after all so make sure it’s worth it for both sides!

We hope these tips will help you the next time you ship a handmade bag. If you have any other tips, be sure to share with us in the comments below!

Happy sewing!

-Aimee
The Little Bird Designs

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