Packaging Crafts for Higher Profit

If you've ever bought something simply because the packaging of the product was just so attractive or clever you couldn't resist, then you don't need me to explain the power of packaging to create a first impression, entice customers to buy and raise the perceived value of a product.

Too often packaging used for crafts is a bit of an afterthought. You probably put an enormous amount of effort into creating your actual items so they make a great impression, but how much thought and effort have you put into the way you package and present your products to customers?

Some Great Packaging Examples

If you doubt the value of packaging to elevate a product, check out my Pinterest board Packaging Ideas and Inspiration.

I'm always pinning examples of great packaging. While most of the ideas aren't handmade, I try to pin only packaging that fits with a handmade aesthetic. That is, I pin packaging examples that would work on a handmade product and would fit in at any craft show.

When you look at the pin board, try to imagine those products without the clever packaging. The products are lovely (Okay, the laundry soap I pinned isn't exactly lovely, but the package is kind of cool), and the great products are made even more enticing by their effective packaging.

If the right packaging:

• is what often makes the first impression
• can entice more people to buy your products
• and may allow you to charge more

Then it makes sense that you should put as much effort into designing your packaging as you would put into creating your products.

Cutting Corners on Product Packaging is a Big Mistake

I haven't always felt this way.

For a long time, I felt that packaging should be something that was put together as quickly as possible. I thought time spent on fancy packaging was time that just added to production costs and could be better spent elsewhere.

However, after looking at many examples of beautiful handmade packaging and seeing how, when done well, it truly elevates the perceived value of a product, I've had a change of opinion.

James Dillehay, author of the fabulous book, How to Price Crafts and Things You Make to Sell, says that developing better product packaging can boost your profits. And if effective packaging can add to your volume of sales and allow you to charge more for your items, then the time spent putting together great packaging is time well spent.

Of course there's always a need to find a balance between keeping costs low and controlling the amount of labor required to create an item.

Just like you streamline your production process as much as possible without losing the quality of your work, you'll want to streamline the packaging process in the same way as well. Each business is different, so that's a balance you'll need to find for yourself.

If, for example, you sell a few high-end items, you can probably easily spend a little more time on packaging because you won't have so many items to package. If, on the other hand, you sell a high volume of lower priced items, you'll probably need to really look at the efficiency of your packaging.