It's all in the detail - or packaging revisited

Ok, so I thought I had the packaging all worked out.  I had painstakingly packaged every one of my 74 items of jewellery according to the new look for my brand:

For small items:-

For larger items like necklaces (organza CD bags- did you even know there was such a thing?):-

No-one apart from me has actually seen any of it in the flesh yet as I haven't sold anything since I did it and that's probably just as well.

Why?  I'll tell you why.

If you read my previous post, you'll know that I spent a whole lot of Saturday in my neighbour's garden with my camera and jewellery collection comandeering her interesting rocks and plant life in the name of art.  That meant I had to remove all my carefully packaged creations from their packaging so that I could attempt to take arty, tasteful, beautiful photos.  That's where I hit the snag.  I had made all of my little cards fit so snugly in the organza bags that the little rascals really didn't want to come back out without a fight.  I figured this might not go down too well with customers.  I mean, you don't want to have to tussle with new additions to your crown jewels before they are even out of the wrapping, do you?  I know I sent a really stroppy letter to the manufacturer of a certain well known brand of electric tooth brush after I shredded my fingers and drew blood trying to liberate my new tooth brush from it's packaging. I don't want anyone else to suffer anything like that at my hands.

So I've been thinking, and it looks like the answer could really be quite simple.  With the aid of an ancient National Computing Centre flowchart template from my programming days and a sharp pair of scissors, my cards now have rounded corners instead of square and they don't snag on the seams of the organza bags any more. Woohoo! Result!

Before:

A

After:

Simples!.....as a certain well known meercat is known to say.  So, that's one down.  Only 73 more to go.  :o)

Pakaging and the brand image

It's one thing being able to make things.  It's another thing making things that other people want to buy.  And it's a totally different ball game creating a brand image for your products and being able to package it in an attractive and professional looking way.

So I spent today re-branding.  Sorry - that suggests I had a brand image in the first place.  I quite clearly didn't.  All I had was a vague notion.  The three things I've sold already have gone out in pretty organza bags but that's about it.  On the other hand, the things I've bought have come with a variety of neat little touches that make them seem that little bit more special.

I looked at customised sticky "thank you" labels  that you can use to seal your creations before you package them for posting but none looked like what I wanted.  And they were a bit expensive, especially as I haven't had enough sales yet to cover the costs.  So I went to WH Smith and browsed their stock of labels.   It was a pitiful selection.  I really wanted round ones (which would no doubt have taxed my computer skills to the limit) but they weren't to be had.  So I ended up with little retangular ones.  What do you think?  They're tiny:

 

I also didn't feel happy that the earrings I've shipped already were only wrapped in tissue paper inside an organza bag.  I haven't been able to find earring pads/cards that I liked so, once again I thought I'd have a go at making my own.  Now my earrings will go out looking like the photo below.  I think it's pretty cool.  And I can punch the cards different ways for earrings and phone charms like this:

I can hardly wait for a sale so that I can use my new bits and pieces.  Sad, I know.  I may also have a problem if someone buys one of the larger items in my shop but I'm sure I can some up with something if that happens.  

OK, it's not perfect but suggestions for improvements and/or additions will be gratefully accepted.  What do you think?