The students are done with college and they’re ready to come home, go on vacation, and not think about academics for at least a couple months. Everyone’s excited!

Except for one sneaky detail.

You know over the course of the year they’ve accumulated a lot of stuff. They’ve gone out with their friends, they’ve purchased things to spruce up their dorm, and they’ve done 9 months of shopping.

So what are you going to do with all that stuff?

Now that it’s summer, it’s up to you to figure out what to do with it.

There’s a couple of different options.

Some people prefer to put it in storage knowing that the kids are going to come back in a couple of months and they don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping it.

But there are concerns with keeping it in storage.

There’s the safety angle if there’s anything valuable. There’s the worry about it getting damaged siting unsupervised for months. There’s also the fact that students might want to use them!

Because of that a lot of people choose to ship everything home.

So today we’re going to talk about a couple of ways to ship your college items home, and which one might be the best for you.

What college shipping services are available to me?

DHL is primarily used for international shipping. So if your college is overseas, you’re going away for a summer abroad, or if you’re moving to a new country, you may want to think about DHL as an option for shipping all your items with you.

This can save you money because you don’t have to take a bunch of extra luggage on the plane.

Additionally, you can schedule a pickup with DHL.

You’ll still have to pack and prep all your items for shipment. DHL will need to know the weight, size, and delivery location before they can give you a price.

FedEx for college shipping or UPS for college shipping

Many people wonder if they should do FedEx or UPS when dealing with their shipping scenarios. We work with both FedEx and UPS every day and their service options are very comparable.

It really depends on your personal preference. Both companies will ship your packages no matter the size or weight, and both give you a variety of shipping routes to provide options for delivery time (and cost).

Both FedEx and UPS have shop locations, so you’ll still need to pack and take your shipments to their stores to complete the transaction.

Definitely choose a local company that you trust, that provides excellent service, and provides you with good communication so that you can always touch base and check the shipment status and get answers to any questions you might have.

USPS for college shipping

The united states post office can definitely help you ship your college items home. If you’re in need of an affordable option they will give you some good price choices. Just know that they won’t pack anything, so you’ll have to get it ready yourself. You’ll also have to take it to the nearest post office.

And also remember they don’t guarantee delivery times, so if you are in need of something specific, you might try another carrier first.

Pak Mail Austin for College Shipping

Now that we’ve covered all the carrier options we can think of – it’s time to share our recommendation. Which of course is us!

Why pick Pak Mail Austin for shipping your college stuff home? Because we do it all!

We have the ability to schedule, ship, and deliver through all the carriers mentioned. This gives you the opportunity to shop around easier. Our staff can help you pick the best items based on your personal needs, the amount and type of stuff you’re shipping, and when/where it needs to go.

Additionally, at Pak Mail Austin, we save you time and labor of the packing part of the shipment. We can pick up everything, which works great for college students who don’t have access to a vehicle to take it to a store.

Once we get everything in the shop, we safely and efficiently package everything up to get it ready for the transportation part.

No matter which carrier you choose, you want a partner that helps you throughout the whole process.

Now that we’ve covered the college shipping carrier options, let’s chat a bit about the type of items we see shipped a lot from college.

Shipping small amounts of furniture

Did your college student purchase some extra furniture pieces to spruce up their dorm?

Lots of students choose to add chairs, bean bags, small desks, or nightstands.

These small furniture pieces that are easy for them to buy and set up to give their space some personal flair.

But when it comes time to take those items home for the summer, it can be daunting.

Some students think it’s not an option to save them! So they’ll throw them away or give them to other students.

But you don’t have to do that!

Don’t worry about disassembling them, finding a package the right size, or making sure that they are shipped safely.

A full-service shipping center like Pak Mail Austin can simply create custom packages designed to safely store and ship any item. Our staff is fully trained in packaging options and have all the tools available – from cardboard boxes to special furniture wrap, and everything in between.

What if my student has really valuable items?

We see a lot of students and parents that are very concerned about shipping valuables. We see very expensive handbags and shoes, jewelry and watches, video game consoles, and expensive electronics.

These items can be handled with special care and specific shipping instructions. You can control every step of the way – ensuring that they’re handled by a certain level of care. You can request that they are shipped separately overnight to ensure that they are in your hands as quick as possible. You can add extra protection add on’s like a delivery signature from everybody whose hands it passes through. This ensures a nice paper trail so no unauthorized people access it.

These additional tools help you feel more confident that any valuable item you ship in the mail will be delivered safe and secure on time.

We always recommend that you simply talk with your local shipper about the item, to discuss the delicate nature or value of it and your options.

They’ll be able to walk you through the whole process and recommend different services and add-ons that will help you make the best decision possible.

Ending Thoughts

It’s time to pack up and go home from college!

Everybody’s excited. They’re rushing to start their fun summer plans, but don’t forget you can’t leave your stuff in the dorm!

Let us help you make the summer transition hassle-free. We will pack, schedule, and ship all your items so you don’t have to. From dishes to photos, to Xboxes, to furniture: we’ve got you covered.

Contact us today to see how we can help you with your college shipping.

You run a business.

It’s safe to say that growing that business is one of your main goals.

So you work long hours day after day on finding new clients, getting out there in your community, putting your business and services in front of the right people – everything you can think of to grow clients and bring in more sales.

And with today’s modern technology – many of these tasks can be done from a laptop anywhere.

Maybe you run Google ads. Or spend time on social media to get attention.

You definitely send out and reply to tons of emails!

These digital marketing tactics are great ways to work on your business without the hassle of travel, meetings, events, etc.

But people often forget traditional marketing materials in their business. Printed materials like flyers, postcards, and stationary still help build brand strength, awareness, and authority.

Today I’m going to share with you some new ways of thinking about traditional business items.

What is branding?

Branding simply refers to the marketing practice of using names, symbols, colors, and design to visually identify your business.

If you are running a small business you may not have had a chance to think about branding. But it’s a vital part of your performance in your industry.

Branding creates a memorable impression on customers and allows you to distinguish yourself from your competitors. It becomes a strong representation of who you are as a business.

This strong representation is then shared by others immediately and long term.

Your logo, letterhead, and graphics give your customers an instantly recognizable reference for you and your services.

This is vital when growing your business as it makes it very easy for customers to help bring in referrals. A strong impression provides familiarity which translates into reliability and dependability. It also makes it easy for individuals to recall and share with others.

So what are 3 traditional branding opportunities you might not be thinking about?

Signage

Do you have a local shop or office?

If so you have a huge opportunity to grow your brand through your signage.

Having your sign reflect your band (colors, fonts, logo, business name and/or tag line) while being displayed for any passersby to see is something not to overlook.

People who drive or walk by subconsciously file away that branding message whether or not they stop in or keep going.

This helps strengthen the brand the more often they see it.

If you don’t have the money or permission to install a neon sign or light up a billboard of your choice – not to worry.

Simple signs like these vinyl banners can be customized with your branding and displayed in a window, in a parking lot – or anywhere else you can fit it.

Office Stationery

Do you have consistent branding across all your stationery? Do your business cards, letters, envelopes, and notepads all feature your logo, colors, and fonts? If not – now is the time to fix that.

These small pieces of paper may go unnoticed by you – but remember the key to effective branding is consistent reminders of your business using the same imagery across all materials.

So every business card, letter, or note that they see is another subtle reinforcement of your brand.

Quick tip: make branded notepads to give out to people. Not only will they have the regular impressions of your brand images – but everyone they share a note with will also have a quick view of your business.

Notepads can be customized and printed in a variety of sizes and quantities to fit any small business budget.

Thinking Outside the Box                                               

Finally, I’ll encourage you to think outside the box on printed materials you can use in your business.

Business always remains competitive. Part of your job – in addition to providing exceptional service – is knowing what the competition is doing and not being afraid to step it up.

For print materials – consider what direct mail pieces your competitors or sending. What flyers or coupons are they handing out?

Other items like magnets, shopping bags, or stickers can be added to a small business on a budget, and be handed out to customers easily.

Final thoughts

Remember the goal of branding is increased future business. A strongly established brand gives you more leverage in your industry.

Printed materials are a great way to continue to build that brand and get more eyes on your business that you might not get otherwise.

More impressions lead to familiarity.

Familiarity coupled with exceptional service brings word of mouth marketing – one of the most effective forms of advertising known.

Give yourself some time to identify your brand – you’re going to need to know it better than anyone. Then work with a designer to create some exceptionally designed printed materials that you can use in your business right away!

No factory worker ever spent weeks, months or years pouring their soul into a television set as the artist does their creations.

Few if any retail store managers have ever sifted through thousands of possibilities to find that one perfect piece to display as a curator or gallery owner does.

And, no one browsing common consumer goods has ever felt the joy a true art lover and collector experiences when that certain piece grabs them by their heartstrings and they know they must possess it.

No, artwork in unto itself is very special and to help assure its integrity and value it requires special handling when it is to be transferred from one location to another.

That is the purpose of this article to offer some guidance on the best practices to remember when shipping artwork.

So if you are getting ready to ship artwork – you’re going to want to spend extra time and attention making sure it gets there safely and not damaged.

The most important way to do that?

Packaging it properly.

Packing Artwork Safely for Shipping

If you prefer to oversee the packing of your precious pieces yourself, there are some very important things that you need to keep in mind. For the majority of pieces, you’re going to need the following materials:

• Glassine paper or acid-free archival tissue paper
• Plastic sheeting, poly wrap, or preferably bubble wrap
• Acid-free foam board at least ½” thick or two-ply acid-free cardboard
• Bubble wrap or shredded/wadded clean white acid-free paper
• Corner protectors (available at most art supply and frame shops)
• High-quality packing tape
• A sturdy cardboard box or custom wooden crate
• White cotton gloves

A word of caution before we go any further.

You will notice the words acid-free used throughout the material list. It is specified for a very good reason. Acid-free materials are pH neutral and nonreactive. This means they won’t cause chemically inspired damage to your artwork. Nonacid-free materials can cause irreversible damage.

You will also note the last item listed, white cotton gloves. All artwork should be thoroughly cleaned before packing and not touched with bare hands once clean. Always wear cotton gloves when handling artwork.

Ok now that you have all the materials – let’s get to the steps!

Step 1 – Wrap the artwork in acid-free, archival tissue paper or glassine. Please note that any material that comes into contact with the surface of the work should be archival quality.

Step 2 – Cover all corners with corner protectors.

Step 3 – Being careful to avoid the work itself tape tissue paper and corner protectors in place.

Step 4 – To protect against moisture, wrap the artwork with another layer of glassine-covered with plastic sheeting/poly wrap. Seal all seams with shipping tape.

Step 5 – Place the wrapped artwork between 2 pieces of foam board (or two-ply cardboard), forming a “sandwich”. Foam board should extend a minimum of 2-3 inches beyond all edges of the artwork. Tape the sandwich together with packing tape paying careful attention to the corners

Step 6 – Place a strip of foam board in the bottom of crate or box and slide your sandwiched artwork inside.

Step 7 – Fill empty spaces around artwork with shredded/wadded clean white acid-free paper.

Step 8 – Seal box reinforcing the corners with more shipping tape.

Step 9 – In large capital letters mark the package “FRAGILE”, “PLEASE KEEP UPRIGHT”, “DO NOT LAY FLAT.”

Now your artwork is ready for shipment. Take it to your local shipping center and determine the best route (depending on the destination) for your package.

Most larger shipping companies such as LBS, UPS, and FedEx have special services they offer to people shipping artwork and other unusually valuable objects. Beyond them, there are companies in most regions that specialize in this type of service.

Does all of that sound costly and time consuming?

Well, it is.

So we’ll end it with a bonus tip:

Hire Artwork Shipping Professionals

Finding an expert in artwork shipping has its benefits. You don’t need to worry about all those materials (they keep them all in stock), handling, care, or transportation.

Simply schedule a pickup or drop the art off at your shipping center for packing and shipping.

It can save you time, money, energy, and most importantly: the stress of knowing whether or not it’s done correctly.

One word of caution though.

While the old adage “When in doubt hire a professional” has a great deal of validity, be very cautious. The art world abounds with horror stories of priceless pieces having to be fully restored or damaged beyond repair after being mishandled during shipping.

The best advice that can be offered is to ask around.

Do your research, call different companies and see how confident you are in their services. Check reviews. Contact local gallery owners and museums to see who they would recommend.

Whether you are packing and shipping artwork yourself – or you want to hire a professional to do it for you – taking time to find a quality solution will save you stress and worry in the long run.

Artwork is precious, and your artwork deserves care and attention.

Moving Tip #1: Planning

Planning has to be the most vital aspect of a successful move. 

Planning gives a move order and will minimize the risk of mistakes by anyone involved. 

First things first - do you have a budget? 

You’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on the process. Make sure to reach out to movers in Austin - many of them provide quick and easy quotes estimated on your square footage or amount of large furniture.

One thing to note that no matter what you’re budget - don’t skimp on quality. Your items are important to you and should be treated as such. 

Pay attention to reviews, testimonials, and their customer service demeanor when you talk to them.

They know your move is stressful and scary, and should be doing their best to alleviate any concerns you might have.

When talking to movers, make sure you find out their limitations as well. Some movers will only move entire households - so if you are thinking of doing most yourself and having them move just a few items - they may decline.

Additionally if it’s a long move to/from Austin and some other state - items like vehicles, gas grills, or other potentially risky items may also be denied by the moving company.

In these cases - not to worry. A shipping company like Pak Mail Austin can handle any item of any size to any location.

They’re great partners to moving companies for Austin homes.

As Murphy's Law state, if things can go wrong, they will go wrong. Therefore, the more planning you do - the easier your move will be.

Moving Tip #2: Inventory

Nothing like a move to make you realize just HOW MUCH stuff you own. 

Take stock of everything that is in your house before you even decide what to pack. 

This will help you identify what is worth the effort and if anything, well, may not be.

As Maria Kondo says - what sparks joy?

A full inventory list helps you in a few ways:

1. It helps the movers anticipate how long it will take to get everything moved
2. It helps them give you a more accurate quote for services
3. It helps you keep track of everything so nothing gets lost or stolen during the move

It’s especially important to make sure you keep track of your extremely valuable items. 

While we always assume the best in people - it’s too easy for small valuables like jewelry to go missing.

Or if you collect antiques - the movers might not have insurance to cover any damage done to them during transportation.

You may find that these particular items are better off handled separately during a move. 

Again, a company that focuses on shipping antiques will have more care, more protection, and better tracking.

That’s why they work great as a partner to a moving company.

Moving Tip #3: Quality

When it comes to moving, it can be tempting to choose the cheapest option you can find. 

It would be better to go for professional movers and quality transportation that might cost more but you can rest assured that your goods will arrive and in tiptop shape. 

An expert mover will also be able to ensure the best packing and handling available.

They’ll know when to use boxes and when to use totes. They’ll know not to skimp out on bubble wrap.

Quality services make all the difference. Asking around Austin for recommendations and listen to their stories. 

Your peace of mind will make it worth it!

You’ve got it Covered

If you plan your move well, take stock of what you own and do your research on quality - you’ve pretty much got your Austin move planned.

Making a move easier doesn’t take much. A few extra steps for planning, researching, and vetting moving companies will make all the difference in your stress levels.

And don’t forget that there are other companies to help!

Shipping companies like Pak Mail Austin are great assets during a move, handling large bulky items as well as delicate, valuable, and fragile pieces. 

Don’t be afraid to work with experts in each field. Both moving companies and shipping companies work together for the ultimate goal - to help you.

While out and about thinking of all the great gifts you’re going to get for your family, friends, or coworkers – remember these holiday shipping deadlines as you shop.

Your loved ones are all over the world and just because they’re not physically close doesn’t mean you don’t feel close. Sending gifts that are special and mean something to them is such a great way of showing you care.

A shipping center like Pak Mail Austin can help ensure that nobody gets forgotten or left out on that special day! They have all carrier options available so you can pick the one that best fits your budget and your deadlines.

We want to help you make the most of your 2018 holiday season. So use these guides to help identify the best shipping carrier for you this December.

UPS holiday shipping deadlines

• Dec. 18 – Three Day Select
• Dec. 20 – Second Day Air
• Dec. 21 – Next Day Air

FedEx holiday shipping deadlines

• Dec. 10 – SmartPost
• Dec. 17 – Ground, Home Delivery
• Dec. 19 – Express Saver
• Dec. 20 – Two Day
• Dec. 21 – First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight

USPS holiday shipping deadlines

• Dec. 14    – USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 20    – First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)
• Dec. 20    – First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
• Dec. 20    – Priority Mail
• Dec. 22    – Priority Mail Express

Feel free to print out or bookmark this page to keep handy while you’re shopping!

That way no matter what gift you get for your Aunt Mary, or your nieces and nephews – you can make sure they get them in time to open Christmas morning.

Happy holidays!