DIY Branding – Shopping For Supplies

 

DIY branding, small business suppliers resource list, packaging & supplies for small business

Your website looks awesome. Your logo is killer. Your Etsy shop is filled with amazing goodies. You’ve rocked DIY Branding month and you’re ready for business, right?

But wait  – how are you going to package your products? Do you have business cards yet? Are you still buying your shipping supplies at the local big box store? And, have you given any thought to making every order pretty? Because a little bit of pretty goes a long way, especially in the creative business world!

I’ve looked high and low and gathered a list of great places to shop for branding and packaging supplies. You’ll find (pretty much) everything you need to package your products with a professional look on a DIY budget. Some of these are obvious, some are sweet, and some of them were my little secret… until now!

PUT YOUR NAME ON IT – Printed Items

Basic Label (China) – woven garment labels, printed clothing labels

Custom Clothing Labels (US) – woven garment labels, printed clothing labels, PVC labels

Custom Couture Label Company (US) – woven garment labels, hangtags, ribbon, zipper pulls, etc.

Got Print (US) – business cards, banners, flyers, catalogues, hangtags, etc.

Jakprints (US) – business cards, flyers, postcards, magnets, banners, etc.

Juke Box Print (Canada) – business cards (including wooden cards, kraft cards, cotton cards, die cut cards), flyers, stickers, rubber stamps, hangtags, etc.

Moo (US) / Moo (UK) – business cards, mini cards (great for hangtags), stickers/labels, postcards, greeting cards

Overnight Prints (US) / Overnight Prints (UK) – business cards, mini cards, magnets, postcards, etc

Sticker Mule (US) – custom stickers, die cut stickers, bumper stickers, electronic skins

Sticker Robot (US) – custom stickers

Sticker You (Canada) – custom vinyl stickers and labels

UV Cards (US) – business cards, postcards, stickers, magnets, etc.

Vistaprint – business cards, flyers, signs, magnets and pretty much anything else you’d want to put your business name on

TIP – Why not reach out to local print shops in your town – support a local small biz & make a personal connection!

PACKAGE IT UP – Packaging Basics

Clear Bags (US) / Clear Bags (Canada) – plastic bags, plastic boxes, food safe boxes, eco plastic packaging, etc

Creative Bag (Canada) – plastic bags, paper bags, tissue paper, boxes, metal tins, etc

In The Clear (US) – paper bags, plastic bags, boxes, metal tins, plastic tubes, ribbon, tape, etc

Muslin Bags (US) – drawstring muslin bags – can order single sample to check sizing, etc.

Online Labels (US) – blank labels in a variety of shapes, sizes & colours. Check out their Customer Creations section for label inspiration.

Papermart (US) – paper bags, plastic bags, jewelry boxes, stationery boxes, muslin bags, ribbon, tags, etc.

Potters (UK) – jewelry boxes, displays, tissue paper, gift bags

Robert H Ham (US) – jewelry packaging, ribbon, tissue paper

SKS Bottle (US) – glass bottles, glass jars, plastic tubes, plastic bottles, plastic jars, etc.

Sunburst Bottle (US) – glass bottles, glass jars, plastic bottles, plastic jars, metal containers, etc.

The Wrappery (Canada) – resealable plastic bags, glassine bags, ribbon, twine, tags  – great for smaller quantities if you’re not ready to take the 1000 piece leap just yet!

SEND IT OUT – Shipping Supplies

EcoEnclose (US) – eco-friendly boxes, bubble mailers, poly mailers, labels and packing tape

Romantic Pink (South Korea) – poly mailers in fun colours, cute packing tape

Staples Industrial (US) / Staples Industrial (Canada) – bubble mailers, poly mailers, stay flat mailers, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, etc.

Uline (US) / Uline (Canada) – bubble mailers, poly mailers, stay flat mailers, cardboard boxes, paper bags, etc.

TIP – If you’re not quite ready to invest in 100+ units, try your local dollar store. They often carry bubble mailers and are a good way to see what size(s) you use most before ordering a full case.

MAKE IT PRETTY – Finishing Touches

Caramelos (US) – ribbons, trims, colourful twine, cute accents, etc.

Dacgiri’s Ribbon Shop (South Korea) – ribbon

Knot & Bow (US) – metallic twine, colourful shipping tags, stickers, etc.

Olive Manna (US) – paper bags, shipping tags, ribbon, twine, etc.

Omiyage (Canada) – washi tape, cute paper bags, colourful baker’s twine, shipping tags, stickers, etc.

Really Reasonable Ribbon (US) – ribbon, ric rac, colourful twine

Ribbon Shop (US) – custom printed ribbon, ribbon

The Twinery (US) – colourful baker’s twine

We Sell Coffee (US) – large cones of baker’s twine – not quite as nice as the other designer twines, but perfect if you go through a lot of it!

Whisker Graphics (US) – colourful baker’s twine, cute paper bags, stickers, tags – created Divine Twine & Bitty Bags!

FUN EXTRAS – Other Good Stuff

Pure Buttons (US) – custom pinback buttons, stickers, magnets

Rubber Stamps (US) – custom rubber stamps, self-inking stamps

Simon’s Stamps (US) – custom rubber stamps, self-inking stamps

Six Cent Press (Canada) – custom pinback buttons

Unique Expressions (US) – personalized pencils

HELP OUR LIST GROW: Do you have any secret (or not so secret suppliers)  you love and we missed? Or perhaps a branding / packaging supply you’re on the hunt for? Tell us all about it in the comments – our hope is that this list grows with your input!

 

32 comments

  2. Amy @ Sunbreak Soaps says:

    I highly recommend finding a box supplier locally! They seem to cost quite a bit to ship for some reason, and I’ve found that I can save quite a bit by buying local. For those in the Portland, OR area, I’ve found Columbia Corrugated Box to be very helpful and their prices are great!

  8. Sarah says:

    Such a fantastic post, thanks so much for sharing! The design and production of my goods isn’t a problem, but finding the right resources (for packaging etc) at the right price is so tricky sometimes. I’ve used a couple of the companies in the list – Crystal Clear Bags and The Twinery – and both offer great service.

  22. dcgtechindia.com says:

    Look into possible options for movers and start getting quotes for pricing. Over the phone inquiries may not be very accurate, so be sure to get an on-site estimate. Ensure the moving vehicle has a USDOT number.

  26. Cat Cherry says:

    I’m searching for somewhere to get small silver discs stamped with a cherry on it as my jewellers makers mark. I think it will be a nice way to start to get my business image out there and help my business name and my jewellery to start getting recognised. Any ideas? All help gratefully received. Thanks in advance. X

    • Holly Bridlington says:

      Hi Cat Cherry,
      It probably depends upon how many you need. I did something like that for myself and bought sheets of silver laser printer adhesive paper (Zweckform) and had them printed at a neighbourhood copy shop. Drawback was that the paper isn’t as shiny as a true foil, but it still lokked good. Another drawback for you would be the round label. That would mean having to use a paper punch in the right size (can get those at any store that sells scrapbooking supplies or ebay). If I were to do it again (an needed a lot more than my 48 stickers), I would try Saxoprint.co.uk. They have really cool metal foil stickers there. They take about a week, but the print is amazing. And they have round ones! 🙂
      Cheers,
      Holly

  27. Angela says:

    Hey! I’m in need of some ideas for creative cushioning material/ void fill options in high end box packaging? We have like 7 bottled samples that are lined inside the box, but I dont want them sliding all around — that would be bad for “presentation”.

    Any ideas where I could find something like this?
    Email me: awhollen123@gmail.com
    Thanks!!!!!

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