Shipping Suppliers - Small Business Tips

Tange Design

Over the last few weeks I've shared many tips for shipping your products. Today is the last installment of my Shipping Series and I wanted to share with you where I frequently get my shipping supplies.

Usps.com
One great place to get FREE boxes is usps.com. If your items weigh more than 13 oz., you can either ship them Parcel Post or Priority. Many times Priority is actually a cheaper or comparable option up to about 2 lbs. Usps.com has many sizes of free priority boxes that they'll ship right to your door! If you're not sure what size you need, they offer a sampler pack. Or choose packages of 10 or 25 of the size you know you need.

Bulk Boxes
Do your items weigh less than 13 oz.? Buying boxes in bulk may be the way to go. I've purchased from Uline a couple of times and love their fast delivery times and good prices. Roayal Mailers is another online option for bulk boxes. I've never purchased from them myself, but have heard great things about them as well.

Bubble Wrap
I recently purchased 2 BIG rolls of bubble wrap off eBay for about $22 with free shipping! I've also found good deals at Menards and Office Depot. The key is to do a square foot comparison with shipping added in. Bubble wrap comes in so many different sizes that I've found that this is the easiest way to see exactly what you're paying.

Recycle!
Luckily we have a large room upstairs that we use for storage...because I save every box and packing supply that comes to our house...LOL! And I have friends saving shipping supplies for me too :) My aunt works in the area that unpacks their supplies, so I get lots of great air pillows from her! Once you tell people that you're looking for packing supplies, they're thrilled to help you out. Most people throw them away and are happy to hand them over :)
I always wrap my items in new bubble wrap, but pack the rest of the box with recycled supplies if I can.

Do you have a great source for shipping supplies? Share it in the comments!

Thank you for stopping by the last installment of my Shipping Series. You can see the rest of the series here:
*Shipping From Home
* Shipping Internationally
* Shipping with UPS
* Shipping Suppliers
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Edi is the creative mind behind Memories for Life Scrapbooks (and Laser Engraving). She has been paper crafting for over 15 years and recently purchased a laser engraver that is keeping her creativity at an all time high!

Friday Features -- Love in All the Right Places

I created an etsy treasury of different items I felt could signify love to various people. Here are a few of those items I included...

Artful Rising

The Bucktooted Bunny

raceytay

N. Fallon Design Studio

Linda B

Memories for Life Scrapbooks

QUESTION: Are you ready?

This Friday Featured is presented by Erika of Artful Rising.

February's Giveaway -- Team Wide Love Event

 this contest has ended.
Enter to win these great prizes! One lucky person will receive all of these handmade items from participating Blogging Business Artisans.

Honey from the Bee

 Princess crown earrings. Value: $15

 A Bird in the Hand

Vintage Handkerchief Rings.  Repurposed vintage handkerchief used it to cover a wooden heart. The heart is attached to an adjustable silver-plated ring base. 

 BeadedTail

Three 6mm dark grey hematite hearts dangle and create such shine!  The hearts are separated by 2mm round silver toned beads. The earwires are genuine sterling silver.

Length of the dangled earring is approximately 1" (2.5cm). From the top of the earwire to the bottom bead is 1.5" (3.8cm). 

Random Creative

10 button thumb tacks packaged in a jewelry box with a tack backing as pictured.  Value: $5.00.

N. Fallon Design Studio

The giveaway item is one cute knit heart pin in purple/ green.  It was knit with love using 100% wool and is stuffed with poly fiberfill.   It measures approximately 2 inches at its widest points, and has a nickel pin back glued securely for wearing.  The pin comes on a card printed with the saying "Close to my heart". 

Splendid Little Stars

Luxurious silk velvet zipper pouch hand dyed a brilliant red!  Two crocheted flowers of pale pink and cream with a shell-pink button center are attached for decoration.  The inside is lined with quilted silk, also dyed red. 
@ 5" x 3 1/4"

 

 Magnolia Surprise

Perfect for your February decorations, to give as a gift, or for a small one's tea party. Each yummy cookie has lots of sweet icing -- one pink, one red, and one white.


They measure just over 2.5 inches across and 1/2 inch thick and are made of two crocheted cookie layers with a sugary icing layer on top. All layers are securely sewn together.


Crocheted with acrylic yarn, they may be gently hand washed and laid flat to dry.

Storybeader

 Hand rolled paper and onyx bead earrings - Sheet music special

Artful Rising

Custom Clay Heart with twine loop. The winner will pick a name or word for the heart.

TO ENTER:

1. Visit one of the participating shops by clicking on the shop name above each photo and share what additional product you like from her shop or what you would like to see added. 2. Leave a comment on this post and include contact information.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

3. Visit each participating shop and comment as to what you like in the shop. You may leave a separate comment for each shop you visit.
4. Blog about the giveaway with a link back to the post. Leave a comment with the  direct URL where I can find the post.
5. Like the BBA Facebook page and leave a separate comment on this post.

6. Spread the word on twitter with the tweet:

  Multiple Item Giveaway #BBArtisans #giveaway  http://bloggingbusinessartisans.blogspot.com/

and leave a separate comment with your twitter name on this post.

CONTEST DEADLINE:

February 21, 2012 at 11am central

CONTEST ELIGIBILITY:

Contest open worldwide