4 Tips For Shipping Your Artwork
Posted on: 4 December 2018
It's never been a better time to be a working artist. With the ubiquity of the internet, it's easier than ever to reach customers around the world. However, catering to a global audience means you'll have to find a way to ship your product to them. Here are four tips to help you ship your artwork:
1. Invest in quality packaging.
The package your art arrives in is almost as important as the artwork itself. The package is the first thing your customers will see, so you want to make a good impression. Professional, custom packaging is a great way to convey that you are serious about your business. It's best to order more packaging than you think you will need, so you'll be able to fill large orders that may come up. If you sell artwork in various sizes, remember to order boxes that closely match each piece's dimensions. Well-fitting boxes are more professional and will keep your art safe in transit.
2. Protect your work from damage.
Artwork can be very fragile, so take care when you're packaging it. It may rain, so protect your art from water damage by wrapping it in a plastic sleeve or cling film. If your artwork is three dimensional, you may want to fill any extra space in the box with packing peanuts.
3. Purchase a postal scale.
Like most businesses, you will probably want to pass the shipping cost along to your customer. In the age of online shopping, most customers are fine with the idea of paying a little extra for shipping. However, this means you will have to calculate the shipping cost ahead of time. Make it easy for yourself by investing in a postal scale. Once you know the weight of your item, you can calculate how much it will cost to ship to its final destination. Remember to weigh your artwork after it's been packaged since the box will add extra weight.
4. Set a conservative shipping estimate.
Finally, give your customers a conservative estimate of when their package will arrive. Depending on the weather and other factors, including major holidays, their package may be delayed. Customers will be delighted if their package shows up early, but they may give your business bad reviews if it's late, so always give the latest date possible as an estimate.
Being an artist and entrepreneur can be a very rewarding career path. You just need to remember to take care of the business aspects of your art business too. These are just a few tips to help you with box packaging and shipping your art safely.
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