If you haven't come across cellophane basket bags before, let us introduce you to what they are, why they're useful and how to shrink them using a heat gun. Cellophane shrink wrap bags are designed to quickly and easily seal the contents of your hampers and give them the expert finish. Heat gun shrink wrap packaging is one of the quickest ways to finish a hamper professionally for either in-store display or postal transit.
Made from thin heat-sensitive cellophane, the bags fit over your hamper basket gift trays and can be shrunk with a hot air gun. Heat gun shrink wrapping keeps contents snug and protected, whether they're being posted as mail-order hampers or displayed in-store.
The perceived value of a hamper plays a crucial role in determining what your customer is willing to pay. While curling the end of a ribbon adds a simple touch, a carefully crafted handmade bow can bring the wow factor. By using the right professional tools, you can begin to increase your profits, and with practice, you'll be well on your way to becoming an expert in hamper presentation.
For the purpose of our step by step guide, we've chosen one of our wooden gift trays but you can choose from our range of wicker hamper baskets or a card gift tray which is a great starter hamper for newbies to hamper making. All you need to get started with heat gun shrink wrap packaging is a hot air gun and a cellophane hamper bag, also known as basket bag (please make sure you use a cello bag suitable shrink wrapping).
Heat gun shrink wrap packaging allows the contents of a hamper to remain visible while keeping everything securely contained during shipping. It also enables hampers to be stored and displayed on their side, making it an excellent choice for in-store merchandising.
What you need
Scissors
How to shrink wrap
1. Choose your hamper and bag. To find the correct bag size, refer to the product specification on the product page of your chosen container.
2. Slide your tray into the middle of the bag widthways, ensuring it's flush and snug at the end of the bag.
3. Gather the open end and fold it over twice then secure and seal with tape.
4. Tidy the excess bag by tucking and sealing the ends underneath your hamper then taping to secure in place.
5. Keep your heat gun moving at all times , holding it approximately 10cm from the surface to prevent excessive heat from building up in one spot. Sharp edges tighten faster, so take care.
6. Decorate with a bow, ribbon or gift tag. Remember, all our hampers have shipping outers for mail order.
We recommend shrinking the sides of the hamper first, finishing with the top. Remember to keep the heat gun moving, as holding it in one spot for too long can create a hole. If a hole does appear, don't worry as you can usually hide it with a decorative gift bow.
Try it out with a sample pack
If you'd like to give it a go and see if heat shrinking cellophane basket bags could work for your hampers, why not shop our handy cellophane bag sample packs? The pack is ideal if you're unsure of which basket bag you need to suit your product. With a sample of each size to try out, you'll be able to make an informed decision.
Love the idea? Be sure to share your photos with us. We can't wait to see what you've created.
Frequently asked questions about shrink wrapping with a heat gun
Does cellophane shrink with heat?
Cellophane on its own doesn't shrink with heat. Standard cellophane basket bags aren't designed for shrink wrapping, and applying heat can damage them. Instead you'll need a cellophane bag made specifically for shrink wrapping. These are designed with a thin heat-sensitive film that contracts tightly around the contents when warmed. Our cellophane hamper bags for shrink wrapping are built for exactly that.
What heat gun do I need for shrink wrapping?
Any hot air gun with adjustable heat and airflow will handle cellophane shrink wrap bags. What matters most is control: a nozzle attachment gives you precise application over sharp edges, and keeping the temperature moderate prevents holes forming when you hover in one spot. Our hot air shrink wrap gun with blade nozzle is designed exactly for this.
