Buying Satin Ribbon in Ireland: A Practical Buyer’s Guide

When I first started my craft business, one of the problems I kept running into was sourcing good-quality materials that would actually improve the finished pieces I was making.

Satin ribbon was one of those small things that turned out to matter more than I expected.

I first started using ribbon on my hardwood hanging ornaments and Christmas tree decorations. At the time, it was not always easy to find affordable, good-quality satin ribbon in Ireland, especially if you wanted more than a metre or two.

Some retailers sold ribbon by the metre, which can get expensive quickly if you are using it regularly for craft work, packaging, gift wrapping, wedding projects, handmade products or decorations.

That is really where this post began. I wanted better ribbon for my own work, and over time, that search led me to start stocking satin ribbon myself.

Why Satin Ribbon Quality Matters

Ribbon might seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference to the finished result.

If you are wrapping gifts, decorating wedding items, finishing handmade products or adding ribbon to craft pieces, the ribbon becomes part of the presentation. A poor-quality ribbon can look flat, crease badly, fray too easily or simply fail to lift the finished piece.

As a maker, you notice these things.

The feel, width, colour, finish and how the ribbon ties all matter. Even if the person receiving the item does not consciously think, “that is good ribbon,” they still notice the overall finish.

Good satin ribbon gives a cleaner, brighter and more professional look.

My Early Attempts at Buying Satin Ribbon

Early on, I even bought some ribbon from the US. It came in short lengths on cardboard reels and, while the quality was acceptable, it still was not quite what I wanted.

The ribbon did the job, but it did not really improve the finished pieces in the way I had hoped.

Eventually, I came across the Italian Options satin ribbon range almost by accident. I ordered from two different Irish sellers, not realising at first that they were both selling the same brand and the same ribbon sizes.

The difference was obvious. The quality was there, the colours were better, and there were over 40 colours available in sizes from narrow 3mm ribbon up to wider 50mm ribbon.

That was the satin ribbon range I had been trying to find.

The Problem with Backorders and Drop Shipping

The difficulty was availability.

The Irish sellers I found were mostly selling on backorder, with a turnaround of about 7 to 10 business days. At the time, Italian Options was a UK-based company, so the ribbon had to be ordered from the UK, sent to the Irish seller, and then shipped on to me.

That was before Brexit, so it became even more awkward later with customs issues, delays and extra uncertainty.

One of the sellers eventually changed their business model and stopped selling ribbon altogether. Between that and the backorder delays, I decided to contact the company directly and look into becoming a reseller myself.

One thing I have never liked as a customer is ordering something that appears to be in stock, only to find out afterwards that it is actually on backorder. It can be very frustrating, especially if you need the ribbon for a wedding, craft fair, order, event, school project or handmade product.

That experience shaped the way I sell craft supplies now.

If something is marked as in stock on my website, it should physically be here with me in Tralee, ready to pack and ship. I can make the odd small stock-keeping mistake, because I am only human, but I do not like pretending items are available when they are not.

If I ever use a pre-order option for a new product or possible new range, I try to make that clear.

Wait, You’re a Woodturner?

Yes, I am a woodturner by trade, which might seem like an unusual background for selling satin ribbon.

But that is exactly how it started.

I was using ribbon in my own handmade work and I wanted better quality, better choice and more reliable supply. Once I found a satin ribbon range I was happy with, it made sense to stock it properly.

Over time, that side of the business grew. I now have customers who buy ribbon, bows and other craft supplies from me regularly.

It did not happen overnight. Ireland is a small market and this is not some get-rich-quick idea. It is simply another practical arm of my business, built from a problem I had myself as a maker.

You might also wonder why a woodturner in Kerry sells ribbon, bows and craft supplies at all, so I have written a separate post explaining how this side of the business developed and why I keep these products in stock for Irish crafters.

What Can Satin Ribbon Be Used For?

Satin ribbon is one of those craft supplies that can be used in far more ways than people first realise.

It can be useful for:

● Gift wrapping
● Wedding invitations
● Wedding favours
● Wedding car decoration
● Venue decoration
● Hampers
● Craft projects
● Handmade decorations
● Product packaging
● Hanging ornaments
● Card making
● Flower arranging
● Seasonal displays

Ribbon rarely goes to waste. If you buy a little more than you think you need, the leftovers can often be used later for gifts, decorations, packaging or another project.

That is especially true with popular colours such as cream, ivory, white, burgundy, sage green, red, gold and silver.

Choosing the Right Satin Ribbon Width

One of the most common questions with ribbon is width.

A narrow ribbon can be perfect for hanging ornaments, tying tags, card making or smaller craft details. Wider ribbon is usually better for gift wrapping, hampers, wedding cars, venue decoration or larger bows.

If you are not sure what size ribbon you actually need, I have written a simple guide on how to choose the right ribbon width for gifts. That may be a useful place to start before ordering.

As a rough guide, 3mm ribbon is very narrow and works best for small details. For gift wrapping or decoration where the ribbon needs to be seen properly, you will usually want something wider.

Satin Ribbon or Ready-Made Bows?

Sometimes satin ribbon is the right choice because you want to tie the bow yourself, match a colour scheme or use the ribbon in several different ways.

Other times, ready-made bows are simply easier.

If you are preparing multiple gifts, hampers, party favours, wedding favours or small product packages, ready-made bows can save time and keep everything looking consistent.

When you finish here, you may also find my related post on buying satin ribbon bows in Ireland useful, especially if you want a quick, neat finish without tying bows yourself.

I have also written a separate guide comparing ready-made bows with tying your own, which may help if you are deciding which option suits your project best.

Why Buy Satin Ribbon from Me?

I take pride in running my website properly, keeping stock levels as accurate as I can, and shipping orders quickly.

If my website says a satin ribbon is in stock, it should mean that the ribbon is physically here with me in Tralee and ready to be sent out.

That matters if you are buying for a wedding, a craft order, a school project, a business order, a seasonal display or anything with a deadline attached.

I know what it is like to order craft supplies online and then discover that the item is delayed, out of stock or coming from somewhere else entirely. That is one of the reasons I try to keep things as clear as possible on my own site.

Actual Shipping Time

When I send out a shipping confirmation email, it means your package is actually on its way.

In my case, that usually means the parcel has been collected and is heading off to the first depot in Farranfore.

Years of online shopping have taught me that when some companies say “your order has been dispatched,” the parcel may still be sitting in a postal bin waiting to be collected.

For me, if I say it is on the way, it is on the way.

Fast, honest shipping is one of the reasons customers have continued to buy from me over the years.

Where to Buy Satin Ribbon

If you want to see what satin ribbon I currently have available, visit my Satin Ribbon hub page, where you will find links to the individual colour and size options.

Purple Satin Ribbon in sizes from 3mm to 50mm

My satin ribbon collection currently includes 42 vibrant colours in 7 widths, ranging from 3mm to 50mm.

I stock a range of satin ribbon colours and widths, suitable for crafts, gifts, weddings, decorations, handmade products and packaging.

This post is also part of my wider Craft Supplies in Ireland hub, where I gather together my guides on ribbon, bows, stickers, wedding supplies and small craft buying advice.

Don't Forget Christmas

At Christmas, satin ribbon also works well with small embellishments such as gift tags, stickers and ready-made bows. I have written a separate post on Christmas stickers for kids, cards and gift wrapping if you want a few inexpensive festive ideas.

A Note About This Post

This post was originally published on my Woodcraft website on 10th January 2023.

I later moved it here to David Condon Finds so that my main woodcraft site could stay more focused on woodturning, handmade pieces, tools and tuition.

The craft supply posts now sit better here, where I can group them with other practical buying guides and small business posts.

If you are comparing ribbon, bows, stickers or other small craft supplies, I have also put together a wider guide here: Craft Supplies in Ireland – Ribbon, Bows, Stickers and Practical Buying Guides. It brings the related posts together in one place, including satin ribbon, ready-made bows, ribbon widths, wedding ribbon and seasonal craft supplies.

Thanks for Reading

Thanks for reading.

I hope this guide helps if you are looking for satin ribbon in Ireland, whether you are buying for gifts, weddings, craft work, packaging or handmade products.

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a small business owner and blog writer based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Running my own woodcraft business means I’ve seen first-hand how much confusion there can be around shipping times, delivery dates, and what “business days” actually mean. That’s why I wrote this post — to share a bit of what I’ve learned and hopefully save you some frustration.
Every so often I step outside the workshop to write about wider business topics like this one. If you’d like to know more, you can follow the link in the Note from the Author section below or visit my About Me page to learn more.

💬 Note from the Author
This post was written specially for David Condon Finds. If you enjoyed it, you might also like my other projects:
Phoenix DVD Blog – where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and life as a collector
David Condon Woodcraft – my main site focused on woodturning and handmade Irish pieces
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