Your CBG Business

Comment

Comment by Ted Crocker on December 2, 2015 at 5:13pm

Servaas,

I sell a lot of my pickups and builder supplies on Etsy, eBay and through private sales.  Everything goes through PayPal.  When an order comes in, I go to the PayPal transaction and print a packing slip.  If the item is in stock I also print the shipping label/record.  

Those 3 items are each 1/2 sheet of paper.  I print the packing slip on a job form I made which is also half a page.  I cut the pages so I have 4 half page forms.  The packing slip goes in the shipping box (small Flat Rate USPS Priority Mail) along with my flyer. I always write a personal thank you note on the flyer.

The shipping record gets stapled to my job form and filed away. The shipping label goes into a clear plastic sleeve and affixed to the box.  All the boxes and sleeves are free online at the Post Office website. From the same PayPal transaction page I click the link to schedule a USPS pickup and the mailman picks it up at my shop the next morning.

PayPal ROCKS! It makes the business part a lot easier.

For cigar box guitars I use 6 X 12 X 36" boxes from Uline. I wrap the guitars in bubble wrap and pack the box with packing supplies I mostly get from things I've ordered, but have used newspapers.  I've also made neck/headstock supports from those foam pool noodles from the dollar store.

For my high end solid body 6 string guitars, I usually include a guitar case from Amazon.  The case comes in a shipping box so it's a lot easier to wrap the guitar in bubble wrap, put it in the case and the case into the shipping box.  I used to make my own boxes by cutting up smaller boxes, taping them together and spending way too much time on a solution that looked like crap.  Now they look more professional for a 2 or 3,000 dollar instrument.  I use USPS Priority Mail for everything.

I know you're not located in the U.S., but I hope some of these tips help.

Comment by G.S. Monroe on December 2, 2015 at 10:41am

I buy boxes from Uline by the bundle. My "standard" size, which fits 90% of my builds is a 36" x 8" x 4". I wrap the instrument in 4-5 layers of bubble wrap, and I use box scraps folded into blocks as space filler. The majority of my shipping is done via U.S.P.S., and I make it a practice to Insure the package, and require a signature from the recipient.  

Comment by Servaas Bollen on December 2, 2015 at 10:26am

Tell us about your ritual Ted! ;-) And how do you pack your guitars? I wrap them in bubblewrap, 4 turns, and fill the box a bit with packing material from boxes i received. I have boxes of 1m x 40cm x 40cm which i cut about half lower for a single guitar.

Comment by Ted Crocker on December 1, 2015 at 11:17pm

Time to get this group busy.  Today I had to send out 3 orders.  I keep paperwork and have a ritual I do to get something off the bench and into a box with a label that the USPS will pick up in the morning.  Wanna know how I do it?  How do you handle shipping?

Comment by wharner on January 14, 2014 at 11:38am

Anyone else have trouble coming up with business names?  

Comment by David Clark on May 18, 2013 at 9:59pm

If any one is looking for cigar boxes, I have a couple of good sources,

dick@chiefcatoonah.com

mark.winstead@gmail.com

If you mention my name they will give you a better deal and combine shipping. Mark has a store on ebay, cigar boxes unlimited. Please, mention my name.

David Clark

Comment by David Clark on May 18, 2013 at 9:52pm

Thanks!

Comment by Ellwood T Bear on May 18, 2013 at 9:42pm

I would go to the school and talk to the Princibal, and take the units with you to show her. It is no big deal....

Comment by David Clark on May 18, 2013 at 9:28pm

Any ideas about this would be appreciated. I am working on a way to get some 1 stringers into some grade school kids hands, as a music project or something. I have a couple that I am going to donate and just see what happens. Help, ideas, please. Dave Clark

Comment by Servaas Bollen on May 7, 2013 at 11:48am

Thanks for inviting me Ted. I'm just starting my business in cbg building (and effects pedals and tube amps). I live in Holland. I hope we all can share some of the 'business knowledge' we learn along the way.
Cheers,
Servaas

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