Storm Trading Stores

This week we looked into great Christmas gifts for everyone. Here are some of our favourites!

Image from MickMick Designs.

New baby around for Christmas? Get them one of these adorable cuddly personalised teddies from MickMick Designs. You can choose a message for the cuddly toy such as "Baby's First Christmas" and create a unique gift you can't find on the high-street.

Image from Mad About Cats

Got a relative who's crazy for kitties? Most of us do with the rise of cat popularity on the internet. These lovely cat Christmas cards are available from Mad About Cats !

Image from Kitsch a Go Go

Do you love the cute, kitsch and retro? You can find a range of bright, colourful and exciting gifts from Kitsch a Go Go, who stock a wide range of character homewares, accessories and clothing.

 

Image from Badge Beast

Badges are a great stocking filler for kids and adults alike! You can get a range suitable for gamer geeks, party animals, and sports supporters at Badge Beast.

Image from Bond and Knight

For a beautiful and luxurious gift for those with great taste how about a leather wallet from Bond and Knight, perfect for the man in your life. They come in a range of beautiful designs with pretty pops of colour.

Featured Stores Sponsored by Storm Trading!

Every week we will be working with the packaging specialists Storm Trading to bring you our featured favourite stores from around the web; we've handpicked really special and unique products too -  treasures that you might not have otherwise found! 

This week we are looking at Curious Home Decor, things which are a little weird and wonderful but will really make a design statement in your home! 

Mr J Design Studio

image from Mr J Design Studio  

Have you ever seen more weird and wonderful lighting than this? Leave your guests pondering while you bask in the golden glow of the Charles Bowler Hat Light. Whether your home style is going to be Victoriana chic or surrealist in style, this lighting will look perfect; or why not buy a couple and suspend them along a dining table for a different take on the mad hatter's tea party? Curious and Curiouser...

Kate Parker's Cabinet of Curiosities

Image from The Cabinet Of Curiosities

If you're a fan of the macbre with a glitzy glamourous twist there is no better way to strike fear and awe into your guest's hearts! Place these on your bedside tables, or have it observe you from a perch in the kitchen. It's a design statement and a beautiful contrast to shabby chic interiors. If you are seduced and tempted to buy this Glitter Skull Ornament, do so from the Cabinet or Curiosities.

Love Kitty Pink

Image from Love Kitty Pink

 

 This is the sort of phone which ladies gossiped on in the fifties, and in my opinion it must be accompanied by feather heeled slippers, a silk dressing gown and rollers in your hair. Love Kitty Pink makes these cute, kitsch and entirely original upcycled vintage phones, and you can get this Doll Face Design on Etsy, which is perfect for any boudoir! 

And from Storm Trading... Here's how to mimic the odd, dark and decadent look in your business packaging.

Why not wrap up your Christmas sales in these glamourous gold mailing bags?

Then complete the festive magic by wrapping your item in dark delicate noir tissue paper?

And complete the look with lashings of black ribbon!

Packaging for your Etsy Business

 

 When it comes to packaging for your Etsy business, you really need to make a little investment to create that added value for your customers. Your products are one thing, but you'd be surprised how many customers appreciate really good packaging! It's important that your packaging is beautiful so it gives an air of luxury to your item, but it also needs to be practical so it protects your item in transit.

The "keep calm and have a bath" boxes above are from Bomb Cosmetics, they look beautiful and they also make a great way of storing the item in your home! Making your packaging useful to your customers even after it has served its primary purpose is a great idea!

 

Even if you need to have functional plan packaging on the outside like a gold padded envelope, you can still wrap your packaging up beautifully on the inside. This packaging is from Luna On The Moon. Wrapped up in black tissue paper and a black grosgrain ribbon, then adorned with her business cards and a free gift of a skull shaped lipgloss, Luna on the Moon is making sure people have that extra reason to shop with her again!

 

Do as Jainie Basil does as well! Make sure you add lots of beautiful business cards to your packaging so your customers always have a keepsake to remember to come back to your shop!

 

Remember to research how bigger companies use packaging to take inspiration for your own. The shoe boxes above are from Irregular Choice and Bordello shoes, they reflect their branding well and are instantly recognizable, so always keep that in mind!