As a ceramic artist that runs a small business out of my home, making sure my handmade pottery arrives safely is very important. Everything I make is custom-made and fragile, so I will never cut corners when it comes to packing. I always double box everything, wrap each piece in layers of bubble wrap, and add enough packing paper that when I shake the box, there’s no movement.
In my last blog, I shared all the details about how I pack my fragile items. But even with that process, I was still facing another challenge of high shipping costs. Even with using PirateShip the shipping costs seemed oddly high.
At first, I tried to save money by using free or recycled boxes. I saved boxes from my own deliveries and asked friends to hold onto theirs. It seemed like a smart, eco-friendly solution. But over time, I noticed some problems. Whenever an order came in, I had to dig through my garage to find two boxes that kind of fit. Sometimes I got lucky, but more often than not, I’d end up running to the store last minute. And because the sizes weren’t quite right, I had to use extra bubble wrap, foam, and packing paper just to make sure nothing rattled around. That extra space meant larger dimensions and more weight—two things that drive up shipping costs.
Something had to change. I sat down and reviewed every shipment from the past year. I tracked the dimensions, weight, and shipping costs, and then started researching the price of buying the right size boxes. To my surprise, I realized I was spending a lot more on shipping by using poorly fitting boxes. While it was tough to spend several hundred dollars upfront on custom-sized boxes, I knew it was the right move for my business. I ordered two sets of custom boxes that now work for 90% of my pieces.
When procuring your boxes, it’s crucial to order boxes that leave at least 2 inches of clearance between the first (inner) box and the outer box. For example, most of my wavy ceramic bowls are 9-10 inches wide by 4-5 inches high. So, I ordered inner boxes that were 12 inches wide by 8 inches high, and outer boxes that were 14 inches wide by 10 inches high. This extra space helps ensure that there’s enough room for protective packing materials, like bubble wrap and packing paper, and reduces the chance of damage during shipping. Amazon had the best pricing, but as my business grows, I may explore more local suppliers.
Now that I’m shipping in boxes that are properly sized, I’ve reduced shipping costs thanks to smaller dimensions and lighter weight. Packing is also much faster—I’m no longer wasting time hunting for boxes or making last-minute trips to the store. The right box is right there on the shelf, ready to go. That means more time for making pottery and less time figuring out how to ship it.
If you run a small business and ship anything fragile, I highly recommend investing in standard-sized boxes. It’s a great way to reduce unnecessary costs and become more efficient—without ever compromising on the care your work deserves.
