mel jacobson on mon 3 sep 07
i have found that going to the source, like a box
factory is the best.
of course, i live in a big city....but, there are at least
10 major box factories in the twin cities of mpls/st. paul.
i buy bulk.
like 200 of each size. 6x6, 8x8,10x10 and so on.
the boxes fit inside of each other.
it is so nice to have that perfect sized box when a customer
rushes in...saturday morning and needs a wedding gift.
bam...in the box...some foam wrapping...a card from you
with the pot...sealed with tape...they just have to run home and
add some wrapping and a bow.
double boxing is a breeze.
in most cities there are box makers. it is just a basic
need. check online...box manufacture, your area.
most of them carry big rolls of bubble wrap and foam
paper.
the boxes come bailed in bundles of 50...flat.
you just assemble them, use a package tape dispenser...zing done.
the problem with bubble wrap rolls is that they are the
size of a hay bail. i just stick mine on top of the drums
of glaze. move it over as i need materials.
the boxes are stored in the attic of my garage..you know, up there
with old porch furniture, fishing tackle and those old dolls and toys
of the kids...(most of that is now gone to charity.)
i was stunned at the price of boxes and wrapping at the ups store.
my god....$3 for a flat box? keep it. and a bag the size of a grocery
bag of plastic peanuts...$6.50. that is an outrage.
use your business card, walk into any box manufacturer and buy
a few hundred.
i found an old book called `ship it`...with tips and ideas on shipping
anything...paid a buck for it on the porch of `borders`.
jonathan kaplan wrote a post for clayart on shipping...it was
a life changer. double box everything with new boxes...bubble wrap
and foam....it always makes it. he maintains that it is the cheapest
and best purchase you can make as a potter..new boxes. i now agree.
i know that running around town looking for free boxes and bubble wrap
does not pay you anything...time wasted. if you see a batch of free stuff,
and you are there...yes, take it. i do. but to drive and hunt....at
$3.25 a gallon.
hell no.
and, i still love my new orange buckets i bought at home depot.
new, and pretty. and i love them.
mel
never ship good pots in old vodka boxes.
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
| |
|
