Art prints, photographs, and certificates are popular items that people purchase online or need to be delivered through the post. Many small businesses sell quality prints that you can purchase for your home to display on the wall. If your business sells art prints or photographs, you must package them correctly to prevent damage and avoid customer complaints. If items arrive damaged, you might need to send out a replacement which can impact your profits; this will be a bigger issue if you’re just starting out or running a small business in your spare time. In addition, if you’re sending out certificates, you’ll want to make sure they arrive in good condition. We have some tips to help you package art prints, photographs and certificates to prevent damage.
Measure your products
Envelopes, boxes and tubes need to be the correct size for the item you’re sending through the post. If the packaging is too small, the item may become damaged when it’s put inside the box or envelope. Choosing the right-sized packaging is important; if these flat items have too much room, they can move around, and the corners can become damaged. Customers are unlikely to recommend your business if they receive a print or photo that’s been damaged because of the wrong-sized packaging.
Rigid envelopes
Corrugated cardboard can be used on either side of smaller photographs and prints that need to remain flat during posting. Cut the cardboard so that it’s larger than the print or photograph, then place it on either side to sandwich the print in position. This flat packaging can then be placed inside a plastic sleeve or inside a rigid envelope for added protection. Do not bend stickers can be added to the packaging to reinforce the message and prevent your item from being bent when in transit.
Premium flat packaging
If you’re sending a print or photograph as a gift, and you want to make the item more premium, you could consider using a photograph box for shipping. These boxes are specifically designed to keep photographs and other flat items safe during transit. They also look impressive; some can be printed with your business logo or embellished with a ribbon. Photograph boxes are also perfect for the presentation of certificates; by sending your certificates out in a photo box, you can protect them and create a memorable moment for the individual when they receive their certificate.
Mailing tubes
For larger prints that can’t be sent flat, mailing tubes can be used to prevent damage when the print is sent through the post. Mailing tubes are much safer and cheaper than finding and shipping a large box with a flat print inside. To provide extra protection to the print, roll it up inside a piece of kraft paper before placing it inside the mailing tube. This will prevent damage and make it easier to take the print out when it arrives without accidentally damaging the edges. The kraft paper should be slightly larger than the print so that it fits inside on all edges. The kraft paper can be taped together in the middle and folded down at each edge to prevent damage. If there is space at each end of the tube, you can use bubble wrap or another form of void fill to cushion the print at either end.
Sending several items
You’ll need to change the packaging slightly if you’re sending several items together in one shipment. For two or more large prints being sent together in a mailing tube, choose a larger tube and place a piece of kraft paper between each print before they’re packaged in the tube. This will protect each print and stop them from rubbing together during transit. If you’re using a box to send two or more photographs, you can specialise paper to protect the photos if they’re particularly valuable. In some cases, photos can be sent together without causing damage to each other if they are stacked together tightly.
If you ship photographs, prints and certificates, you’ll need to be careful, but with the right packaging and care, you can ensure the item is received without being damaged in the post.
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