How to pack festive decor items so they reach the customer safely

Festive decor is a mix of shapes and materials, and each one fails in its own way. Lights tangle and kink, glass baubles crack, paper lanterns flatten, and garlands lose their shape. Your parcel has to handle whichever types you sell, and a customer decorating for an occasion has no time to wait for a replacement.

Fairy lights and string lights

Tangling is the main problem. Wind the string loosely around a piece of cardboard or a cylinder, making sure not to pull the wire tight or bend it sharply at the plug or bulbs. Secure the end with a twist tie or a small piece of tape. Put the wound lights in a poly bag with the plug end visible and tucked in. Add a short card saying how to unwind. If you test lights before dispatch, plug them in briefly to confirm they work, and note the test on the card.

Glass and ceramic pieces

Wrap each piece individually in soft paper, then in bubble wrap. Pad the top and bottom, where glass often cracks. Keep pieces apart in the box with dividers, so they cannot knock against each other. Use a rigid box with room for cushioning on all sides, and fill the gaps. The principles in packing resin art safely also apply to any fragile decor.

Paper and fabric decor

Paper lanterns, buntings and hangings should travel flat or folded the way they are designed to be folded, with tissue between layers. Do not stack heavy items on top. For fabric garlands or toran, fold them neatly, avoid sharp creases and keep them in a poly bag to protect from damp. Check the instructions on how to open without tearing.

Artificial flowers and garlands

Delicate blooms bend and crush. Lay them in a shallow box, separated by tissue, with nothing pressing on top. Use a box where the flowers do not need to be folded at all, if possible. Wrap long garlands in coils, with tissue between turns.

Diyas, candles and holders

Clay diyas chip and break. Wrap each one, or nestle them in a tray lined with paper, and keep the layers separate. Candles can scratch or soften in heat, so keep them away from sun while waiting for pickup, as in photographing and handling candles and decor.

Choose an outer box with strength

A sturdy, new corrugated box protects far better than a soft envelope. The inner items should not move when you shake it. Mark the outside with "Fragile" and "This side up" if appropriate. These marks cannot guarantee gentle handling, but they help.

Include a parts list

Many decor sets have small parts such as hooks, clips and adapters. List every piece on a card and tick them off at packing. A missing hook is a classic complaint, and the right response when it happens is explained in issuing a partial refund for missing items.

Use a repeatable routine

Set up a packing station with the materials for each type, and pack a few test boxes before the busy season. Take a photo of each completed pack. If something arrives broken, you can look at what you did and improve it.

Think about timing

Customers buy decor close to the day. Dispatch quickly and share tracking, as in order tracking your customers can trust. A neat, well-protected parcel is the first piece of the celebration, and it reflects well on your shop.