How To Ship A Package 📦 Shipping Guide 101 For Beginners!

Summary

In this insightful video, Mei Pak shares essential tips for makers and artists on setting up a worry-free shipping system for their handmade products. She emphasizes the importance of proper packaging to ensure safe delivery and presents cost-effective options like USPS's free priority boxes. Mei also introduces various software solutions for hassle-free postage and shipping label printing, highlighting the time-saving benefits of an automated shipping process. Finally, she recommends essential tools like weighing scales, printers, and labels to streamline the shipping experience, with a special preference for thermal printers for their reliability and convenience.

Takeaways

• 📦 Packaging is crucial for the safe delivery of handmade products. Consider the rough handling during transit and use appropriate packaging materials like bubble wrap.
• 🏷️ Branding starts with the box. The packaging is the first impression a customer has of your product, so choose boxes or mailers that also serve as a form of branding.
• 💰 Balancing cost and protection is key. Paying a bit more for better packaging can save you from the cost of returns due to damaged items.
• 📈 USPS offers free boxes for priority and express mail, which can help in reducing packaging costs.
• 🔖 Bubble wrap is preferred over newspaper for its light weight and better protection.
• 🛍️ For jewelry, using gift boxes within bubble mailers can be an effective packaging strategy, avoiding the extra cost and weight of boxes.
• 📝 Efficient shipping involves using shipping software that integrates with your online sales platforms to automate the process of generating shipping labels.
• 🚚 Shipping software can save time by allowing you to print shipping labels at home and schedule USPS pickups, avoiding trips to the post office.
• 💻 Calculating shipping rates in real-time with software ensures you're always up-to-date with the current prices and can adjust your product pricing accordingly.
• ⚖️ A weighing scale is essential for accurate shipping costs, as most services charge based on weight.
• 🖨️ Thermal printers are recommended for printing shipping labels due to their durability and cost-effectiveness compared to inkjet or laser printers.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker is Mei Pak, who helps makers, artists, and designers make a consistent income from selling their handmade products online.

What is the main purpose of the video script?

The main purpose of the video script is to share the three key things needed to set up a professional and worry-free shipping system for handmade products.

What are the three key aspects discussed for setting up a shipping system?

The three key aspects discussed are packaging products for safe travel, using software and sites for postage and shipping labels, and the tools and equipment needed for shipping.

Why is packaging important according to the script?

Packaging is important because it ensures the safe travel of products and is the first bit of branding that customers receive, affecting their expectations of the product inside.

What is the speaker's suggestion for packaging fragile items like ceramics?

The speaker suggests investing in proper packaging like bubble wrap and sturdy boxes to prevent damage during shipping, even if it means paying a little more.

How does the United States Postal Service (USPS) support small businesses with packaging?

USPS provides free boxes for priority and express mail, which can be ordered online at USPS.com or obtained at a local USPS store.

What are some of the popular shipping software options mentioned in the script?

Some popular shipping software options mentioned are Indicia, ShipStation, Stamps.com, and Pirate Ship.

What is the benefit of using shipping software for online sellers?

Shipping software allows sellers to buy postage online, print shipping labels at home, and schedule USPS pickups, saving time and effort compared to going to the post office.

What are the essential tools and equipment needed for shipping according to the script?

The essential tools and equipment needed for shipping include a weighing scale for accurate product weights, a printer for labels, and thermal shipping labels with a sticky back.

Why are thermal printers recommended over regular inkjet or laser printers for shipping labels?

Thermal printers are recommended because they use heat to create ink on labels, eliminating the need for separate ink cartridges, and the labels are resistant to smudging in wet conditions.

What are some of the features offered by shipping software that can benefit small businesses?

Shipping software offers features like calculated shipping rates, integration with various shipping services including USPS, DHL, and FedEx, and the ability to print customs forms at home.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Essential Packaging Tips for Safe Shipping of Handmade Products

Mei Pak introduces herself as a business owner who assists makers, artists, and designers in selling handmade products online. She emphasizes the importance of a streamlined shipping process to avoid frustration and highlights the three key aspects of setting up an efficient shipping system. The first aspect discussed is packaging products for safe travel, which includes imagining the harsh conditions items may face during transit. Mei suggests considering the customer's perspective and using protective materials like bubble wrap, which is lighter than alternatives like newspaper. She also mentions the availability of free boxes from the USPS for priority and express mail, and her personal strategy of using gift boxes and bubble mailers for jewelry, which avoids the extra cost and weight of boxes. The goal is to find a balance between protection and cost-efficiency.

05:01

🖨 Streamlining Shipping with Software and Equipment

The second part of the video script focuses on software and sites for purchasing postage at home, eliminating the need for post office visits. Mei describes an ideal workflow where orders are automatically processed through shipping software, allowing for quick packaging and label printing. She mentions the benefits of such software, including time-saving, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to schedule USPS pickups. Popular software options include Indicia, ShipStation, Stamps.com, and Pirate Ship. These programs offer features like online postage payment, label printing, and calculated shipping rates. Mei also touches on the ability to print customs forms at home and the compatibility of some software with other shipping services like DHL and FedEx. Lastly, she discusses the necessary tools and equipment for this process, including a weighing scale for accurate product weights, a printer for label production, and the advantages of thermal printers over traditional inkjet or laser printers.

Keywords

💡Handmade products

Handmade products refer to items that are crafted by hand rather than being mass-produced. In the context of the video, these are the creations of makers, artists, and designers, which are sold online. The script emphasizes the importance of proper shipping for these items to ensure they reach customers in perfect condition, reflecting the care and effort put into their creation.

💡Shipping system

A shipping system is a set of processes and tools designed to streamline the packaging, labeling, and dispatch of products. The video discusses the necessity of establishing an efficient shipping system to reduce frustration and save time for the business owner, allowing them to focus more on creating rather than the logistics of shipping.

💡Branding

Branding is the process of creating a unique name, symbol, or design that identifies and differentiates a product from others in the marketplace. The script mentions that the box in which a product is shipped is the first branding element a customer encounters, indicating its importance in setting initial impressions and expectations about the product.

💡Packaging

Packaging refers to the process of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. The video script stresses the need for robust packaging that can withstand the rigors of transit to ensure the product's safe arrival, using the example of imagining the box being thrown around in the back of a truck.

💡Postage

Postage is the fee required for sending mail or packages through a postal service. The video discusses using software to purchase postage from home, which is a key component of an efficient shipping system, allowing business owners to avoid waiting in line at the post office.

💡Shipping labels

Shipping labels are adhesive labels that contain shipping information, including the sender's and recipient's addresses, as well as postage. The script highlights the convenience of printing shipping labels at home using specialized software, which is integral to the streamlined shipping process discussed.

💡Software integration

Software integration refers to the process of combining different software applications to work together seamlessly. In the video, Mei Pak talks about shipping software that integrates with online selling platforms, which is essential for automating the shipping process and improving efficiency.

💡USPS

USPS stands for the United States Postal Service, which is an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for providing postal service in the country. The script mentions USPS as an example of a postal service that provides free boxes for priority and express mail and allows for the purchase and printing of postage online.

💡Thermal printers

Thermal printers are a type of printer that uses heat to create an image on the label, eliminating the need for ink or toner. The video recommends thermal printers for printing shipping labels because they are reliable, cost-effective, and produce labels that are resistant to smudging in wet conditions.

💡Customs forms

Customs forms are official documents required for international shipments, declaring the contents and value of the package for customs clearance. The script mentions that shipping software can facilitate the printing of customs forms at home, saving time and effort that would otherwise be spent manually filling them out.

💡Weighing scale

A weighing scale is a device for measuring weight, often used in shipping to determine the exact weight of a package. The video emphasizes the importance of an accurate weighing scale in calculating shipping costs, as most shipping services charge based on the weight of the package.

Highlights

Three key things needed to ship handmade products like a pro without worry.

Hi, I’m Mei Pak, helping makers, artists, and designers sell handmade products online and ship thousands of packages.

Shipping can make or break your business, affecting your morning mood as a maker.

A hassle-free system for shipping can turn the process from frustration to ease.

Discussing how to package products safely for shipping to ensure customer satisfaction.

The importance of proper packaging to prevent damage during transit.

Using USPS free boxes for priority and express mail to save on costs.

Strategies for packaging jewelry with gift boxes and bubble mailers to avoid high shipping costs.

Software and sites for buying postage at home to avoid post office lines.

Popular shipping software options like Indicia, ShipStation, Stamps.com, and Pirate Ship.

Benefits of calculated shipping for up-to-date USPS rates and ease of use.

Scheduling free USPS pickup to streamline the shipping process.

The necessity of a weighing scale for accurate shipping weight and cost.

Advantages of thermal printers for shipping labels over inkjet or laser printers.

Recommendations for thermal printers like Zebra and Dymo for efficient label printing.

The goal of printing shipping labels at home for easy and time-saving shipping.

Time savings from setting up a shipping system are worth the initial investment in printers and software.

Even small-scale shippers can benefit from a well-set shipping system with reduced prices on equipment.

Transcripts

If shipping your handmade products has you pulling your hair out

or you don't know where to start then stick around

because I'm sharing the three key things you need to have in place to ship like a pro, worry-free.

Hi, I’m Mei Pak and I help makers artists

and designers make a consistent income from selling their handmade products online.

Now, I've shipped thousands of packages in my time as a business owner.

So I have seen just about every situation imaginable and shipping at least for me.

It can make or break how you feel about your business

when you get up in the morning you're a maker

and so you spent all of this time making items and you want to get them out into the world,

but if shipping is a hassle, then you're going to be really frustrated

and tired about this whole process and that is not what we want.

You basically want to snap your fingers

and have those packages out the door and that's how it can be if you get a system in place.

So today I'm going to talk about three key things for how to set that system up first.

I'm going to talk about how to package your products for safe travel.

Then I'm going to talk about software and sites to use for postage and shipping labels.

And then finally I'm going to talk about some tools

and equipment that you might need to get it all going.

The goal is that you're printing your shipping labels at home.

It's super easy to do and it will allow you to dedicate more time to actually making things which is

what you love doing.

Right? So I want to make it clear that you don't need to be selling dozens

and dozens of items a day to make it worth setting up a shipping system.

Like the one I'm going to show you even if you're only shipping a small number of packages.

The prices have really come down a lot on printers and software.

Time Savings that you will gain by getting some of these Services is just so worth it.

Okay. So the first thing I want to talk about is how to package your products

for safe travel because the first step in any shipping operation is putting the products in a box,

right? So when you take your beautifully handmade item and put it in a box,

I want you to pretend that the box is being thrown around in the back of a truck

and then ask yourself whether your customer will be happy with what they get at the end of that now,

Now I know that seems traumatic, but that's actually what happens.

Your item is going to be taken from your house

and put in a truck and then another truck

and it's going to get thrown around the Factory

and then probably put on some more trucks before it ever reaches its final destination.

I even had one time where my package was run over by a truck now,

I'm not saying we need to account for that case since it's pretty rare occurrence,

but you get my drift you want to make sure that your items are packed.

Very very, well not only is your box the first thing a customer receives

but it's the first bit of branding that's in their hands that's telling them about

what they can expect about the product that's inside the box.

So look across your range of products and find the sizes that will work best for you.

Then select the boxes or mailers that are going to protect your

items and if it means paying a little bit more for bubble wrap or especially sides boxes,

it's usually worth it. So you want to consider Sure,

the trade-off between the cost to ship an item

and the extra money you might have to pay is the customer gets damaged product.

For example, if you ship Ceramics and one out of every 20 of your items comes back broken,

you know, it's probably better

for you to just pay an extra 50 cents to get the proper packaging to begin

with right wait will also be a consideration.

I love Bubble Wrap over something like newspaper

because newspaper gets heavy whereas bubble wrap is just Are one thing that's amazing

about the United States Postal Service is they will provide boxes

for you for free for priority

and express mail and you can order those online at USPS.com

and they'll ship it to you for free as well.

Or you can even grab them at your local USPS store.

Now when I was first starting out with usps's free boxes,

I always felt weird just walking in taking their

boxes and walking out the store without paying

for anything but really that is how it works but only for their priority and express mail boxes.

Okay, don't go stealing their other packaging supplies.

So definitely check that out. If you're looking to save on costs personally,

I sell jewelry and I package each item in their own gift box

which provides some of its own protection

and then I use bubble mailers as the shipping packaging.

I rarely use boxes for the outside packaging

because I don't need to with my product

as they tend to cost more to buy and they weigh more as well which makes my shipping.

Is more expensive so I personally avoid boxes.

So there's definitely a lot of room here to strategize how you ship your products,

especially since you have to strike a fine balance between giving your products ample protection

while not paying an arm and a leg each time you ship.

So the next thing I want to talk about is software

and sites that you can use to buy postage at home instead of

having to wait in line at the post office.

So okay here is what should happen right an order comes in

and It either goes directly to some kind of shipping software automatically

or you just input the details by copying and pasting it into some shipping program.

Then you package up your product

and then a label comes out of a printer

and you put it on your shipping box and it's out the door with a workflow like that.

It can take 2 minutes to get something ready to ship.

Now. This workflow isn't going to be

free but it's going to save you a ton of time and that's worth the small cost.

It will take to get this set

up and you're Not need to be shipping a lot of items to make this worthwhile first.

You're going to need some shipping software that integrates with your website

and anywhere else you sell online.

So some popular ones are indicia shipstation stamps.com

and pirate ship which is free just to name a few of software that's available.

Now the software will most likely have some pretty cool features like being able to pay

for postage online from the comfort of your own home

and printing out labels so you can prepare your packages for sure.

Shipping directly from home. What's nice about this is you can then schedule

for a free USPS pick up the next day

and your Postman or post woman will come and grab your packages from your front door.

That means you don't need to haul all your packages into your car drive

to the post office park your car wait in line

and then drive back home another feature you can get from these software's is calculated shipping.

This is a feature that grabs the USPS current shipping rates

and Set the weight you set

for your products and give you the most up-to-date shipping prices

and it does all of this in a matter of seconds.

So you never have to wonder how much a package will cost a shit

and if you sell larger items and you prefer to use DHL or FedEx,

most of these software's also connect with those services.

So you're not just limited to USPS.

These software's will also print a customs form at home,

which is super nice because those forms are tedious and time consuming.

NG to fill in by hand right now,

let's talk about some tools

and equipment you might want there's not a time that you need

to because we've already talked about

boxes and packing material

but there are three additional things that I think you really need to get this off the ground.

The first is a weighing scale. So, you know how much items way second is a printer

and third are some labels.

So all of the features that we just went over only work if you

have an accurate weight on your products

and what your shipping because most shipping Services charge you a different price.

Based on the weight. So you want it to be accurate here.

So you're not underpaying or over pain in addition to a scale.

You will also want a printer. Now you can use your regular inkjet

or laser printer and get label sheets like this one,

but what I really recommend and love are thermal printers,

so thermal printers work like magic heat passes over the labels

and that's what creates the ink on the labels.

This is great because you don't need to purchase separate ink like you would with a regular inkjet

or laser.

Laser printer, it also means that if your package gets wet in the Rain the ink doesn't run

or smear all over the place thermal printers also usually come in

a much smaller size than your typical inkjet

or laser printer as thermal printers were really designed to print normal regular size documents.

These thermal printers will work with thermal shipping labels that come with sticky back.

So it's easy to just print the label

and peel it off the sheet

and apply it to your packaging

so you don't need to use tape which is a a big fuss

when you're printing with your laser or inkjet printer with regular printing paper.

So there are some different popular brands when it comes to Thermal printers.

So check out the Zebra printers. That's what I use.

I have the lp 2844 and I just buy mine refurbished for a really great price for about $100.

There's also dymo printers which tend to be pricier,

but they're trendier and they look a little bit nicer.