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INSPIRATION & EDUCATION
Understanding Shrink Wrap
Get the best fit, best value and best quality for your gift baskets.
LESSON 1: Not All Shrink Wrap is Created Equal
With more than 40 years serving customers making gift baskets, we have a discerning eye for the quality of the shrink wrap and shrink bags we will sell, while also ensuring it is an affordable price.
Every shrink wrap item we sell is 100 gauge. What this means is that your customers receive a more premium feel in their gift basket, and stronger protection for the gifts. This eliminates worries if you are wrapping gifts with sharp edges or corners such as cooking utensils or books. 100 gauge is a heavy enough weight for protection, without being too thick or difficult to manage.
Remember, shrink wrap is not plastic wrap. It is thicker and stiffer with no cling, which is why size and fit – picking the right shrink item – is important.
LESSON 2: Sleeves Versus Caps
Both sleeves and caps are sealed on 3 of the 4 sides. The only difference is the length!
Sleeves are longer for dropping in a basket with enough plastic to gather at the top for a stylish presentation. Additionally, sleeves are frequently used for local delivery.
Caps are shorter, and go from the top down (like the name implies) for a more clear and tailored look. Because you don’t want a lot of extra material on the bottom creating an unlevel base, choosing a cap that fits is imperative. Caps are often selected for shipping because of the tightly shrunk and sealed presentation.
LESSON 3: Size and Fit
Know what you are wrapping to buy the best size shrink wrap for the most efficient packing without waste and the best presentation.
Save yourself time and hassle when shopping online with us – Shop baskets first, and in the description, see the description that notes “suggested shrink wrap cap” or “suggested shrink wrap sleeve.” We’ve tested ALL of our baskets so you know a shrink size that fits!
Suggested Shrink Wrap Cap: SC-22X15C
Suggested Shrink Wrap Sleeve: SCS-24X36C
When using other containers or gifts, remember, most shrink wrap will shrink 40-50%! It’s better to buy a bigger size if you are unsure. You can shrink it down, but it will not stretch!
To help when shopping online with us, check the “other info for web” field on the shrink wrap item description on our site. This tells you the largest perimeter size basket the shrink will fit.
The maximum outside perimeter of a basket that this shrink will cover is 42"
Overall, in our product descriptions, the first measurement is always the width when the product is flat on a table. So, if the first number is 12”, it is actually 24” around when opened. The second number is the full length of the cap or sleeve. This is important when using a basket with a handle or a tall gift. If you need to cover a basket that is 13” tall, make sure your sleeve is at least 20” tall to cover the basket and gather or your shrink cap is 15” tall to seal underneath.
LESSON 4: Tricks of the Trade - Tubes and Centerfold Rolls
For production or high volume work, consider tubes or centerfold rolls. The choice of many gift basket professionals, they are the most economical, but require the most experience to use.
Ideal for flat-topped baskets, tubes are just that -- a tube of shrink wrap you can cut and seal. Slide the basket into the tube, determine the correct length, cut, fold over and seal. Especially useful for flat baskets, or those being shipped, tubes create a clean look and speedy assembly. The result is a clear, flat window on the top of gift items with seals on the sides.
Shrinking down can make for a quick assembly line. Plus, you’ll save money when buying in longer tubes than individual sleeves.
Centerfold shrink is a very long, single sheet of shrink that is folded in half the long way, then rolled for storage, shipping and use. Rolls allow for the largest gift to be covered. Simply cut off the length you need from the roll and unfold it to a larger rectangle. A 20” centerfold roll unfolds to 40” in width. It can then be gathered and shrunk. It can also be wrapped around the basket to be a flat gift, much like wrapping a present with gift wrap. Centerfolds are the easiest way to get width while being easy to receive, store and manage on the roll.
When buying centerfold rolls, like sleeves, the first dimension is the width when flat. So a 20” centerfold roll provides shrink that is 40” wide when opened.
Use our quick reference guide below to easily see the differences in the types of shrink.
Use our quick reference guide below to easily see the differences in the types of shrink.
Shrink Caps
Shrink Sleeves
(aka shrink bags)
Shrink Centerfold Rolls
Shrink Tubes
LESSON 5: Watch and Learn