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Articles by Chris A. Paschke, CPF GCF CMG
"Shipping Boxes For Flat Or Matted Art"
December
1995
Last month I began
this two part series on shipping boxes...yet another untapped market of items
needed by many, but still unknown to most.
Let's look at the flatter items this month, the ones that are thin or
without glazing...maybe laminated, or simply stretched.
In honor of this
months needle art issue this is a perfect follow through. Isn't needle art often created for gifts by
endearing Grandmothers and Aunts? And
don't these gifts often need to be shipped to their recipient...especially
during the holidays?
THE SINK BOX
The idea of a sink
box is somewhat the same as a sink mat, to build up the outer edges of the unit
to protect and buffer the artwork from damage (photo 1). The reinforcement walls are built to be equal
to or just slightly thicker than the matted, stretched or laminated piece to be
shipped, and the protective walls are 1" to 1-1/2" wider on all sides
than the matted art.
In the case of the
featured sink box, the surface and backing are cut as 3/16" thick foam
board panels which measure a total of 2-1/8" larger than the actual matted
commissioned calligraphy to be shipped.
That's 1" buffer on either side plus a 1/8" allowance (photo
2).
The 1" side
strips are cut on a straight line mat cutter or wall cutter for accurate
widths, then these side buffers are ATG taped to the bottom back panel aligning
them to the outer edges to create a clean sided unit. The lid is then hinged the full length of the
box with a pressure sensitive linen tape.
A lift tab is
often nestled across behind the center back of the artwork visibly attaching on
to the surface of one edge. This strip
is only attached on one side to allow for the free tab to lift the art from the
recessed sink box. The paper strip tucks
down behind the art when recessed and easily pulls it up for removal (photo 3,
3A). There probably isn't an quicker or
easier reinforcement for safe shipment of thin, unglazed artwork.
Note April 2010:
As an artist for Wild Apple Graphics, Grand
Image and Artaissance, I routinely build and use this style of flat shipping box
for shipping my original art to these manufacturers for scanning or shooting. If I need it deeper I can add layers of
1/2" foam to build it up, or a can plan on deeper sides and just make a
box. I use the same boxes many times before it needs reinforcement.
PRICING SINK BOXES
Generally flat
sink boxes will be constructed mostly from scraps of foam. Dented sheets not suitable for mounting and
endcuts of 1/8" and 3/16" may be taped together for additional depth
and can easily be recycled into these units for added profits AND professional
presentation!
Since I am not a
gallery routinely shipping artwork, I generally include a handling/shipping
charge when the service is requested.
This includes the actual cost of shipping as well as a fee for the
materials used in wrapping for safe shipment.
Whether you charge
for the building of a sink box unit or not will be best determined by your individually
targeted market. If all purchased
artwork is shipped to your clients you may elect to somehow calculate the minor
costs into your quoted prices. Then
again, most people are accustomed to paying for additional services (like
shipping and handling costs).
SELLING SINK BOXES
As with almost any
new services offered, building of a sink box may never be requested and might
actually need to be actively sold. I
deal with calligraphy clients and framers across the country and seem to be
creating sink boxes quite routinely. The
main concept is to prevent damage to the art during transport...but also to
always make as much money from your initial sale as possible. It's the "selling up" concept
again.
If I'm not going
to benefit from the actual completed framing job, the least I will vie for is
an upper end completed mat design to enhance and protect the custom lettering I
may have been hired to create for them.
The same could be possible for delivery of any limited edition you may
just have sold to someone living four states away visiting your gallery while
on vacation. Don't ever overlook those
great little opportunities for added sales.
PRICING CUSTOMIZED
SHIPPING BOXES
Last month I
promised you pricing guidelines for the reusable shipping boxes of 1/2"
foam in part one. When calculating the
price of a reusable customized shipping box, it will be determined for the most
part by the materials selected for the box and the amount of time required to
construct it.
Obviously
corrugated cardboard is less then foam board which is less than Gatorfoam. Considerations need to be made concerning the
required durability and repeated shipping use of the custom box you need to
build.
Cost of selected
materials and any additional time it takes to build boxes with tougher boards
needs to be included in the price. As
with any new process or design there will also be a learning curve to become
comfortable with the formula of box sizing and assembly.
Check on the going
rate for commercially available shipping boxes in your area and bulk buying
costs. Always know what the competition
is charging, but remember your boxes are truly custom sized to each individual
piece. The best way to price is probable
united inch or square foot pricing, based on your selected materials. And whether or not the materials are indeed
recycled scraps you must always calculate them as though they were pulled fresh
for this individual job.
MATERIAL COSTS
On average,
48"x96" sheets of 1/2" thick foam, depending upon manufacturer
and distributor, will run $15.00 to $20.00 per sheet. The same size piece of Gatorfoam is $55.00 to
$65.00 a sheet. The box will be nearly
indestructible but much more expensive to build. Thinner sheets of 1/8" and 3/16"
foam board may be one third the price of 1/2" foam, but remember that
building a box that with three sheets of 1/2" foam will take 9 sheets of
1/8" foam to complete. Don't skimp
when the point is strength and durability.
My boxes run
$50.-$100. using 1/2" foam, and many of my boxes have averaged 20x30"
in overall outside dimension. At $4.00
per sheet, plus tape and hot glue, my materials average $15.-$20. per box and
take about 1/2 hour shop time to calculate and construct. I'm comfortable with tripling my costs for a
box charge, so I have a set chart for basic sizes I have pre-calculated.
END
For more articles
on design or mounting search your desired topic under Articles by Subject.
If you know your specific title check Articles by Title.
Additional
information on shipping boxes is found in my book
Creative
Mounting, Wrapping, And Laminating, 2000
The two most
recent mounting books are
The Mounting
and Laminating Handbook, Second Edition, 2002, and
The Mounting
And Laminating Handbook, Third Edition, 2008.
All books are available
from Designs Ink Publishing through this website.
Chris A Paschke,
CPF GCF
Designs Ink
Designs Ink
Publishing
785 Tucker Road,
Suite G-183
Tehachapi,
CA 93561
661.821.2188
info@designsinkart.com