How to tag things

In my last post I mentioned how I'm planning on wrapping my peg puzzles for sale which made me thing that I should offer my "tricks" for tagging things that will make everyone's life a lot easier. Keep in mind that when people buy an item, at the cash stand we remove the tag from the item. We have to be able to get the tag off the item so please do not attach it to be able to survive a nuclear bombing. Any of you who have worked detagging know what I mean.

So, here are some suggestions:

Books/Games/Videos (or anything with a paper-like cover that can tear) - Use painter's tape (1st choice) or masking tape to adhere the tag on two sides. Painter's tape is the least likely to tear the cover so it is what I use all the time. Don't use packing tape, or even scotch tape, as it will almost surely tear the cover. Oh, and if you are selling VHS tapes, you might want to use a piece of painter's tape across the bottom of the cover so the tape can't fall out.

Toys - Don't have any loose parts! Use ziploc bags for anything that could be a loose part. Depending on the toy, use a zip-tie or tape to attach the ziploc to the main part of the toy. Again, see the note above about books and games -- remember, don't use packing tape on paper and this includes labels on toys. That Cozy Coupe sure would have been cute if the packing tape didn't pull the stickers off the headlights... Just be wise about where you attach your tag and whether it will do any damage when it is being removed.

Shoes - Again, ziploc bags. Put the pairs in the ziplocs so people can see the shoes. Affix the tag to the outside of the ziploc with packing tape BUT be sure there is an edge that we can get a hold of -- don't cover it completely with tape because we'll end up having to cut through the bag to get the tag off. I usually tape my bags shut and if it is oversized for the shoes, I will usually roll up one side so the shoes fit the bag a little tighter.

Clothes - Do not use straight pins (the ones you would use for sewing). Use either safety pins or a tagging gun to put your tags onto the clothes. Tagging guns work really well and you can buy them through TotSwap or at a fabric/crafts store. Look at the instructions on the TotSwap site to see where to affix the tags and how to hang your items.

I have an old diaper box with all of my TotSwap supplies in it -- ziploc bags of various sizes, safety pins, tagging gun, scissors, painter's tape, packing tape, zip ties and plastic wrap. The box will be in our living room for the next three weeks or so because I usually will enter items one night and then spend the next night tagging things while I watch TV after the kids go to bed :-)