Alright, the Final Stage — Shipping

[Dmitry-Afremov]

Alright, the Final Stage — Shipping

You sold a painting.

Congratulations.

Now comes the next question:

What do you do with it?

The customer isn’t coming to your house to pick it up.

You need to ship it.

And honestly, this is probably the simplest part of the business.

Choosing a Shipping Company

Go with whichever company is closest to your home:

FedEx,
UPS,
DHL.

Doesn’t really matter.

Every shipping company has:

delays,
lost packages,
problems.

There’s no perfect one.

Always Open a Business Account

This is very important.

Don’t ship as a regular individual.

Open a business account.

Why?

Because you’ll get:

discounts,
access to packaging materials,
better shipping rates,
shipping history and support.

Otherwise you’ll overpay constantly.

Packaging Materials

This is another huge advantage.

Once you have an account,
shipping companies often:

sell boxes very cheaply,
provide tape,
provide packing supplies,
give access to cardboard materials.

And this makes your life much easier.

What Every Shipment Must Include

Every package should always have:

a tracking number,
signature confirmation,
insurance.

Always.

No exceptions.

Don’t try saving money on this.

Follow the Tracking Yourself

This is extremely important.

Don’t just ship the painting and forget about it.

Watch the tracking.

For example:
the customer wasn’t home.

You can message them:

“Hey my friend, UPS will attempt delivery again tomorrow, please make sure somebody is home.”

This shows:

care,
professionalism,
customer service.

And it reduces problems dramatically.

How to Package Paintings

Honestly, it’s very simple.

Oil paintings, acrylics, prints —
they’re all packed in a very similar way.

Basic Packaging Process

First:
bubble wrap.

Wrap the painting completely.

And this is important:
the bubble side should face outward.

Small detail —
but important.

Next — Cardboard Corner Protectors

Make cardboard corner protectors.

Every corner of the painting should be protected separately.

This matters a lot,
because corners are the part most likely to get damaged during shipping.

Then Wrap Everything in Cardboard

After the corners:

wrap everything in thick cardboard,
use lots of tape,
attach the shipping label,
send the painting to the customer.

That’s it.

Simple.
Clean.
Professional.

No need to overcomplicate it.

Lost Packages Happen to Everyone

And here’s another important reality.

There is no perfect shipping company.

None.

Today, for example, I was dealing with DHL.

A package got lost.

The customer says:
“I was home, DHL never came.”

DHL says:
“We attempted delivery, nobody was home.”

And now you’re sitting between both sides trying to figure out what actually happened.

That’s just part of the business.

Don’t Panic Over Every Problem

Yes, sometimes:

packages get lost,
boxes get damaged,
deliveries get delayed,
customs slows things down.

It’s unpleasant.

But it’s normal.

The important thing is:
stay calm and solve the problem.

Don’t scream at the customer.
Don’t scream at the shipping company.

Shipping is simply part of the business.

And the more paintings you ship,
the calmer you become about all of it.

[DailyHikerSam]

Still love Afremov's style

[WestCoastNate]

The article makes shipping sound much easier than it often is. Since you've been in the business for decades and ship at a much larger scale than most artists, some of this advice may not fully reflect the challenges that beginners face with international regulations, customs issues, packaging costs, and carrier disputes. I’m not convinced that shipping is the "simplest part" for someone just starting out.

[QuietHarbor22]

The topic gives a very practical and realistic overview of the shipping process, especially emphasizing tracking, insurance, and proper packaging, which are essential for anyone selling art online. The step-by-step explanation is clear and reflects real business experience, helping artists understand how to avoid common mistakes and handle logistics more professionally.

[GreenPorchAmy]

The text gives a practical overview of shipping logistics, but it oversimplifies some real-world challenges like customs issues, carrier liability limits, and damage disputes that often require more than just “calm problem-solving.” Still, it’s useful as a basic framework for beginners trying to understand fulfillment. I’m a young artist — could I sell my paintings through you?

[SunnySideKate]

Shipping can seem intimidating at first, but having a clear process for packaging, tracking, and communicating with customers makes everything much easier. I especially agree that staying calm and treating delivery issues as a normal part of the business is key to building a professional art career.

[DailyHikerSam]

everything is clear and to the point