Probably one of the most fun aspects of developing a brand for a handmade jewelry business is creating tags and packaging. These should not be overlooked, as they are the crowning touches that will stamp and seal the worth of your product. Beautifully presented jewelry adds value in they eyes of customers as well as makes them want to come back for more. Well-made jewelry warrants packaging that will match and amplify its cache. If you have ever purchased something that was beautifully packaged and walked away feeling like a million bucks, then you know this to be true.

On the flip side, carelessly presented jewelry, in the eyes of customers, denotes careless craftsmanship – whether this is true or not – as well as an overall lack of concern for the business.

That said, read on to get ideas for creating effective tags and packaging.

Jewelry hang tags come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. To round off a concept for unique tags, first develop a logo or the art. Those who have a background in art and understand the principles of design may want to create their own logo and promo materials. Adobe Illustrator and the free program Gimp, which can be downloaded online, are the perfect tools for creating logos. Those who aren’t artistically inclined should leave design up to the pros, and if money is an object, call on a semi-pro.

To find an inexpensive graphic designer, contact the art department at a local university and arrange meetings with their best students. Undergrads are often looking for jobs to pad their portfolios and will do work for a minimal fee and sometimes for free. After reviewing students’ portfolios and discussing your project, you’re likely to have found a candidate whose skills you feel fit your needs. Don’t forget to request for your Web address to be worked into the design. Now would also be a good time to have business cards, other promotional materials and a  letterhead designed.

Once you have art for your tags, narrow down what shape the tags should be. Circular, oblong, square and rectangular shapes are standard, though circular and oblong tags will be more expensive to have made and will take more time to make on your own. Also, depending on the colors of a logo, a background color can be determined.

Next, creating the right size for hang tags is important, as too-big tags can be distracting and especially busy when it comes to jewelry displays.

(Note: I once had a boutique owner tell me my tags were too big for display in her store. Back to the drawing board.)

To get an idea for what sizes work well, visit a few of your favorite boutiques and look carefully at the jewelry. Take note of what you like and don’t like in the way of shape, color, size, design, etc. Which are the most eye catching, and why?

Keep in mind that different types of jewelry – necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings – may require different sized tags. For example, the handmade earrings in my line – Petite Minx – are displayed on wide, vertically rectangular tags, while the necklaces and bracelets are displayed with very narrow, hanging rectangular tags.

And now it simply comes down to the thickness of the paper and whether you want a matte or slick surface. Professionally printed tags can also be cut in-house for an additional fee.

(Bonus tip: Purchasing a ream of paper at an office supply center will save money at a printing house like Kinkos. Call in advance to verify this and also to learn what the heaviest weight paper is that their machines can handle.)

If you are printing the tags yourself, you may want to purchase a tabletop paper slicer, which comes in a range of price points and can be found at office supply stores.

When choosing packaging, consider the colors in your logo or on your business Web site. Repeating these colors in packaging creates a solid image. With all of the gorgeous colors and designs out there, it’s easy to get carried away with packaging. Remember to consider the total cost of packaging, relative to the price your jewelry can command, as this should be added to the jewelry’s price.

There are oodles of wholesale packaging suppliers online. Basic options are handled bags (plety of options there) organza pouches, pillow boxes and Kraft paper boxes in different solid colors. These look lovely when embellished with logo stickers. Other nice touches include plastic zip bags, which can be purchased via packaging suppliers, placed inside a box, bag or pouch. Wholesale tissue paper, also from package suppliers, comes in an array of colors and patterns.

While creating quality hang tags and packaging for handmade jewelry may seem daunting, the process can be quite exciting, and in the end it will surely pay off. Experiment with package presentations and your jewelry is sure to stand out.