General Packaging Advice

Emily's Custom ConfectionsGnosher

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

5/15/181:08 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Julia M. UsherFounder and Host, Cookie Connection; Owner, Recipes for a Sweet Life

Hi, Emily's Custom Confections, Congrats on making your first post. I look forward to many more to come!

5/15/181:08 PM

EconladyCookie Queen in Training

For the boxes go online to BRP

5/15/181:37 PM

Emily's Custom ConfectionsGnosher

Thanks! I've looked around on BRP and prices seem pretty reasonable, but there are SO many options on there I got lost trying to decide which ones to buy for which order size The ones I get from my local shop are probably not the most efficient use of box space to cookie ratio haha!

5/15/181:48 PM

EconladyCookie Queen in Training

I would recommend finding one size and making it work. You can have empty space or use two boxes.

5/15/181:59 PM

Aproned ArtistSuper Gobbler

When I used to sell my cookies, I would heat seal them before tying with a ribbon (the seal didn’t get in the way at all). I used 8x8 inch bakery boxes for most orders when the cookies were sturdy enough to stand upright. I also had 14x14 inch boxes for bigger orders or when the cookies had fragile details and had to lay flat. Those big boxes get a little floppy though, so I prefer using multiple smaller boxes.

5/16/188:41 AM

Aproned ArtistSuper Gobbler

Aproned Artist posted:
When I used to sell my cookies, I would heat seal them before tying with a ribbon (the seal didn’t get in the way at all). I used 8x8 inch bakery boxes for most orders when the cookies were sturdy enough to stand upright. I also had 14x14 inch boxes for bigger orders or when the cookies had fragile details and had to lay flat. Those big boxes get a little floppy though, so I prefer using multiple smaller boxes.

I could usually fit somewhere between 18 and 28 cookies per 8x8 inch box.

5/16/189:37 AM

Emily's Custom ConfectionsGnosher

Thanks for the tips on what worked for you! Most of my orders have been 2 dozen, so I'll for sure check out the 8x8 to see if I can make that work as a standard box to keep on hand

For the heat seal and ribbon, I feel like I'm a little dense right now...maybe not enough coffee yet today lol, but want to make sure I'm understanding what you are saying. Did you seal close to the cookie and then tie above that? I'm pretty sure that was what you meant, but seems like it would make it hard to bunch up the bag if the seal is there...maybe not though!

5/16/1810:54 AM

WabieshadGobbler

I heat seal at the top of the bag (beacause my heat sealer actually cuts it off as well) and tie below. Also I have heat sealed just above the Cookie and then glued a ribbon on which is a nice look. I got that idea from @Royalbites

Attachments

Hide

Images (1)

5/16/183:07 PM

Aproned ArtistSuper Gobbler

Emily's Custom Confections posted:
Thanks for the tips on what worked for you! Most of my orders have been 2 dozen, so I'll for sure check out the 8x8 to see if I can make that work as a standard box to keep on hand
For the heat seal and ribbon, I feel like I'm a little dense right now...maybe not enough coffee yet today lol, but want to make sure I'm understanding what you are saying. Did you seal close to the cookie and then tie above that? I'm pretty sure that was what you meant, but seems like it would make it hard to bunch up the bag if the seal is there...maybe not though!

I seal close to the cookie, then tie above that. The seal has never gotten in my way; I can't even tell the difference. (I don't think the thickness of the bag would matter, but I use these 1.2 mil bags.)

Attachments

Hide

Images (1)

5/16/185:33 PM

Emily's Custom ConfectionsGnosher

Wabieshad posted:
I heat seal at the top of the bag (beacause my heat sealer actually cuts it off as well) and tie below. Also I have heat sealed just above the Cookie and then glued a ribbon on which is a nice look. I got that idea from @Royalbites

Thank you for sharing your experience!! Those cookies look wonderful

5/17/186:28 AM

Emily's Custom ConfectionsGnosher

Aproned Artist posted:
Emily's Custom Confections posted:
Thanks for the tips on what worked for you! Most of my orders have been 2 dozen, so I'll for sure check out the 8x8 to see if I can make that work as a standard box to keep on hand
For the heat seal and ribbon, I feel like I'm a little dense right now...maybe not enough coffee yet today lol, but want to make sure I'm understanding what you are saying. Did you seal close to the cookie and then tie above that? I'm pretty sure that was what you meant, but seems like it would make it hard to bunch up the bag if the seal is there...maybe not though!
I seal close to the cookie, then tie above that. The seal has never gotten in my way; I can't even tell the difference. (I don't think the thickness of the bag would matter, but I use these 1.2 mil bags.)

Thanks for sharing the pics...that helps a ton!! Love the hamburger cookies Thanks so much for helping a newbie figure all this out!

5/17/186:29 AM