Wrap with the same care you threw with

You have spent hours at the wheel or the workbench, so it would be a shame to lose a piece to a careless journey through the postal system. Good packaging is not just about surviving the trip; it is the first thing your customer touches, and a neat, thoughtfully wrapped parcel tells them straight away that the pot inside has been made by hand. The good news is that you can do all of this with recycled materials that cost very little and look far better than a bin bag full of polystyrene.

Start with the right box

Everything else depends on the outer container, so choose it before you choose your wrapping. A single-wall box that has already been used twice will crush under the weight of a stoneware bowl, however well you pad it. Look for double-wall corrugated cardboard, and if you are reusing a box, check that the corners are still square and dry. Damp cardboard loses most of its strength.

• Choose a box roughly 5–8cm larger than the wrapped piece on every side, so there is room for a cushioning layer all round.
• Avoid boxes that are only just big enough; a tight fit means impact goes straight into the ceramic.
• Never post a pot in a padded envelope, no matter how small or sturdy it feels.

Wrapping ceramics so they arrive intact

Assume the parcel will be dropped, stacked and possibly rained on. Your job is to stop movement and absorb shock. Each piece needs its own wrapping, and any protruding part — a handle, a spout, a lug — needs extra attention, as these are where cracks begin.

• Wrap glazed surfaces first in acid-free tissue paper, which avoids scuffing a satin or matt glaze, then add a layer of bubble wrap or scrunched kraft paper over the top.
• Give handles and spouts their own small collar of bubble wrap, taped so it cannot slide off.
• Pack sets and pairs separately. Two mugs touching inside one parcel will chip each other.
• Fill the inside of open forms such as bowls, jugs or vases with crumpled paper so the walls cannot flex inward.
• Use the double-box method for anything valuable: place the wrapped pot in a small inner box, cushion it, then set that box inside the larger outer one with at least 3cm of padding on all sides.
• Shake the closed box gently. If you hear or feel anything move, open it and add more packing.

Looking after wood in transit

Wood behaves differently from clay. It swells and shrinks with the humidity around it, and it marks easily, so plastic wrap pressed against a freshly oiled surface can leave a patchy finish or trap moisture. Plain kraft paper is usually the better choice.

• Wrap wooden pieces in paper rather than cling film, and never seal them inside an airtight plastic bag for a long journey.
• Protect corners and edges with folded cardboard or offcuts of corrugated sheet, taped in place.
• If a piece has a moving part, a lid or a hinge, wrap it separately or pack small pieces in a paper bag so they cannot rattle against the main body.
• Leave oiled or waxed items a day or two to settle before wrapping, and mention in your note that a light re-oil will refresh the surface after its journey.

Recycled materials that genuinely work

You do not need to buy anything new. Most of what a pot needs is already in your recycling bin, if you choose carefully.

• Cardboard boxes, flattened and reused. Cut them into corner protectors, sleeves and inner boxes. Remove old labels and tape first.
• Newspaper. Excellent as crumple filler and outer padding, but keep it away from pale glazes and unfinished wood, as printer's ink can transfer.
• Kraft paper and packing paper. Clean, recyclable and smart-looking, and its slight stiffness cushions well.
• Egg boxes. Ideal cradles for small pots, cups or tealight holders.
• Old towels, sheets and jumpers. Superb for large or heavy pieces, though keep them dry and bag them so they do not shed fibres onto the work.

Skip anything that compacts flat under weight, such as loose shredded paper in a heavy parcel, and avoid polystyrene if you can. Your customers will notice the difference, and so will their kerbside collection.

Finishing touches that look professional

Once the piece is safe, think about the unboxing. Wrap the inner parcel in plain recycled tissue sealed with paper tape rather than shiny plastic tape, tie it with jute twine, and tuck a handwritten card or a small care note inside. Add a printed slip with your details and the recipient's inside the box as well as on the outside, so the parcel can still be identified if the label is torn. Mark the outer box clearly with FRAGILE and an upright arrow, and use a decent width of tape across every seam, including the base.

The two-minute check before you seal the tape

Give the box a gentle shake, weigh it in your hands and ask yourself whether you would be happy to see it dropped from waist height onto a concrete floor. Look for gaps, unsupported corners and any spot where two hard surfaces could meet. Then seal it, label it, and send it on its way knowing the piece you made will arrive exactly as it left your studio — ready to be unwrapped, admired and used.