6. Shipping: Resources

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This is the final step to getting your lovely products to your customers! 

Trying to find shipping options and materials may be stressful but here are some resources I've come across that may help!

Contents:

  • Platform

  • Supplies To pack and Send Your Package Out


1. Platform

If your selling platform already has a shipping integration linked to it, you can go ahead and use that. If you are using Bigcartel, you won't have one.

In this case, you can choose to ship with:

Shipstation.com $9 - $159 /month
  • Sign up for an account
  • Follow the direction the page gives you
  • Link your shop and import your orders
  • Manage Orders
  • Create Labels with USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx
  • Send tracking emails
Pros
  • Convenient and Organized
  • Lowest shipping prices
  • Prints label with ease
  • Different shipping carriers 
  • International shipping input is straightforward
Cons
  • Subscription fee
  • First level subscription only has 50 shipments per month
  • Inner system a bit complicated to manage
  • Cannot connect with Paypal to pay for labels
Note: I use this one because it's convenient and I've gotten used to it. I also like it's shipping discount rates.
















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  • Sign up for an account
  • Follow the direction the page gives you
  • Link your shop and import your orders
  • Manage Orders
  • Create Labels with USPS
Pros
  • It's Free!
  • Can link to your shop
  • Labels are mostly discounted
Cons
  • A little bit unorganized when shipping many things
  • Only USPS labels
  • Limited Package type option
  • Discount not as much as ShipStation
Note: I use Pirate Ship to ship domestic packages when I am out of shipments for ShipStation.
















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2. Supplies You Need 

What do you need in order to pack your pins?

  1. Pin(s)
  2. Bubble Mailer
    • from Amazon
    • 4 x 6 in. and larger if needed
  3. Backing Card 
These are optional but would definitely make the package more presentable:
  1. Business Card & Thank you note
  2. Freebie photocard
    • could be anything ex. stickers, pictures, sometimes candy

This is how I pack most of my instock pin orders:



What do you need to ship out your package?

  1. Shipping Label
    • Print from home printer on paper 
      • Tape label on bubble mailer
    • Thermal Label Printer
After all this, all you need to do is to drop your package off at a post office or a post and done!
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Congrats! You have gone through all the steps you need to manage an online pin shop 😆 There is a lot to do and memorize but as you do it more, it will become a second nature for you! I really hope the guide helped you get a bigger idea of how to run a pin shop!

If you have any comments or questions for me please feel free to comment below, dm me via Instagram or Twitter @teataekl, or email me at teataekookie@gmail.com

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