How two Yorkshire businesses came together to solve a simple problem.
If you've ever ordered a Creative Grids ruler online, you'll know they're not the easiest products to post.
They're premium quilting tools, and I wanted them arriving with customers in exactly the same condition they left me.
Standard packaging works well — but I wanted to go one step further for some of our larger and more awkward-sized rulers.
So we decided to create something specifically for them.
The challenge
Creative Grids rulers are long, flat, and rigid, making them one of the trickiest sewing products to package.
Rather than relying solely on standard postal packaging, I wanted certain rulers to have packaging designed around the product itself.
Working with another Yorkshire business
That search led me to ASC Direct in Shipley, West Yorkshire. They're specialists in bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging, and what really stood out was their commitment to quality and sustainability — they're certified to ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001, and all their packaging is made from 100% sustainable materials. Instead of simply placing an order online, I went to visit their factory to see how everything was made.
Watching our boxes being manufactured made me appreciate just how much thought goes into creating packaging that protects products properly.
Bespoke doesn't have to mean expensive
One of the biggest surprises was discovering that custom-made packaging isn't just for massive companies ordering thousands of boxes.
Working with the right manufacturer made it possible to create packaging specifically for our products without it costing the earth.
That means I can give customers better protection while keeping prices competitive.
Which rulers receive custom boxes?
We've created bespoke packaging for selected Creative Grids rulers where the fit and protection make the biggest difference.
These include:
- CGR15 — 15½" Square
- CGR16 — 16½" Square
- CGR1818 — 18½" Square
- CGR20 — 20½" Square
- CGR218 — 2½" x 18½"
- CGR224 — 2½" x 24½"
- CGR236 — 2½" x 36½" Yardstick
- CGR418 — 4½" x 18½"
- CGR18 — 6½" x 18½"
- CGR818 — 8½" x 18½"
- CGR824 — 8½" x 24½"
- CGRGE2 — Stripology Squared
- CGRGE1XL — Stripology XL
Not sure which ruler is right for your project? Take a look at our guides:
- Creative Grids Rulers Explained: What Are the Different Types Used For?
- The Best Quilting Rulers for Beginners and Experienced Quilters in the UK
The rulers fit securely inside packaging designed specifically for them, helping reduce movement during transit and giving them extra protection on their journey to you.
And once your ruler has arrived safely? The box makes a perfect home for storing it — keeping it protected, flat, and in great shape for years to come.
Every ruler is protected
If your Creative Grids ruler isn't on the list above, don't worry.
Every ruler is still carefully packaged before dispatch using heavy-duty M-Spec cardboard envelopes, which provide excellent protection during delivery.
The custom boxes simply give us an extra level of protection for some of the larger and more specialised rulers.
Supporting Yorkshire businesses
One thing that's always mattered to me with The Yorkshire Sewing Guy is supporting other businesses wherever I can.
Working with ASC Direct has been a brilliant example of two Yorkshire businesses collaborating to solve a practical problem and create a better experience for customers.
Because your ruler deserves to arrive ready to quilt
Whether your order arrives in one of our bespoke custom boxes or one of our M-Spec cardboard envelopes, every Creative Grids ruler is packed with care before it leaves us.
Because the only thing you should be thinking about when it arrives is your next quilting project.