Hello! I'm new to the forums and new to the cookie business (custom decorated sugar cookies with royal icing). I'm really struggling with figuring out the best way to package my cookies and was hoping to get some advice on how others do it. I've searched the forum and have some good ideas, but have a couple of specific questions I couldn't really find an answer to:
1) I purchased a heat sealer and have been individually wrapping my cookies for orders where they'll be handed out individually vs on a platter. I've just been cutting off the bag right above the seal, but recently have been thinking it would look nice to tie a ribbon to it as well. I've seen posts where people do both heat seal and ribbon, but I'm having trouble imagining the logistics. Do you heat seal close to the cookie and then tie at the top? That seems hard to "bunch up" in order to tie if the seal is there? Or is it just overkill to do both?
2) For orders where they will be setting on a platter anyway, I've just been packing in bakery boxes which I buy at my local baking store. But that cost is adding up fast. I'd like to make a bulk purchase, but can't figure out the best one(s) to buy. Any tips on what you stock up on or a general rule of thumb for type of box depending on the number ordered?
I'm looking forward to spending more time here learning from all of you that have been doing this way longer than me 
Thanks in advance!
Emily