Next stop: Shipping!
So you’ve got your storefront revamped and your storage organized – what next? Sales, of course! When an item sells, you need to ship it, and I’ve found shipping can be a huge time-sucker if the process isn’t streamlined. I’ve been selling online for almost a decade now (wow~what a realization!) and I laugh now when I look back at my very humble beginnings. I was so clueless! The process of selling each item used to take me forever, but thankfully over the years I’ve been able to perfect a few methods and shipping is one of them.
If you have the luxury of space, I highly recommend that you establish a dedicated shipping area for your business. This makes the process go much more quickly, and it’s easier to set up an assembly line to prepare multiple shipments at once. Because I sell a wide variety of items and not just clothing, I have more needs in my shipping area. Packing peanuts, foam wrap, tons of boxes, etc. If you are selling all or nearly all clothing, you will be able to have a much smaller setup.
Here are a few pictures from our shipping center (in an unfinished section of basement):
This is an unfinished wall with pegboard screwed into the wall studs. As you can see, this area could use a little tidying up, but it certainly serves its purpose. The re-arrangeable pegs make it very easy to expand to meet changing needs. We use this space to store tape, priority stickers, customs forms, measuring stick, storage bags, etc. On the shelf below (again, this was attached to the wall studs) are shipping scales and a jar of pens.
Next, one of the best shipping tools we’ve ever found – foam wrap. My dad cleverly hung these bars from the ceiling to hold these huge rolls, keeping them up and out of the way, and very easy to roll out directly into boxes or around items. Honestly, I think this is my favorite part of the shipping setup. These rolls come from a local shipping supply company and they are 6 feet wide, but they will cut them down for you in any length you specify. I use 12 and 16 inch boxes most often, so I’m able to have foam wrap in exactly the right width! (PS – 3 printers on the table, all need a new home – in case you’re looking 
) The table underneath was purchased inexpensively at a yard sale and it makes the perfect place to wrap packages! The height wasn’t the most comfortable for extended use, so we recently purchased risers to bring it up to a better position. That makes a BIG difference during the Christmas rush, when you spend a lot of time packaging!
This last picture is of shelves used for box and polymailer storage. This is only about 1/3 of the length, but my camera battery died so I had to snap quick pictures on my Blackberry and it’s hard to get good ones that way. At the end of the shelves is a box of packing peanuts with a scoop. We buy non-static peanuts in huge volume from our supplier, and the bags they come in are taller than me – not ideal! I find it more manageable to have a smaller portion out at a time, and a box is easier to work with than a bag. One day I’d love to have an overhead dispenser, but ceiling height in the basement isn’t ideal for a system like that. As you can see, this section holds primarily priority boxes. On the other (non pictured) end of the shelves are the boxes we purchase in larger sizes. Those all stay flattened, but I try to keep a few priority boxes already assembled for convenience. In busy times, that comes in very handy!
Again, I know that this type of setup won’t work for everyone. If space is tight and you can’t keep a permanent shipping area set up, I suggest you consolidate supplies in a basket or bin. In the past I have used a large wicker basket to hold my tape dispenser, stickers, customs forms, etc, and this basket sat on a bookcase. It’s easy to pull out when it’s time to ship, and keeps your work area tidy as well.
If you don’t have a big room, don’t sweat it. Most of us don’t! Just because you don’t have a large space available doesn’t mean you can’t do something similar. You can hang pegboard on the inside of a closet door, for example, to accomplish the same sort of storage system as I have pictured above. Maybe you don’t have space for a table, but you could still hang a shelf on the wall. And boxes definitely don’t have to be assembled in advance – you can easily save space by leaving the collapsed boxes standing on edge.
Finally, I find it easiest to create an assembly line for packaging and shipping. Our process is to print out all of the orders, package them, then print all of the shipping labels. When packaging, I enclose a packing slip and card, seal the box, and write the buyer’s last name on the outside of the box, where the shipping label will cover it. I then weigh and measure the box, and write the weight and dimensions of the box on the order form. Boxes can then be set aside to await a label. Once I have this done for all of the shipments that day, labels can be printed in bulk from Paypal, USPS.com, Endicia, or FedEx, and I match them up to each package by last name.
This is what works for me! What works for you? I’d love to hear how you handle the shipping process, and what ideas you might have to help us streamline and regroup. I said I’d perfected a system, but of course that isn’t true – there is always room for improvement! Let us hear your thoughts, and you will be entered to win an office organization kit! Also, don’t forget to check out yesterday’s post and leave a comment for a chance to win there, too!
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LOVE your setup! I have the space, but lack the organization (as of right now, give it some time) to get it setup like that. I will definately be looking into the foam wrap. Right now I have a huge box that houses all my misc bubblewrap, cellos, boxes, tissue paper, etc. I can go in there and pull out what I need for that day. I have a small bag that I use to hold some cellos and polys that I leave at my desk for all the day to day shipping. I usually have to scramble when shipping something large, so definately need to implement some of these ideas. Thank you.
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Wow, I am so impressed with your set-up!! I love shipping (it my fave part of this gig, lol) and I need some foam rolls now!! You could also hang your bubble wrap up there
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Wow you are the queen of organizing; I dont think there is any improvement needed at your place.
On the other hand; I can use some improvement for sure.
I have an inventory room where I also do my shipping; I only sell clothes so I dont need that much ..
I have a table in my inventory room where al my shippingsupplies are stored.
I print my labels at my desk and take them to the inventory room where I collect the items sold; give them a last check and sit at the table and put them in the mailers and stick the label on it.
Jolanda
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I wish I had that much room! I keep all my tape, scissors and small supplies like that in a basket. Then, all my poly mailers sorted by size in another box and finally my boxes are piled by size. I do not assemble boxes until I am ready to ship because of space. I use bubble wrap in a big roll which I do love.
My biggest problem is space.
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I use my bed as my table. I keep the largest size priority shirt box (flat) right between the bed and end table. I have a “tray” with smaller plastic baskets inside with — cards, sissors, pens, etc. The tray lives on top of an open bin which has the polymailers and cello bags. I put all 3 items onto the bed. The flat box is my work surface, with the supply tray and mailers bin nearby. (Im on the look-out for a larger portable work surface— probably foamcore posterboard)
If I sit (my computer desk is just feet away), the height is ok. For when I stand, I found a firm pillow which makes it just the right height for me… Id gotten it at a yard sale… i think its meant to be for a window seat or dining bench or something. It might take some time to find the right item… but once you figure what to use, just keep it nearby.
I keep a lot of my “most likely to sell” inventory in a long bins under the bed. (hubbys idea!). Its all far from perfect, but ….. even with my ADD, Ive gotten quite good at putting my supplies BACK into that tray!
Another way to help with having the supplies where you need them is to purchase doubles and tripples… so you can have 1 pair of scissors with your shipping stuff… one with your photography stuff, and one out on the desk for other uses (and little hands!).
I use this area for clothing mostly, but also for medium sized toys throughout the year.
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Keep in mind that space can be an obstacle as much as it can be a help. (Im a trained factory engineer). A compact set-up cuts down on “travel time”. Of course, the space to keep things set up, and to keep all supplies always accessible is beneficial. But, dont think you cannot be efficient in a small space.
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I package everything as I list it and store them numerically in bins and boxes in the garage. I have a master list so I can just look up the item when it sells, see the number and know exactly where to get it from storage. I keep tape, scissors, stapler and the coupons & business cards I enclose all in one spot next to my desk and then package either in my office at my desk or take them into my room and do them on my bed.
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We have a similar setup with a long countertop, basic supplies on top stored in a stack of in/out boxes, and then shipping boxes in containers below, along with polymailers sorted by size. Extra/larger boxes are stored across the room, as are the stash of airbubbles. (The room also houses inventory, a mere 3 steps away).
I am looking for ideas on how to better utilize the wall space, currently it is w/out shelves or hooks, so the pegboard idea intrigues me a bit.
Back in the main office area DH and I have a printer for labels between our two workstations, with labels, extra tape, scissors, a scale and a small collection of envelopes and bubble mailers in baskets on a shelf above. He primarily ships from here, so we have all the necessary items right in that area.
Can’t wait to see what others post about, as I always look for new ways to better organize my stuff!
Great post, thanks.
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I am very impressed with your system. I wish I had the space to devote an entire room to Ebay and be able to set up a shipping station. It would make life so much easier. I am thinking of getting a large bin from Walmart and storing my boxes in it and maybe a medium size bin for my shipping supplies.
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Love your setup! I have a partially unfinished basement that I would love to turn into something similar to what you have – unfoturnately, it is stacked with boxes full of accumulated “stuff” of over 39 yrs of marriage. This year my dh and I are determined to get thru the boxes and get everthing either listed or donated. It could take more than one year though – LOL
Right now I work in a spare bedroom. I have an old dresser that I use as both my photo area and my packing area. Not ideal, but works for the most part. In the top two drawers I keep my polys – shipping labels, custom labels and such. Second level long drawer are my #5, #1 & #0 bullble mailers….and in the 3rd drawer mostly my #7 mailers and a few misc items such as tape.
I have recently put up a couple of shelves on the wall above my computer desk – this has allowed me to clean off the desk and keep it relatively neat. What a blessing. We took the doors off the closet and that is where most of my priority boxes are stored with some small plain boxes for non-priority. Also some hanging clothes are there and a couple of my clothing bins.
My next step is to put pegboard on the back of the bedroom door to hang small toys, etc. in blister packs. I will love it!
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I love your pegboard idea, this would be nice for me only in a smaller design. I do have space for shipping in my laundry room. When I pull items to ship, I wash and dry them and will pack them on the kitchen table. I need change this year and the pegboard will force me to work more in the laundry room/shipping supply area rather than to find all my shipping supplies here and there as I need to pack up items!
Right now I do have a midsized end table with a large drawer that has polymailers, scale, and stickers. My sissors need to always be in the same place so I know the kids don’t have them :0) And my tape and bubble wrap dissapear quite often, so I am thinking about hanging my roll from the ceiling as well, I have the perfect place for it in the laundry room!
I am a Seasoned seller, but I really need to work on organizing myself.
Thanks for the blog on this!
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I sell on a very small scale and I really don’t have a system. I’m so glad to see all of these shipping tips as I spend a lot of time and get fewer stars for shipping.
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Very impressed with your setup! I sell/ship mainly clothing so everything I need is organized right around my computer. I love the foam…. may have to look into some for the odds and ends that I do ship.
Great post!
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This is definitely the number one thing that is keeping me from getting started. Not only the organization, but the proper pricing, price quoting, etc. I like the small space ideas posted here, and will likely implement many of these.
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Wow your shipping area is amazing! I don’t have that much space, but I don’t need a large space for shipping either. I found a great way to organize my polys. Back when I used to scrapbook I had a cute cart that I bought at Costco that has colorful trays. I put a sticker on the front of each tray with the size of poly and then sorted them. I even had a couple extra trays left over and used them for tape, priority stickers, scissors, etc. My boxes are stacked according to size on a shelf in the closet. I am lucky to have a small bedroom in our recently finished basement that we use as an office and that is where I keep most of my ebay stuff (except my bins are overflowing and so the rest are in the master closet).
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