The Importance of a Good Packing Job
You have gotten your work into an exhibition, congratulations you are now a professional exhibiting artist. Now that you are a professional you will want to maintain your reputation with the galleries you are exhibiting with. The number 1 way to not get invited back by a gallery is to send poorly packed work. If you work arrives broken all of the work the gallery put into advertising your work was wasted. There are some other niceties that will make a gallery like you forever and invite you back again and again. The better your packing job the more respect you will get as an artist.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Packing Cups
Selecting your boxes
1. You will need at least 2 boxes. A smaller interior box and a larger exterior box.
2. The exterior box needs to be 4" larger in all dimensions than the interior box so that you can have at least 2 inches of packing material all around the interior box.
3. The quality of the box makes a difference. New boxes are best; however, reusing boxes is great for the environment, just make sure you remove any old shipping labels. Old shipping labels can cause your package to be sent to the wrong location. Very dusty boxes stored in a studio need to be cleaned, or tape will not stick properly and they may come open in shipping. Don't use arleady dented boxes, they are likely to fall apart in shipping.
4. If your work is heavier you will want to get a double thick box (2layers of cardboard in the box walls instead of 1. A double thick box does not work in replacement of the 2 layer packing system.
5.Clearly labeling your boxes with your name on more than 1 side will insure that you get your packing materials back. Labeling the top of the box will insure that the cups are unpacked as you expect them to be.
6. The nicer the quality of you box the more likely it is it will be treated with respect in the shipping process. Writing personal messages to the shippers on the box may help to gain that respect as well. Dire warning will probably have the opposite effect.
1. You will need at least 2 boxes. A smaller interior box and a larger exterior box.
2. The exterior box needs to be 4" larger in all dimensions than the interior box so that you can have at least 2 inches of packing material all around the interior box.
3. The quality of the box makes a difference. New boxes are best; however, reusing boxes is great for the environment, just make sure you remove any old shipping labels. Old shipping labels can cause your package to be sent to the wrong location. Very dusty boxes stored in a studio need to be cleaned, or tape will not stick properly and they may come open in shipping. Don't use arleady dented boxes, they are likely to fall apart in shipping.
4. If your work is heavier you will want to get a double thick box (2layers of cardboard in the box walls instead of 1. A double thick box does not work in replacement of the 2 layer packing system.
5.Clearly labeling your boxes with your name on more than 1 side will insure that you get your packing materials back. Labeling the top of the box will insure that the cups are unpacked as you expect them to be.
6. The nicer the quality of you box the more likely it is it will be treated with respect in the shipping process. Writing personal messages to the shippers on the box may help to gain that respect as well. Dire warning will probably have the opposite effect.
Selecting your packing materials
1. Bubble or soft foam wrap is best for everything.
2. Make sure your materials are clean, dusty packing materials will not hold tape. If you reuse your packing materials (a sensible thing to do) store them in bags that protect them from dust.
3. Use good quality clear packing tape on boxes and blue painters tape on bubble wrap. Don't use clear tape on bubble wrap it is hard to find and tears the bubbles making hard to reuse the material for return shipping.
4. There are some great non plastic alternatives if you are concerned about the environment. The best one for wrapping cups is perforated cardboard sheeting. Never wrap your cups in newspaper. Newspaper will void any shipping insurance you have.
5. Packing peanuts are a sometimes necessary evil. Try to avoid them, but if you must use them put them in sealed plastic bags to create packing pillows. If the person unpacking your work has to dig through packing peanuts accidents are more likely to happen. Never pack cups in loose packing peanuts, the cups will fall down through the peanuts and may end up cracking each other. Generally if you are going to use peanuts try to only use them in the outside box.
1. Bubble or soft foam wrap is best for everything.
2. Make sure your materials are clean, dusty packing materials will not hold tape. If you reuse your packing materials (a sensible thing to do) store them in bags that protect them from dust.
3. Use good quality clear packing tape on boxes and blue painters tape on bubble wrap. Don't use clear tape on bubble wrap it is hard to find and tears the bubbles making hard to reuse the material for return shipping.
4. There are some great non plastic alternatives if you are concerned about the environment. The best one for wrapping cups is perforated cardboard sheeting. Never wrap your cups in newspaper. Newspaper will void any shipping insurance you have.
5. Packing peanuts are a sometimes necessary evil. Try to avoid them, but if you must use them put them in sealed plastic bags to create packing pillows. If the person unpacking your work has to dig through packing peanuts accidents are more likely to happen. Never pack cups in loose packing peanuts, the cups will fall down through the peanuts and may end up cracking each other. Generally if you are going to use peanuts try to only use them in the outside box.
Packing your work in a way that will guarantee insurance will be honored
Companies like FedEx, UPS, and USPS have strict policies on packing and will only honor any insurance of you follow their guidelines.
1. Always double box.
2. Always have at least 2 inches of foam, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts between the exterior box and the interior box.
3. Make sure each cup is wrapped in at least 2 inches of bubble wrap. Small bubbles surround by large bubbles works best. The small bubbles go well around details, the large bubble provide superior cushioning.
4. Make sure nothing will move in the interior box. Add extra packing material as needed.
5. Always Secure bubble wrap with blue painters tape.
6. Wrapping corrugated cardboard around the bubble wrap will make an even stronger wrapping.
7. For cups list the contents of your package as dishes. Shippers are more likely to pay out on claims for standard items like dishes than on artwork, which they can claim has a more nebulous value.
8. Photograph the process of packing to keep as a record in case you have to file a claim. If the work arrives broken the gallery should photograph the packing as well.
9. Never use paper for wrapping material, this will void any claims you try to make.
10. When you are done you should feel comfortable dropping your package 10 feet. The shipper will be dropping it at least that far at some point during transit. It may also encounter forklift spearing, being smashed down with a forklift, and being shoved out of the back of a truck. This is why double boxing is so important.
11. There is conflicting opinion on whether labeling a package fragile will cause it to be handled more carefully, or if it invites disgruntled workers to be more aggressive. This choice depends mostly on your worldview.
We have had the most luck with FedEx as shipper for Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show. They are our preferred shipper.
Companies like FedEx, UPS, and USPS have strict policies on packing and will only honor any insurance of you follow their guidelines.
1. Always double box.
2. Always have at least 2 inches of foam, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts between the exterior box and the interior box.
3. Make sure each cup is wrapped in at least 2 inches of bubble wrap. Small bubbles surround by large bubbles works best. The small bubbles go well around details, the large bubble provide superior cushioning.
4. Make sure nothing will move in the interior box. Add extra packing material as needed.
5. Always Secure bubble wrap with blue painters tape.
6. Wrapping corrugated cardboard around the bubble wrap will make an even stronger wrapping.
7. For cups list the contents of your package as dishes. Shippers are more likely to pay out on claims for standard items like dishes than on artwork, which they can claim has a more nebulous value.
8. Photograph the process of packing to keep as a record in case you have to file a claim. If the work arrives broken the gallery should photograph the packing as well.
9. Never use paper for wrapping material, this will void any claims you try to make.
10. When you are done you should feel comfortable dropping your package 10 feet. The shipper will be dropping it at least that far at some point during transit. It may also encounter forklift spearing, being smashed down with a forklift, and being shoved out of the back of a truck. This is why double boxing is so important.
11. There is conflicting opinion on whether labeling a package fragile will cause it to be handled more carefully, or if it invites disgruntled workers to be more aggressive. This choice depends mostly on your worldview.
We have had the most luck with FedEx as shipper for Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show. They are our preferred shipper.
Return Shipping Specific to Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show
For Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show you are required to provide return shipping. (most galleries have a similar policy)
1. The preferred method is a prepaid FedEx return shipping label. FedEx will not charge you unless it is used. This is great because then you do not pay if your cups sell.
a. the easiest way to get a label is to get a FedEx account. This will allow you to print out the label from home.
b. not everyone wants to have an account, FedEx shippers will also print out a label for you
2. UPS and USPS also offer return shipping labels. Even USPS offers label printing from home, it is just more confusing than FedEx. They are a little bit more complicated. If you are confused the best bet is to go directly to the shipper.
3. If you absolutely cannot get a return label, you may include a check. Be aware that SAVCC uses a third party shipper for return shipping, so you will need to round up the price of shipping if shipping from UPS or USPS. SAVCC will not return boxes with inadequate return shipping.
4. Make sure you put the return label on top of all packing material so that it is easily found by the volunteers unpacking the work.
4. If no return shipping is included with the package SAVCC will consider any unsold cups a donation to the clay community. We use these donations to help fund future programming.
1. The preferred method is a prepaid FedEx return shipping label. FedEx will not charge you unless it is used. This is great because then you do not pay if your cups sell.
a. the easiest way to get a label is to get a FedEx account. This will allow you to print out the label from home.
b. not everyone wants to have an account, FedEx shippers will also print out a label for you
2. UPS and USPS also offer return shipping labels. Even USPS offers label printing from home, it is just more confusing than FedEx. They are a little bit more complicated. If you are confused the best bet is to go directly to the shipper.
3. If you absolutely cannot get a return label, you may include a check. Be aware that SAVCC uses a third party shipper for return shipping, so you will need to round up the price of shipping if shipping from UPS or USPS. SAVCC will not return boxes with inadequate return shipping.
4. Make sure you put the return label on top of all packing material so that it is easily found by the volunteers unpacking the work.
4. If no return shipping is included with the package SAVCC will consider any unsold cups a donation to the clay community. We use these donations to help fund future programming.
Links to packing guides and information for other ceramic artwork
Julia Galloway's Free Field guide for ceramic artisans
NCECA Packaging and Crating for Artists – conference content online!
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler interview with Naomi Cleary offers a gallerist's perspective on shipping
Packaging Ceramics for Shipping: Make Sure Your Pots Survive Shipping
Charlie Cummings
NCECA Packaging and Crating for Artists – conference content online!
Tales of a Red Clay Rambler interview with Naomi Cleary offers a gallerist's perspective on shipping
Packaging Ceramics for Shipping: Make Sure Your Pots Survive Shipping
Charlie Cummings