Great Packaging = Repeat Business

I recently ordered soaps to give as gifts. Maria, owner of Kokolele Soaps on Etsy, has been my go-to person for handmade soaps for the past 10 years. Not only are her soaps impressive, they trump my packaging expectations.

Packaging is the first thing your customers see once your product is actually in their hands.

KEY POINTS:

Use of protective wrap around product to prevent damage by dents, scratches and breakage during shipping speaks volumes about the customer service ethics of your company.













Personal touches supplement your customer service declarations. Consider showcasing your product in unique gift boxes, that include ribbons, baubles and decorative labels.

Include an appreciation gift or discount coupon when an order totals a specified value.

Invest in quality craft punches & card stock paper to create labels that promote & identify your branded product.

 Coordinate product packaging to compliment  product colors.




 

Impress customers by including a handwritten note with your product.

Ensure your product, customer service, packaging, and shipping all live up to the hype promised.

Be sure to follow up with customers a day or two after they should have received their order to make sure they are happy with everything.






 Stay up-to-date on your competitor’s prices,
services, discounts, and marketing promotions. If you can’t lower your prices as much as your competitors, then make sure customers understand how your product is worth the extra money. 

Remember, first impressions are everything. The way you package your product is a way of putting your best “face” forward to a potential customer when they encounter your product for the first time.

How To: Creating Vintage Paper

I don't know about you, but I can't get past the price of a store-bought card. Why pay $3 to $5 for a card when I can make my own? Not only can I make it, I can personalize it any way I please. So with Mother's Day rapidly approaching, I'm in card making mode.

Retro and vintage items still seem to be in vogue, so I opted for the latter, a vintage look. The card making process will be posted in steps with this being step one; how to make paper look old. It's easier than you might think.



 

Step 1

Tear out pages from an old book. Shop thrift stores and garage sales. Look for books in various sizes with interesting text and pictures.

 

Step 2

Heat the oven up to 200 degrees while drinking a morning cup of black coffee. Reserve a portion of the coffee for this project (at least that's what I did :))

 

Step 3

Place paper pages on a cookie sheet. Pour the reserved coffee over the pages. A quarter cup will probably do; you want the pages covered but not totally drenched. Make sure the entire page is covered with the coffee. Let pages set for a few minute to soak up the coffee, then pour off any extra coffee liquid from the pan.

 

Step 4

Place cookie sheet in oven and let the paper heat through until nearly dry. About 5-7 minutes. Remove before the edges start curling.

 



Step 5



Scoop out a few grounds from the brewed coffee filter. Using your fingertips rub the grounds onto the baked paper. Shake off excess grounds over the sink or onto the cookie pan.

Step 6
While the paper is still moist, gently tear some of the edges to add to the aged look. Burning the edges of the paper slightly with a lighter also lends authenticity to the vintage look.

Step 7
Place paper on paper towel to fully dry. Place a couple of books or magazines on top of the paper to keep the pages from curling while drying.

Now that the vintage paper is prepared, I can begin working on my vintage cards. I'm still kicking around ideas but will definitely be sharing the end results.





I tested how the page would feed through a laser printer. Worked like a charm. I think I will be using this technique often.

 

Small Gift Packaging: Make a Paper Tray

Mother's Day is just around the corner. We've been playing around with some gifting idea for small products... namely, soap! The wrapped box is one of GPE's soap boxes wrapped in Kraft packing paper. I love the simplicity of Kraft paper and the countless ways it can be embellished for just pennies.

The orange band is scrapbook paper that was cut to size. A paper heart doily was trimmed to fit the corner of the box. A scalloped circle was stamped out from vintage paper and a craft button added. The technique used to make the vintage paper is easy and I'll share in a future blog post.

The tray box was made using a 6 x 6 inch piece of double sided scrapbook paper. Two opposing edges were stamped out with a border stamp and then scored for folding.

I've given the steps below to cut and form the tray box. Where you make the folds and cuts will vary depending on the product you will be placing in the tray.

I sized my folds to fit two, one-ounce bottles that I will fill with lotion and shower gel.

 1) Stamp two opposing sides with a border stamp.

2) Use a scoring board to make score lines for folding.

3) Cut the corners as shown and make fold along all score lines to form the tray.

4) With an Exacto knife or box cutter make two small cuts on each end of the box (the ends without borders).

5) Insert the borders sides into the cuts to make sure they fit well. Use double sided tape on the corners of the tray (near the slits). Slide the bordered edges into the slits and press down on tape to secure in place.

Fold along score lines.

 Fill the tray box with coordinating shredded paper and position your product for display. The small trays are ideal for showcasing soap and small bottles of toiletry product at craft shows or in retail settings.

You different papers to create seasonal trays for Spring, Fall, Easter, Christmas or Thanksgiving. Experiment with different border stamps and paper sizes.

At most, this decorative paper tray cost about a nickel. Your only investment is a border stamp, but they are reasonably priced at craft stores and it can be over and over again. Consider it an investment.

 You can adapt this same box tray technique to make a small lidded box. Just make the box lid slightly bigger so that it slides over the base of the box.

How to Make a Money Card with Handmade Paper

Today, my daughter, Jamie, celebrates her birthday. Last night her husband and friends rented a party bus to take them to the 80's Show. Before they left,  I gifted Jamie with this money card (to help cover drinks) and a personal birthday letter.

I made the card using misc items I had around the house. Of course, I tend to have just about everything per my grand kids.

The letter to my daughter was printed on a handmade paper bronze colored paper. The edges were trimmed with a scrap booking punch.

I used two sheets of GoPlanet's handmade natural weave paper. The sheets were joined using double-sided tape and then folded toward the front and kept closed with ribbon. Use a small hole punch to make the openings for the ribbon.

I used a skewer to punch the holes for remaining ribbon. For a little bling, I brushed a paper heart doily with gold mica powder. Poke holes in the heart that align with the centerfold of the paper. Thread the same ribbon used for the center of paper through the heart. Fold money into fan shape and attach to the middle of the heart using the ribbon.

GoPlanetEarth offers a nice selection of handmade papers. They can be used for cards, soap bands or scrap booking projects.


Newsprint Bags: Pre-Buy

A few days ago I posted about these newspaper bags made by street children in India. The story and message behind this organization's endeavor to house and educate school-aged street children is quite touching.

After personally speaking with someone from this company via phone, I am convinced my decision to import these bags is a good choice. Yes, yes, I know it's not an American made product. But knowing this program is helping children abroad is worthy of my support. Hurrah! Accolades to this organization for finding a creative and ingenious way to generate income for shelter and education. LOVE IT!!

Here's the PRE-BUY offer on these bags. Pre-buy deadline is March 9, 2013, 11:59 PM, EST.
Pre-payment required. Limit is 50 bags per size and shipping address must be within the continential USA. All bags have jute handles. There is a NO return policy on this pre-buy.

Orders ship week of March 11, 2013

Size #1:
11 1/2" long x 9 3/4" wide x 3 1/4" side gusset

25 bags = $26.00 USD plus $12.60 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping = $1.54)
Total cost: $38.60



50 bags = $49.00 USD plus $14.25 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping = $1.26)
Total cost: $63.25





Size #2
8" long x 5" wide x 3" side gusset

25 bags= $22.50 USD plus $9.95 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping= $1.29)
Total cost: $32.45



50 bags= $41.00 USD plus $13.50 S/H
(cost per bag with shipping= $1.09)
Total cost: $54.50

Packaging: Making a Difference One Bag at a Time

We recently stayed at a private ski resort in Northern Michigan courtesy of my husband's employer. It was a weekend of skiing, eating and just plain fun, not to mention the awesome wine tasting the company sponsored. A trip to a nearby eclectic specialty shop brought me back to reality.

This shop was awesome beyond description. Their collection of unique items included furniture, trash to treasure, handcrafted art, vintage items and more. I could have spent hours just browsing. I made a few purchases for the grandkids. It was at check-out that my reality check kicked in.

The purchased items were placed in this newspaper bag. I thought, "How clever is that, someone is recycling newspapers". I then noted the newsprint was not in English and saw a tag attached to the jute handle. The message on the tag was the reality check.

I know I can't save the world, but here I was staying at a resort, shopping upscale boutiques, enjoying great food and wine while someone in India was making this newsprint bag to stay off the streets. Geez, what do I have to complain about? NOTHING! The income generated by these newsprint bags provides street children with education and shelter.

The workmanship is awesome and I've decided to import these bags in two sizes. They will arrive within the next month.

If you own a retail shop, I invite you to contact me about using these bags in your store. They are made from recycled material, eco-friendly and support an organization that rescues children from the streets of India.

As soon as our first shipment is received, I will post pricing information on both my blog and the GoPlanetEarth web site.

Dr. Suess Party Cones

Football is not my gig. So while the Super Bowl was airing, I was making party cones. My three grand kids have birthday parties at NeeNee's house. If you ask them why, they reply, "Because you always plan fun stuff."

My daughter believes I have set a precedence and willingly resigns the party planning (though she would do an awesome job) to Mom. I'm guessing it has something to do with 'deep pockets'.

The theme for my grandson's 5th birthday is Dr. Seuss. Since the grand kids have birthdays within one or two weeks of each other, early planning is essential. Joint birthday parties are never an option (in their minds!)

Popcorn, cotton candy, assorted candies will fill the colorful cones. Here's a FREE template of the two cones. Save and print onto white card stock. Cut-out cones using the guidelines. Shape cone starting at point (point is a bit tricky). Staple the cone together at the top edge using two staples.

Remember, these are disposable items; don't labor over them. If they aren't perfect, who cares! Fill them with goodies and the kids will love them.

This is just one of the many things I've planned for this themed birthday. My son-in-law is a carpenter and will construct a life-size wooden silhouette of Cat in the Hat. I'll glue cardboard cut-outs to the silhouette and place prop next to the food table.

It will look something like this:

The best part of planning the Seuss party is it will complement the Carnival Birthday Party for my nine-year old grandson. The red, blue and white theme I'm using for table covers/skirting and decorations is easily converted into a carnival theme.

I've plenty of Seuss party games in the works, so be sure to check my blog for updates. I am stellar at party planning, especially when it's for my little peeps.

A Soaping Marathon Week

 

This last week has been a soaping marathon. We've turned out 125 soaps in a matter of days, PLUS packaged them all. This is the last batch for my grandson's third grade classroom. He picked out two scents, one for the girls (they get the red soaps) and one for the boys (green soaps). It was fun to watch him select fragrances. I had to keep reminding him that the scent wouldn't smell so strong once it was added to the soap.

I must say I've fallen in love with Mold Market's slab trays. Each slab uses 2 pounds of soap base.

The drizzled soap and sprinkled glitter (cosmetic grade) was an easy solution and the grand kids had fun with it.

Each soap is wrapped with clear plastic stretch wrap and placed in a cello bag. When my grandson saw the soaps being donated to our community Angel Tree, he said, I want my soaps to look like that.

So, the packaging is a "Grinch" theme that includes the following poem:

"Rub-a-dub-dub, there's a Grinch in your tub.

And he says lather up and wash off the grub.

Use this bar of soap to clean body & head,

Then put on pajamas and crawl into bed."

You can make 18 of these soaps for under $2 each and still plenty of leftover color for other soaping projects. Here are the supplies needed:

• (1) Mold Market #077 square slab mold
• (2) two-pound blocks of clear melt & pour soap base (reserve some of the soap to add the drizzled effect)
• Neon Bright Lime Green soap color (one-ounce size). I added a few drops of Kelly green color to deepen the shade, but this isn't necessary. You will have plenty of leftover colorant for other soaping projects.
• One-ounce fragrance of your selection. I used green apple and the red soap is a mix of lemonade and cherry. Use 3 teaspoons per 2 pounds of soap base. One ounce will scent up to four pounds of soap.
• If will need to order an additional color if you want to drizzle with a second color. I used Tomato Red. You can also order a block of white soap and melt a portion for the drizzling effect.
• Cosmetic glitter. I used Iridescent Shred.

I previously posted about this Grinch sleigh that my grandson will gift to his teacher. I will also include a copy of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas book for her to read to the classroom once the soaps are distributed to the students.

My grandson is VERRRRRY excited about his teacher and classroom gifts this Christmas. As for NeeNee, I'm done pouring soaps for the season.

Brown Bag Holiday Gift Wrap Idea

I have 28 gifts to wrap for nieces and nephews this year. The item I am gifting (sorry, it's a secret) isn't an easy one to wrap. That's where my handy-dandy paper punch comes into play. You can make just about anything wrap look good with a paper-edge punch.

Brown lunch bags can be found in any grocery store isle and cost pennies per bag. For this gift packaging project, I stamped the edge of each bag with a decorative punch, cut two slits to insert the candy cane ears, glued wiggle eyes and a pom-pom nose to complete the look.

A quick, easy and inexpensive wrap for your child's classroom or small, hard-to-wrap gifts. Even as I write this post, my mind is whirling with other brown bag packaging ideas for this holiday. Stay posted!

Melt & Pour Soap Making: Mr. Grinch Sleigh Soap

I made a second batch of "Grinch" soaps using the GPE Water Dissolving Soap Paper. These will be gifted to the grand kid's teachers. I wrapped the soap in plastic wrap, and assembled into a sleigh with bath salts as shown below.

Who better to guide the sleigh than Mr. Grinch, himself? The Grinch isn't into gift giving, so he opts to deliver a bag of North Pole snow (scented bath salts).

I plan to hot glue the reindeer feet to the green base so it doesn't tip and double-sided tape will keep the sled in place. My nine-year old grandson asked, "Will you add blades to the sides of the sleigh?" And, so I will. I'll cut them from white card stock spray with silver spray paint.

Once everything is secure, the gift will be wrapped in cello and dressed with colorful ribbon to present to each teacher. The gift tag around "Rudolph Reindeer's" neck will be signed by each grand kid.

Here's the low-down on how to complete this project:

REINDEER

• Empty toilet tissue rolls. Three rolls will make two reindeer.
• Wine cork and brown chenille stem for tail
• Small branches for feet and neck
• Silver spray paint
• Silver gift tag for neck (you can also spray the tag silver)
• White pom-pom ball for tail
• Green tissue paper for face of reindeer
• 2 wiggle eyes
• Small twigs for antlers
• Miniature jingle bells for antlers, nose (and sleigh / Grinch hat)

SLEIGH

• Printable Grinch (find it here for FREE!) on card stock
• 8 x 12" red felt
• 18" of twine
• 10-12" of holiday ribbon (for sleigh and reindeer)
• Finished soap (see below)
• Pom Pom for top of Grinch hat
• Miniature jingle bell for Grinch hat

MISC

• Cardboard wrapped in green tissue
• Double-sided tape
• Elmer's craft glue
• Hot glue gun
• Cellophane for gift wrapping
• Gift tags
• Silver spray paint

SOAP

• 4 ounces white melt and pour soap base per Grinch bar
• 1/2 ounce clear melt and pour soap base per Grinch bar
• 1 sheet of water dissolving soap paper
• Template for printing Grinch on above soap paper
• Soap fragrance, 2 teaspoons per pound of melted soap
• Clear Saran wrap and tape to package the soap

SALTS

• Approximately 3/4 cups spa-quality salts
• 1/4 teaspoon fragrance oil (mix into salts until evenly distributed)
• Plastic bag

Have FUN!! The minute my grand kids walked in the door they said, "WOW!! I love that!" Hopefully, the receiver will feel the same. No matter what, the grand kids are excited about their teacher gifts.