Happy Monday candle friends. I want to share with you something that's been consuming not only my thoughts the last few months but my office as well. As I sit here typing away I'm being tickled by the crinkle paper thats under foot and I have a mess of stickers, washi tape, notes cards, tags and more bits and bobs surrounding me.. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it all, but loving every minute of it!
Its product packaging and its a whole new adventure for me.
When I changed from vendor wholesaling to offering wholesale priced candles direct to the public I never bothered to change how I packaged or shipped them. To be honest, I never gave it any thought at all. I simply did the same thing I did for vendors but on a smaller scale and then I got stuck in the same ole same ole...you know what I mean right? When you do something so much you don't realize there's another way, a better way, a newer way. I was so tunnel blind!! and a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't even know it was a "thing"
In November I started making little changes here and there, offering bits of flair for the holidays with tags and labels, personalized packaging not only for the candles themselves but shipping cartons too.
With the miracle that is a Silhouette Cameo a color printer and a craft store a block away with loads of aisles full of embossing powders and stamps and paper galore, I've been able to make most of my own packaging bits. The only down side, if you could call it one, because it's been loads of fun....is that it sorta feels like a full time job all it's own and my planner has more scheduling for label making than it does pouring wax!
I've been popping in to youtube to see how other crafters ship their creations and they are full of amazing ideas on how to make packaging pop. A general search will reward you with the bests ones and all the advise you need.
Here's what I learned.
** Its all about the unboxing experience (make it special)
** give your customers more than what they are expecting.
** Under-promise and over deliver.
** branding is everything
With all of this in mind, I have a load of work ahead of me and a bit of restructuring to get moving on.
