Featured Customer: House of Moss

There is something magical and irresistible about teeny tiny things, and Alison has mastered it with her woodland inspired felt creations. She has taken a minimalist approach to packaging which lets her work shine and we are all about it. Read on to learn more about her business, House of Moss, and how she utilizes ClearBags to create an experience for her customers and fit with her brand.

Tell us a little about your company:

House of Moss is a one-person business run by me, Alison Comfort Bay, a fiber artist and miniatures enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest.

House of Moss is a place for natural needle-felted wool home decor, gifts, and Waldorf-inspired children’s items: wool acorns, felted mushrooms, felt hearts, delicate garlands, wool pebbles, tiny felt terrariums, woodland-themed Christmas ornaments, and other natural curiosities. They are a lovely way to bring the organic beauty of the natural world to your indoor living space.

Most of the items at House of Moss are needle-felted. Needle-felting is the process of sculpting puffs of wool (roving) into cohesive felted shapes using a specially notched needle to poke through the material until the fibers intertwine.

What makes your product unique?

The House of Moss aesthetic is shaped by the beautiful surroundings in the Portland, Oregon, area: The damp climate creates a gorgeous forest environment, full of moss, trees, and mushrooms. I was introduced to Waldorf education during the year I spent as a nanny, and the Waldorf sensibilities of natural materials and simplicity have stayed with me in my work. Add that to my lifelong love of tiny things, and you get House of Moss: a miniature world of woodland-themed felted wool.

How do you package your products and what ClearBags products do you use?

Because most of my products are pretty tiny, I need packaging that protects them and shows them off clearly. My branding is natural and eco-friendly, so I use a lot of kraft cardstock and low-plastic packaging products. I use washi tape as well, for a branded and seasonal element. ClearBags provides great options for House of Moss’s needs, like biodegradable bags and low-plastic window boxes. The ClearBags products I use are the following:

2 x 2 x 2 Crystal Clear Boxes Pop & Lock Bottom (25 pack) [PLB104]
4 15/16″ x 6 1/2″ + Flap, Premium Eco Clear Bags (100 Pieces) [GC65]
4 1/2″ X 7/8″ X 5 7/8″ Kraft Paper Window Box with Attached PET Sheet (25 Pieces) [WKRG247]

I also use kraft cardstock pillow boxes, and I plan to switch to ClearBags for those as well!

Where do you sell your product?

I sell my work online through my website (HouseOfMoss.com) and on Etsy (HouseOfMoss.etsy.com), as well as wholesale to boutique shops across the U.S. and Canada.

How long have you been working with ClearBags and how does ClearBags help you succeed?

I’ve been working with ClearBags since January of 2012— so, over 7 years! ClearBags has been a great source of affordable, great-quality packaging with a ton of options for size and material.

What one piece of packaging advice would you give to other business owners?

Streamline your packaging. Simpler is almost always better. At the same time, make it delightful! If it’s fun and easy for you to pack up, it’ll be fun and easy for the customer as well. Always think of both sides of the packaging use: the packing-up experience and the opening/unboxing experience.

How can people connect with you?

Instagram: @house.of.moss
Facebook: facebook.com/houseofmossshop
Etsy: House of Moss