Poly mailers for small business shipping do one job, and an inner bag does another. The mailer is the waterproof outer bag that travels, and the inner bag or pouch protects and presents the item. My Amazon Business Supplies list holds both: two pink poly mailer packs in different sizes, a clear frosted zipper bag for apparel, a purple mylar pouch, and cello bags for slim items. I run every part of Marie Gems myself, packing and shipping included, and this post is the packaging side of that list.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
What size poly mailer fits a shirt or a small order?
Measure the item folded, then choose a mailer with room for the seal flap and the item's thickness. The Fuxury pink leopard poly mailers on my list are 10 by 13 inches in a 50-pack, self-adhesive and waterproof, and they were about $14 as I write this. That is a size for a folded tee or a small order. The JollyTrip large poly mailers are 19 by 24 inches in a 100-pack, in pink, self-sealing and tear-resistant, and they suit bulky things like sweatshirts or a multi-item order. My list shows no price for the JollyTrip pack as I write this, and availability can change, so check the listing to confirm the 19 by 24 inch size is in stock before you order. Buy the small pack first and see which size you reach for most.
What is an inner clear bag for?
An inner bag keeps the item clean and dry inside the outer mailer. The Svaldo frosted zipper bags on my list are 10 by 13 inches, 100 to a pack, with a 3 mil thickness and vent holes, and they were about $24 as I write this, or roughly 24 cents each. A mil is one thousandth of an inch, so 3 mil is 0.003 inch, and a higher number means a thicker bag. Both this bag and the Fuxury mailer above are listed at 10 by 13 inches, so check that the bag leaves the mailer enough room, since a bag the same size as its mailer is a tight fit.
Which pouch suits small goods and jewelry?
A small resealable pouch suits an item that would get lost in a mailer. The NKLEI purple mylar pouches on my list are 4 by 6 inches, resealable, holographic, and have a clear window, sold as a 100-pack for about $10 as I write this, or about 10 cents each. The listing names eyelash, jewelry, and electronics storage as uses, so it is a size for small flat things. For jewelry, the PATIKIL necklace and bracelet display cards are a 100-pack of 5 by 2 inch cards in light purple and purple, about $10, and a card in a pouch is a neat way to present a necklace.
What are long cello bags used for?
Long, narrow items. The clear cello bags on my list are 3 by 11 inches, resealable, 2.8 mil, in a 100-pack for about $6 as I write this, so roughly 6 cents each. The listing names bakery goods and candles among its uses, so check that your item fits the narrow width before you buy 100. A tape measure and one sample product will tell you in a minute.
How do you keep moisture out of a package?
A silica gel packet absorbs moisture inside a closed bag. The Wisesorb silica gel packets on my list are 15 packets of 20 grams each, and the listing calls them reusable, about $7 as I write this. Read the listing for how to reuse them and for any safety notes before you put one in a package.
How many packages should you buy at first?
Buy the smallest pack of each size you plan to use. The per-piece prices above run from about 6 cents for a cello bag to about 28 cents for a pink leopard mailer, and the mailer is the one to test first because it is the most visible part of an order. A 50-pack shows you whether the size works before you commit to 100 large ones. My DTF Business Starter Kit list on Benable has a poly mailers entry too, and my note on it says they are a cheap and easy way to make packages look a little more put-together for the buyer. The same list has packaging tape dispensers, which my note says speed up packing day a lot once your order volume picks up. Marie Gems sells across several channels, and Shopify vs. Vinted vs. Whatnot explains what each platform asks of a seller.
The bottom line on poly mailers for small business shipping
Choose the mailer by the folded size of your item, then add an inner bag or pouch if the item needs it. You can open the full Business Supplies list to see the rest, and how my days actually work covers the packing and shipping side of running Marie Gems alone.