Boutique Supplies – Packaging
So you decide you want to start your own online boutique, but how do you package orders? What supplies are you going to need? Here is my list of necessary (and a few unnecessary but useful) packaging supplies you’ll need!
The majority of the supplies I use everyday fall under the category of packaging. Your packaging is a direct reflection of your brand, so you need to make sure it’s representing you well.
I use a variety of packaging supplies to achieve the look I want. Something that sets small boutiques aside from big businesses is personal touch. I want my customers to feel the personal touch that I put into each package when they open it! Plus, the more aesthetically pleasing your packaging, the more likely your customer will share it on social media!
Here’s what I use for my packaging:
Polymailers
Polymailers are those lightweight, plastic bag type mailers that are great for shipping clothing. They’re typically water resistant, and have a self sealing strip at the top, so they are very easy to use! You can find every type of polymailer under the sun, from fun prints, to solid colors, and even custom designs with your own logo! Polymailers come in many different sizes, so be sure you are getting the correct size(s) for your business. I typically purchase three different sizes, a smaller one, a medium/large one, and a really big one for those mini shopping sprees.
Not all polymailers have to be made of plastic. There are some great compostable mailers, and others that are made with 100% recycled material.
Boxes
It’s a good idea to have some boxes on hand if you’re going to be shipping more delicate items that wouldn’t do well in a polymailer. I mainly use boxes to ship hats, and sometimes purses. You can purchase affordable boxes in bulk from Uline, they have all different sizes and styles to suit your needs.
Tissue Paper
Going the extra mile and wrapping your orders in tissue paper looks good, and gives your customers a nice experience when they open their order. Who doesn’t want their online shopping packages to resemble a present? I buy my tissue paper from amazon or Etsy, but there are tons of options out there. Find a color, or a print that suits your needs. Ps. you can even get custom tissue with your logo on it! So good for branding!
Stickers
Stickers hold everything together! I use them on my tissue paper when I wrap up an order, and also on small boxes for things like sunglasses. You can custom order stickers with your logo if you would like, but you can also make them at home for a fraction of the cost. Here’s a tiktok I saw that teaches you how to make them yourself (this is what I do, it works SO well): Click Here
Scale
When shipping out orders, you’ll need to know how much they weigh. Because my packages are on the smaller side, I ordered a small scale from amazon.
Measuring Tape
When entering in packaging information, you’ll need measurements like height, width, and length. I use a soft measuring tape to find this information for all of my polymailer packages.
Printer
Obviously you are going to need a printer to print off packing slips, and shipping labels! Now, you have a couple options here. You can use your regular printer to print off both, or you can invest in a label printer for your shipping labels! Honestly, a label printer is worth every penny in my experience, and it will save you a ton of money in ink costs.
Thank you Cards
Don’t forget to include a personalized thank you card in every order! This helps to create a personal experience for your customer, and can also remind them to do helpful things, like leave you a review, or post a photo of their new purchase! I use Vistaprint to design my cards in bulk, but there are several other places you can do this. I’ve been eyeing some cute designs on Etsy to use once I run out of my current cards.
Etsy Thank You Cards:
*Some are physical cards, some are templates that you print yourself!
Discount Code Cards
Last but not least! Don’t forget to include a discount code in their order! This can be on the thank you card if you would like, or you can create a separate card. Personally I like to keep these separate, so I can use different discounts for different customers, and different times of the year. I also design my discount code cards on Vistaprint!
That’s all, folks!
Provided I didn’t forget anything (I probably did), that’s all I use for packaging orders! I’ll be writing more about owning an online boutique, including most posts about boutique supplies, so follow along if that interests you! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, and don’t forget to follow me over on instagram! You can also check out my boutique, Lilac&Lemon, if that interests you! Until next time!
