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9/29/2009

dress you up

So you have a wonderful creation that you are going to sell on Etsy.

Scotch Tape Clock No. 5remaker.etsy.com

How do you spread the word?

Wear it Loud and Proud Recycled LP Necklacetresijas.etsy.com

You need to convince all of those Etsy shoppers that your creation is the one they want.
This will involve promoting your work with packaging, advertising, and publicity.
First, let's talk about packaging.

Plantable Mini Pillow Boxes - WILDFLOWER Seed Handmade Recycled PaperClaudiasCreations.etsy.com

"Good packaging arrests the eye, attracts the heart,
and perfectly suits the product being promoted." Martha Stewart
The packaging should reflect the quality of the product inside.
You've spent some time making your creation,
spend a little time packaging it up nicely, too.
Who doesn't love getting pretty package?

Recycled Felted Wool Flower Pin Kit - Makes three flowersFeltWerker.etsy.com

Recycled packaging can be attractive -
use the same creativity to fashion your packaging that you use to make your creations.
Wrap it up in tissue, or with a ribbon (all recycled, of course!).
Use pages from an old book or magazine and pieces of fabric.

Eco-Friendly Handstitched Vintage Furoshiki Cloth Wrapecokaren.etsy.com

Make envelopes from paper in your recycling bin.

Upcycled Junk Mail Inner Envelopes for Shipping - Largeecogeneration.etsy.com

Include a thank you note or card.

Mother and Child Custom notecards set of threeDropsofJupita.etsy.com

And don't forget your card.

design your own sustainable quilty wallet / business card holderrikrak.etsy.com

Try to be consistent with your packaging - make it part of your branding and image.
Many sellers do this by including a photo of their packing in their listing of their item.
Do you?

Single Happy Heart Earrings From Upcycled Aluminumwearwolf.etsy.com

Next week: a bit about advertising.

15 comments:

lilgreenshop said...

Good tips! I still need to work more on packaging/presentation - tis has given me some idea's!
Thanks!

sirmamabear said...

I take all my junk paper, shred it and use it to make handmade paper. Making basic handmade paper is easy. I make my stuff a bit thick and use it for backing for jewelery and padding for shipping.

To add logos I just print out the basic info on paper. Get about 20 labels per sheet, cut them with a pinking shears and then glue them to the backing as needed.

alexkeller said...

thanks sirmamabear! i need to make some jewelry cards for an upcoming craft show. i've got some handmade paper i made ages ago, so now i have a new project :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderfull tips, thanks for sharing
I sell tags from leftover paper from printing houses
www.kapara.etsy.com

Annie said...

These are such good tips! The package wrapped in scarves is so pretty, I would love to receive something like that :)

Couture Carrie said...

Very creative!

xoxox,
CC

Anonymous said...

Furoshiki is an old Japanese cloth wrapping method that, to me, is the ultimate repurposing, reusing concept. No wasting paper when you use these cloth wraps over and over again!

I use handmade paper for tags and instead of printing out the info and gluing them, I stamp the information right on the handmade paper. They work great!

Thank you for including my cloth wrap and recycled envelopes.

Feltwerker said...

Interesting article. Thanks! I try to use all recycled packaging and maintain presentation, a little bit of a challenge. I recently started saving used greeting cards and will cut out circles from them to use as tags or for brief thank you notes. I would like to be able to stamp by thank you into scraps of felt. Anyone know how to do that?
Denise
www.feltwerker.com

onewomanstudio said...

Thanks for this awesome post! Very good tips and inspiration- wonderful photos!

Anonymous said...

wonderful tips!!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I would love to receive a package wrapped in that pretty fabric!

Blue Kraken said...

lots of great small tips. I often use little fabric gift bags for all my work made from random fabric scraps

rock fabric scissors said...

Great ideas, and very inspiring! I ship in recycled boxes, and wrap my items in new endroll paper from my local newspaper. Then I tie it all up with a purple ribbon.

All American packaging said...

These are all very inspiring, captivating and indulging designs which are all very beautiful, creative and admirable as well.

Unknown said...

Great tips for me who i work at a shredding company. I love to make the world greener and i like to see there are others who love the same thing.

Cheers,
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