Presenting MDF Blocks

[shiltonphoto]

I've started to do quite a lot of 18mm MDF blocks with prints on the front (from Simons) - very simple and quick to put together. I'm doing an introductory offer at the moment and although the orders aren't exactly flooding in, it's creating quite a bit of interest.

However, I'm trying to find some way of presenting them once ready to collect - ideally some sort of cardboard box, which I could also use as a postage container if required. With the varying sizes of MDF blocks available to order it, creates an issue finding small quantities of appropriately sized boxes, and I don't have the storage space nor finance to order hundreds of each size to be able to approach a big packaging supplier.

So, how would you present them? I'm tempted to bubble wrap & brown craft paper them, but with these looking quite modern and striking I was looking for something a bit more presentable/modern - hence my idea of boxes.

I spotted on the Valiani website they have an M3 Packaging Creator software, which enables you to create custom cardboard boxes - what a good idea to adapt the machine to this use. Sounds good, but I'm in dreamland, as I cant even afford a CMC in the first place!

Any ideas?

[birdman]

You could ask Merlin about the possibility of making boxes for you or get someone closes to you who has a CMC to do it. Merlin is in Delhi until next week but you could pm him in the meantime to see if he has any suggestions.

[chris62]

Pizza boxes are pretty good

[IFGL]

I have the cmc and the box making software, it was one of the reasons we went for the valiani, the heads are proper box making heads perfarating the card where it needs it rather than just creasing, also comes with a camera attachment which can see prints and cuts round them, vacuum bed required, a bit pricey but I do like toys, that said our turn over has increased since we got our val by over 3k per month as we can take on more work, this is since may last year, over 5 times the repayments, well worth the investment, so much so I may buy a second for my new shop.

We were not a cash rich business, I took a well thought out business plan to the bank and they are happy to help.

[misterdiy]

Boxes are a good idea, but they would be no use for posting. The size and thickness of a box suitable for posting will be thicker than a cmc can cut. We tried it with our standard twin wall card that we use for mounts and it is too thick. The white thin card would make an ideal presentation box (ok on a cmc) and then your idea of bubble wrap and plastic for shipping. The Arqadia mount bags are great for packing parcels. Mrs D and Miss D use hundreds of them for packing ebay items.

[Steve N]

I use these http://www.davpack.co.uk/postal-packagi ... -packs.htm they are adjustable, you just have to charge for them in you Postage and Packing charges.

[shiltonphoto]

Thanks everyone, I'll be taking a look at the Davpack website later today - seems like ready made might be the way forward.