A great unboxing matters at the time of the year, but it has special significance during the holidays. Think about how you can jazz it up with a few festive extras to delight customers and leverage seasonal traffic. A Christmas unboxing is a fantastic asset to help your brand garner repeat business into the new year and beyond!



Want more great holiday content? Check out why you should be offering free gift wrapping in your online store!

Interested to find out more about our custom tissue paper?

Looking for some seasonal inspiration for the holidays? Check out our seasonal packaging guide!

After some more holiday shipping tips? Check out Easyship's Sustainable Holiday Shipping Guide!

(In Laura’s own words):

"Iʼm Laura, Arual the other way round! Iʼm from the north-east of France, and Iʼm currently living in a small town called Chaumont. I grew up in a small village surrounded by forest and meadows, where I developed a strong attachment to nature. Now, Iʼm working as a freelance illustrator / graphic designer. Iʼve been in charge of my little shop for less than a year. My work is full of joy, I just want to bring a feeling of tenderness, sincerity, and serenity!”


As a new business, product packaging is one of the earliest investments you will need to make. After all, you can't send any orders without it!

But not all packaging is made alike. Some materials, like paper, are naturally biodegradable. But petroleum-based substances, like plastic, can take hundreds of years to break down.

As a result, your packaging design has a massive impact on the size of your carbon footprint.

For Laura, this was one of the most challenging parts of starting her Etsy store:

“The most complicated thing for my first orders was to find the right way to pack and ship my orders. It was not easy to find a plastic-free packaging solution that is pretty, not too expensive, and protects my orders! After some time (and a few mistakes) I realized that I had to make financial efforts to have the quality I wanted while also respecting nature.”

“In my everyday life, I do everything I can to reduce my impact on the planet, so of course sustainability is very important to me. Concerning my shop, I’ve tried step by step to reduce plastic, so this is the reason I choose noissue's custom tissue paper to wrap my orders! For my posters and my postcards, I favour recycled papers and I try to use French local printers.”


Plastic-free packaging solutions aren't just great for the environment; they also positively impact your brand image. According to research by the Paper & Packaging Board, two-thirds of consumers say that cardboard and paper packaging is more desirable than plastic. A further 63% say that paper packaging makes a product look more upscale.

In a saturated online sector, a more premium look is a great way to differentiate yourself from competitors. It speaks of a higher quality customer experience, and also opens up some fantastic branding opportunities!

“I have heard a lot about noissue through social networks, especially because many illustrators I admire use noissue's plastic-free packaging. noissue has helped me to spread my visual identity, and make everything is more coherent and recognizable. In addition, it protects my products while respecting the environment!”

“Since the beginning of my shop, I have created a cohesive visual identity where all my branding materials (thank you cards, stickers, business cards) are visually connected. So, all I needed was the custom tissue paper to add the finishing touch!”

“As a graphic designer, it is very important to me that my packaging is pretty so that the customer enjoys unpacking it and discovering every little detail. I want my customers to have a wonderful unboxing experience. The attention to detail of my Etsy shop keeps coming through in my customers’ feedback, which I'm delighted by!”



Want to know about our custom tissue paper?

Prepping for the rest of the holiday season? Check out our Small Business Saturday guide!

Pro tip: Custom packaging tape can be used for more than just sealing up boxes - it’s also a great branding tool for plain exterior packaging, as Jacqueline shows here!



(In Jacqueline’s own words):

“I started my business in a very un-planned way; I’d been working designing prints and patterns for the fashion industry for 6 years, and I got frustrated by the lack of creativity involved in my role. I decided to go freelance to try to carve out more creative opportunities for myself.”

“That was over 4 years ago, and at some point, I was still frustrated. I wasn’t getting the ‘dream’ commissions that I was after, so I just started making the prints and patterns that I thought were missing from the world! The vision now is to keep on making patterns that surprise my customers and clients; I love hiding little details in designs that you can only find if you carefully explore them! It’s important to me that there is design out there that pushes the medium of pattern away from the generic and expected and into the playful and esoteric.”


“I like to think that there is a touch of ‘Where’s Wally’ about my patterns; I love the detail and creating prints that you can explore with your eyes! I get inspired by my surroundings, so I like to travel and visit museums and flea markets, collecting objects that interest me and vintage printed ephemera. I’m lucky in that sense that my brand is about me and my taste.”

“I often have a gut feeling about an idea; if I like it and want to pursue it, then it will keep popping into my head until I start working on it. I really listen to those instinctive feelings, as it’s when I’ve worked against them that things tend to go wrong! I also know that colour and pattern are the cornerstones of my work, so I make sure to investigate interesting colour combinations and to always take an idea into a surface pattern outcome.”

“Washi taped to my computer is a reminder “Do as much personal work as you can.” I know that my personal work and brand is what leads to interesting illustration commissions, so I’m always jotting down pattern ideas or working on illustrations in my sketchbook!”


Jacqueline’s passion for patterns has translated beautifully to her custom packaging toolkit - but every business can benefit from bringing branded packaging into their order fulfillment.

Even if it’s just a few swipes of custom printed tape on the exterior of a package, this immediately marks you out as a business with style and attitude! Unlike multinational brands, which often lack in personality, it’s a great way to capitalize on your status as an independent retailer:

“As small businesses, we really have to stand out because we are competing against all the big retailers and their impressive price points. Custom packaging is where you can really get your personality across; this is not another generic online purchase, a real person designed and packaged this item with love! Custom packaging means you can be both professional and individual, and I love that!”


For Jacqueline, custom packaging was the key to creating an unboxing that her customers want to savor. Her custom tape and newly-refreshed mint green tissue paper are value-adding pieces of artwork in their own right that help to build recognition of her aesthetic:

“I wanted a unique custom tissue paper that would stand apart from the regular tissue designs out there, so I knew that noissue would help make that happen! With the new tissue paper, my packaging has reached a whole new level. I love posting my customers a package that will be exciting to open! Already they are telling me that they want to frame the tissue paper that wraps up their artworks. That feels like the best outcome I could have hoped for!”

“I am also a stationery LOVER, so my drawers are filled with patterned tapes of every type! I normally pop a little washi tape on a package to jazz it up and for extra security. But now I can use my very own custom tape, which is epic! I even remembered to put my name on it this time, which may not have happened with the tissue paper!”

noissue’s new custom paper tape is water-activated, making it 100% eco-friendly AND compostable! Want to hear more about our tape?

Tape

Tape is already a must-have in order fulfillment to seal up cardboard boxes and the like. Swapping this for customized packing tape is a very economical way to liven up plain exterior packaging. if branded boxes are too costly or impractical, this is a great alternative. You can also put it to use in decorative ways too, as shown above by illustrator Jacqueline Colley.


Free samples

Nothing says ‘value-added experience’ like when a brand treats its customers to a small thank-you gift. Showing how much you value your clientele is an essential part of building brand loyalty and trust. It’s also a great way to promote ‘cross-selling’ i.e. promoting other product categories, by choosing samples based on what customers have bought previously.


Handwritten notes

eCommerce can often feel like an anonymous and mass-produced experience, especially when we are using vast online marketplaces. Small businesses can capitalize on their closeness to the order fulfillment process by including personalized notes within their orders.

In essence, you are showing customers that they are worth the time investment. There is no better way to build a personal connection than on these foundations.



Branded Packaging in eCommerce: Our Top Picks


Glossier

Cosmetics giant Glossier has already developed a cult following through its compelling content marketing. But it’s their high-end unboxing experience that sets them apart in an intensely competitive market.

Their branded packaging for eCommerce orders aims to capture the same brand experience as their concept stores. The use of their signature pink is instantly recognizable. The message on the interior of the box is an affirmation of their commitment to high-quality skincare. Meanwhile, their branded stickers are a nice value-added extra which helps to show off their fun and quirky side.



The Book Playbox

This example of cohesive eCommerce branding comes from one of our very own customers. The Book Playbox is a subscription box business that sells creative play and reading activities for young children. They have worked hard to bring this ethos of fun learning into their unboxing experience.

From the box’s exterior with its youthful primary color accents, to the quote written on their custom tissue at the bottom of the box, all elements speak about play as a vehicle for discovery. It's a memorable and compelling unboxing experience that customers can look forward to, month after month.



So, take this time to think about your own unboxing experience. Is your current approach tailored for your brand, or is it fairly generic? Will it excite customers, or be quickly discarded or ignored? It's worth thinking about how you can use branded eCommerce packaging to increase engagement and better reflect your core brand values.

Creating a memorable brand experience starts with crafting your narrative. How do you want your customers to receive your product? As seen by the unboxing craze, branded packaging in eCommerce provides a massive opportunity to increase your audience share. Use it as a part of your marketing strategy, not as an afterthought!

“I’m Kimberley Champlin, a 22-year-old Edinburgh University graduate and founder of sustainable swimwear brand KIMKINI, based in Dubai. I officially launched KIMKINI exactly one year ago but I have had the idea for about three years prior - it’s been a long time in the making and a lot of careful planning!”

“I started KIMKINI as I was growing up in Dubai and was always wearing swimwear, but I felt there was a lack of sustainable and eco-friendly options that were both flattering and stylish. It’s definitely obvious that there is a growing demand for sustainable fashion and I envision KIMKINI to be a major source of trendy vegan swimwear.”

When it comes to sustainable fashion, eco-friendly swimwear presents some of the biggest challenges. Alternative materials to plastic have to be extremely hard-wearing and not degrade in water - not an easy find when R&D on low-impact fabrics is still limited.

For Kimberly, her biggest priority was to find a supplier who could meet her needs for cruelty-free and sustainable business practices:

“In the beginning, I found that a significant challenge was finding a manufacturer who could produce both affordable and eco-friendly swimwear.”

“After reaching out to many different manufacturers around the world in places such as Italy, Brazil, UK and Bali, I finally found the perfect company to work with. The swimwear manufacturer I wanted to use is situated in Brazil and is PETA approved. They also take great care of their employees. BONUS: They produce pet beds from leftover fabrics and donate them to their local animal shelters!”

“I learned that by being patient, doing my research properly, and not settling for the first opportunity that came about meant that I was able to establish a wonderful business relationship with this sustainable swimwear manufacturer. I feel that I am making positive choices every time I work with them because of their ethical business practices.”


However, it's not just the products for sale that determine the sustainability of a business. Their overall outlook and approach to daily activities is a key sign of whether brands practice what they preach.

While KIMKINI specializes in eco-friendly swimwear, Kimberley uses a well-rounded sustainability strategy that encompasses every area of her business, from content marketing to shipping and packaging:

"Sustainability is incredibly important to me. With all the information and heightened awareness of political, economic and social topics, it is impossible not to be motivated to make better choices in my own daily life and with my business."

"As well as living a plant-based diet myself, I try to reduce KIMKINI's carbon footprint through smart and ethical business decisions. I have taken multiple steps to ensure I lower the environmental footprint of my business. This is showcased in more detail through blog posts on KIMKINI’s website and updates on our Instagram."

Here are just some of the steps I use to lower the environmental footprint of KIMKINI:

I use a PETA-approved swimwear manufacturer for my swim collections.

noissue’s compostable mailers, custom tissue paper and compostable stickers (They also plant trees with every order contributing to global reforestation).

I do not place extra plastic tags on the swimwear - instead, I print the care label and logo on the interior which means less wastage.

I do not use paper slips within the packaging detailing the order (I use email confirmation instead).

Through blog posts, I spread awareness about harmful products to the environment. For example, in ‘Beach Day Essentials’ I informed my readers about switching to mineral-based sunscreens (e.g. Sunbum brand) as one drop of a chemical sunscreen contaminates coral reefs the size of 6.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools.


While sustainable packaging has been a major asset to the KIMKINI brand, the ability to custom-design her unboxing has been the biggest advantage for Kimberley as the owner of an eCommerce store:

"I think that custom packaging is so important, especially because KIMKINI is an online shop with no retail store that customers can visit. Therefore, the delivery process and packaging is significant as it is the first representative item the customer sees."

"Custom packaging adds that extra special touch for the customer. The personalised ‘thank you’ cards, branded tissue paper, stickers with our logo and the compostable mailers are special for the customer. They can clearly see the time, thought, and effort this has taken to perfect."

"After a lot of research, I found that noissue was the most eco-friendly option and that their company values match my own. noissue has helped maintain the sustainability of my brand, and they spread profound knowledge and insight to the importance of reforestation, which I really appreciate!"

"I especially love how noissue plants trees with every order so I don’t feel guilty when creating packaging - every time I make another order it’s great to see the total number of trees planted increase! It is so rewarding to say that KIMKINI has contributed to reforestation in places such as the Amazon rainforest. I will definitely continue to keep working with noissue for all of my future packaging orders!"



For more about our eco-packaging alliance, click the button below!

What is ‘Recommerce?’

Recommerce, also known as Reverse Commerce, refers to consumers selling previously-owned or used products through online marketplaces. A good way to think about recommerce is as a virtual version of a neighborhood yard sale crossed with a hip vintage boutique. But those reselling online aren’t limited to finding customers locally. A buyer could be on the other side of the street - or the other side of the planet!

Not all that long ago, only large-ticket items like cars or houses had resale value. But through online selling sites, just about any product can be sold onto a willing buyer.

It’s an alternative form of consumption that competes with ‘upgrade culture’ or trend-based business models. This makes recommerce akin to the ‘waste not, want not’ attitudes of our grandparents’ generation, but with the powerful backing of eCommerce marketing. As a result, recommerce has arguably had the biggest impact on the fashion industry.

Recommerce and Fashion Reselling

Between 2000 and 2014, the number of garments purchased each year by the average consumer grew by 60%. So, it’s hardly surprising that more and more consumers are selling used clothes online.

In fact, statistics show that recommerce has been outperforming traditional retail for the past six years, with a forecast revenue of $20 billion for 2019. The largest sector by far is fashion reselling. So, how exactly are consumers reselling clothing? Traditionally, it’s brick and mortar thrift stores that have dominated the secondhand trade. But this is fast changing due to the convenience offered by online selling platforms.

According to The Shelf, recommerce marketplaces such as Poshmark, ThreadUP, The RealReal, and Depop can resell clothes online 20 times faster than regular retail can. This has contributed to the rapid rise in the number of consumers reselling online. In 2018, Poshmark alone made $150 million in revenue - up from just $50 million in 2016!



What is Behind the Rise of Fashion Reselling?

Recommerce as the Solution to Fast Fashion

All of us are familiar with the concept of ‘fast fashion’. It’s where clothing brands release ‘new collections’ on a rolling basis. To achieve this, garments need to be mass-produced and inexpensive for the consumer.

The result is that production and consumption cycles are getting faster. Where collections were once seasonal, they are now appearing at shorter and shorter intervals. According to McKinsey, the average number of clothing collections produced by a brand in the year 2000 was two. By 2011, this had grown to five. In 2019, it’s not unusual for new collections to arrive just four to six weeks apart.

This perpetuates a culture where fashion is seen as disposable. When a garment is no longer on trend, it’s not seen to have value. But it’s now widely known that fast fashion has dire consequences for the environment.

Worldwide, 85% of discarded clothes end up in the landfill. The chemicals from the dying process also leach out into the soil and waterways, resulting in widespread pollution.

Fashion reselling challenges fast fashion production by keeping garments in use for as long as possible. This creates a circular business model that offers a long-term solution to textile waste.

Online selling sites provide consumers with an alternative to throwing clothes away - one they can make money from. But this also has longer term consequences. As reselling things online becomes more widespread, it creates alternative criteria for what makes a product desirable.

For profitable fashion reselling to be possible, used clothing has to be able to handle numerous wears without breaking down. But fast fashion isn’t made with this longevity in mind. As a result, many brands will struggle to gain a presence in this new secondary market.

In the words of Andy Ruben, the CEO of Yerdle, “Brands need to commit to making the best most durable product in the first place. It is counter to fast fashion—if you’re fast fashion, you can’t do this business model.”

In fact, 40% of consumers now consider the so-called ‘resale’ value of an item before they purchase. Going forward, recommerce will make it much easier for long-lasting, sustainable fashion brands to thrive.

Millennials Love Reselling

According to ThreadUP’s 2019 Resale Report, millennials and Gen Z are driving much of the growth of online selling sites. They are adopting second hand clothing 2.5 times faster than other age groups!

Why? Because Gen Z and younger millennials came of age during or shortly after the recession. Out of necessity, they developed thriftier habits than their parents did at the same age. Conspicuous consumption is often frowned upon, while creative and careful consumption is praised.

Moreover, the younger generations are much more conscious of the environmental impact of fashion. According to eMarketer, 87% of millennial consumers in the US are willing to pay more for sustainable items.

Recommerce and reselling online has therefore become an activity with a lot of social currency. Trendwatching.com refers to this phenomenon as the ‘statusphere’, or ‘the growing status boost that comes from being savvy and shopping (environmentally) responsibly.’

In short, young consumers are getting their shopping fixes in a very different way from the past. It’s no longer about having the latest thing. ‘Cool’ means taking the time to hunt for secondhand treasures and slow down the fashion cycle.

The Rise of 'Social Selling'’

Of course, choosing to sell old clothes online isn’t new. Many of us have sold garments through eBay at one point or another. But fashion reselling is a whole new ballgame in the age of social media and influencer marketing.

Platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest make it easy for brands and consumers alike to curate their very own fashion lookbooks - and clothing resellers have quickly followed suit.

This trend of ‘social selling’ has created a huge secondary market for sought-after brands and apparel. In recommerce, no resold garment is ever ‘unwanted’ - it’s an item with its own unique backstory.

In 2019, cohesive branding and curated product selections are key to successfully reselling online. Why? In the same way that consumers repeatedly purchase from certain brands, they are more likely to return to resellers whose aesthetic they admire. As a result, the top fashion resellers have become ‘influencers’ in their own right.

According to Tracey Sun, the co-founder of the fashion reselling platform Poshmark, influencers are integral to their marketing strategy: “Our approach to influencers fundamentally hasn’t changed, we’ve just increased the volume. When they can authentically tell the story of why they are attracted to the platform, that resonates with our culture and our brand...They’ve also figured out that an item will sell faster if they tell a story around it, and they photograph themselves wearing it — that’s so much more authentic this day and age than showing it on a model nobody can relate to.”

Meet the Poshers

Anyone can take advantage of the growth of recommerce, but it takes considerable time and effort to turn fashion reselling into a profitable business. We speak to three Poshmark influencers who have done exactly that! We ask them about how they got into reselling online, what they think about reselling and sustainability, and their top tips for selling clothes on Poshmark!



Q: Why did you start fashion reselling, and why did you stick with it?

Jennifer (@abritishposher): “I started reselling just for fun, I was working a bartending job that I didn't find much fulfillment in and was looking for a side hobby/hustle and happened to come across reselling. I was hooked very quickly as I started to see the profits adding up and have never looked back!”

Kaahreena Ochoco: “I actually started reselling in high school. My friends and I would ditch school and go thrifting! We made an Instagram page where we would post pics of the items we were selling, and then meet up with other girls at school or around town. I was the only one who stuck with it, and 6 years later I’m still doing it! I honestly just love reselling. All aspects of it are super fun for me and I love to thrift anyway, so might as well make some money doing it.”

Becky Park: “I started reselling on Poshmark simply to get rid of my own clothes as well as my husband's clothes. When I saw that things were actually selling, I started doing more research as far as how I could be even more successful on the platform and found a wonderful community on YouTube and Instagram. Thanks to the helpful Poshmark tips and tricks other more seasoned resellers shared so freely, I had all the information I needed to continue growing my business!”


Q: How do you view sustainability through the lens of recommerce?

Jennifer (@abritishposher): “Sustainability is something I have learned more about in my journey as a reseller. It is becoming much more socially acceptable to purchase items second hand, and I love that reselling helps to bring awareness to that. Since I thrift almost everyday, it has really opened my eyes to the amount of clothing that is discarded on a regular basis! By reselling, I am able to rehome amazing items that would otherwise end up in landfills. This reduces textile waste, saves thousands of gallons of water and reduces textile pollution in the process.”

Kaahreena Ochoco: “As I became a mother, sustainability is something that has become more important to me. When resellers thrift for their inventory and resell it, they keep thousands and thousands of items out of the landfill. I know it only skims the surface to a bigger issue but as long as we do what we can, it will make an impact.”

Becky Park: “Reselling gives clothes that are destined for the landfill another chance to be loved and worn by another human being. Not only that, but I believe that reselling as well as companies like ThredUP and The RealReal have made wearing second hand clothes less taboo and, if anything, kind of cool! I believe it's also sending a message to fashion labels and companies that their consumers want quality clothing rather than fast fashion. As people start to scale down on what they actually need to get by on a daily basis, they're turning to platforms like Poshmark to find the fashion they want at a lower cost.”

Poshmark Tips & Tricks

So, what top fashion reselling tips do these veteran resellers have for us?


Research What is Likely to Sell Well

You can’t stick any old thing on a reselling site and expect it to fly off the shelf! Successful reselling involves careful strategizing about what is likely to sell at any given time.

For example, if you list a coat for sale during the warmer months, you are probably going to get less traction than if you tried selling it in the Fall. It’s really important that you consider your prospective buyer’s journey when choosing to sell clothes online.

According to Jennifer, keeping yourself in the loop on what is in demand is the key to being a successful reseller:

“Research is so key! It's not a good enough strategy to buy items that you think will sell well based on your own fashion taste and opinion, you have to be able to critically evaluate each piece and use your best judgement to decide if this is an item someone else wants to buy and if it will be a profitable purchase for your business.”

For those who are new to reselling, Poshmark itself is a great source of information on what is giving resellers a great return!

“It's important to research the marketplace to establish exactly what is in demand and what buyers are searching for to buy. All of the answers you need are within the Poshmark app. I look at sold listings to identify what is currently selling fast for a great price and actively seek out those items to resell in my closet.”


‘Cheap’ isn’t the Same as ‘Good Value’ in Recommerce

In general, fast fashion items have a low resale value. As we’ve mentioned, this is due to concerns about quality. But it’s also because there are a lot more listings than there is demand. Online selling platforms are flooded with listings from high-street brands. Selling this alone makes it very hard to stand out.

Moreover, this isn’t what many buyers on Poshmark are after. People want to be thrifty, but not cheap. They still want the excitement of buying unique, desirable items!

In Kaahreena’s experience many new fashion resellers, including herself, make the mistake of trying to sell whatever they can get ahold of cheaply, rather than considering a garment’s value in the eyes of buyers.

“When I was starting out, I feel like my profits and sales weren’t being maximized because I was just picking up anything I could find that was cheap and cute. It sounds tedious, but looking up comps and checking the market for over-saturation is SO important!”

Becky agrees. “Don't just buy things because they're cheap! Make sure there's a market for the item!”

Your Poshmark Packaging - Think About Sustainability

Resellers on Poshmark aren’t just responsible for photographing garments and creating listings. They have to manage order fulfillment as well.

However, this area receives very little focus within ‘how to sell on Poshmark’ guides. It’s true that packaging and shipping orders is a lot less exciting than styling garments - but it’s also crucial to the success of your operation.

As we explored earlier, many buyers on Poshmark and other online selling sites are very conscious about sustainability. They want to feel that their decision to engage in recommerce makes a difference. This is seriously undermined if resellers use packaging which is harmful to the environment!

Our top Poshmark packaging tip? Eco-friendly retail packaging!

Adopting sustainable packaging is a clear sign to consumers that you care about your carbon footprint. Furthermore, it’s a unique selling point that appeals to conscious consumers!

Being a fashion reseller gives you a big advantage when it comes to eco packaging. Clothing apparel is soft, foldable, and cannot be damaged easily. That’s why we teamed up with Poshmark to help them create their very own branded compostable mailer bags for resellers!

Regular poly mailers cannot be recycled or reused, and so produce huge amounts of plastic waste. noissue mailers are 100% compostable, and biodegrade completely within a six-month period. They couldn’t be easier for fashion resellers to use; simply put your apparel inside, seal the edges down, and you are good to go!


If you really want to kick the customer experience up a notch, considering using some customized tissue paper to wrap your products in. This will give your profile as a reseller a much more premium edge. Why? Because it makes your customers feel as though you are dealing in high-end apparel, rather than ‘used’ goods!

But don’t just take our word for it! Here is the verdict from the Poshers:

Jennifer (@abritishposher): “It seemed hypocritical to me to help the planet by reselling, yet create so much plastic waste in my packaging and shipping supplies. I love that that since using the compostable mailers I am not only reducing textile waste, but also avoiding creating any additional waste as a byproduct of my business. Using the mailers has also helped to bring sustainability awareness to my customers and I think that even as a small business, the more we can set a good example the bigger impact we can have on social behavior change.”

Kaahreena Ochoco: “I’ve gotten so many compliments from buyers and from fellow resellers on the compostable mailers! Plus, using them made me realize how much waste resellers still do create in shipping supplies and other parts of our businesses. Using noissue mailers make me feel like I’m doing better on my part.”

Becky Park: “I have had multiple people leave glowing comments on my usage of compostable mailers. I've also had people reuse them to send out their own packages which I think is amazing! It's helped me feel much better about my reselling business as a whole because one of the joys I get from reselling is knowing how many pounds of clothing I am saving from the landfill. Now, my conscience is much clearer knowing that I'm also keeping poly mailers out of landfills too!”



Recommerce and the rise of online selling sites is more than just a side-hustle or a way to get clothes at a good price. It’s an alternative approach to consumerism which is much healthier for the planet.

By promoting the inherent value of goods which already exist, we can develop a circular economy which produces far less waste overall. Fashion reselling also promotes creativity and sustainable habits beyond our choice of clothing - it also helps us to be much more mindful about our daily habits too!

Interested in finding out more about our compostable mailers?

(In Teresa’s own words):

“My name is Teresa Lubano. I’m a mom and a Creative Director for Seven Brands; a global design agency based in Nairobi, Kenya. I am also the Founder and Creative Director for Shop Nanjala; an online shop for Home Design, Gardening, and Gifting. We create and collaborate to deliver one-stop solutions for home design decor, customized gift items and eye-catching potted plants. All of Shop Nanjala’s work is locally sourced and made in Kenya!”

“Launched online on the 1st of December 2015, Shop Nanjala was born from a recognition that many local artisans and craftsmen are held back by a lack of exposure and opportunity. Through our eCommerce platform, we are committed to helping them to take their talents and wares to the market in a more professional and gainful manner.”

“Our vision is to be Africa's first sustainable online retailer of gardening, home, and outdoor lifestyle brand that is deeply rooted in the celebration of nature for the modern city dweller.”

Sustainability has a much broader meaning than just the environment. According to the UN, Sustainable Development is defined by three ‘pillars’ - social, economic, and environmental. Without the three working in tandem, long-term solutions to the challenges facing the world are hard to come by.

For Teresa, working within a developing market comes with its own unique challenges, especially in finding sustainable ways of doing business that benefit both the community and the planet:

“In my market, which is a developing country, we as a business have just started looking at this paradigm. Now more than ever, we need to have more champions for sustainable business models, those that have inbuilt efficiencies, reduce greenhouse gases and even employ design systems like upcycling as part of their business operations.”

“We do this by constantly seeking inspiration from nature, applying its principles to our designs and gardening offerings, hence placing sustainability at the heart of our company culture. We wrote an article about this topic (it was actually inspired by a noissue article on sustainability!)”

To read our article on sustainability for small businesses, click here!

“A huge part of the business has been the selling of plants i.e. succulents and other exotic indoor plants. We believe that mother nature is a great marvel, and we strive to infuse this even into the design of our range of products. I think being raised on a farm enlightened me on the therapeutic and restorative benefits of nature. I try to share this in my design work and through the product offerings on the platform which targets modern-day Nairobians.”

“We pride ourselves in offering environmentally conscious products that support local artisans/cottage industries. We get excited when we are approached by artisans who use natural materials e.g. earth/clay, stone, soapstone, sisal, cotton etc. in their crafts. They stand a better chance at having their items retailing on our store!”


“As a Kenyan and a professional designer, I’m deeply empathetic to the high rates of unemployment in this country. We have a huge population of talented youth whose works go unseen/unheard. I believe that through collaborating with these youths and other cottage industry enterprises, we can retail their wares and shine a light on their work; in turn, fostering customers to appreciate and potentially purchase their wares.”


As every small business owner knows, a cohesive brand identity is vital for building brand recall. With so many brands fighting for attention, a lack of consistency will make it difficult to gain a following.

Brand consistency came naturally to Teresa and Shop Nanjala due to her background in design:

“Luckily, I’m the creator of all the branding for Shop Nanjala. From the logo design (which happens to be my very own calligraphy!) to the custom packaging, colors, fonts and photography.”

“So, I’ve got my finger on the pulse of all the brand assets! I have a brand guide that I really try and adhere to. It helps especially with the design of advertising material. Our marketing team uses the brand guide to inform the execution and rollout of all our communications. Consistency really is key!”

Pro tip: Developing brand guidelines is a fantastic way to keep your brand cohesive, especially if your marketing is being managed by multiple people!


Gift bag and custom tissue paper combo by Shop Nanjala.

Custom packaging is a brilliant way to bring greater consistency to your branding. When you’ve worked hard to create a cohesive image across your online channels, your customers will expect the same from their order too.

Small additions such as custom tissue paper or stickers will liven up plain packaging and build brand recognition. Best of all, it leaves your customers with a lasting positive impression!

“We love the fact that noissue has a cool yet simple way to shop for custom tissue paper. At the time we were planning to launch gift products in the shop, we had a lot of issues looking for a local supplier to make tissue paper. The contacts we got just had too high a price. The moment I bumped into your platform and saw the little video of how easy and affordable it was to order online. We were sold!”

“Custom-branded packaging has really helped my brand to grow, as everyone who sees the Nanjala logo on our packaging gets to know our brand. At first, it may appear quite a trivial thing to do, but in the long term our brand is seriously building brand recall, and an appreciation from our customers who think the custom tissue, care labels, packaging boxes, and carrier bags are a great way of presenting their purchases as gifts to their loved ones. It also shows that we care about the small details!”

Want to know more about what custom packaging can do to your business?

Fortunately, there’s plenty of options out there in terms of affordable sustainable packaging. Using recycled materials, paper and cardboard, organic fabrics and biodegradable packaging are all great eco-friendly packaging materials to consider.

For larger shipments, you can even use recycled pallets to be especially eco-friendly in your shipping strategy. For smaller orders, compostable mailer bags are an especially effective way to reduce your carbon footprint.

You can also find clever ways to offset the impact of your packaging needs. For example, noissue’s eco-alliance allows their customers to plant trees with every order in areas suffering from deforestation. This means that your business can positively contribute to environmental issues through your operation.

Taking this simple, minimalist approach to packaging will help to cut both waste and fulfillment costs for your business.

For more on environmentally-friendly packaging solutions, check out our guide!



3. Reduce Package Size

Make your package sizes smaller and more efficient if possible. Avoiding 'over-packaging' not only creates a more eco-friendly packaging design - it creates a more sustainable shipping strategy.

By taking up less space on a delivery truck, cargo plane or freight train, you can do your part in increasing shipping efficiency. This ultimately reduces emissions and lowers your business's carbon footprint. Smaller package sizes are also a great way to cut your shipping costs. It's a real win for the environment and your company’s bottom line!


4. Schedule Pickups

Rather than drop off orders yourself, always try to schedule pickups for them. Since courier trucks are always on a route, this is a small but effective way to personally reduce your carbon footprint.



5. Consolidate Customer Orders

Consolidating orders is another great way to promote sustainable shipping and fulfillment.

The rapid growth of 1-day and even same-day shipping and delivery has made it easy for customers to place one-off orders whenever they want. This makes their online shopping experience more convenient. But it takes a massive toll on the environment due to this lack of delivery efficiency.

Try to prompt your customers to buy several products at a time by having a product count or cost minimum for free shipping. At the very least, always try to send out multiple orders to the same customer at once. Preferably, you should be sending goods out in a single package, even if they were placed separately.

Consolidating customer orders can not only reduce the number of delivery vehicles on the road and subsequently lower emissions, but also save your company money!


6. Use Ground-Based Shipping Solutions

Another sustainable shipping solution is to use ground-based shipping whenever possible. Yes, it may be slower than using air freight, but it still generally leaves a smaller carbon footprint. As an incentive, consider offering credits or perks like free or reduced shipping for customers who choose this option.



7. Market Your Slowest Shipping Option as the Greenest

Likewise, another good idea is to mark the slowest shipping option on your online store as the most environmentally-friendly one. Doing so is a simple but effective way to identify it for eco-conscious customers. It gives them an incentive to lessen their environmental impact in exchange for a longer delivery time.



8. Choose Eco-Friendly Shipping and Fulfillment Partners

Remember - you’re not alone when it comes to looking for eco-friendly shipping and fulfillment solutions!

There are many shipping and fulfillment partners out there that offer environmentally-friendly options for both shipping and order fulfillment. FedEx, for example, has its EarthSmart initiative. This helps them to be environmentally-conscious with its fuel efficiency, sustainable packaging, and green vehicle options.

UPS also offers sustainable shipping and fulfillment solutions with its eco-friendly packaging options that include reusable envelopes and an environmentally-friendly packaging program.

Plus, you can look for shipping and logistics companies that are certified with SmartWay, an EPA program focused on reducing fuel consumption and increasing efficiency.



Sustainable Shipping: Give the Gift of a Better Environment

The holidays may be a gift to your company’s bottom line, but they can really be a Scrooge to the environment! Don’t leave the planet with a lump of coal this year. Do your part in protecting the environment by greening your shipping strategy, adopting eco-friendly packaging, and giving the gift of a truly sustainable future!

Want more holiday shipping tips? Check out our Top 5 Shipping and Logistics Mistakes to Avoid During the Holidays!

(In Sophie’s own words):

“I’ve been running my London-based namesake label since the end of 2014. It all started through a mixture of chance and choice – I’d known for a long time that I wanted to start my own label, but I didn’t know quite when it would be. I started off by making glitter Perspex jewellery just for fun during my final year at university. A few of my friends wanted to buy some and magazines started using them for editorials, and it all bloomed from there!”

“The label has developed and changed a lot since then, and it’s now going in a direction I feel very comfortable with. I‘ve always liked to produce things at a slower, more sustainable rate than the conventional fashion buying seasons. Last year, I decided to disregard seasons completely, and just focus on making small limited runs of sustainable jewellery that I tweak and add to when I feel they’re ready. Ultimately, I want the Sophie Cull-Candy label to be a place of luxury for people to shop at carefully and consciously.”

“Almost all of my inspiration comes from nature – I absolutely adore the complex color palettes, whether it’s a whole view or the detail in one little flower. I’m also really fascinated by humans’ interaction with nature. I’m keen on creating pieces that fuse the beautiful visual drama of nature with a relaxed glamor.”

“I want customers to know that what they’re buying will last, and that fashion is there to be respectfully treasured and not to be kept for just one season.”


Eco-friendly earrings by Sophie Cull-Candy. 

Mass production is the backbone of the fast fashion cycle. Brands must push out huge quantities of product in a short space of time to meet demand, which creates huge amounts of waste and carbon emissions.

The fashion industry produces 4% of global waste every year - that’s 91 million tons. The main reason for this is the so-called ‘cut and sew’ strategy, where the excess cloth is discarded once a garment has been cut, instead of it being reused.

For Sophie, the key to sustainable jewelry making is slowing down this cycle by focusing on limited runs of each design. This allows her to be much more conscious over the materials she uses, and ensures that her footprint is kept as small as possible:

“Sustainability is key to me and sits at the forefront of everything I do. I work on very small batches of each design in order to reduce waste, and any excess material is kept for future projects or accessories. There are lots of challenges; I’m very aware that the fashion industry are terrible polluters of the planet, and I try to run my label so that it doesn’t contribute any more to this.”

“Everything I design is of the highest quality, and is made to keep and hand down to other generations – slow fashion is the only direction that the fashion industry should be moving in.”

Sustainable packaging was another avenue to help Sophie express the essence of her brand. Her custom tissue paper not only extends her branding to every part of the customer experience, but also draws attention to her eco-friendly commitments:

“I love to experiment, and I used to worry that this would look too disorganized. But then I realised that as long as what I was making really excited me, all would fall into place. Now I have a logo and lettering that I feel really reflect my label, along with my more subtle packaging, and I feel that this really helps to bring together and compliment my glittery floral style.”


“Once you remove the jewellery foam protector and sticker, all of my packaging is made of recyclable materials – but obviously, I’d be keen for people to store the earrings in the box and custom tissue paper they come in!”

“I chose noissue because I initially saw the compostable mailers and thought they were a great idea! I became interested in the ethos of the company – while my designs are a bit too delicate to send in the bags, I opted for the eco-friendly custom tissue paper.”

"Custom packaging has really helped elevate the luxury feel of my label, and I was so pleased to find an eco-friendly and recyclable way to do this. I was also thrilled with finding out that noissue is part of the Eco Packaging Alliance. For every order I place with them, I get to pick an area for a tree to be planted in!”

Liked this case study? Found out more about sustainable handbag brand Kaloskopic!

"My name is Ana Maria Perez Saldias, and I'm a Colombian Graphic Designer with a Masters in Magazine Publishing. I’m the founder of Kaloskopic, a brand of highly visual and inspiring leather bags and accessories, from Latin America.” “

"Kaloskopic was born five years ago, during a time when I most needed some light, colour and happiness in my life. After living in London for six years, I came back to Colombia because my father was ill. I stayed to look after him and he passed away five months later.” I had the desire to stay in Colombia and the need to keep developing my career, but I wasn’t in the right place to continue doing what I was working on in London. There weren’t any publishing houses or agencies in my hometown, Manizales. I have always loved pattern design and fashion. I actually once wanted to focus on creating leather goods in my BA, but I wasn’t allowed to do it as I wasn’t a fashion or industrial designer.”

“Starting the business joined many of my passions. Apart from designing and creating leather goods, I also put together the photoshoots and design the catalogs to sell them abroad.”

“Now, here I am in my hometown; designing leather bags full of patterns, contrasts and colours, resulting in unique and functional pieces made by hand that are sold nationally and internationally.”

“My vision is to make sure that each Kaloskopic product becomes one of those hunted pieces - not only being a well-made design, but also a functional piece in someone’s outfit, wardrobe or as travel essentials. I want to leave a smile on the face of our clients, assuring them that they own a distinct product, that they made a conscious buy, and have contributed to an artisanal craft that will last over time.”



True sustainability means freeing consumers from a model that puts fashion trends before longevity. Initiatives such as Rent the Runway have helped put a spotlight on alternatives to fast fashion. But 'greening' the industry as a whole means putting a bigger focus on sustainable supply chains and production.

For Ana, producing her bags in low numbers locally helps to reduce her impact on the environment, as well as give her brand a point of difference:

"We are very keen to keep implementing more and more sustainable practices in our business. For now, we design for those who admire handmade crafts, value detail and understand the relevance of sustainable fashion. We aren’t interested in creating for the masses; we promise authenticity by producing in low volumes. Through our timeless, functional designs and high-quality materials, we enhance the durability of our products, resulting in more conscious shopping and less waste in landfills. From all the practices that can make a business sustainable, the one that moves our hearts most, though, is that we produce our bags locally, employing very talented artisans."



Sustainability can be challenging for small businesses, as suppliers often don't cater to small order sizes. This doesn't just reduce waste - it also ensures that businesses are protected from big upfront costs:

"Sustainability is extremely important for Kaloskopic, but it's not as achievable as we would like it to be. Unfortunately, ordering small quantities sometimes makes it particularly difficult as a small business. That’s why we didn’t hesitate to order noissue custom tissue paper! Firstly, it’s printed ecologically with soy-based inks and is acid-free. Secondly, the low minimums made it a realistic investment for a start-up. We loved that they also planted a tree on our behalf in Brazil, which was the closest option to our home in Colombia."

noissue's MOQs start from just 250 units for our custom tissue paper, meaning we are able to cater to every size of business! For more about our MOQS, check out our guide.



As well as informing her sustainable branding, noissue tissue was a fantastic tool to help Ana improve her customer's experience with her brand. The power of custom packaging allows her to capitalize on being an artisan brand, whilst giving her handmade bags a designer edge:

"We are very pattern and colour-focused, so our leather bags are a combination of pattern design and leather craftsmanship. The designs on the bags are in line with fashion and deco trends, so we wanted to keep our tissue paper neutral. This allows the products wrapped inside to stand out, but still fit within the Kaloskopic branding palette."

"Kaloskopic’s custom tissue has a subtle pattern and repetition of our logo. It’s the first sight of our branding asset for customers when they unwrap their orders. Most of our bags are flat, so there was a lot of origami trial and error to create our ‘clutch wrap’ look. The custom tissue is folded in triangles to create the ‘clutch’ and it’s closed by a gold or silver sticker, resembling a metal clutch clasp."

"The tissue paper is great because it can be kept smooth, but is versatile enough to wrap the chains or wrist handles that make the bags usable as cross body bags, or the wallets to be used as little clutches. We use washi tape to finish the irregularly shaped wrappings."



"noissue is definitely very appealing to creative minds. and I felt attracted to the brand’s service immediately. The website is easy to use and makes it easy to quote, and the minimum quantities are realistic for small businesses."

"However, the most important and positive reason in choosing noissue were the ecologically sound printing practices and, taking into account the location of where our business is based, the possibility for orders to be delivered to Colombia."

"The aim of our business is to create unique, high quality and detail-orientated products that stand out from the flooded fast fashion market. Having noissue custom packaging helps us to deliver that and convey to our customers the care and love put into what we produce. It’s also been a key part of helping to construct a complete brand image for Kaloskopic, reflecting professionalism and our vision to take the brand worldwide."

(In Jazz's own words:)

“The Franks Lee brand has been established with the hope to create an impact on others and educate followers on the dangers of single-use plastic. We believe education is the first step to a sustainable lifestyle, as there are so many terrifying facts relating to our impact on the earth.”

“The aim is to grow as a business and have the opportunity to expand our range of reusable products to support others in taking steps to reduce their impact on our environment. With each product sold, Franks Lee will be donating to either Plant a Tree or 3 For The Sea and eventually expanding donation options as the brand grows.”

“This journey is important to me because when I was travelling through Central America, I saw first hand the amount of waste in the streets and waterways. I felt like it was all so unnecessary! On my journey back home to Australia, I looked into how we as humans are affected by plastic, and how single-use habits are destroying our earth. I was shocked as to why I hadn't learned of this sooner. After that realisation, I wanted to learn all about it and share all I had and continue to learn! I thought what better way to combine education and products that support this.”

Going Sustainable with Compostable Mailers


As a sustainable brand, Franks Lee has worked hard to extend this message across its operation. However, this does present challenges when it comes to working with suppliers whose practices don’t always align:

"It’s been difficult to find manufacturers that don't ship products in plastic! Being a brand that promotes no single-use plastic, I of course want to reduce the business's waste as much as possible. Solving this means that I have just asked repeatedly for the companies to use as little plastic as possible!”

While it’s difficult to control the shipping and packaging strategies of manufacturers, this is an area where brands themselves can take a stance. In 2019, sustainable packaging solutions are no longer a fringe commodity; they are fast becoming expected by consumers.

noissue's compostable eco mailer bags offer businesses a great sustainable alternative to the regular poly mailer. Instead of ending up in the landfill, our shipping mailers break down on a home compost within six months, going back to the earth and leaving no harmful residues behind!

“The Franks Lee Brand showcases every day on social media facts, tips, and lifestyle choices to create a more sustainable footprint. For me, sustainability means to create a lifestyle that reflects a love for the earth, to learn and to teach others about how we can live at a lower cost to our earth. Steps as a business, as mentioned above, are to use as little plastic packaging as possible when getting products delivered to me and only ordering smaller quantities of stock. And of course - using noissue’s compostable mailers and custom tissue paper!”

But going sustainable in your packaging design doesn’t have to mean losing valuable marketing opportunities. Our custom tissue paper, stickers, and tape offer businesses of every size the ability to put their eco-friendly commitments at the heart of their brand.

“I think the entire experience of a brand is SO important and I wanted to create a beautiful encounter for our customers. An experience that helps the customers to feel comfortable with our product packaging, so they know that ALL environmental aspects of the brand are deeply considered. I love that we have the opportunity to do this and that was why I am so in love with the noissue brand!”

For more environmentally-friendly packaging ideas, check out our blog!

1. It’s an affordable way to brand plain packaging

Branding and packaging are two parts of an interesting marriage. If you are going to build a successful eCommerce brand, it's hard to have one without the other.

When you are on a limited budget, even a small amount of external branding on your packaging goes a long way. In eCommerce, a plain cardboard box is a missed opportunity to put your brand in front of customers. After all, it's hard to make your brand memorable if your packages look exactly the same as everyone else's!

But custom boxes are expensive, and often come with high MOQs. This puts them out of the reach of many small businesses. noissue’s custom printed tape has a low MOQ of just five rolls. Using branded packing tape is an easy way to reduce the cost of branded and custom printed packaging for your business!

There is a lag between your customers making an online purchase and receiving it. This makes the moment of delivery the opportune time for some post-purchase marketing. Custom packaging creates an instant point of difference, and reminds your customer why they decided to buy from you in the first place. Even more importantly, it leaves them with a lasting impression that builds brand loyalty.

It’s not necessary to go all-out on external branded packaging. Just a few swipes of cheap custom packaging tape will allow you to leverage the benefits of this strategy!


2. Our custom packing tape is 100% eco-friendly

Just like the rest of our range, our water-activated custom packing tape is FSC-certified and acid-free. It’s also made from 100% recycled material! We also use the same renewable soy-based inks as our custom tissue paper. So, you can be reassured that your design will be gorgeous and friendly to the planet!



noissue tape vs. Plastic tape: What is the difference?

Many of the custom tape products currently on the market are plasticized to make them more durable. Plastic is a petroleum-based substance, meaning it’s non-renewable, non-recyclable and unable to biodegrade within a reasonable timeframe. (I don’t think any of us would call 1000 years reasonable!)

Plastic tape also affects the recyclability of your containers. The adhesive which makes the tape sticky contains chemicals that weaken paper and cardboard fibers. Even when customers make the effort to remove it from the box, the residue left behind still affects its ability to be recycled.

noissue’s paper custom packaging tape, on the other hand, is renewable, compostable, AND can be easily recycled. The best part? It doesn’t even need to be removed from the box! Your customer can simply break it down and put it in the recycling, with no risk of contamination.

For users of our compostable mailers, take note. If you ever feel like giving some branding to our stock mailers, our tape and compostable paper stickers offer a great solution. (For more on the disposal process, see our dedicated noissue composting guide!)

Complex packaging disposal can make life difficult for consumers trying to be eco-conscious. At noissue, we want to help businesses help their own customers. We strive to keep our sustainable packaging solutions as simple as possible.

So, whether it’s straight into the recycling bin or the compost heap - that’s all there is to it!


How does water-activated tape work?

Water-activated or gummed tape means that it needs to be dampened down to activate the adhesive. This method is key to creating a sustainable tape alternative. It allows us to avoid using glossy and non-waxed paper - neither of which break down in composting conditions.

When applied, gummed tape has the same tamper-proof seal as regular tape. The adhesive used for noissue's water-activated custom tape is completely non-toxic, to ensure safe composting and disposal.

There are a few different ways to activate the adhesive:

1. Simply wipe down the back of the tape with a damp cloth or sponge, then apply.
2. A manual gummed tape dispenser, which wets the tape as you dispense it.
3. An electric gummed tape dispenser. (If you work with a fulfillment company, there's a good chance they will already have one of these!)


3. You're probably already using tape

We're all pretty familiar with the applications of tape. If you are a small business owner doing your own order fulfillment, you're likely already using it. After all, you don't want your packages bursting open in transit!

Fixing on a few swipes of tape is always the last step in the packing process. With this in mind, why not get maximum value from this necessary expense?

Every packaging element presents another valuable opportunity to use your logo. By sticking to plain tape, you’re only fulfilling one need i.e. protecting your package. Because it combines branding with functionality, custom shipping tape is a fantastic all-in-one packaging solution for businesses.

With the addition of custom tape to our range, we are proud to say that noissue offers an affordable custom packaging toolkit for every stage of business!

1. Remove any adhesives from your compostable mailer

For best results, you will first need to remove any plastics from your compostable mailer. This includes any packaging tape, shipping labels and stickers. (Note: you will not need to remove noissue’s compostable stickers!)



2. Compost it!

If you have a home compost in your garden, you can stick your compostable mailer straight on the heap and leave it to do its thing. It’s as easy as that!



3. No compost heap?

If you do not have a compost heap, it could be a good idea to start one. Sites like Eartheasy and Gardening Know How offer great guides on how to compost and how to set up a compost heap - and it’s a lot easier than you might think!

Other options include seeing whether there is a composting pick-up service or community compost heap in your area. If not, why not set up a petition to start one!?





What is the difference between biodegradable packaging and compostable packaging?

These phrases get used interchangeably, which makes things pretty confusing for those wanting to dispose of packaging responsibly! Here is a quick run-down:

While just about every packaging material is technically biodegradable, not everything is compostable. The term ‘biodegradable’ sets no limits on how long the process takes, or the environmental impact it has. Even a regular plastic poly mailer is biodegradable - but the process can take hundreds of years! Needless to say, this doesn’t constitute sustainable packaging.

Moreover, while everything will break down eventually, harmful residues can be released during the process. This is why plastic pollution is a two-fold issue. It already has an adverse impact on ecosystems as a form of litter. But as a petroleum-based material, chemicals will leach out of plastic as it biodegrades - which is bad news.



Compostable packaging differs in that it will break down into natural elements in a compost setting, usually at a much faster rate than ‘biodegradable’ products. To facilitate the composting process, certain steps need to be taken. i.e. Putting your compostable mailer on a home or industrial compost heap. Compostable packaging can only be certified if the process is completed within a reasonable timeframe. For example, to meet the standards for the leading industry certifiers (TUV Austria, BPI and Dincerto) packaging must break down within 90 days in an industrial composting facility, and in 180 days on a home compost - which our compostable mailers do!

Compostable packaging also counts as sustainable packaging because it releases no harmful residues as the materials break down. Our compostable mailers are made from organic composites, so they are ‘returned to the earth’ in the most eco friendly way possible!

With three sizes available and the same durability as plastic mailing bags, compostable mailers are one of the most environmentally friendly packaging solutions available. Add in a straightforward disposal process for customers, and it’s a stress-free way for your business to keep things green!

“The things we own are a reflection of who we are, of where we’ve been, and where we dream of going. My goods are no exception to this.”

“I’m Angie, and I’m the founder, heart, and soul of Bobo Design Studio. I design and handcraft wanderlust-inspired lifestyle goods for the bohemian rebel, encouraging people to get out and explore the world around them and enrich their soul through adventure and travel. Every piece that I craft, from the illustrations I draw for my pins, stickers, and graphic apparel to my handcrafted leather accessories - even my Wanderlust Travel Passport - is designed to help you celebrate adventure both near and far!”

“The inspiration for my work is all around, but it’s not until we unplug, let our guard down, and take a step back to feel the world around us that true inspiration takes place. So much of what I create is a product of the places I’ve traveled to, and the memories that keep my soul warm. I'm drawn to earthy patterns and prints, and the rich colors found in nature. As someone who loves to travel, it’s essential that function is infused into all of the pieces that I create, making my lifestyle goods appropriate for every day (and not so everyday!) adventures.”



Creating an Engaging Brand Story


Brick and mortar retail can be a tough place to thrive in, especially when eCommerce often wins out due to convenience. In fact, 34% of consumers in a recent survey identified physical retail as the channel needing the most improvement.

In comparison to fast-growing retail channels like social media and mobile, brick and mortar is often perceived as lacking in innovation. It’s very easy to get caught up in the logistics of running a store, rather than thinking about your customer experience strategy.

As Angie demonstrates, having an engaging brand story is the first step to building a memorable in-store experience:

“I have a neon sign that you see when you walk into my store. It says “DO WHAT YOU LOVE.” Life is too short not to do what makes you happy; once I stopped letting society dictate what success and happiness were for me, it permitted me to live life on my terms. That meant leaving my high-salaried corporate job to run a creative business, and even moving out of our condo to live in a restored 1975 airstream full-time! This is something that I try to infuse into my brand's core.”

“I care very much about my customer, and the best way I can ensure that they connect with my brand is by being authentic. This means staying true to myself and true to my customer; it means that everything I make is designed to evoke feelings of wanderlust and adventure. I want to create an experience for my customer that makes them want to get out and explore the world!”

For more about improving the customer experience, check out our eCommerce and brick and mortar guides!

Custom Packaging as a Point of Difference

According to research by BRP consulting, 44% of consumers say that they are more likely to become repeat buyers after a ‘personalized’ shopping experience. So, now is a good time to think about how you could take things up a notch within your store!

Integrating custom packaging into your point of sale is a valuable piece of theatre. Why? Because it creates a much more personal connection to your brand. Putting care and attention into how you prepare goods for purchase shows that you go the extra mile to create a positive customer experience. This is the key to being a distinctive independent retailer when it can be challenging to source truly 'unique' products for your store.

As Angie explains, custom packaging creates that point of difference which makes you (and your products!) far more memorable:

“You only have one chance to make a killer first impression. To do this, I always pay extra attention to the details; it’s part of my storytelling, and the way I continue to connect with my customers beyond the products themselves.” “How I package and treat my goods is what separates me from others who sell similar products. It's more than just tissue to protect an item, it's about creating an entire branded experience from the beginning of the shopping experience to the end. Adding the details and finishing touches tell my customers that this item was something crafted and made with love.”

“I love creating a meaningful unboxing experience for my online shoppers, and carefully packaging products in neatly folded, branded tissue for my in-store shoppers. noissue allows me to elevate my brand in a way that’s not only beautiful and unexpected, but also cost-effective. I love that with noissue I'm able to deliver my products to my customers in a way that is fun, has my brand's personality, and comes at an affordable price that doesn't force me to compromise of my personal or brand values.”


But custom packaging is about more than enhancing the appearance of products. It’s also about adding a greater perception of value. The key to creating a high-value purchase? Making it feel that it has greater worth than the sum of its parts!

Angie’s custom tissue paper imparts value because it offers her customers enjoyment long after they have unwrapped their purchase:

“In a world where brands are competing on things like price, I wanted to ensure that Bobo Design Studio stands out from the pack through my storytelling. noissue allows me to do that without compromise. I know my customers love it because they comment on how they don’t want to throw the tissue away. I even had one customer come back to my store to ask me for a fresh piece of tissue that they could use as wallpaper for their cubicle!”

"The best noissue story is when someone messaged me that she bought one of my items as a gift and wrapped the gift in my tissue paper. After she gifted it, she took the tissue paper back because she loved it so much!"

Already have custom packaging? Why not consider a refresh? Changing your custom packaging design periodically shows that your brand is dynamic, and also gives your customers something extra to get excited about!

noissue’s low MOQs make it easy for businesses to change up their packaging design, whether it’s to help celebrate the season, or just because you fancy a change!

“One of the biggest reasons I refreshed my packaging was because I could! The low minimums give me the ability to try new designs without having to overcommit. I also think it adds to the excitement for my repeat customers. At Bobo Design Studio, I create wanderlust-inspired goods, so naturally, as an artist and a designer, my travels and adventures inspire a lot of my products. I love to create and play with bold prints that reflect the places I've been and the colors found in nature.”

(In Piera’s own words): 

“My name is Piera Cirefice and I am a freelance Illustrator from Ireland, currently working in Cambridgeshire.”

“My aesthetic vision is very much so in response to my process as a creative, with travel reportage Illustration at the heart of my practice. By marrying more illustrative qualities with traditional landscape studies, I hope to offer a different perspective to our unique landmarks and landscapes.”

Using traditional methods like watercolour and referencing cartography, I aim to document the landscape: the flora and fauna, as well as the tales tied to that land, all with an underlying emphasis on ecological concerns.”

“The overall environmental principle guiding my work being, that if one is more familiar with something then one is more likely to love it and ultimately then protect it.”



Being a More Sustainable Business with Eco Friendly Packaging


“Sustainability is very important to my brand: My work draws heavily on the beauty of our natural environment and is my main source of inspiration. I want my business to reflect my values of conserving and protecting our natural landscapes by emphasising the beauty of this earth, and the importance it should hold in our society.”

“Packaging has been a challenge to my business in terms of making it more environmentally friendly. As I want to protect my items which get posted, without compromising on my values of sustainability. To begin with, I wanted to keep my business expenses low and so went for the cheapest options. However, as my business has grown in the last two years, I have been able to invest more time and money into sourcing more sustainable packaging for my products - Like noissue’s custom tissue paper!”


"I have therefore focused on packaging as a way to improve my sustainable practices:"

- I always use recycled packaging from previous orders.
- My envelopes for prints and cards are made from recyclable materials.
- I am phasing out single-use cello-bags in my online shop, replacing them with fully biodegradable cello-bags where necessary, but mainly replacing the cello-bags with my custom tissue paper made with noissue!
- My prints and cards are all FSC-certified.
- I also try and operate on a simple, small level, working from home to reduce my carbon footprint, and cycling to the local post office as much as I can!

For any small business, Piera's sustainable packaging tips offer some fantastic ideas for becoming more environmentally friendly! Packaging waste contributes hugely to your environmental footprint, especially for eCommerce businesses. Although something like eliminating plastic wrap might seem like a small commitment, it can make a big difference to your overall footprint in the long-term! Sustainability is all about taking those actionable steps towards a greener operation.

For more tips, check out our environmentally friendly packaging ideas blog!



Going custom with eco friendly packaging


Making a commitment to use sustainable packaging doesn't mean giving up valuable branding opportunities! Customized eco friendly packaging offers businesses the opportunity to put their brand identity at the center of their sustainable efforts, and look great while doing it!

noissue packaging isn't just eco friendly - it also provides the opportunity for businesses to aid other sustainable efforts too! Our eco-packaging alliance allows our customers to plant trees in deforested regions around the world with every order, providing a real-life way to offset the impact of your packaging needs.

Piera's custom tissue design is inspired by the flora of the Mourne Mountains in Ireland - both an expression of her nature-inspired artwork and her Irish upbringing:

“For me, the custom tissue paper offers a really unique touch. I want every order to feel like a special gift to each customer and so taking the time and care in making my packaging more custom allows me to hopefully achieve that goal!”

“I fell in love with all the Instagram photos I was seeing of other illustrators who had made custom packaging with noissue, and so wanted to try it out for myself. noissue stood out to me based on the quality of the product, but also the company’s strong emphasis on sustainable practice. I loved how noissue’s tissue paper uses soy-based inks, is acid-free AND FSC certified! My order also meant I could contribute to their reforestation programme (Eco-Packaging Alliance), in which a tree is planted for every order made, which I thought was very exciting!”

“These sustainable practices mean that me, as the customer, can contribute and be involved with a more environmentally friendly process of consumerism….as well as allowing my brand to be more sustainable itself!”

Click here to find out more about our eco-alliance program!

The Origins of The Book Playbox

(In Tanya’s own words):

“I’m Tanya, the curator of a subscription box service called The Book Playbox. We encourage reading aloud, creativity and play with the inclusion of a hardcover picture book and art activities for children ages 3-7 years old.”

“As an art teacher by profession, a mum of three and an avid children’s picture book lover, I’ve enjoyed providing fun, creative activities for my own children, often linking these to the books we’ve been reading. I have always been interested in starting my own business that incorporated the things that I love. The creation of The Book Playbox was a natural progression as it combines my love of creativity through art and play, reading picture books and spending time with children.”

“We are a new small business which is currently only available to New Zealand and Australian customers. However, we are launching our subscription box in the United States this month, which is very exciting!"


"My vision for The Book Playbox is that it will become a regular and treasured addition to many family homes for many years to come. It is to be enjoyed together in a fun and relaxed manner, therefore the box is curated in a way that success is available for all. There are no expectations for perfect outcomes; just opportunities to be together, to learn, to connect and to create, whilst also building a regular family ritual and a special picture book library to be enjoyed for generations.”

Pro tip #1: Having an easily identifiable niche is at the core of creating a successful subscription box. However, this is also one of the biggest challenges. There is a wide variety of different box styles out there, so you need a strong vision of who your box is intended for and what makes it unique. In Tanya’s case, it was her role as a teacher and mother which inspired her to create a subscription box that was a vehicle for creativity and family time. Honing in on your own experiences ensures that your theme is authentic and communicates a clear brand story!

Designing Subscription Box Packaging


We've all heard of the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover', but compelling subscription box packaging and product presentation are what makes subscription services special!

In theory, we could go out and buy the products in a subscription box ourselves - but we would lose the excitement and anticipation of the unboxing experience. For Tanya, it was a priority right from the start to design a box which reflected the fun and creative vibe of her offerings:

“I come from a visual arts background, so I appreciate the finer details which make something that little bit more special. I went with custom printed boxes and a custom printed tissue paper insert designed by local designer Zoe Sizemore from Case In Point Design Studio, who I found through a women’s business network. I was impressed with Zoe’s ability to translate my vision for the overall look and feel of the brand with great skill and expertise. I think the result fits perfectly with the vibe of the box. It’s unique, eye-catching and appealing to children and adults alike. Children get very excited when they see this box arrive at their door!”

"noissue was recommended on an Australian businesswomen’s group The Lady Startup as a company doing great things, with a high-quality product and environmentally conscious ethos. I believe noissue has a mindful ethic with sustainability and the wider community at its core. It worked well for my business because I could create something personalised which fit within my budget, and I was able to purchase the quantities that I needed. Working together with brands like this who are doing the best for people and the planet, are the perfect brands to align my own business with!"


Interested in working with a designer to produce your custom packaging? Check out our creative partners page!




Using custom tissue paper to line the inside of the box was a fantastic way for Tanya to display her brand narrative. The white tissue paper provides a lovely contrast against the colorful box, while the doodle-inspired illustrations perfectly reflect her vision for The Book Playbox:

“The custom tissue paper design was very important to the look and feel of the box. I wanted something that appealed to the user; the children. Read, Create, Play is the catchphrase of the business, so it was fitting to incorporate this text with the illustrations. The eyes represent reading, the various mark-making lines represent art and creativity, and the hands for creative play and sharing. I felt it was important to include the quote which becomes the final reveal when opening the box as it fits perfectly with our vision:"

"Time spent playing with children is never wasted." - Dawn Lantero.

Pro tip #2: Playing with the spatial dimensions of your shipping boxes in your subscription box packaging design can create some really memorable effects, as Tanya shows with her box! It shows a creative and quirky vibe, which will make a lasting impression on your customer.

Want to know more about how to create a memorable unboxing experience? Check out our blog!

For more about great ways to use your logo as eCommerce business, check out our blog! 

Crafting a memorable delivery experience






For online brands, the moment of delivery is a really important opportunity for post-purchase marketing. The final impression that a customer has of your brand is crucial to whether they will purchase from you again, or recommend you to others! Channeling an attractive unboxing experience into your delivery is a fantastic way to show how much you value your customers.

The delivery experience plays a huge role within the world of Enrich & Endure. As Sarah and Lorcan explain, it’s attention to detail within the fulfillment process that makes their brand unique:

“When you are ordering an apron off our website there is an option to write a personal note - these are handwritten postcards that come wrapped with the apron. Before any apron goes out, we take it off the shelf and iron it (this is our way of casting our eye over every detail for quality control). Then it is neatly folded and wrapped in our custom tissue paper, sealed with a sticker. If you don't choose to write a gift note, we'll write one to you anyway to thank you for your order. Going forward, we are going to include little recipe cards to inspire our customers to wear their aprons and get creative!”

“We chose noissue after coming across the custom tissue paper on social media - we just loved the personality and style of the whole brand. We had so much fun designing our tissue and can't wait to create another pattern for round two! A large portion of our aprons are bought as gifts, so having funky paper to tear into adds to that purchase/delivery experience. We are starting to see people opening their apron box/package and documenting the experience on social media to comment on how much they love it, which is amazing for us to see.”

Want to learn more about how packaging can lift your social media game? Check it out here!

Dollar Shave Club did plenty of other things right, but the two factors above contributed the most to the delightful experience they offer to their customers.

See if you can do something similar in your business. Find a way to make your brand stand out. Inject some personality in your copy. Develop processes that make orders and fulfillment much easier for your customers.

When you pull this off successfully, you’ll have customers for life!

2. Impersonal shopper interactions

If you’re not personalizing the customer experience, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. Multiple studies have shown that consumers appreciate personalized brand interactions, so it’s important for you to customize the experiences of your shoppers based on their needs.

Doing that starts with having the right data. Vend’s retail industry analysis found that retailers have an average of 637 customers in their database, though that number varies according to industry. Retailers that sell cosmetics, shoes, and jewelry have the largest customer databases while those that sell food and beverages are on the lower end.


But regardless of what you sell, you should constantly strive to grow your customer database. Offer incentives that encourage people to share more about themselves and build customer profiles as they interact with your brand.

Be creative. The lingerie retailer ThirdLove, for example, lets its customers take a “Fit Finder” quiz that asks a series of questions to determine the best bra type and size. From there, ThirdLove makes customized recommendations based on each customer’s answers.


Take a leaf out of ThirdLove’s playbook by coming up with an interesting and interactive way to collect shopper data. Once you have their info, put it into good use by creating personalized shopping experiences.

3. Long wait times

The last thing you want to do is keep customers waiting! Studies have shown that a 100-millisecond delay in a page's load time can reduce conversions by 7%. Not only that, but 79% of online shoppers said that they won't buy from a retailer again if they experience poor website performance.

There are a number of steps you can take to improve your site’s load time. Some of the low-hanging fruit include:

Keeping your image sizes small
Not using unnecessary plugins or code
Reducing the number of HTTP requests from your site
Shortening server response time
Implementing browser caches

It’s also important to continuously monitor your site speed and keep up with the latest eCommerce technologies and best practices.

A great tool for doing this is Google PageSpeed Insights, free web software that analyzes your site's speed and performance. Simply enter your URL into the field and Google will score your site and offer recommendations on how to improve.


4. Having a cumbersome shopping experience

Implementing a seamless shopping experience is paramount in today’s landscape, where consumers are constantly moving from one channel to the next. According to Google, 76% of holiday shoppers over the age of 18 use three or more channels.

This shows us that consumers like using different devices and channels throughout their retail journeys, which is why having a fragmented user experience is a big no-no.

A key action step in providing a top-notch experience is making sure that your customers can seamlessly interact with your brand as they switch between channels [e.g. web to mobile]. You can do this by enabling customers to create an account at your store and then saving their shopping activities — like previous purchases and items added to cart — so they can easily “pick up where they left off” when buying from you.

Sephora does this incredibly well. Not only do they save the items you’ve added to your basket - they also keep track of the items you’ve previously bought for a smooth re-ordering process.


5. There’s no human element

Online customers may not be shopping in person, but that doesn’t mean they don’t crave human interaction. While there’s a lot of value in automation and AI, you can’t discount the human element from the shopping experience altogether.

It’s important to give your customers the option to interact with a live person when they want to. Doing so doesn’t just satisfy shoppers’ need for human connection - it also improves your credibility. Online customers can get wary of brands that don’t offer live human support, so by having real people serving your customers, you can put shoppers at ease and drive conversions.

Poopsie’s, a gift shop in Galena, IL, serves as a great example of a retailer putting real people at the heart of its customer experience strategy. Poopies’s has a wide selection of merchandise sold online, but also understands that some customers need help selecting the right products.

So, Poopsie’s came up with a service called Poopsie’s Live, in which customers can speak to a live associate via Skype or Facetime. On the call, the Poopsie’s rep will handpick selections for the shoppers and help them choose the best item depending on their needs.

(In Charlotte’s own words):

“I’ve always gravitated towards anything creative since I was little. I previously worked for 8 years with two luxury brands on the buying & product development side of things. I decided last July to finally take the plunge and set up my own creative studio from home, specializing in illustrated paper goods & gifts.”

“I started setting up Sleepy Bee Studio in October 2018 and officially started selling this year. The team consists of my husband Gav & myself (and our cat Mister Miaow - he likes to be involved in a sleep-on-the-desk-right-on-your-work kind of capacity!) I run the business and do the illustrations and product design. Gav is a graphic designer and so does the artwork set-up, manages print production and handles the technical side of things.”

The inspiration behind Sleepy Bee Studio


Charlotte has always had a passion for beautiful packaging and handwritten sentiments. For her, the time commitment that both practices involve represents a higher level of care and attention to detail than most modern communications. When the key criteria for most of our daily activities are convenience and speed, Sleepy Bee Studio’s range of custom printed tissue paper and stationery is a message for people to take the time out of their day to show their affection to those close to them:

“Looking on my Pinterest boards just now, I have so far got close to 2000 pins on packaging & stationery. Yes, it sounds like I have some sort of problem and I definitely need to spend less time on it. But in all honesty I just love it, and always have. I am definitely one of those people who will buy something that I don’t need because the way it’s been packaged is so beautiful! In addition, I’m so happy when I receive a handwritten letter - it shows someone has taken time out of their day to get in touch in a much more heartfelt way than a quick text.”

“My little mission is to get people to slow things down a touch, now that so much is instantly available. It would be hypocritical of me to tell people to shun technology, seeing as I use social media most days to promote my products. It’s about getting the balance right with technology whilst not losing the traditional way of writing. There is still a need for beautiful tactile correspondence that will be kept and cherished forever!”

Pro tip: The power of a handwritten note goes a long way within your order fulfillment too! Including a thank-you card within your online orders is a fantastic way to build a stronger rapport with your customer.

Designing four stationery collections


“I was born in Cambridge and still live there now, so it seemed right for it to be the inspiration for my first collection themes. There are so many beautiful and inspiring things that I was able to capture and illustrate, but decided to go with an initial collection of 4 themes named Cambridge, Darwin, Botanical & Stargazer.”

“Over a series of weeks, I put together all of the illustrations needed from doing several trips into town. For instance with all the Darwin illustrations, they were drawn from specimens on display at the Museum of Zoology (some of the beetle drawings are from specimens on display that Darwin himself collected!) Once they were scanned into the computer, Gav and I worked through different designs to then get printed such as notebooks, postcards, letter paper, & illustrated envelopes. Next on the list are fine art prints and greeting cards!”

“For the majority of the illustrations on the first four themes, I used the pointillism technique (with black ink rather than colour) by drawing hundreds of tiny dots to create each piece. This happened because with the clouds in Stargazer the solid lines I started using just didn’t look delicate enough. I changed it to a series of dots and it really suited the look, so I went with it for the remaining themes. Some of them took absolutely ages and whilst I’m happy with the effect, I do plan to introduce new styles with the new themes!”


When your own artwork is the product for sale, this opens up limitless possibilities for applying these designs to different mediums. With her love for beautiful packaging and being sustainable, eco friendly custom tissue paper printed with her own illustrations was a natural choice for Charlotte to add to her product range:

“I found noissue on Instagram and just thought it just looked amazing! I wasn’t even aware that soy ink could be used in printing. Once I’d read up on the process and materials on the website, I figured it’d be a great way to display and wrap everything. As I’m predominantly selling paper goods, I’m very conscious of the environmental impact. In terms of packaging I didn’t want to use any plastic, so I thought custom tissue paper be a lovely way to wrap the products, which I then pack into recycled envelopes or un-glued recyclable boxes. It was also important that I went with a UK-based FSC certified company for the print production, and that as much as possible was made in the UK.”

By creating four bespoke tissue paper designs inspired by each of her collections, Charlotte could provide her customers with extra-special gift wrapping for their own needs as well as premium packaging for her online orders. On her Etsy store they have the option of buying her custom tissue paper separately in a set of three sheets, or as a part of her larger stationery bundles. This two-fold packaging solution allows Charlotte to boost the customer experience her brand offers, whilst also adding a product which offers limitless opportunities to expand on.

For more on the virtues of offering gift-wrapping on your online store, check out our blog!

Turning Charlotte’s collections into bespoke tissue paper designs

Getting four custom tissue designs proofed, printed and shipped to the UK might seem like an ambitious undertaking, but noissue’s 3-week turnaround and low minimum order quantities her tissue paper printing made the process straightforward for Charlotte. With MOQs starting out at 250 sheets, this makes having multiple designs or seasonal-specific designs achievable for small businesses. In fact, Charlotte ultimately decided to add a fifth tissue design to her custom packaging portfolio!


Charlotte’s minimalist 5th custom packaging design - 17GSM white tissue paper with the Sleepy Bee Studio logo!

“My decision to go with noissue was due to the combination of their eco-friendly packaging, stunning design results, and the low MOQ. If we had gone with a UK competitor we would’ve had to order a minimum of 10 reams per design. This would have been way too much, and extremely expensive! Using noissue gave us the opportunity to offer 4 bespoke tissue paper designs rather than one. Though we did end up doing a fifth tissue paper which features the brand logo as a lovely packaging option for products that don’t necessarily fall under a particular theme, such as the handmade wax seal & calligraphy greeting cards. We hope to add more custom tissue designs in future themes such as Coastal, Jurassic, Afternoon Tea, Dreamcatcher… you name it, it’s probably on the list!”

For creatives who have re-existing designs that they want to customize tissue paper with, noissue’s offline design tool makes it easy to collaborate with our team to create the look you envision. Once you upload your design to our site, we will have a proof ready for you in 24 hours for approval!

“Everything was drawn by hand rather than on a computer, so when I first got in touch with noissue and they said that they would need to outline everything, we thought it wouldn’t be able to be done with as much detail as we hoped for. But the design team did a great job, and Gav and I were very happy with the results. The only one that we decided not to outline was Stargazer, as there were just too many dots to cope with! That one was done on the 17GSM paper in black ink, rather than the 21GSM colored tissue paper like the rest. It’s so delicate and pretty - Stargazer is actually the best-selling theme so far!”

Pro tip: noissue offers two weights for our custom tissue paper - 17GSM for a translucent, more delicate feel and 21GSM for a heavier finish. Check our product page for more details!


“I designed ‘Botanical’ first; there is the beautiful University Botanic Garden in Cambridge, which was founded in 1762 in the centre of the city and initially grew plants to be used for teaching medical students. It now houses over 8000 plants from all over the world, and was the perfect place to walk around and get a huge variety of flora & fauna.”


“Then came ‘Stargazer’; I love astronomy and we have the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, where on clear nights you can use their telescope for stargazing. Plus I usually get stopped in my tracks when there’s a beautiful sky out, so this one was a collection of clouds, stars, galaxies & planets amongst other little whimsical designs I made up.”


“The inspiration for ‘Darwin’ as I mentioned, came from the Museum of Zoology specimens. This was actually my favourite theme to draw, so I’ll definitely be adding to the animal side of things for future themes!”


“For ‘Cambridge,’ the design is made up of the city’s famous icons such as the colleges, bridges, punting along the river, and lots of other little details!”


For more custom tissue inspiration, check out our gallery!

(In Eva’s own words):

I've been doing the order processing for my shop for about 3 years now. Looking back on how I used to do things, I've definitely improved in terms of turnaround time, efficiency and overall mess-ups!

I never really had a grasp on how much of what packaging material I would need, so I always ran out of supplies. I probably wasted a bunch of money because I kept buying very small amounts of things (like mailers, tissue paper, thank you cards etc.) After a while of getting orders regularly, I got a bit more confident in what I was doing and started to invest in larger amounts of things, which made me feel a lot more professional.

I also used to mess up orders a lot, like accidentally sending someone the wrong size or switching out two completely different orders by mistake. I remember once having to cut open 30 taped-up envelopes to check each one - I’d messed up an order and didn't know which one out of the 30 it was! Nowadays mistakes like that are few and far between because I've got a pretty good system going, which looks a little something like this:

Firstly, I handprint or make almost every item I sell, so it starts with that. After that, I fold, label and count every item very carefully. That way when I’ve received an order, it’s super easy to grab the folded item and start the packing process. I always add one, two or more thank you cards to each order, pack it up in my wonderful noissue custom tissue paper, and then either slip it into a biodegradable mailer or a recycled cardboard box with a packing slip. After that I create a shipping label, stick it on there and bring it to the post office!



The challenges of Eva’s order fulfillment

It goes without saying that there are some disadvantages to not using a fulfillment service. It means turning your own house or studio into a DIY fulfillment center, which obviously requires space for all of your packaging materials and stock. Otherwise, you might have to hire a storage space. There is also a large time investment involved in processing and delivering orders to postage centers. In Eva's case, it was her business's location which presented the biggest difficulty:

The biggest challenge is that I'm constantly dealing with is that I live in and ship from the Netherlands, and almost all of my customer orders come from the US. This means shipping is expensive and packages can take a long time to reach their destination, which is understandably a turn-off for some people who are looking to buy something. I am extremely grateful for all the people who have looked past this and order from me anyway!

Pro tip: As your business grows, it's important to periodically review your order fulfillment process to see where you can streamline it, or whether you are at the point where you may need to outsource for a better fulfillment solution. For more info, check out our article on 6 Signs your business needs third-party logistics!



The role of noissue tissue in Eva’s order fulfillment

When shipping is expensive and fulfillment times might be longer, small businesses need to find other innovative ways of providing value to their customers. Showing off the uniqueness of your brand is one of the best tools at your disposal! By showing prospective customers that you offer something that a regular online marketplace can't provide, you are giving your business a much stronger brand narrative.

For Eva, designing her custom tissue paper with her very own illustrations was a very important part of her value proposition as a creative. Premium wrapping makes every purchase feel like a special gift, even when it's for the person that ordered it:

It’s been so wonderful to be able to pack orders in my own drawings - it makes the whole experience of receiving a handmade item even more personal and special, which I think is very important. I've gotten so many compliments on the paper so far, which goes to show that 'small' touches like personalized tissue paper really can make a big difference to the overall customer experience.


What is one piece of advice that Eva would give to other small businesses about order fulfillment?

Don't be afraid to invest in the beginning and buy your shipping supplies in bulk! Even in the beginning when your sales aren't super steady. Save yourself the extra time and money you're spending by going to the post office every week to buy 3 envelopes and 1 roll of tape!