Avery is a potter. Their work is known for its large size, fragility, and beauty. “I never thought I could make a living at this,” they said, “but thank goodness for the internet!” After a social media post featuring one of their teapots went viral, Avery’s online store began attracting customers from all around the world.
“This is wonderful,” they said, “but it’s also a problem. Everything I make is literally one of a kind. If it gets broken during shipping, I can’t just make another one exactly the same. And then people are disappointed. I don’t want that to happen.”
International shipping can involve your packages traveling in trucks, planes, and cargo ships. The delivery infrastructure around the world varies widely. In some countries, packages travel strapped on the back of motorbikes or even pack animals before reaching their final destination. That’s why it’s critically important that fragile items are packaged properly for international travel.
“I didn’t even try to do this myself,” Avery laughed. “I did a search for international shipping companies near me, and then read a bunch of reviews. After I made my decision, I was really thrilled with the experience I had. My teapots and cups are packaged with so much care and attention. They used a special high-density foam to cushion everything. And they were very fast and professional.”
Avery’s international sales have continued to grow. “It’s important to me, as a small business owner, to support other small businesses. That’s why I chose one local Boston shipping company to handle all of my international orders. We worked together to develop a routine. I bring in those orders once a week, and they do the rest. They know exactly how I want things done, and they make it happen. It’s so fast and easy. If I had to do all the packaging myself, it would take forever. Every hour I’m not in line at the post office is an hour I’m making art. For me that’s an easy choice.”