What can make receiving goods from a small business extra special?

[GoldPaperStars]

I’m in the process of setting up a small business selling jewellery. I really want the experience of receiving the jewellery through the post to be a lovely one and was wondering what extra touches I could add.

Has anyone received something from a small (or large) business in a way that’s made the whole experience extra special? Notes, packaging, something else?

ive bought from a few places thats added in a wee bag of haribo - its made my day when i got it

Agree - I've had deliveries with mini Love Heart sweets, Haribo etc. It always makes me smile.

I was about to say please don't put a packet of sweets in the parcel i always throw them away and feel guilty for doing so! I had a hand written note once from a small business which really made me smile and I did reorder from

Beautiful wrapping - and an Elizabeth Shaw chocolate mint.

I’ve bought a few things from a jewellery shop on Etsy and the beautiful packaging made it really special.

I get a little bag of Haribo with my contact lens order. Sometimes I forget and it's a great surprise again, or times I'm excited that my Haribo will be arriving any day

I got a free key ring with something the other day - was jyst another bit of tat to throw out so wasnt too impressed with that.

I'd definitely say something consumable.

Sweets are a lovely idea, but if you do put Haribo in please make sure they’re the gelatin-free version! I’d be very disappointed to get sweets I couldn’t eat.

Nicely-tied knots (in string, ribbon or whatever). Some friends own a high-end restaurant which is doing a click and collect menu (where you finish the cooking yourself at home) during lockdown, and as it's an expensive restaurant with complicated dishes, it was important to them that the order looked beautiful but was also environmentally-friendly. It comes in recyclable brown cardboard boxes and paper packages. So all staff had to practice tying elegant knots in string.

And actually, it makes a huge difference.

I recently ordered an eco product and there was a tea bag in my order. It was some kind of eco teabag, but I thought it was a nice touch.

I agree with other posters, a pack of sweets is a nice touch.

A handwritten note really makes me smile, had one yesterday and was really lovely as I was having a horrible day.

Beautiful recycled wrapping, nicely tied and beautiful labels are what I love.

(I wouldn't put chocolate in as it's toxic for cats and dogs and mine sometimes "open" my parcels.)

I ordered wool and got a free packet of stitch markers.

A handwritten postcard of some sort would be nice.

I was about to post something very similar to @Tureen - one of my favourite Etsy sellers puts each item/set of jewellery on its card, into a brightly coloured polka dot paper bag fastened with one of her logo stickers, then packages the lot up in a layer of tissue paper, the delivery note/receipt with a handwritten thank-you on it, and wraps it in brown parcel paper.

I bought ink refills a few months ago, and I think it may have coincided with a holiday. They sent me a gingerbread biscuit, piped with a greeting. Can't tell you how chuffed I was.

From a business point of view, unless you're doing this in an attempt to generate repeat business, it's a waste of money to bung in extra goodies because it will just eat into your profit.

Excellent customer service (eg prompt replies, notification of dispatch etc) and packaging that matches your offering (cheap & cheerful or high end) will go a long way without costing much. As Tureen suggests, elegant packaging can make a good impression - just find a low cost way to do it!

Non plastic packaging, a little note (like a compliments slip or business card), a bag of sweets... That sort of thing. None of them are essential but all make me smile.

No to sweets, especially with jewellery. I think it makes the product look cheap and earrings etc are often something someone looking for a non-food treat might buy.

Jacques of London sell children's toys. The packages come in nice boxes with tissue paper and a nicely designed business card sized card which says 'your parcel was packaged by ' and the person writes their name and maybe draws a little picture - lush do a similar thing and I think it's nice to have a personal connection with an otherwise faceless business.

I have a small business and I include a small postcard which I have printed by Vistaprint which includes info on caring for their item plus on the back a 10% off discount code

Fast dispatch. No unnecessary plastic packaging such as plastic within plastic. Business card or printed A6 thank you note in package.

I think having a good rating on trust pilot is important. I'm not going to buy from a website with a low or no rating as I think that they will just steal my money and not send out what I've ordered.

Eco friendly but attractive packaging, doesn't need to be overly fancy. Maybe a Lush-style note. Freebies possibly if very inexpensive / relevant like the stitchmarkers. No thanks to sweets.

A hand written thank you card was included with some personalised posters I’d bought for my children; I thought that was such a lovely gesture and genuinely made me smile

I hand written note is always nice, and nice packaging makes it feel more special.

I think a hand written note is a lovely idea with 10% off next order if that is possible. Or free delivery?

Eco friendly packaging and quick to post/solve issues is what wins me over with small business, excess packaging, sweets, promo bookmark/postcards all goes straight in the bin/recycling for me.