I don’t mind what packaging is used on items I buy and fully appreciate eco friendly packaging however I don’t use it myself for my handmade items but I do use it for personal use and have quite a collection of used boxes in the loft.
I spend a lot of money on packaging, I buy 4 box sizes plus letterboxes, tissue paper and sellotape/brown tape, I also buy organza bags for some of my bears. I have reused boxes in the past but it was a nightmare constantly trying to find a box the right size and as they are not flat packed they have to live in the loft and I can’t access them easily so always had to wait for someone else to get them down and hope there was a clean one suitable for the item.
A lot of the reviews I receive mention how lovely my items are packaged and for me personally it’s important to send the bears out as nicely as I can, I have a few customers that tell me it always feels like a birthday when their bear arrives with a card and gift tags. I don’t feel guilty about using new, it’s my choice and I know my customers appreciate how I wrap my parcels so i think it makes a difference especially with handmade items. I am sure there will be others that would rather receive eco friendly recycled packaging and that’s also their choice.
I buy everything new from kite packaging and although most of what I buy is made from recycled materials I did cost the eco friendly parcel tape and decided it was too expensive. Some of my boxes are quite large and I tape around every seal in case the parcels get wet so I get through a lot of tapè so unless it comes down in price I won’t be changing what I use.
I also have a roll of bubble wrap and another of brown paper that i use to protect the boxes of my bear making kits. I bought the brown paper roll to cover recycled boxes before I started buying all new packaging. I do save bubblewrap that comes into the house but store it in the loft and again use it for personal use.
Absolutely agree with what you do. Yes I recycle when I can but I also buy new bubble wrap envelopes and on the roll. I can ot source enough second hand bubble for my needs to keep my work safe and clean.
I sometimes feel that posts like these are used to make those of us who work differently feel guilty .
I don’t.
No I don’t feel guilty @JOYSofGLASS, none of us should feel guilty about wanting our parcels to look their best. I think if I am going to spend 40 hours making something it deserves to be sent out in new packaging that it deserves. Obviously just my opinion, if I made delicate items like yours they would be wrapped in lots of bubble wrap to protect them.
It really does depend on what people make but I will always send mine with ribbons and tags and tissue and appreciate that others will use recycled packaging. Don’t be made to feel guilty Joy x
Well said Debby
I agree Joy and do not feel guilty. A but like people that choose to be vegan, fine their business but they should not preach to others and try the guilt trip. Too much if that nowadays and not on.
I don’t think anyone is trying to make anyone else feel guilty, the original question was do you think recycled packaging ‘cheapens’ something, or at least that’s how I read it.
Packaging should be what works for you at the end of the day.
Your bears are amazing and I keep promising myself I’ll treat myself one of these days! I agree about your packaging choices as like when I buy jewellery it’s nice to get the items in a box with the sellers logo or name on it. Kind of makes it feel special. I tend to package my more expensive pieces in a black matt box with my logo on it to this end. I decided a while back to add that as a part of the item. I do offer gift boxes as an extra for smaller cheaper items though. But the outer packaging, for me, is mostly recycled. I have to make an exception for larger pieces as I have to use a double walled box. And they cost a small fortune.
I think you missed the first post that was positively judgemental.
I don’t think it was judgemental. I think it’s a valid question that pertains to the psychology of shopping. I take it we are talking here about outer packaging? But inner packaging is perhaps more important from a client’s point of view? If I know a piece of my glass is being purchased for a birthday or other important event, then I’ll send out in a gift box as part of the purchase though the outer packaging is mostly recycled.
From a marketing point of view, I’m definitely working up to including branded gift boxes with all my items.
Whether we like it or not branding is important. People tend to shop with their eyes, which means the first thing they notice is brand packaging. There’s nothing judgemental about that. It’s just a fact.
When researching packaging, I found that buying boxes with a logo on it are very expensive so I went down the route of purchasing a stamp with my logo on it - cost me around £6 - then I purchased a hot gun, a sticky pad and some black embossing powder - £10 - and the results are not only financially viable but looks just as good as having it professionally done for ten times the price. Little things like this all go towards branding your business and helping it stand out in the crowd.
These look fabulous 
I adore Jo Malone products. And guess what? Part of that is the inner packaging. Those classy cream and black boxes with the black ribbon? I love it. From the reveal to the pulling apart of that ribbon to the opening of that cream and black box to lifting out the product. All part of the experience. 
I also love sellers who package in tissue paper that’s sealed with a sticker. There’s something so anticipatory about teasing apart paper from sticker, unfolding it and finding the treasure within!
Not the first post on here but another thread.
Ah, OK. I know the one.
Wow, they look lovely Maddie! 
I bought one of those guns and the powder years ago and haven’t done a thing with it yet! You may have inspired me to try it out…
I think I must have done, I genuinely didn’t see anything judgemental in the original post.
Not the post on this thread but an older one. Nothing wrong with this thread at all.
I’m not put off if I recieve a parcel from another seller who uses recycled packaging - as long as it looks like its been packed with care I am impressed with people’s ingenuity and respect for the enviroment.
For my shop, I mostly use new enviromentally friendly outer packaging - more for ease/speed rather than any other reason, but I will reuse outer envelopes or boxes if I have them to hand and they fit well. I particularly like the rag stuffed paper envelopes but they are too pricy for me to buy new.
For the inner wrapping, I do like to make things look like lovely gifts, and I’ll individually wrap multiple items in the same parcel. I use eco friendly tissue paper, and tie them with butchers cord - that way both the paper and cord can be reused by the recipient if they like. I used to add stickers but they are pricy and rip the paper.
I’ve also bought a stamp that I use on kraftcard luggage tags as a way of presenting my business cards. I use plain black ink but it works well with my aesthetic (might try a different colour next time though).
Ah thank you, those black boxes are beautiful.
yes the double walled boxes are very expensive, I’m pleased I dont need to use those. I imagine with such delicate items as yours you need a lot of protection such as bubble wrap and it doesn’t come cheap.,if I made delicate items I would use all the bubblewrap in my loft for filling the voids in the boxes luckily i can use tissue for that.,
No I didnt see it as judgemental Lynne, I was just offering my personal view on presenting my packages as I do rather than using recycled materials and as I said it is personal choice and does depend on what you make. I don’t mind how others send their packages that i purchase, I have had beautifully wrapped items and some very basic but would still buy again 8f I loved the item i had bought. I did buy one thing off a seller and it was clear no thought either way had gone into it so i probably wouldn’t return to that one though 
I use / reuse as much recycled packaging as possible.
I have only had one person comment that they could not reuse my packaging when passing on the items as gifts. I had packaged two items ordered together - one package - one box.