Forum

Looking for cardboard carriers with handles for matted art

Posted by Brian B. on September 24, 2011 at 11:12pm

I saw patrons carrying lightweight flat art in flat cardboard carriers that had integrated handles.

 

They would be perfect for larger matted giclée prints that I sell at shows. I'm currently taping cardboard sheets together and then bagging the cardboard which makes it harder to carry larger pieces. I've searched the internet repeatedly using a variety of terms and methods and asked packaging vendors large and small with no luck yet.

 

Any ideas where I might find carriers with handles? I've looked at ULine, framing suppliers, box manufacturers, etc...

 

Thanks

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Stan Bruns November 5, 2011 at 2:13pm

    Yes, I use these sometimes myself.  The ones worth having are not cheap, however:

    http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=2760

    You may be able to find them used on an artist/painter or photo site.  I bought mine years ago from a photographer (he was upgrading to leather portfolios made to fit his work, ie, a RICH photographer).  They are great except for wet situations (in which case they do what cardboard does).  Be careful overloading them, for though the cardboard will stretch to some degree, the staples will pull out or the MDF sides will split...

     

    Note that the site lists them in packs of 5 each.

    • Stan Bruns > Stan Bruns November 6, 2011 at 5:01pm
      www.jerrysartarama.com carries some alternatives, includes some cheaper models made from plastic and heavy cardstock.
    • Robert Wallis > Stan Bruns November 6, 2011 at 9:25am
      I've used those before and found that they have staples on one side that can scratch work if you're not careful. I use trash bags with drawstring handles and that works well enough.  Not exactly stylish, but functional and reusable in the trash cans once they get home.
  • Karla Ries September 27, 2011 at 11:12am

    Are you looking strictly for your transportation or for when a purchase is made?  If for you personal transportation - Utrecht makes something similar for canvas transportation - but cost would be prohibitive if you want to provide one with a sold piece.

    • Brian B. > Karla Ries September 27, 2011 at 11:29am

      What I saw was a nice looking thin (not corrugated)  brown art carrier that was pre-made with a handle integrated on top of the carrier for clients to transport their purchase. It was probably 20x28 or larger. So far I can't find these online.

      And the ones I saw are probably cost effective because the artist that used them was not selling at a high-end show. And they looked NICE.

  • Larry Berman September 24, 2011 at 11:23pm
    Cut your cardboard a little taller than your prints. Then cut a hand hold about 4x2 above where the print will end. That gives people a way to carry their purchases. If you sell enough prints, find a local cardboard company and have them make the carriers for you, including scoring where it folds in half and cutting out the hand holds. I cut all my 32 sheet mat board boxes with hand holds on one side so people can carry framed photos with one hand.

    Larry Berman
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
This reply was deleted.