~YAY~ I got it . . .

Etsy has made the "gift wrap" option available for sellers to set up. ~yay~  I turned it on and set my price $3 and uploaded my photo of "sample" packaging, writing the description was not easy due to the limited number of characters they allowed.  I'm not used to the twitter-esq 150 character stuff, it makes full sentences and proper grammar difficult to say the least. 😉

Unfortunately, I can't see what it looks like because it's still in set up and preview mode so buyers can't see it yet.  😕  It should be fully rolled-out by the end of the month and it includes multiple changes.  "Gift wrapping" as a new option for a fee, "gift messages" which are free, and a new "packing slip" so when things are marked as gifts or include gift messages it will print without prices and messages will be included on the packing slip.  The last time I had someone mark something as a "gift" and include a message it went in the "notes to seller" box which does not print on the packing slip so I had to copy/paste it to notepad and print it out separate.  Not a big deal, to me, honestly it's not like I'm swamped with orders. 

However, I am considering for the holiday season that I might not always use the packing slip option for gifts mainly because it will likely say what is in the pretty box making the concept of gift wrapping pointless.  So if it were a "Gift" and included a gift message and was being shipped straight to the recipient I plan to print that message on one of my hand-colored Christmas cards and not use the official packing slip so as to not ruin the surprise. 😉

 They are nice heavy card stock paper and I colored them with gel pens so they are all shiny and glittery and super pretty.

 Also the hand colored every one is unique thing really fits with my whole shop being handmade and unique items.

I am all set for the season with pre-wrapped gift boxes, pile of pretty cards, plenty of inventory on hand.  I really hope I get some orders that choose the "gift wrap" or "gift message" option so I have a chance to use this stuff.  😇

Available soon. . .

Etsy has said the "gift wrap" option would be available before the end of the month, so in my head I'm like tick tock, tick tock, I wish I could set this up already.  

I spent time the other day practicing and actually pre-wrapping some of my gift boxes in a way that they are really pretty but the contents are still accessible.  ~yay me~

By keeping it simple and not using actual wrapping paper I was able to decorate the boxes in a very "present" gift-y looking manner without actually sealing the boxes.  😇

So one can order items "gift wrapped" but still be able to check, confirm, and examine the contents and put it back without effecting the look of the gift wrapping, at least for most things.  I still have to figure out a solution for trees 7" inches and up, I have gift boxes that will fit the 3", 5", and 6" versions it's just the larger ones.  I bought some boxes like standard shirt boxes that will hold the larger trees but they are all rectangular and over-sized so may require some modification or extra stuffing of tissue paper to hold the tree in place inside.  😏

I can't wait to get this set up. . .I really hope I have orders this holiday season and someone opts for gift wrapping, otherwise I have 8 over decorated boxes. ~LOL~ 😜

Gift wrapping for the holidays. .

Finally an announcement about a new Etsy feature I can get behind. 😇  

GIFT WRAPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS !!! 

I am not only OK with this being an option I kind of like it.  

I have always liked wrapping presents, I'm actually pretty good with wrapping paper and ribbons, I have plenty of supplies on hand.  Heck I already pack most of the jewelry in little gift boxes so a ribbon on the outside is no big deal at all.  The wire trees would take a bit more effort but I like a challenge and the little 3" inch ones fit in the bracelet boxes anyway. ~LOL~  

Looking at the screen shots in the announcement I really like that they have added some definition/expectation to the "mark as a gift" option.  I am really liking the "add a gift message" and that we will be able to print those on separate page. I've only had 1 person ask me to add a note to a gift package but she put the note in the order in the notes to seller section which doesn't print on the packing slip so I had to copy/paste it into notepad and print it out separate, it was kind of a pain with all the extra steps so simplifying that will be great.  I also bet with the holidays coming people will like the perks.  And since we can set our own prices for this additional service I am really fine with it and plan to make it available in my shop. 👍

I've seen some other sellers not so thrilled with the idea afraid it will not be profitable for them, concerned that the extra gift wrap adding weight and increasing shipping cost, blah blah.  I use priority usually flat rate boxes so a few ounces of weight will not effect my shipping costs at all. 😇  

I can't wait for this to become available so I can get it all set-up, they are teasing me with "hey look at this cool new thing you can't have yet".  😏  So I'm passing that on. 😛