Information for exhibitors packaging ceramics and other fragile craft.

This way up- Nothing on top?-

Anyway up- Anything on top!

Packing advice from Pete Goodridge June 29th 2006

Pete is an art transporter, and professionally moves exhibitions and pieces internationally, including far-flung destinations such as Kansas/Australia etc. As part of the Féile clai project, Pete gave a seminar for New and Emerging Exhibitors at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on packaging. These makers ceramics are to go to the Craft Council of Ireland Gallery, Kilkenny.

Pete mentioned that in Japan you would get a box with ceramic pieces, (showing tea bowl with a specific wooden box). He recounted that Mel Brown was exhibiting in Japan, and a potential buyer looked at her work, but did not buy. The next day the buyer returned and bought the piece, brought the box that he wanted to store the piece in with him. Pete also mentioned that he was involved in moving a very delicate ceramic piece that had ceramic wheels. Pete advised the maker to make a specific box, and they obliged by making a beautiful wooden one. Brian Seul wanted to buy the piece, and was absolutely delighted by the added touch of the box- it added value to the piece.

Pete posed the following questions, to consider what are you trying to achieve?

Where is the work going? How far?
Who is transporting it? What transport system? Are you driving yourself?
Is it coming back? Hopefully work will be sold- but someone else may have to repack unsold work, and send it back to you. (Imagine the person repacking is an idiot! - Make it easy for them to repack!)

What to do

BOXES

Use cardboard boxes-the best design is a “banana box” type with a separate lid that fits fully over the base box. This means each side is a double layer of cardboard.
One piece of work per box works best. If the pieces are small, then pack several boxes in a larger box. You could use a crate (Eurocrate) to contain several boxes. These are flat-sided lidded plastic crates-, which are rigid- you can stand on them!
If using one box per piece, and the piece sells in the box, you can rubberstamp each box with contact details- advertising!

PACKING

Consider using cut foam to pack in each box (closed cell foam= floats, whereas normal foam absorbs water- look up foam converters in yellow pages), as it is a better shock absorber than bubble wrap. It can be cut to fit the piece of the pot leaving air spaces, so nothing is in contact with the work except the foam. It holds the pot in air- remember you are trying to stop knocks to the box, affecting the piece.
A cheaper version is using polystyrene worms, or maize worms (don’t let these get wet!) in a carrier bag, put the piece on this then suck the air out using your mouth or a vacuum cleaner- and tie the bag, creating a good former.
Air pillows
If using Bubble wrap do not use parcel tape to seal, as this trashes the wrap. You can use cling film to wrap around, so the bubble wrap is reusable. Small rolls of film are available from packing suppliers ‘Pac a film.’ Also identify the pieces by packing in between with polystyrene or paper or foam, so the pieces are obvious. You can then cut a window (cat flap) at the bottom of the box- tape it up- but indicate that if flap is opened, polystyrene chips can flow into a bag and be reused, and wrapped work is left in box.
Shredded paper or scrunched paper compress as the box moves- avoid. There is nothing worse than receiving a ‘bran tub’ where you have to put your hands in and delve.
Label each box- a-Description/name of each piece in box

b-list items of packaging you’ve used

(If it’s important what packaging is used- put it in a separate letter to the gallery/exhibition as well as labelling box.)

What not to do

Do not use untidy boxes with scrunched up newspaper for packing- bad for PR. Galleries make presumptions about you.
If using bubble wrap- do not fill between pieces with scrunched bubble wrap, as lids etc. can be lost. Identify pieces by using another filler e.g. polystyrene chips.
Do not use bubble wrap to pack items with sharp edges- as it may puncture.
Do not write “This way up”- this is unacceptable, as YOU are trying to stop the piece being broken! The Crafts gallery of Ireland has a policy that if work arrives with the box rattling- They do not open it! If a box turns up rattling it’s not the carrier’s fault- a box should be able to be dropped from waist high when using a carrier.

Suppliers

Marshall Langston Gloucester 01452 529717 (Cardboard boxes and made to measure boxes)
Aid-pack www.aid-pack.co.uk (General packing supplies, boxes, wrap etc.)

Carriers

P.O- Accessible- but they still sort by throwing boxes.

Parcel companies don’t throw- Interlink is approx 315 per box, DHL are good for overseas

For Export

Boxes- The classic industry standard is a box within a box with a 2” clearance, and foam separating in between boxes.

Airfreight- Sending by Airfreight you pay by volume. (DHLs website shows you how to calculate this). Airports handle more carefully.

Sea freight- Sea freight can take 4-6 weeks and is handled several more times. It’s good for large quantities, but build a wooden crate and put several pieces in- these use less handlers but it can add costs.

Insurance- You can insure anything- but you pay. If you package well you do not need to insure. Claiming against loss is not a problem.

Exporting out of the ECC- Exporting out of the ECC you will need a commercial invoice. This is not an invoice it’s a statement of what’s inside the box, which is stuck to the outside of the box. A commercial invoice includes information such as-

Ship to….
Airways bill… (From DHL etc. it’s a unique to your box number) Courier…
Weight…
Customs code… (Every country has a different code per content- e.g. USA does not charge tax for art by a recognised artist. Other countries charge 8-18%. You can look up codes on customs websites of intended country.)
Name of Manufacturer… (You if you made item)
Reason for export… (If item is offered for sale, you will have to pay to send it into a country- this is difficult to claim back. If it is only or two items state GIFT). If the item is not for sale- you may need a CARNAT, which is a simple form of paperwork stating the work is not for sale, and you promise to take the work out the country again. Work is stamped on coming into country and stamped on way out- otherwise you will be liable for tax.

If you are carrying the item yourself and you made them- there are no problems.

This seminar was part funded by the ERDF.