Friday’s Fast Five: Packaging

05 Aug Friday’s Fast Five: Packaging

Friday’s Fast Five is a series on Brittany’s Best where I share five quick tips that I’ve found helpful as a seller on Etsy.

Packaging an order is part of customer service. Do it right and you will have positive reviews and return customers. Do it wrong and your reputation as a seller on Etsy could be at stake. Follow these steps to assure that your item and your shop get rave reviews.

Etsy encourages sellers to be creative with packaging. Handmade envelopes and carefully-decorated boxes can create a memorable experience before your customer even opens the package. Be careful, though – if your item doesn’t arrive in good condition, the cutest envelope in the world won’t save you from an angry buyer. Wrap your items carefully and in the correct packaging to assure your item arrives in one piece.

Saying thank you is such a simple thing to do and it really connects you to your customers. There’s nothing like a hand-written thank you note to remind the buyer that there’s a real person behind each purchase. This is especially important on Etsy, since people expect that personal connection.

Be Eco-friendly with your packaging. Reuse shipping containers that you have on hand. If you need to buy shipping materials, make sure it’s bio-degradable packaging or recycled material. It is important to your customers and critical for the environment.

This is your chance to impress. Along with your well crafted item, consider including a little free gift, a coupon code or a mention of something upcoming in your shop or on  your blog. Most people will love a little surprise along with their order – it can elevate you from just another shop to cream of the crop.

Packaging a business card in with each order ensures that your customers always have your contact information on hand. Business cards can be thrown on the fridge, given to a friend, or kept nearby for future orders. It doesn’t hurt to reinforce your brand with another viewing of your logo, either!