Branding + Business: Part 2 Packaging

I wanted to continue to talk about my business re-branding. This round is about the customer experience with packaging.

I had 3 custom stamps made:
1: My return address in the same matching font on my business card.It is so much more cost effective then printing labels on my home printer all the time.

2: The address block. If you are like me I can't write in straight line unless I have lines so I had a stamp made.I made it with 4 lines since international addresses are at least for 4 lines.

3: Thank you stamp. I place this cute circle stamp on every item package that goes out.




6x9 Kraft envelope stamped - most of my orders are mailed in these.
I buy these kraft envelopes in bulk online.



Packaged product. All items are placed in cellophane bags with a business card.
On the front side I attach my branded Thank you circle.

All cellophane bags are purchased in bulk online. I use 3 different sizes.



The "Thank you" stamp matchs the idea of the round business card and also use the same font.
The fun thing is I can use any color card stock to change the look.

 

I try and mail everything from home if at all possible (saves on mileage and gas). I have a small shipping scale (purchased on ebay) and buy different stamp values at the post office. That way if a package is under $2.00 to mail I can mail it from home. I also get to use fun stamps you don't normally see.

Now you see what the custom sees. Everything matches all the way from online until they get the package in the mail.

Vendors used for stamps:
Terbearco
CustomMadeStuff

If you missed the 1st post you find it here.

Branding: Before and After

As you saw last week, I had some new business cards made. When it's time to get new business cards sometimes its time for a whole new look. When I looking online for a business card prices I saw GotPrint had new shaped cards. I knew when I saw the circle design that was going to be my new card. It fits my business perfectly since I create die cuts. This was the 1st stepping stone to re-branding my whole my business.

Before - These were the cards I had made 1 year ago

I used my new business card design to redesign all my business identities. Etsy shop graphics, blog graphics, Facebook & Twitter graphics. Everything online and offline should match.

I used the same elements of my old design but freshened it up and making it a little more simple with just one design element - retro star as I like to call it. I also used the same font. I already had rubber stamps made with the font that I use for my return address & thank yous. The circle card is already a feature in it's self so I didn't feel like I needed a whole lot more. I kept the same color palette as the old look but made the green color my accent color (Green also happens to be my favorite color).

I will be sharing photos of my rubber stamps and packaging  in another upcoming post on branding.

After - Circle business cards

Featured on GotPrint Today

I am featured on the GotPrint blog today featuring my new round business cards.

Please go take a look if you would.

Hello to a new month

Photo taken by me at San Clemente Pier

March was great but I have new goals for April. It's really true that time flies by or so it seems.If feels like its going tby slow but before you know it gone. 
Highlights of March:

• 20 Days at the gym or doing P90X yoga
• Surpassed my sales goals for Etsy 
• Had my 1000th Sale on Etsy on March 31st
• Planned a Cupcake Party for April 
• Went to the beach to relax with Larry and the gnome
• Made garlic knots for the 1st time 

All in all a very good productive month I would say. Being the person I am I always want to do more, make more and see more.

Here are my plans for April:

• Scrapbooking tomorrow night for 6 hours with a friend of mine (The gnome is coming)
• New branding for my shop (more to come on that)
• New sales goals for my Etsy shop
• Going to Las Vegas for a few days to have some much needed fun (The gnome is coming)
• New goals for the blog - this blog is a whole new world to me and I want to make it the best it can be 
• More time spent at the beach

Have a wonderful weekend :) 
Next week I will be sharing my new round business cards and more on branding.