How important do you think presentation is when you send baby off? I work really hard to present the box opening as nice as possible, my doll boxes are stamped with my logo as is any paperwork inside which is placed all together in a logo stamped folder, I use all coordinating tissue paper and bows ect ect but I wondered if buyers really care or is it just me?
I recently purchased two lots of hair from different sellers, one came loose (no elastic or ribbon holding bunches), wrapped in some tissue paper and placed in a mail bag, it was lovely hair but a little tangled through being tossed around during shipping.
The second was neatly bound, wrapped in tissue paper and then placed inside a little box complete with company stickers.
They were both around the same price but I will definitely order the second one again, not so sure about the first and that got me thinking about presentation and how important it is.
I have been wondering the same thing! I take time to wrap my items nicely and all that and I wonder if people really care or if I could just send baby home in a outfit and a swaddle and it be the same reaction? then again, people do say they love my box openings so I guess that makes me feel like I should keep doing it.
I think presentation is important, but no need to overkill. The safety of the package is more important than the beauty. If it’s wrapped with care, nicely fold or in a cute bag, it’s better than in gift paper that can be wet by travel.
I prefer simple packaging with care for the product than a lot of “fla fla”,.
I guess everyone can see this differently of course.
I try to make a decent presentation
…but I agree…safety of the doll is most important
.which is why…when you open one of my boxes…you see a clear trash bag tied in a knot.
Inside that is coordinating pastel print tissue and within that are the doll… blanket wrapped and clothing and small gifts all wrapped in white tissue paper tied with either pink or blue ribbon.
I stay away from colored tissue paper bc if it gets wet…it stains.
I had a smashed box delivered one time and the corner of the box for some reason looked water stained…
Dont know if it was left on porch or what…so now I try to make everything water proof!!!
I had a buyer upset because I used a trash bag to package a baby and items. I always do this. I place the bag into the box. Place all items in then seal the bag and then the box. I worked at FedEx and UPS. I remember a package of worms busted. It leaked over several other packages. The stink of rotting earth worms was atrocious. The other packages and contents were ruined. So I make sure if this happens the baby and items are safe. But she was angry. None of my other customers cared. Only the one. I would rather have my items arrive safe. No matter what extras come with the packaging.
I agree that safety of the contents is most important. I always dress the baby in a white onesie, white socks, and a white hat then swaddle the baby and wrap it in bubble wrap. I only include a couple of outfits, which I wrap in dollar tree baby wrapping paper and place around the baby as padding. Then I fill in the box with bubble wrap, packing paper, and air packs. I used to put a lot of time (and money) into branding but it seemed a waste to me. Now I just tuck a business card into the ribbon that I tie the baby with and call it a day.
When I first learned about reborns 5 years ago, it was through my daughter, who was 7 at the time and wanted one for Christmas. I didn’t know anything about them and found an eBay listing for a “custom reborn” for $100. I foolishly bought it. When I received it several weeks later, it was simple an unaltered berenguer doll wearing a onesie and tossed in a box with a baby bottle. No packing materials at all. I was more appalled by the lack of care in the packaging than I was by the doll. So once I started selling babies, I was determined to at least make sure the babies are well packed!
I think presentation is important. Way back when I first learned about reborning I purchased a reborn from reborns.com for like $500. I wanted to have one as I was learning to paint as a reference. I got the reborn in a huge box, it was literally just thrown in the box, naked, unwrapped, nothing at all except the baby. At the time I didn’t think much of it because I didn’t know anything about reborns. I watched several box opening videos before selling my first baby and knew it was a must to send my babies in a way that I felt reflected my art and business in general. I always try to send babies out in a way that if a customer did a box opening video I would not be embarrassed by it. It’s also kind of crazy to me to spend weeks painting a baby, getting all high quality materials, talking nice photos and not ending the process with the same care. I print nice certificates, care instructions, include business cards, etc… I usually wrap each extra in tissue paper and secure with stickers that have my logo on them. But there are some things that you can’t get perfect looking. I include bottles usually, I have them in a big Ziploc and wrap the Ziploc. But it’s still a Ziploc, however a wet baby should the bottle break or something would be worse. It’s definitely about trying to find the balance between beautiful and practical for me
I do the same. But inside of the clear bag everything wrapped and presented nicely, just like @cherielynn09 described.
It gives me a peace of mind that my baby and everything that comes with it is safe from the weather.
For Xmas gift babies I line the box inside with Xmas paper. If I know that doll was bought for a child I do some paper lining inside also to make it exciting.
I received nicely presented boxes and not so nicely presented boxes, and it does matter to me as a buyer
For that, I put that in my listing description. If buyer doesn’t like to receive an expensive artwork protected, that buyer can choose to by from someone else
To stand out as a brand, I think labeling and coordinating packaging emphasizes professionalism. Extras should be limited to compliment rather than overshadow the reborn. The most important aspect in that box is the quality of your work and I think the package should be commensurate to reflect that.
Yes that’s what I meant, the packaging/branding not so much the contents of the accessories, I asked the same question in a couple of groups with some interesting replies.
One collector said what she sees when she opens the box goes a long way to how she bonds with the baby, beautiful packaging us important to her.
Another said packaging and branding that has a lot of effort put into it shows that you put as much effort into your work ect.
It’s given me a lot to think about, thank you for all the replies x
That’s nice and all, but I am terrible at wrapping and packaging and decorating… My talents are going into painting . Never had a complaint tho. I still use stickers with my logo and colors that fit my business cards. .
I use bubble wrap, matching ribbon, white tissue paper, etc. I have a thank you sticker with my logo that I use to hold the last bubble wrap layer
I used to use a gift bag on every baby and a larger rectangle box but the shipping prices were close to $60 each time (Inside the US)
So I changed that and only do that on larger babies.
If it fits in a large flat rate or a 12x12 I dont use the bags unless it is in the winter then I try to use one, it just doesnt fit as well.
I put a layer of bubble wrap in the bottom of the box. I dress my babies in a sleeper to protect them for travel. Then I wrap them completely in a soft blanket tied with pink or blue ribbons. I love wrapping presents, so I wrap each item in baby shower paper from the Dollar Tree. I put the small things-pacifier, hair clips, etc., that might get missed, in a ziploc bag after wrapping them. I tuck the packages around the baby, put the birth certificate, care instructions, and COA in an envelope on top and more bubble wrap or air pillows on top of everything. I just think it would be fun to have all those little packages to open and people seem to like it.
I adore well done box openings!!! I have one budget baby so that one was packed very plainly and simply. My five others were beautifully packed ad I feel it just adds to the excitement.
I agree… @PutABonnetOnIt puts most people to shame. I would hate to send out a doll behind her.
I have always packed my babies with care, making sure there were things around them to cushion them. Baby is wrapped in a blanket tied with a pretty bow. I usually include an extra outfit or something wrapped in tissue paper, then there is the COA and a thank you card.
I feel a lot more pressure to create a nice box opening at higher price points though. When someone is spending nearly $1,000 on a doll, there are expectations. And there should be… that’s a lot of money. I definitely work a lot harder to make the box opening beautiful to give the buyer the best experience possible.
Well, I didn’t spend over $1,000 but I thought your box was amazing! The balloons were a very nice touch.
I just sent a box off. I wrapped the baby in her blanket. I put bubble wrap in the bottom of the box then wrapped the baby in foam. I put a gift bag in there with a stuffy and some other odds and ends. I reused the cute box bag thing I got from Sapphira for little bows that work with her magnets. I included two outfits along with the sleeper that was on the baby. I put balloons with confetti in them to keep everything in place. So basically, I copied the box opening I had. Lol!!
The mommy hasn’t received it yet so idk if it mattered or not.
The box opening wasn’t an expectation I had. It was really nice to have though! Honestly, if I pay over $400 for a doll I think I would expect some kind of nice box too. Even if it is just tissue paper outside of the blanket and protective stuff around the baby.
then again, people do say they love my box openings so I guess that makes me feel like I should keep doing it. 
. Never had a complaint tho. I still use stickers with my logo and colors that fit my business cards. .