A big part of running a successful e-commerce art business is shipping your products promptly and safely.
If you’re an artist, a designer, a photographer, or a graphic/web designer, shipping your product may seem like a challenge. You must ensure your art prints are delivered safely, stay within the promised delivery time, and not pay too much for shipping materials. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult. These tips will help you avoid damage and delays during shipping, no matter what you’re shipping, so your products will arrive in pristine condition.
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How To Ship Your Prints without Damage
So you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and start printing your designs and ship them from home. There are many things to keep in mind if you want to avoid mishaps along the way. Printing prints from home includes choosing the right printer, getting your prints from your computer to the press, and having a strategy for packaging your prints.
Before buying your printer, ensure it is compatible with your computer and will produce prints that look like your original artwork.
Once you have chosen your printer, ensure you know how to use it. Many people who are new to printing their designs are intimidated by using a printer. There is a learning curve, but you will realize it’s not difficult with a bit of practice.
The first step is to choose the best software for your design needs. Photoshop is a powerful software that allows you to edit and print your prints.
Once you have completed printing your designs, you will need to package them safely for shipping.
How To Package Art Prints
- Place each print separately in a clear plastic bag.
- Place the prints between two pieces of cardboard and tape the cardboard together with clear packing tape.
- Wrap a layer of bubble wrap around the cardboard, and put it in a small box with tissue paper. The extra protection will keep them from getting scratched or bent during shipping.
Another option is to use a shipping tube. A mailing tube will withstand being tossed around. However, the print must be rolled to fit inside the tube. Remember that an art collector might not appreciate a limited-edition print shipped like a rolled poster. Shipping tubes might be the cheapest way to ship your prints, but doing so might upset some people.
The price of your prints will determine the right packaging materials you will need. For example, if a limited-edition print is sold for $200.00, you will want to take extra care on how you are packaging the print. You will spend extra money on shipping materials, but you will make a customer happy because their prints arrive safely.
How To Make Sure That Your Art Prints Get To Their Recipients On Time
We have been talking about how to safely package your prints to reach their destination. Now, we will talk about making sure that your package gets to its destination on time. The time it takes for a package to reach its destination can be very different, so you must know the package’s average time to reach its destination.
The time it takes to deliver a package depends on the destination address. If it is in the same city where you live, it might only take a couple of days to get there, but it could take longer if delivered to an address across the United States. The next thing you should do is ask for a tracking number. When you get the tracking number, you must check the package’s shipping time daily. Also, provide this information to the customer. Doing so will allow the customer to track their shipping.
You might also want to consider purchasing insurance for extra protection. Purchasing insurance is an additional cost, but you will not lose money if the package arrives damaged.
How To Determine Shipping Times
Decide on production times (how long it will take for you to package the print and bring it to the post office.
Know how long it takes the carrier to deliver the package.
Production time + shipping time = how long a customer will take to receive their package.
How to Reduce the Cost of Shipping Art Prints
You will need to use a flat-rate shipping company to reduce the cost of shipping art prints. There are many companies out there offering this service. Look for one with an excellent reputation and good service like USPS. When choosing the right shipping company, it would be best to look for several things.
- They should be reasonably priced.
- They should be able to handle large amounts of orders.
- You also need to find a company that provides excellent customer service. You want someone to answer your questions and provide you with all the information you need to get your art prints shipped.
- They will be able to deliver the packages at the right time.
Once you know which company you will use, try to find different ways to save money on shipping materials.
For example, you can get free boxes using USPS Priority shipping.
Shipping materials can be purchased in bulk or at discount prices online. Take some time to see where you can get the best deals on shipping supplies like a cardboard box, glassine paper, masking tape, painter’s tape, cardboard corner protectors, plastic bags, and any other shipping needs for your online art business. Printing a shipping label at home will also save you time and money.
Related Post: Order Shipping Supplies Online – Art Business
How To Ship Art Prints Without A Box
You can ship fine art prints in many ways, but not all choices suit every product. When shipping art prints, think about whether it’s best to send them in a box, a mailing tube, or mail them flat in an envelope. Flat shipping is less expensive and doesn’t add much to the overall weight of your package.
A cardboard envelope will be cheaper to ship, but the print will get bent during shipping if the print is too large. Cardboard envelopes work best for smaller prints like 5×7 or 6×8. Larger sizes will be safer in a box or a mailing tube.
Related Post – Large Format Printing
Choose The Right Shipping Method
There are three things to consider when choosing which shipping method to use.
- First, see if the company offers tracking and insurance.
- Next, determine a time frame to ship the art prints (the faster, the more expensive).
- Finally, consider what shipping service will give you the best prices.
Research the most popular shipping services like USPS, UPS, and FedEx to see which company will be the most cost-efficient for your art business.
What To Do If Your Package Gets Lost Or Damaged
When you’re shipping art, all sorts of things can happen to your package. A lot can go wrong, from a complete package loss to a package arriving damaged once your valuable artwork leaves your hands.
There are many steps to minimize the damage or the time it takes to deliver the package.
These include having the customer sign for the package, purchase insurance, and have a tracking number to track the package.
If you plan to ship works of art, keep track of the package with a tracking number. Email the tracking information to the customer to see where their package is. If you use the tracking system, you’ll know if the package has arrived and how long it took. You can contact the post office to see what happened to the package if it hasn’t been delivered.
Have A Shipping Policy
Have a return policy in place in case a customer does not like the product or it was lost or damaged in shipping.
Make sure that your return policy is written and easy to understand. Having an easy-to-understand policy in place is very important. If it is unclear to your customers, they may be afraid to return it. Many people may not buy from you if you do not have a return policy. It’s also a good idea to include a free return shipping policy to make it easier for customers to return or exchange their items.
Final Thoughts On Shipping Art Prints
If you’ve got an online art business or are considering setting up a shop, it’s essential to know that not all carriers are created equal. Many things influence shipping rates, including how big the package is and where you live. It would be best to consider the different types of carriers you want to offer—and how they fit in with your business model. With that in mind, here are six tips on how to set up your print shipping without damaging or delaying your order:
1. Make Sure Your Shipping Container Is Secure And Appropriate For The Weight Of The Package
2. Choose A Carrier That Best Suits Your Needs
3. Consider The Impact Of Shipping Costs
4. Choose The Right Type Of Shipping Carrier
5. Look At What Shipping Options Are Available
6. Be Prepared To Make Adjustments
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