The decision about how to ship your hand made crafts and to where is one you must make yourself but it never hurts to get advice from others who have been in the craft business longer than you have. Ask more seasoned craftspeople what supplies they use to ship their goods and what shipping options they make available to customers. As well do they ship only to local areas, to anywhere in the country, outside the country and/or do they allow for international or overseas orders?

A concern over international orders is not likely to be a dilemma that comes up right away for a new hand made business craftsperson. However, it could well be something that you need to think about as your business becomes more successful and expands in different directions. You have to decide by carefully reviewing your financial budget if shipping to far away destinations is feasible to you or not. Of course it might be something that only comes up occasionally and if so, you can then evaluate it on a case-by-case basis.

If you design crafts that are breakable, such as ceramics or pottery, then you need to think even more carefully about how you will ship your crafts to customers as opposed to those who make for example, hand made scarves or quilts. Buying good quality cardboard boxes of varying sizes and then carefully wrapping your crafts in bubble wrap or with tissue paper and in some case both is an excellent idea to help ensure that the product makes it safely to its destination and nothing is broken when it arrives.

Sending through UPS is generally a safe means of transport and you can set things up so you can ship to customers either by way of first class mail, priority, express or regular mail. In some cases you might even want to have your hand made crafts delivered by a courier service. This also might be an option you put into place for only your best and most long-term customers but that is entirely up to you. As a rule first class mail will take approximately five to ten business days to arrive; priority post will take three to four business days and express post will take only one to two business days to arrive. Regular mail will take the average length of time that it takes mail to go from point A where you are sending from to Point B, where ever the customer needs the item shipped to. Often in the cases of first class and priority there is no delivery time that is 100 % guaranteed but in the case of express post there usually is a guaranteed time frame. Insurance be purchased for most of these options and in some cases all orders are $100 must carry with them a certain amount of insurance.

When you are first starting out shipping options and shipping costs probably will not be a problem you encounter very often. Customers at craft shows or flea markets will simply buy your crafts as is and take them away with them after they have been paid for. However as your business grows this will definitely become a question you will be asked more and more and it is something you will have to address. You might meet potential customers who like your crafts and would like to have one (or many) shipped to family or friends in other parts of the country, or even other parts of the world for gifts. This is very likely, particularly when it comes to seasonal craft shows such as those that take place on or near Christmas or Easter time.

In order to keep shipping costs low, you might be able to find a company that can sell you supplies in bulk which can bring your costs down considerably so you will not have to go out and purchase individual materials to ship your merchandise every time. It should be a top priority of yours as a hand made crafts person that the work that you put so much time and effort into arrives safely and in one piece to its new homes. Always use the utmost care in deciding both what material you will use to ship your crafts in as well as what shipping methods you will make available to people interested in your work. Keep your financial needs in mind always but also try to be flexible in accommodating customers whenever possible.

Related posts:

1. Shipping Dilemmas: Getting your Crafts into the Hands of a Buyer
2. Mail Order Works for Brides: Why Not Your Hand Made Crafts?
3. Consign Yourself to Success with your Hand Made Crafts
4. How a Website Can Boost Profits on your Hand Made Crafts
5. Knit your way to a Hand Made Knitted Crafts Business

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