So, in case you missed it, my blog theme for June is all about nature. (If you do need to catch up, you can do that here>>). Now, if you’re tuning in looking for green beads, I’m not going to be talking about literal colours. Instead, I wanted to give you all a little sneak peek behind-the-scenes here…
I’m actually going to be talking packaging! But ‘green’ packaging. I recently had a lady who was kind enough to note and comment on my packaging (no, I don’t mean the pretty pink envelopes…although I will get on to those). She had noticed that I try to package my beads and bead kits ‘sensibly’. I do try and spare a thought for the environment!
So, let me tell you more… Or, if you really do want green beads, then check out the beading supplies here>>
Green beads: getting the balance right
Now, there is one beading disaster that I’ve seen all too often on my friends’ newsfeeds. I’ve also experienced it myself. It’s that nightmare moment when you open your bead order and find an envelope full of loose bead soup!
So, there you were excited to get on with your project. And now, you find yourself spending precious beading time sorting out bead soup instead!
How does bead soup happen? Well, it’s when a packet of beads splits or wasn’t properly sealed in the first place. So, in going through the postal system, it gets dropped, squashed and otherwise tossed about. The result is a totally broken packet and an envelope full of beads.
…or worse still, an envelope that is draining beads because that didn’t have a great seal either!
The flip side…
So, next time that happens to you (I hope it doesn’t), maybe try not to blame the unfortunate bead shop that sent the package. Maybe they were trying to conform to an ideal of ‘green beads’ and cut down on the packaging.
Because, yes, the best way to guarantee the avoidance of those bead soup disasters is to package in multiple bags.
My philosophy
Now, I know I can’t control what happens to a package as it makes its way from me to you. And I don’t want to be the cursed person who sent you a bead soup. So, yes, I do double-bag my beads and also the beads within kits.
(Because, even if the beads didn’t escape into the envelope, it’s no fun being sent a kit full of bead soup when the instructions tell you to follow the carefully labelled bead types!)
But that doesn’t mean I literally double-bag every individual packet of beads. No – that would be unnecessarily wasteful! I try to pack two or three individual bags of beads into one larger bag. So, my theory is that if one of the smaller bags leaks, it will at least be confined to the outer bag, not your envelope!
But what if more than one bag leaks…? Well, yes, that would be a disaster and I admit, it would result in a small bead soup. However, I do try to think around this.
So, I make sure that when I pack multiple bead packs in a bag, they are either packs of the same bead (thus no bead soup, just spilt beads). Or, I make sure the beads are very different, so at least any resulting bead soup would be easy to sort out…
…I mean, can you imagine trying to sort out a bead soup of size 11 green beads and size 15 green beads in the same shade?! (I’ve done it – it’s not fun!)
Test my packaging with one of my hugely popular beaded box kits>>
Kit packaging
So, yes, the same rule applies within my kits. They each contain packs of beads that have been labelled to make it easy for you to follow the instructions. Now, let’s say the packs are each labelled with letters of the alphabet. It might seem logical to put the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ in one outer bag, then the ‘D’ and ‘E’ in another.
But I don’t necessarily do that. You see, if the ‘D’ and ‘E’ beads happen to be similar, then I would make sure they are separated out in your kit. So, maybe I package the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘D’ in one bag and the ‘C’ and ‘E’ in the other.
Or, maybe the quantity of beads of each type will also dictate how they are packaged. So, if both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ bags contain a lot of beads, but the other bags are all much smaller, then I might put a big bag with one or two small bags…basic common sense really!
Now, if you want to see how it’s done, choose a beading kit and spoil yourself now>>
Green Packaging for Green Beads
Here again, it’s not as simple as it sounds. I happen to believe that we rely far too much on plastic packaging. Yet, here I am sending my beads out in grip seal bags. Is that not rather hypocritical?
Then, there are my pretty pink envelopes… should I not be using paper mailers?
Well, the unfortunate fact is, paper bags just aren’t great for packaging beads. For one thing, they tear easily. For another, it’s hard to re-seal them (I’m thinking Sellotape or glue are actually your only options for properly sealing a paper bag…). Then there’s the issue of seeing what is inside. You want to be able to see your beads without having to open the packaging.
So, until someone comes up with a non-plastic grip seal bag, that will continue. But I just hope and trust that my customers are thoughtful and re-use their grip seal bags… I know I keep any that I’ve been sent and can then recycle them for my own bead storage or, if they’re in good shape, for actually packaging your beads and kits.
The pink envelopes
I know loads of you love the pink envelopes! So, that’s great – I wanted you to feel that you’re getting a gift. Because you are! Each little pack of beads, book or kit is a special treat and we should all feel special as often as possible.
So, I’m not going to change the pink envelopes! I also happen to think they’re probably more environmentally friendly than the paper alternatives. Is that a bold statement?
Well, I say this because you can remove the address label and the envelope remains as good as new. That makes it perfect for sending on to someone else. You know – the ‘reuse’ part of that ‘Reduce-Recycle-Reuse’ mantra. And since I can’t reduce the quantity and recycling has an environmental cost of its own, I think reusing is the best option anyway. Plus, you get to send a smile on to a friend that way!
So, I hope my customers have worked this out and do reuse their envelopes.
I’m wondering about including ‘green beads’ labels with each order to make this suggestion. But then I thought of the environmental costs of that extra printing. So, what would you do?
A ‘green beads’ gift for you
I hope this little insight into my world has been interesting. If you want to put my packaging skills to the test, then I’ve got a little gift for you… Just leave your email address here and I’ll send you a discount coupon to spend on some beads or a bead kit.
And, if you’ve enjoyed this, then be a good friend and share this post with some of your beading buddies, so they can benefit too!
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