How to Package an Etsy Order

(Please note this post contains affiliate links.)

If you check out my Etsy Shop today, you will see I have only 95 (or maybe more now) sales. I am not an Etsy expert and I have owned a shop for only a couple years. I try to keep it stocked, but in the midst of the blessings of full time motherhood, that’s just not feasible right now.

I joined Instagram in August of 2015 where I found a fun community of other makers selling their hand made items. I learned quickly that there is an industry standard in the realm of packaging up an Etsy order. I was not aware of this personable, creative, and somewhat picture perfect standard the day I opened my Etsy shop.

Packaging up my Etsy orders was my least favorite job at the start of my small business. I had to go to the post office or Target and buy an oversized envelope to fit a quilted pillow cover. I found some cute ribbon leftover from my wedding to nicely tie up the pillow cover I had recently sold. I pulled out a box of old thank you notes to send a note to my buyer. I didn’t have a business card. Nothing coordinated or matched. I wrote the address as nicely as I could on the outside of the envelope. Then I loaded two small boys up and headed to the post office to mail my package.

If you know me well at all, you know running errands is not my thing. I don’t enjoy carting children around and buckling and unbuckling car seats just hoping they’ll wait like perfect angels in the never ending line at the post office.

Then I see these Instagram posts about ‘Happy Mail,’ and I’ll never forget one day when a fellow maker said packaging up her Etsy orders is one of her favorite tasks.

Packing up my order took two errands and an hour of scrounging around the house for cute crafty items.

Even without an immense amount of orders going out, I learned I needed to streamline a process and stock a few supplies. Otherwise, packaging up a single order was going to be an entire day’s process when it involves three little ones.

1. First off, learn to print your shipping labels off using Etsy’s shipping options at home. (It’s MUCH easier walking your package out to your mail box for the mail man to pick up than running an errand to the post office.) You need to have a digital kitchen scale, printable labels, and a printer. All three of these are an up front investment. If you know you are going to stick with the Etsy business for a while, they are well worth it!

2. You also need a few packaging supplies. I recommend keeping your packaging supplies as consistent as possible. For example, I sell pillow covers. If I use the same size envelope every time, I can save those dimensions in my Etsy shop. This makes creating shipping labels go fast. Also consider branding when buying your supplies. I purchased some teal mailers for my shop. I felt the color fit my brand well.

(LemonyStitch fabric washi)

3. Your package should look fun and cute and memorable. Yes, this may be necessary solely to keep up with industry standard, but also think about your customer receiving your package. Think of them opening their mail box and finding the cutest little package wrapped up so intentionally and carefully. Along with my teal / turquoise mailers mentioned above, I took advantage of a few other Etsy owners and used their products to decorate the outside of my package.

TaggedWithLove has adorable stickers.
LemonyStitch has an amazing assortment of fabric washi.
TheHappyHillsMarket has a good mix of paper products and fabric washi.
JustAddSunshine has super fun and colorful stickers.
PolkaDotBarn has bags and twine and fun tags to dress up your packages.
AddysonLaneSigns has cheerful stickers. These would be a great way to reward repeat customers!
TheWildBerryRoad has some great cards and printables.

All of these are great shop options for picking up something small for the outside of your packages.

4. Including an extra little treat is not a must but highly recommended. What kind of extra treat? This could be an extra little something you make and include in each of your packages. Or, this little extra could be something another great maker made. Think small.

I’ve included decorative clothespins from Hobby Lobby. I’ve included a little pinwheel clip from Simple October (see picture above). I’ve also used large gold paper clips to add a simple intentional touch. Every time I receive an order from Sew Organic Fabric, she sends along two or three additional fabric squares.

5. Go the extra mile and consider having your business cards or thank you notes professionally printed. I originally printed my notes on my printer at home. Then I cut them at home with my fifteen year old scrapbook blade. It wasn’t until I received the ‘thank you’ note cards in the picture below from Pen And Paint that I realized I should invest the money in having my notes professionally printed and professionally cut to size. They looked so nice!

6. Take a step towards exceptional customer service. This does not mean bending over backward for your customer. This means treating them as someone special. Respond to their emails and questions in a timely manner. Be honest with them about your product. Give them adequate information so they are clear about the quality and handicraft they will be receiving. Tell them thank you.

For those of you toying with the idea of opening up your shop, I hope this starts you off on a better route than me when it comes to packaging my products. Make your shipping process fun. Let it be a reflection of you and make it memorable!