Shipping supplies for a clothing line
April 12th, 2007
As I’m getting ready to ship stuff out the door today, I thought that a post on shipping would be timely. I have found getting the shipping processes and supplies to be much more difficult than I anticipated. I think the difficult part is getting it organized so that it’s an efficient process, so that each package isn’t too time consuming. It seems like with each package we ship out, I find something else that needs to be done better, or more supplies we could use; something I think will make us look more professional.
Here are two good companies that are fast and reliable for shipping supplies:
The one thing that is driving me crazy is how the heck do you get the “This bag is not a toy. Do not leave unattended with children” warning onto all the little plastic bags that you ship out?? I’m now to the point where I’m assuming I have to ask ULine to print it on the bags I order, or maybe I have to get a stamp that works on plastic bags? Does ANYBODY know? It’s driving me crazy.
Otherwise, we’re getting it down. We’re to the point where we have all the labels and bags and boxes and tissue paper we need when it’s time to ship something.
The internet makes it nice to be able to print shipping labels from home and arrange for carrier pick-up. We have both of these options with UPS and USPS. I have lost faith in the USPS since our lost package, and I’ve been really unhappy with the local Fed-EX (I’ll only use them when a customer has specifically selected FED-EX shipping). I think my unhappinesss stems from the unhappiness of the employees at our local location, but it’s a miserable experience. UPS has been the best, by far.
I highly recommend you set up a shipping area in your office so that your shipping system can be organized and efficient. We’re working on ours, but that’s why I highly recommend it. It’s a pain not having everything in arms reach.
So, I’m off to pack and label packages. Have a good day everyone!
Entry Filed under: Shipping & Fulfillment
7 Comments Add your own
1. Canadianmompreneur&hellip | April 12th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Is that required by law to put : “This bag is not a toy. Do not leave unattended with children”?
2. amber&hellip | April 12th, 2007 at 9:25 am
I don’ t know it it’s rquired by law; I’m assuming it is, but if it isn’t, its on every single plastic bag I see – except mine LOL.
I think it’s most important to save us and prevent us from getting sued. I don’t know, it might be different in Canada. Here, we’re supposed to have warnings about every possible thing. Even “careful beverage is HOT” on coffee cup containers.
My favorite I saw on a curling iron was “do not use while sleeping”. HUH??? Did somebody actually do that????
I think I might be able to buy a stamp that stamps on plastic and just stamp it on everything. I don’t think you need for a big shipment to a store, but for the invidual bags that customers receive your products in, I think that’s most important. So, for us, all the bags we package our onesies in and especially our blankets, we need this warning.
Everything is a pain isn’t it? I need to look up if it’s required by law, I’m having the hardest time searching for it.
3. Canadianmompreneur&hellip | April 12th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I think it’s the manufacturers initiative regarding a bag. We had hard time finding insurance because we’ll sell to the US because in US everyone sues everybody. We even joke with my husband that we need insurance in case someone eat the blanket.
on one of our covers we put warning “do not place product is in baby’s nose or mouth, never leave child unattended”…just in case.
Everything is a pain.I remember one lady in US put her cat in microwave to dry. What kind of warning microwave companies have to make now !?LOL
4. amber&hellip | April 12th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Oh yes, we have a similar blanket warning too, although I didn’t think about “do not plase in baby’s nose or mouth”. Ours does say don’t leave unattended, not for use in crib, never leave infant tummy down and never leave infant in crib with blankets, pillows, or toys.
Give the US a few more years, and we’ll have to ship a whole book full of warnings with our products.
I CAN NOT wait to see your collection that you’re presenting at JPMA, I was reading your blog and it sounds so amazing!!
5. Canadianmompreneur&hellip | April 12th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Thanks Amber. I’m exited myself. When we put everything together (arranging how it will look at the booth) my heart starts to jump.Web-site should be updated on April 21 (I pray that it would
:):))
6. irassin&hellip | January 17th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Amber — were you able to find a rubber stamp that works on plastic bags? I’m in a similar situation where I ship my product in bags that currently do not have the warning. I’d like to be able to stamp the bags instead of pitching them and having to buy new ones. I’d love to hear how you solved this problem. Thanks.
7. amber&hellip | January 17th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Irassin – isn’t it funny how hard it is to find the bags like that. I ended up finding some from uline.com that have the warning and that has worked. Because I didn’t find those, I didn’t look for a stamp. I’m pretty sure that it’s something you have custom printed if you need special-size bags. I never got around to calling the companies b/c I found the interim solution. If you end up finding additional information or supplies, I’m sure everyone who stops in here would love to have the information.
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