5 Easy Steps to Safely Pack Your Art for Couriers

Does your ecommerce store sell paintings or other forms of precious art?

Sometimes it’s easier to create paintings on canvas that you can roll up, put in a tube, and send it on its way. However, there are some customers who want something that’s ready to hang on their wall immediately. In these instances, you will have to find a way to pack your art, so it reaches its destination securely and safely.

So what do you need to get your art in the hands of your customers? How do you pack these items? Here’s a simple step by step guide that will help you get your parcel ready for delivery.

What You Need to Pack Art

Before you put anything in a box, you’ll need some items to help you pack art safely. Here are the essential tools:

• Packing tape
• Tape gun to apply the packing tape
• Artist tape
• Scissors or Stanley knife
• Cardboard corners for the frame
• Measuring tape
• Glassine
• Bubble wrap
• Brown paper
• Gloves to handle the art
• Foam or blanket

1. Getting Started

Put some foam or a blanket on your table. This will protect your artwork when you place it face down.

Next, roll out a sheet of glassine paper on top of the foam or blanket. Then, carefully place your artwork face down on the glassine, leaving enough space to fold the paper around the edges.

2. Preparing the Art

Now it’s time to use the artist tape. A neat little trick is to fold over the edge of the tape, so it creates a handle. When your customer is unpacking and needs to remove the tape, they can pull on the tab to take it off easily.

Start at the longest edge and tape the glassine to the canvas. Once you’ve done both sides, fold the corner of the glassine inwards like you would a present, then upwards onto the canvas. Use the artist tape to secure it but place it over the glassine you have already taped.

3. Wrapping the Art

Time for bubble wrap. Always use the smooth side of this material against your painting. The raised side may leave an impression on the art. Lay it out on your table and place your artwork face down on the smooth side. Make sure you have at least five centimetres of bubble wrap on the sides of the art.

Wrap it two times in the bubble wrap, detach it from the roll, and then grab the packing tape. Attach the flap to the painting with the tape and then apply another piece along the seam. Push the ends on the side in towards the picture and then fold it over. Attach it to the art, then run another piece of tape along the seam. Repeat until you complete all sides.

You want at least five centimetres of padding around the work. But this does depend on the width of the box you’re using and if you’re packing more than one piece of art. So continue to wrap until it matches the width of your packing box. Use your measuring tape to be certain.

4. Packing Art in a Box

Put your box together and put at least three pieces of packing tape across the base. It’s also worth taping up all the seams. Remember, the art will likely get slid into trucks and depots, so you don’t want any part of the box to get damaged.

Place the art into the package and feel to see how much room you have on the sides. If you need more padding, insert pieces of bubble wrap until it’s a tight fit. Add some on the top if it’s needed too.

Close up the box and put at least three pieces of tape across the opening. Finally, tape up all the box's seams just like you did with the bottom.

5. Finding the Right Courier

The final step is to find a suitable courier who will get your parcel to its destination safely and securely. Finding the right courier can be a complicated process, which is why we go into more depth in our blog, 'How to Choose the Right Courier Partner for Your Business in 10 Steps'. The key is to find a platform which provides a multicarrier solution, so you have access to a range of different couriers on a single platform.

At Interparcel, we provide a multicarrier solution in addition to a range of advanced shipping tools to make fulfilment fast, while enahncing the post purchase experience. Head over to this page to learn more about how it can help with your shipping strategy.