3 Tips to Simplifying Your Art Shipping Around the Holidays

If there’s one thing we know about artists, (and we like to think we know a lot 😉) it’s that they struggle with shipping process in their businesses. It can be frustrating and overwhelming on a good day, but add in the stress of the busy holiday season? 😬

The good news is the process doesn’t have to be overly complicated, and there are ways to make it even easier! We created 3 tips to help you get through the busy holidays with as little shipping stress as possible!

1.STANDARDIZE

As artists when we think about creating art we think about freedom. It can be a challenge to start thinking about setting standardizations as an asset for your business, not a creative limitation. Hear us out: Instead of releasing your next collection in a varied size assortment, try picking one or two sizes and only working in that format. Now not only can you batch-work more efficiently, but you can also streamline your entire shipping experience both for your customers (setting shipping prices just became a lot easier) and for yourself on the packing side of things!

Instead of stockpiling boxes in random sizes, you can now intentionally purchase only the sizes you actually need right now. That saves time during packing and money by not buying supplies you don’t need.

2. ALWAYS BUY THE INSURANCE

If insurance is offered, buy it. If insurance isn't offered, ask your shipping provider if there is a add-on option for this service. Having insurance for an irreplaceable piece of art will provide you and your collector with tremendous peace of mind.

Bonus— you can even announce this within your Shipping FAQs to boldly and directly let your future customers know before they even buy that you have a plan for them, and they don’t have to give this worrisome topic another thought.

3. CREATE A BUSINESS ACCOUNT

This is something all the pros know. There are hidden discounts on all of the major carrier's rates if you set up a business account with them! That's savings you can pass on to your collector to reduct their shipping fees and they'll love that! Plus, having a business account allows you to schedule pick-ups, which is a HUGE time-saver; especially if you're shipping multiple pieces at once. 

You can learn more about these tips, where to buy the best shipping supplies, and more in our free Shipping Guide for Artists!