Packing and Shipping Sold Items - Part 2

Last time, I covered the materials/supplies needed to pack and ship items.  Now, I'll cover how I pack my items.  This page is only covering my smallish pieces that I usually sell.  I'll cover large pieces at another time if anyone is interested - it's much more difficult!

Packing Medium to Small Boxes Only:

As mentioned before, I have numerous box sizes that I use most of the time.  I try to buy the fewest box sizes possible, and when I work, I try to keep my sizes within these box sizes.  The boxes I keep on hand are a few 16x12x12 for somewhat larger items.  I keep lots of 14x10x8, 10x8x6, and 8x7x6.  I also have much larger boxes that I use for my gallery accounts, but the one I use most is 20x16x14.  Very rarely, I have to use 20x20x20, but I prefer using more 20x16x14 if I can do it.  Again, I'll only cover packing the larger boxes if requested.  

Single items only  (or 2 small, uncomplicated pieces sometimes):  I decide the box size I need (I actually have sizes drawn onto a flat piece of wood that I pack on so I can test the piece for fit, allowing for extra space all around, of course.)  

I tape the box first across the long sides to hold the sides in place so I can snugly tape the long sides in the center of the box.  Then I add at each end a strip of tape across the short sides.  I do this process on both top and bottom.  

First, wrap in bubble wrap, at least 3 rounds, depending on any parts that stick out a lot.  If I have something that sticks out, I usually pad that part separately and then wrap with the bubble wrap.  Tape it closed in every direction.

Add packing peanuts to bottom of box, allow at least 2 inches.  Put in piece.  Again, if I have parts that stick out, say a bone on one of my dog masks, I'll add flat sheets of styrofoam on either side of the stick-out piece to  protect it even more.  If I'm pushing the edges a bit, which I rarely but sometimes do, I add extra sheets of stiff foam around the sides of the box. 

Then I finish filling the box snugly but not too tightly with additional peanuts.  

I always add, by the way, a business card, with a note and my signature.

Then I weigh the box, purchase a shipping label, and get it out the door!  If you don't have a good scale, by the way, you can often find really nice ones someplace like Goodwill.  I have multiples, a 25 lb, a 5 lb, and a 2 lb, (the 2-lb is at my work table so I can loosely measure the size of the piece of clay I need.) 

This system works well for me, and I even get compliments in my feedback about my packing style.  And fair warning, if you're anxious about having something get there in one piece, over-pack!  Then you can sleep well.