Despite the massive shift to e-commerce over the previous few years, retail stores are still incredibly important in the business landscape. Even with online shopping steadily increasing, physical retail spaces will not disappear anytime soon.

In fact, the State of Consumer Behavior report by Raydiant shows that 46% of consumers still prefer to browse products and shop in person rather than online. Another study by Nielsen also shows that 82% of consumers are now doing in-store shopping again after restrictions have been lifted. These statistics indicate that a significant number of consumers still crave in-store experiences.

However, changes in consumer behavior also necessitate retail space. Today, visual merchandising has become both an art and a science, as retailers go beyond aesthetics to deliver value to the customer and drive sales. 

Here, we’ll discuss product displays and how they can be used to help businesses boost engagement and sell more items. We’ll also share ideas on how to use cardboard display boxes for product display. Read on to learn more about transforming your retail shop and creating awesome customer experiences.

Why Product Displays Matter

Before we delve into the details, we must first understand what a product display is and why they remain important for a company.

Product displays are creative presentations of a store’s products or services. They are an integral element of merchandising and often serve as the first point of interaction with customers. 

In a retail environment, quality product displays engage the customer and entice them to make a purchase. They also contribute to consistent branding and can create a positive impression of what a company represents. Used effectively, they can significantly boost sales and help earn customer loyalty.

15 Common Types of Product Displays

1. Storefront Window Displays

Storefront displays are the first touchpoints of a company with a potential customer. These are presented in the front window of a store and are designed to attract passersby.

A storefront display must be striking enough to catch the attention of people within the few seconds it takes them to pass by the front window. An effective one can spark interest and compel a customer to discover more about the products inside the shop. It leaves a positive first impression that can advance a customer from the awareness stage to the consideration stage.

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2. Freestanding Displays

For larger items or products that need to be presented in a more organized manner, standalone displays are better than dump bins. Instead of putting the products in a single box, they are arranged on hooks or shelves in a freestanding display. 

This type of display is accessible from all sides and is great for cross merchandising. It can be placed strategically in the middle of aisles to break the traffic flow and engage shoppers.

3. Pallet Display

Pallet displays are similar to freestanding displays, but they are placed on a pallet instead of directly on top of the floor. These are often seen in big box stores or wholesale clubs where large volumes of products are sold. 

Even with large quantities and heavy items, they can still be moved around with ease using a small pallet truck. They can be placed in wide open spaces with high traffic to encourage fast turnover of products.

4. Display Tables

Display tables are a bit similar to showcase displays, but they don’t have glass enclosures. With the open display, a customer will feel more comfortable taking a closer look at the products presented. 

Display tables are also perfect for showcasing items that form a set or have complementary uses, such as small home appliances, kitchen tools, or outfits with matching accessories. They also work great for seasonal items and holiday gift sets.

5. Dump Bins

For large volumes of low-price merchandise that need to be sold quickly, dump bins provide higher visibility and easy accessibility. These are point of purchase displays placed near the checkout counter or in a high traffic area where customers can conveniently grab the featured products. 

These counter displays are usually made with durable cardboard boxes printed with promotions or ads. Since the bins are relatively lightweight, they can be moved to other areas within the store.

6. Gondola Displays

One specific type of freestanding display is the gondola. Like other standalone displays, this is best placed in open areas with high traffic. A gondola display is typically made of steel frames with a peg board. The pegs can be adjusted based on the products being promoted. 

They can also be single-sided, double-sided, or wraparound. This versatility makes it a good option for brands with multiple product offerings to explore.

7. POP Displays

Regardless of the type of retail space, there is likely a point-of-purchase (POP) display that highlights a specific product or announces a new promotion. 

POP displays are ubiquitous elements in in-store marketing. They are often made of cardboard and printed with ads, promos, or deals. A POP display can be standalone displays or small shelf inserts placed in any open space that can lead a customer to purchase certain products. Specific types of custom cardboard POP displays are also included in this list.

8. End Cap Displays

Also another type of display targeting customers at the point of purchase, end caps draw the attention of customers passing through the end of an aisle. These are shelves at the end of an aisle where new inventory or store specials are displayed to build product awareness and boost sales. They can be used also for cross merchandising complementary products of the same brand.

9. Inline Displays

For business brands that share shelf space in large groceries or box stores, inline displays can be used to create differentiation from other brands. They are placed on a regular shelf to make a brand stand out from other similar products. These work well in directing customers’ attention to small and easy-to-grab items.

10. Showcase Displays

Showcase displays are typically used for valuable high-end merchandise or high-interest niche items. The display cases are made from clear materials such as plastic, glass, or plexiglass. They are encased on all sides to keep the products on display secure. They are accessible from one side or from several sides but require the help of a store clerk.

11. Retail Shelf Displays

Retail shelves are fixed, and sturdy shelves are used to display a wide assortment and range of merchandise. These can be single-sided shelves placed along the walls or double-sided ones that form aisles in the store. These are the typical product displays we see in grocery stores, box stores, and big pharmacies.

12. Glorifier

A glorifier is a small clear box made from glass or plastic. It is placed on a standard shelf to highlight a specific product. It acts as a pedestal or podium for products being pushed for higher sales.

13. Countertop Displays

Countertop displays encourage customers to buy small items or products on promotion. These are best placed on the checkout counter to push impulse buys at the point of purchase. However, they can also be strategically placed on display tables and shelves throughout the store. They are best used for displaying and organizing small merchandise.

14. Mannequins

Mannequins also display products. They help customers visualize how pieces of clothing or accessories look when worn. They can also be used to recommend items that can go well together and the styles that are currently on trend. To further boost sales, have the items the mannequins are wearing on a nearby rack or shelf.

15. Immersive Displays

Immersive displays elevate the buying experience by giving customers a more personal engagement with the products. They follow a central theme and tell a compelling story that customers can relate to. 

One example of an immersive display is a camping setup complete with an erected tent, sleeping bags, camp stove, and other camping paraphernalia. This image helps customers envision the environment where they would be using the products.

A Practical Guide to Product and Purchase Displays

1. Be Economical 

Although they are effective in boosting sales, there is no need to spend a huge chunk of your marketing budget on a product display. Utilize space and materials that are already available to avoid additional expenditure. Upcycle materials and fixtures to create one-of-a-kind displays. Resourcefulness and creativity are often the only things you need to build eye-catching displays.

2. Make Them Versatile

Many product displays are seasonal in nature but some can be used long-term. In creating these types of displays, strive to make them versatile so they can be used to exhibit almost any type of merchandise. Make them in such a way that they can easily convey different messages and fit almost any business theme.

3. Create a Multisensory Experience

Most people focus on the visual aspect of a product display. But aside from catching the eyes of potential customers, your display must also engage their other senses. So go beyond the visuals and create a multisensory experience. 

Play music that appeals to your target customer. Use scent marketing to stir positive emotions and trigger good memories. If you are selling food or consumables, offer free tastes or samples. The more senses you entice, the higher the probability of converting into sales.

4. Consider Both Demographics and Psychographics

Demographic data have been traditionally used in developing marketing strategies. Even in creating quality product displays, it is important to identify the age, income, education, geographic location, and other such data of your target customers. These help you understand them better. 

However, you must go beyond demographics and dig deeper into your customers’ psychographic information. Psychographics will tell you what their interests are, what drives their purchase decisions, and what type of lifestyle they live. Having a more in-depth knowledge of your customers will enable you to create displays that truly connect with them.

5. Keep the Price Tags On

Removing the price tags on a product display can lead to a lost sale. Some customers may not bother to ask about prices and just assume that the product is beyond their budget. If your product is of high-quality, they may even think that it is priced much higher than the actual price. So keep the tags on.

6. Placement Matters

Even the most attractive product display will not convert into a sale if they are not visible. The location of your product display would matter significantly. Make sure new products and bestselling ones are displayed in high-traffic zones. Accessories and small items can disappear from shelves, so place them near the checkout counter.

Another crucial area you must pay attention to is the decompression zone. This is the area inside the store right near the entrance. Use this zone to create a transition from the outside world to your store by placing a product display that showcases your company’s image. Keep the area free of clutter to make your store seem more inviting.

7. Use Your Displays to Educate

Aside from showcasing your products, use your displays to provide customers with more information about the items you offer. Indicate useful tidbits on unique features or functions. Illustrate how the featured product can be used. 

You can also share new trend ideas. Consumers are more likely to buy a product that they feel they have more knowledge of.

8. Keep Displays Clutter-Free

It may be tempting to place all of your new products or bestsellers in a single product display, but avoid doing so. Overcrowding your display can overwhelm customers. Instead of displaying too many disparate products, focus on a single point of interest. You can highlight a single product or use a unified theme that connects several items.

9. Keep Your Displays Fresh

Change your product displays on a regular basis—once a week, at the least. Having a new one every week keeps your store looking fresh and gives regular customers something to look forward to every visit. Frequent passersby are also more likely to notice your store if your storefront display changes constantly.

10. Maintain Your Product Displays

Most retail market stores have specific areas for their product displays. If you have a permanent location for these, make sure it is always clean and organized. Check the fixtures such as lighting and platforms as they can break or become worn down over time.

How to Make a Quality Product Display Case That Attracts Customers

1. Make It Readily Visible

Visibility is a huge factor in the success of all promotional materials, including product display. Place your display case where customers can readily see it. Choose a location where there will be little space lag between the time a customer sees the display and the time they react to it.

2. Use Actual Products

Ideally, actual products should be featured in your product display case. However, there may be certain circumstances where this is not possible, such as when selling perishable food items. What’s important is that your display shows the customer what the product actually looks like in real life. Instead of using a flat intangible picture of your product, use a more realistic representation.

3. Be Bold

Your product display should help you stand out from the competition. Be bold and create contrast using eye-catching colors and images. Make your display case Insta-worthy by choosing a design that would make people want to snap a pic and share it online. Remember that there are currently over 3.6 billion people using social media worldwide, and many of them love sharing images and graphics that stir interest.

4. Be Innovative

Strive to be original with your design and think outside the box. Use modern techniques to make your displays standout.

5. Make Your Display Cohesive

Avoid a cluttered display especially when cross merchandising. Group related products in one display or have a single cohesive design that ties all the items together. Every item in your display products list must interact or complement the other items. 

6. Set the Mood with Lighting

Use lighting to set the tone for your product display. A spotlight can focus attention on a featured product. Soft lighting can be used to create a glowing effect that captures the eyes of customers.

7. Use Motion to Attract Attention

Anything that moves is bound to catch people’s attention. Incorporate some form of movement in your product display to draw more people in. Try a rotating carousel for small items on a display table or use a small fan to create breeze in a summer display.

8. Offer An Experience

33% of consumers prefer shopping in person because they want to interact directly with the products. They want to personally see and feel the products before purchasing them. High-tech interactive displays can enhance their buying experience, which in turn, can increase the odds of a purchase.

9. Make a Statement

Social media has made people more vocal about their advocacies and opinions. Use your product display to make a statement that your business stands for. 

Mannequins that are plus-sized or have dad-bods are now more common, as they help promote self-love and acceptance of one’s unique appearance. If your company promotes sustainability, make sure it is evident in your product displays.

10. Leverage Technology

We are now living in the digital age where technology plays a vital role. Leverage modern tools to amplify your product display. 

About 8 out of 10 customers enter a store because of a digital sign that caught their interest. Find ways to incorporate one in your storefront display. You can also use videos or interactive tablets in your in-store displays to capture the interest of your customers. 

What You Must Absolutely Avoid When Creating Custom Displays

1. Placing Unrelated Items Together

The human mind seeks order. It constantly looks for patterns and systems. This is why clutter and disorganized items create anxiety in many people. For your customers to have a pleasant shopping experience, do not place mismatched displays of unrelated items.

2. Displaying Too Much or Too Little

Although consumers look for variety, placing too many products or multiple product types can overwhelm them. It can make it more difficult for them to choose which one to buy. 

On the other hand, not displaying enough products can create the impression that your product portfolio lacks variety. Thus, balance is key to product displays. You must have just the right number of items that provide ample choices without causing confusion.

3. Focusing Too Much on the Display, Not on the Product

Product displays should look great, but keep in mind that the focus should be on the products you want to sell. Avoid displays that are too flashy—they can distract potential customers from the actual products. Your product display should enhance the products instead of taking the spotlight off them.

4. Using Dark Backgrounds on Window Displays

A dark background makes the glass behave as a giant mirror. A person who looks through a window with a dark background is bound to see his own reflection, too. This may steal attention away from the products on display. 

5. Filling Every Corner or Space With Displays

Resist the temptation to cram every available space on the walls, shelves, and aisles with product displays. Having a white, clean space where there is nothing but an empty spot creates a breathing room in your store. Far from being a waste of space, it actually helps highlight your product displays by creating a focal point in the store.

Choosing the Best Material for Product Display Boxes

A product display often involves the use of boxes made from different materials such as plastic, metal, wood, or cardboard. The best material for your product display will depend on what products you are showcasing, where you will be placing the display, and how long you plan on using it. 

In choosing the material for your display boxes, consider your intended use, specific requirements, environmental impact, and cost.

Comparison of Different Materials for Display Boxes

Benefits of Using Cardboard Display Boxes

Cardboard is the most popular choice when it comes to product display boxes for retail marketing. Here are seven reasons why it is the most preferred material:

• It is cost-effective. Cardboard prices are lower compared to wood, metal, and plastic.
• It has a quick turnaround time. Cardboard boxes can be manufactured faster than other materials even with bulk orders. This quick turnaround time makes them perfect for seasonal marketing campaigns.
• It is versatile. Cardboard is easy to cut and mold into unique shapes. Shelves, pockets, folds, and other details can also be easily integrated into its design.
• It is easy to assemble. Most cardboard boxes are designed to unfold and fit together like puzzle pieces. They do not require tools and other materials for assembly.
• It is easy to transport. Cardboard is the most lightweight material for display boxes. It can also be disassembled and folded flat for shipping.
• It is durable. Cardboard may not last as long as metal or wood, but it can withstand use for an entire marketing campaign period.
• It is environmentally friendly. While not all cardboard is eco-friendly, many of them can be easily recycled. Vegetable-based inks can also be used to print on them to make them more eco-friendly.

8 Common Types of Cardboard Display Boxes

1. Counter Display

These are small and compact boxes designed to be placed on top of display tables or countertops. They are great for retail sales of small items, such as pens, candies, makeup, and other similar-sized merchandise.

2. Power Wings

Also called sidekicks, power wings are small displays on end caps or shelves. They increase a shelf’s basket size and allow brands to highlight new products or promotional offers. They are often used for small lightweight items, like sample-sized products, magazines, cosmetics, and OTC pharmacy products.

3. Inline Displays

Inline displays or on-shelf displays help businesses set themselves apart from a shelf full of competing products. These are usually trays or open boxes with additional branding to break the visual monotony of similar products lined on the same shelf.

4. Brochure Holders

Some businesses such as travel agencies, salon services, or B2B companies advertise their products and services but do not necessarily offer them in a particular store. Instead, they provide brochures which the customer can get while shopping or waiting in line. 

Brochure holders not only give their brand and message more visibility but also keep marketing collaterals organized. These are usually placed on the checkout counter, reception desk, or takeout window.

5. Floor Display Stand

Cardboard floor displays may have 2-7 layers of shelves where several products can be arranged on display. Some have pegs and hangers instead of layered shelves. Others combine both shelves and pegs for a wider variety of product display.

6. Pallet Display

Cardboard pallet display racks combine storage and display. The bottom part is often used to store stocks while the top rack is used to display the product being promoted. This type of display is lightweight and can be conveniently moved throughout the store.

7. Cardboard Trolley

Cardboard trolleys are ideal for mobile marketing campaigns. They combine the portable storage of trolleys and the visibility of display boxes. They are usually printed with ads and used in shows and conventions where mobility is required.

8. Dump Bins

Cardboard is also a low-cost material for dump bins. They can be easily printed with visually appealing designs and work great for seasonal promotions. Their lightweight materials also make them easy to move around the store.

Other Cardboard Promotional Items

Aside from display boxes and custom packaging, cardboard can be used for other promotional items and POP displays.

1. Shelf Stoppers

Shelf stoppers or shelf takers are signs placed on a retail shelf. They are positioned perpendicular to the shelf to attract customers and to draw their attention directly to where a featured product is displayed. Cardboard shelf stoppers do not require floor space, are easy to attach to shelves, and provide brands an affordable way to increase product visibility.

2. Ceiling-Hung Signs

Like shelf stoppers, ceiling-hung signs do not require floor space and provide a low-cost way to increase brand awareness. These signs are hung from the ceiling to draw customers to the area where products are shelved.

3. Cardboard Standees

One way to gain more awareness for a brand is to use cardboard standees. These are 3D structures of the actual products or the product endorsers. They can also be designed to resemble free-standing product displays that have unique shapes.

Make a Statement with Customized Cardboard Display Boxes

Cardboard display boxes are customized according to the specific size, design, and style that a company needs. When having your display boxes customized, consider the products you will be showcasing. Having a product-oriented display ensures that the spotlight will be on your product and not on the box. Also make sure that the box has the physical integrity to support the product you will be displaying on it.

When featuring small items, like cosmetics, include dividers or pockets in your display box to keep the items organized. If the box will be placed in an environment exposed to moisture, opt for waterproof or water-resistant cardboard.

To get the best cardboard display boxes, partner with a manufacturer who is willing to talk with you about your customization options and go the extra mile to meet your requirements.

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post Ultimate Guide to Product Display and Custom Cardboard Display Boxes appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Traditional product packaging materials have been harmful to the environment. However, the increasing environmental awareness among consumers has pushed brands to turn to sustainable alternatives such as kraft paper boxes.

Implementing green packaging in your brand’s operations is a necessity now more than ever. In this guide, you’ll find out why. 

What is Kraft Packaging?

About 32% of all plastic used in the packaging industry won’t end up in the trash. The problem with that is plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose. In other words, aside from the ones that have ended up in the incinerator, every piece of plastic ever manufactured still exists to this day.

Kraft is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging and might be the world’s answer to the ever-growing plastic pollution. It is a common material used for packaging products in industrial and commercial operations. Kraft packaging is made from a renewable resource, which is biodegradable and recyclable. However, unlike regular paper, kraft paper can be made from any type of wood species.

During the kraft process, the natural wood is ground into a pulp and then treated with white liquor, which is a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. It separates the lignin and the cellulose. Due to its reduced lignin and high sulfur content, kraft paper is very sturdy.

The kraft process is better for the environment, as it requires fewer chemicals, which can be recovered and reused without affecting the quality of the output.

Kraft has a natural brown color because of the wood pulp. Although it can be bleached, this process can weaken the fibers that make the material strong. The extra bleaching step can also drive up the manufacturing costs of the kraft packaging. 

Regular Paper vs. Kraft Paper

Kraft papers are arguably more sustainable and eco-friendly than regular paper materials. The kraft process is a self-sustaining method used to produce kraft papers and boards. Any type of wood can be used in this method, including pine and bamboo, which aren’t options for traditional paper making.

Since the kraft process results in lower lignin and higher sulfur content, kraft paper is sturdier than regular paper. It holds up well against heat, moisture, grease, and rough handling during shipping, making it a superior choice when it comes to packaging. It can be used to store food and beverage, cosmetics, appliances, and various other products.

Compared to general packaging materials such as plastic, kraft paper is more affordable. Despite its strength and thickness, it won’t add much weight to your package, allowing you to save on shipping costs.

The growing demand for kraft paper and eco-friendly packaging might further reduce their costs in the years to come.   

Benefits of Kraft Paper Packaging

Why are so many businesses willing to switch to kraft paper boxes packaging? Aside from the rise in demand for sustainable packaging, using kraft has a range of advantages.

1. They Are Versatile

From envelopes and food-grade boxes to tuck-top kraft boxes and folding cartons, kraft paper can be turned into all kinds of packaging materials. No matter what type of product you sell, you’d have the option to use some form of kraft paper packaging.

If what you need isn’t available on the market, you can have custom packaging to fit your products.

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2. They Are Durable

Kraft paper boxes packaging is very strong and robust. It can withstand rough handling and shuffling in transit, which enables brands to protect delicate products from damage.

Natural kraft paper lasts longer than its recycled alternatives because it mostly contains pure wood pulp. The raw materials are harvested from tree trunks and contain high concentrations of fiber. Recycled kraft paper will usually contain bark and other materials, which reduces its strength.

Although it’s durable, kraft tends to lose its strength when exposed to water. Thus, it’s usually treated with special resins when used to wrap wet products.

3. They Are Eco-Friendly

Kraft packaging reduces your carbon footprint because it is 100% eco-friendly. Even if it isn’t segregated in the trash, the kraft material will decompose in the landfill in a matter of weeks, leaving no negative impact on the environment.

Take note that kraft paper must be free from any plastic films and special resins if you want it to be 100% compostable. Let’s say you use kraft cut-out windows for your product packaging. Adding a non-compostable material, like a gloss lamination, over that cut-out space won’t make your packaging 100% eco-friendly.

Instead, you can leave that cut-out space open. Your customers can have a closer look at your products, while you stay true to your promise to deliver their goods in eco-friendly packaging only.

It’s also a recyclable material. You can recycle old kraft boxes and turn them into new packaging.

4. They Are Cost-Effective

Natural kraft paper is more affordable than plastic packaging. Even though they are sturdier than regular paper, their strength and durability don’t add to their weight. The kraft material won’t cost a lot of money in terms of shipping.

Buying kraft boxes wholesale can deliver a great deal of relief to a small or medium-sized business. The prices are significantly lower if you buy in bulk.

5. They Are Customizable

Paper kraft packaging can be manufactured in a variety of colors, dimensions, and shapes. Also, natural kraft paper is print-friendly. Using modern printing machinery, you can personalize your packaging in a variety of ways. You can print logos, attractive designs, and other product details directly on the material.

Custom kraft boxes with personalized prints usually cost extra money. If you want to personalize your boxes without spending too much, you can decorate them with stickers, ribbons, and stamps instead.

6. They Are Print-Friendly

As mentioned, kraft paper boxes packaging supports varying printing techniques, including digital printing and lithography. You may also use embossing and foil stamping techniques to enhance the look of your brown paper kraft boxes.

Whether you want to use soy-based or water-based ink, your prints will come out clearly on the kraft material. You can grab the attention of consumers and increase the promotions of your product. 

Color Classifications of Kraft Paper Boxes

Kraft paper boxes have a natural brown hue. However, this natural hue can be turned into white and other colors through bleaching and other chemical processes.

1. Brown Kraft Paper

Natural kraft paper is dark brown with visible impurities on the surface. If you bleach kraft, you can reduce those impurities and brighten the color. However, you’ll reduce its strength in the process. Hence, for shipping boxes and outer layer packaging, which protect your products from dust and moisture, natural brown kraft paper is more ideal.

2. Black Kraft Paper

Black kraft paper has a smooth surface with a slight glossy sheen. It is used mostly as backdrop for picture frames because of its sleek and professional appearance. Sometimes, it’s used for bulletin boards, banners, and wrapping.

3. Bleached Kraft Paper

Naturally brown kraft paper can be bleached to produce a lighter color. This type of kraft paper is often used in the restaurant industry as a cost-friendly alternative to linen tablecloths. It can also be used as wrapping paper for packages.

Although the bleaching process may weaken the fibers that make kraft paper durable, there are other ways to lighten the material without affecting its strength.

4. Single-Sided Smooth Kraft Paper

This type of kraft paper has a smooth and bright side, which has minimal impurities. The other side has that brown hue that kraft paper is known for. It also has the impurities of natural kraft paper. 

Types of Kraft Paper Packaging

There are different types of kraft paper packaging on the market. In general, these packaging materials are very sturdy. However, their strength and application may depend on the source of the wood as well as the manufacturing processes used.

1. Virgin Kraft Paper

Virgin kraft packing is made from raw wood pulp. This natural wood is harvested straight from the tree before it is manufactured into brown paper.

Even though virgin kraft paper isn’t very thick or heavy, it has high tear resistance and stiffness. It is an ideal packaging material for heavy-duty applications and is used to make packaging tapes, corrugated mailer boxes, and more.

The naturally brown hue of the kraft paper adds to its uniqueness, making it look rustic and homemade. Plus, unlike whiter packaging alternatives, the rough handling process isn’t as obvious on kraft paper boxes.

2. Recycled Kraft Paper

Coated recycled board is made of recycled content, such as cardboard boxes, books, and kraft materials. They are reduced into pulps before they are turned into recycled paper.

Once kraft paper is recycled, it won’t be as sturdy and tear-resistant as virgin kraft paper. It is great for products that don’t require high tear resistance like cereal boxes, paper bags, and paper cans.  

3. Mixed Kraft Paper

Mixed kraft papers are used for postage boxes and cardboard envelopes. As its name suggests, mixed kraft paper is a blend of sorts. It contains recycled and virgin pulp, which makes it as sturdy as natural pulp. It’s cheaper and more eco-friendly because it contains recycled materials. 

Kraft Paper Packaging Designs

What is kraft paper used for in packaging? Kraft paper boxes packaging is incredibly diverse. From bags to boxes, here are some unique packaging and gift box ideas that you can use with kraft materials.

1. Countertop Display

Businesses with brick-and-mortar shop locations use countertop displays to entice customers to buy more. At supermarkets, makeup stores, and confectionery shops, these are the little containers you’ll see at the counter. These kraft display boxes don’t take up a lot of space. They can hold several small-sized products, which are often very enticing.

With their eye-catching designs and styles, countertop boxes are meant to grab the attention of consumers while they’re checking out. They can also feature product-related information that may influence the purchasing decision of prospects.

2. Food-Grade Boxes

Kraft paper food packaging comes in a wide array of designs to fit a variety of food products. Salad containers, for instance, have at least one big clear window and side buckles to prevent your greens from spilling out.

Takeaway containers, like gable boxes and food bags, may have protective films like oil-proof lamination and heat-retaining coatings to keep the food fresh inside and prevent the grease from seeping into the paper. They may come with flaps that can be ripped out.

By using food-grade kraft boxes, restaurants and fast-food chains can reduce their plastic waste. They can reduce costs as well. 

3. Paper Bags

A kraft paper gift bag may have greaseproof and waterproof finishes to accommodate homemade products such as greasy food and baked goods. Apart from the natural brown color, a paper bag of this type is available in a wide array of colors.

4. Magnetic Boxes

Built with magnetic flap closures, these kraft paper boxes look very sleek and luxurious. You can add custom foam or silk inserts to protect fragile products like porcelain figurines, silverware, and more. This extra step you take to include add-ons can elevate the appeal of your product and improve the brand experience.

5. Jewelry Packaging

For businesses selling handmade jewelry and accessories, kraft jewelry boxes are an affordable and creative way to ship your goods to customers. Adding a foam insert to your kraft box can help protect the delicate trinket inside.

You can have the traditional styles of jewelry boxes, which come with a solid lid that covers part of the base. If you’re willing to spend extra, you can have custom kraft boxes with clear lids. You can also use black kraft boxes. They have a sleek and simple natural look that seems timeless and premium.

6. Pop-Up Tubes

Unique product packaging can give you a distinct advantage in the market. It can get people talking. Pop-up tubes usually have two thermoformed lids that go on each side. Apart from giving the tube structure, the lids also help preserve the flavors of your candies, cookies, spices, and other treats.

7. Tube Packaging

Rigid kraft cardboard can be turned into tube packaging, which can be used to store t-shirts, jeans, and accessories. Its sturdy walls are great for protecting glass bottles like essential oils, cosmetics, and other products. For fragile goods, you can opt to add a foam insert to ensure that your glass bottles stay secure at all times.

Unlike your average folding box carton packaging, this rigid kraft cardboard tube will retain its shape no matter how rough it’s handled during shipment. They are long-lasting and reusable.

8. Cut-Out Window Boxes

Clear plastic windows won’t make your packaging 100% eco-friendly. Instead of adding a see-through plastic over your cut-out packaging, leave the window open. It gives your customers a glimpse of the product inside. It can be used to wrap lightweight products such as hair clips, phone accessories, and other tiny trinkets. It can also be used to secure more delicate products like scented candles, mugs, and wine glasses.

9. Resealable Pouches

Resealable pouches can be made with kraft paper, too. They are great for storing lightweight goods like loose teas, herbs, spices, and dried fruit.  Like the food-grade boxes, they may have an optional clear window. Some may have aluminum foil included, which prevents moisture from seeping into the package.

10. Gift Boxes

Kraft gift boxes come in many shapes, sizes, and designs, such as kraft pillow boxes. These little containers form a curved pillow shape once you stash small gifts inside. A two-piece kraft gift box, on the other hand, has a lid that goes over and fits the tray tightly.

Bigger kraft gift boxes may contain inserts to divide and secure the products inside. Like other kraft packaging options, you’re free to customize them using creative prints to enhance the unboxing experience for customers.

11. Sliding Boxes

Sliding boxes can be used to hold a variety of products, including silverware, clothes, and accessories.

Retailers use kraft sliding boxes to give the customer a unique unboxing experience. If your box is designed to slide open from one side, you can attach a ribbon or a rope pull to the drawer so it’s easier for customers to open the box. An alternative would be a finger notch cut. You can add this to the side of the drawer that opens to ensure a fun and hassle-free unboxing experience.

12. Corrugated Shipping Boards

Kraft corrugated boxes are made of multiple layers of kraft paper. A corrugated board has two thicker outer layers called liner boards. Sandwiched between them is a thinner fluted corrugated sheet, which makes the board highly impact-resistant.

When it comes to wholesale packaging, a kraft shipping box is more ideal than a regular cardboard box. Its tough structure enables you to ship out products safely to consumers. Corrugated boards are used for packaging household appliances, auto parts, and more.

13. Wine Boxes

Custom kraft boxes designed to fit standard wine bottles can give your products a rustic and charming appeal. They may have clear or cut-out windows that show the wine labels. They also have sturdy handles for easy transport.

These wine boxes are great for holidays and special occasions. You can use them to gift your friends and loved ones with their favorite bottles of wine.

14. Mailer Kraft Boxes

Kraft boards can be turned into all kinds of mailer packaging. These boxes are designed to hold and secure a variety of products inside. Unlike your regular shipping boxes or gift boxes, mailer kraft boxes have extra flaps that prevent the products from spilling out during transport.

Printing Techniques for Kraft Packaging

Kraft paper boxes packaging is compatible with most modern printing machinery and techniques. Due to the thickness of kraft material, your inkjet and laser printers might not be the most suitable choice.

Just remember that the results will depend mostly on the printing material you use. Hence, take a close look at the quality of the paper. Make sure to assess its surface and determine whether it creases, cracks, or stains easily. Additionally, try to ask about its physical properties, such as its printing performance, absorption, and optical properties.

Many printing companies would use different printing techniques to achieve the desired colors and designs on the kraft paper boxes material.

Here are the most widely used printing techniques for kraft paper boxes packaging:

1. Flexography

Flexography is a common printing method used on kraft boxes, particularly stand-up pouches. However, it can be used to print on corrugated boards as well. It uses light-sensitive polymer instead of plates to print on kraft cardboard.

Modern flexography machines have built-in die-cut and lamination. This makes it easier to laminate or cut kraft boards. Just remember that die-cutting and laminating kraft boards might cost you extra because of their thickness.

2. Offset Printing

Another widely used printing method that works well on kraft boxes and other forms of kraft packaging is offset printing. Also called offset lithography, this method uses printing plates to transfer an inked image to a rubber blanket before printing it on a kraft material. The printing plates are made of zinc or aluminum.

This type of printing technique utilizes oil-based inks, which are suitable for highly absorbent kraft materials. Using oil-based colors, you can have full-colored designs on your packaging. 

Inks for Printing on Kraft Paper

What colors can you print on custom kraft boxes? The quality and type of kraft board you use will affect the colors of the ink. As a textured and absorbent material, it tends to soak up the ink and reduce its colors.

Since kraft is inherently darker in color than regular paper, some inks might appear more muted on the brown paper.

In general, you should avoid light colors like yellow, cream, and light pink. These colors won’t show up well on the brown paper kraft material. Once you print lighter tones on the board, the absorbent material will soak up the ink. The colors will lose their saturation or intensity. In some cases, the colors might appear differently on the kraft paper or board.

Here are the best colors for kraft material: 

1. Black

All colors will appear slightly muted on kraft paper—except for black. It is less likely to be affected by the natural color of kraft. It is your best choice if you’re printing on kraft material.

2. Darker Tones

Aside from black, darker tones like blues, purples, and greens will look exceptional on kraft materials. Their high saturation and deep colors will appear crisp against the dark brown color of your packaging.

3. Neon Inks

Neon and fluorescent inks, on the other hand, are viscous, which means they sit on the thick kraft board instead of seeping into it. Simply put, neon colors can retain much of their vibrancy when they are printed on kraft boards.

4. White Ink

If you’re printing on kraft paper, white ink is a good option. It looks bright and vivid on your brown packaging, which should draw the attention of your target customer. It gives your packaging a clean and modern look, adding to the rustic appearance of your kraft gift boxes.

This is a relatively new packaging trend. While it is new, you might as well join in and gain a competitive edge.

As with other colors, the quality and opacity of your ink, as well as the material of your kraft box, will determine the final look. 

What Makes Kraft Paper Packaging Eco-Friendly?

Sustainability in packaging isn’t just about having all-natural raw materials. The environmental impact of the production process, as well as the reusability and recyclability of the material, determines the sustainability of the packaging.

1. Materials

Kraft packaging is manufactured using all-natural wood fibers. Although trees are renewable resources, the sustainability of kraft paper also depends on the source of the materials. Ideally, wood fibers should be sourced from a responsibly managed forest.

By looking for the Forest Stewardship Council certification, customers can make sure their kraft gift box packaging is sourced from responsibly managed forests.

2. Production Process

The manufacturing process itself should be another important consideration when it comes to choosing sustainable packaging. How much energy is needed to produce it? How much pollution is created as a result?

To create paper kraft packaging, natural wood fibers have to undergo the kraft process. Compared to other paper manufacturing processes, it requires fewer chemicals. As mentioned, the chemicals used in the production of paper kraft packaging can be recovered and reused, making this process a self-sustaining one.

As for the excess byproducts of the process, tall oil and turpentine, they can be used to manufacture other items.

3. Reusability and Recyclability

The final output of the kraft process, which is the kraft paper itself, is reusable and recyclable. For instance, at home, consumers can reuse their kraft cardboard boxes for storage or transport of household items. They can also be recycled and turned into new packaging materials. 

What is FSC-Certified Kraft Paper?

The Forest Stewardship Council sets standards for sustainable forest management. In North America alone, around 168 million acres of forestland are FSC-certified.

FSC ensures that landowners and wood product manufacturers adhere to responsible forestry practices that include:

1. Protecting the water quality
2. Avoiding hazardous chemicals
3. Protecting the woodlands and natural forest covers
4. Safeguarding the rights of local communities and indigenous people
5. Reducing clear cutting
6. Saving wildlife habitats
7. Promoting transparent governance

Any product that bears the FSC label, including kraft paper packaging, certifies that it is sourced from responsibly managed forests. That means consumers will be able to trace the raw materials that were used to create the kraft gift boxes, as well as the forest where they were harvested from.

In a survey, 76% of retailers and non-manufacturers claimed that the FSC certification adds value to their products. About 88% of them agree that the label helps them convey their corporate social responsibility initiatives to their target audience. Also, 88% of them say that the certification helps them build a positive corporate image. 

What Do Consumers Think of Sustainable Packaging?

Sustainable packaging is important for a modern business because it helps the environment. The world is producing so much plastic, which only ends up in landfills or in our oceans.

Here are some figures from Ocean Conservancy that should concern you:

• 2.5 billion metric tons of solid waste is manufactured globally
• 275 million metric tons consists of plastic
• 150 million tons of plastic is stuck in marine environments around the world
• 8 million tons of plastic enters the oceans every year 

Now more than ever, customers are knowledgeable and aware of the impact of businesses on the planet. To gain the trust of an increasingly eco-conscious market, setting up green initiatives should be a priority in business.

In a study, Trivium Packaging found that 74% of customers are willing to pay extra for products that have green packaging. Of that number, about 25% said that they are willing to pay more than 10% for sustainable packaging.

Nearly 50% of consumers avoid harmful packaging like plastics. Of that number, 68% associate plastic with ocean pollution, which isn’t wrong.

Shifting to sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives in industrial and commercial operations can drastically change the amount of plastic entering the oceans. You can be part of that solution by using kraft paper boxes for your packaging needs. Eco-friendly packaging shows consumers that you care about the planet. 

Kraft Paper Market Updates and Trends

Due to changing customer habits and sentiments, there is an increase in support for the recycling process and demand for sustainable packaging. That includes kraft boxes.

The global market for kraft paper boxes packaging will be worth $22.38 billion in 2028, analysts say. This reflects a 3.8% compound annual growth rate from 2020. Its growth will be driven mostly by this demand for sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions.

Little by little, kraft paper is becoming a primary packaging solution for end-use industries, such as food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

North America is expected to have the largest revenue share in the global market. Its thriving food industry will fuel this growth, along with increasing paper recycling practices in the region.

Build a More Sustainable Future with Kraft Paper Packaging

The commitment to sustainable business packaging is greater than ever. Although the world can’t completely eliminate plastic waste and plastic pollution any time soon, using kraft paper boxes packaging as much as you can and implementing greener alternatives into your operations is a step in the right direction. You might as well do your part to save the environment and the communities you serve.

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom kraft packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Kraft Paper Boxes appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Are you designing a product or packaging label? 

If so, it’s critical to understand the basic types of labels, materials, and finishes before working with a professional printer. 

Without further ado, let’s dig into the nitty gritty details of product labels, customization options, types of finishes, and so much more!

How Labeling Supports Custom Packaging

Labeling is a component of custom packaging that focuses on promoting and describing your product so buyers know what’s in store for them if they decide to purchase it. This table summarizes the significant role of printed labels in relation to your product’s packaging.

When to Use Printed Packaging vs Custom Labeling

Importance of Custom Label Printing

Product label printing supports your branding efforts in the following ways:

1. Customization

Your custom labels can feature all the content your buyer needs to know about your product. Once you’ve decided on what information and images to include in your label, you can work with a designer or your printer for its layout, shape, and sizing. You can also do it yourself, using an online design tool such as Adobe or Canva.

2. Product and Brand Recognition

A designer can help you come up with ideas that will pique your target market’s interest and make your product easy to distinguish from your competition. Meanwhile, professional printers ensure quality and consistency in the overall look of your custom labels.

When your product has several variants (i.e., flavors or scents), you can design labels that can make sorting easier for wholesalers, retailers, and buyers.

3. Trust Building

Brands can better convince consumers to pick their products if their labels honestly state their contents and benefits. According to research, 97% of beauty product shoppers seek this kind of transparency.

4. Legal Compliance

To comply with industry and government standards on health and safety, include warnings, health hazards, emergency solutions, and other lawfully required information on your personalized labels.

5. Tracking

You can design custom quality labels to help you track products from production to delivery to your distribution points. Bar codes and other stockkeeping unit identification are necessary aids in current warehousing and shipping systems. They’re also useful in the case of product recalls.

6. Marketing Promotions

Labels for products can also feature information such as discounts, coupons, or other special offers to increase your product’s appeal. 

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General Types of Custom Packaging Labels

Labels are made to adhere well to their product’s packaging. Here are the most popular types of printed labels today:

1. Pressure-Sensitive Labels

The most common of all custom labels, pressure-sensitive labels are applied on packaging by hand or machine. They’re made up of a facestock (more info on this later) with or without a top coat and an adhesive with a liner. The details of a label’s anatomy are found in the next section. For optimum adherence, brands and manufacturers consider the surface or material that the label will be attached to.

• Dry peel: Dry peel labels have semi-permanent adhesives. They’re often designed to serve as coupons that buyers can peel off and present to get discounts or to join a contest.
• Reseal: Resealable labels allow customers to seal them back into the product packaging to keep its remaining contents fresh before use or consumption.

2. Shrink Sleeves

Also referred to as a shrink wrap, these polymer plastic films cover entire containers. The film is exposed to heat from a handheld gun or passes through the heat tunnel of industrial label printers to make it fit tightly around the product. Many bottled beverages that need refrigeration have heat-shrink labels.

3. In-Mold Labels

These preprinted polypropylene (PP) labels are injected into a mold where the plastic packaging container is formed. Once the packaging takes shape, the label is already fused into the container. This makes these labels look like they’re part of the container instead of a separate stock placed on its surface. Some laundry detergent bottles and food tubs (yogurt and butter) use this type of labeling.

4. Die-Cut Labels

These labels are made for uniquely shaped containers. They use a die and a press to cut the custom shapes. 

5. Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels

A warm printhead (direct thermal) or heated ribbons (thermal transfer) print words or graphics on the label material instead of ink. These individually cut custom labels are usually used for price tags, shipping, and bar coding. They have a short life span and are prone to change color when exposed to another heat source. 

The Anatomy of Personalized Labels

Pressure-sensitive labels for products mainly consist of these five parts:

1. Facestock

The facestock is the specialty paper, film, or fabric that contains the graphics and text. Being the main part of the label, it’s the layer where the ink is applied and onto which the top coat and adhesive are anchored. It gives your custom labels structure, shape, and size.

2. Ink

Various types of inks are used to print text, graphics, and photos on the facestock: fade-free UV inks, nearly odorless and affordable water-based inks, and durable solvents that don’t require a top coat. Meanwhile, you can use specialty inks for unique metallic and fluorescent effects.

3. Top Coat

Not all labels need top coats (uncoated), but they’re necessary for facestocks made of plastic film. Top coating helps the ink spread out and cling to these types of surfaces. Meanwhile, varnishes and laminates are examples of top coats for paper labels. Besides providing an aesthetic finishing touch to their surface, this layer protects the print on labels from fading due to moisture, sunlight, or rough handling.

4. Adhesive

The adhesive layer is what sticks to your product’s container or packaging using pressure or heat. Your choice of adhesive material will depend on your packaging material, its shape, the environmental conditions it will be subject to, and your desired level of permanence. 

Here are the four basic types of adhesives:

• Peelable: Labels with removable adhesives can be taken off the surface without leaving any residue or destroying the label itself, compared to permanent ones. But removable adhesives can permanently bond to a surface when they’ve stuck to a surface for an extended time or due to environmental exposure.
• Permanent: Permanent adhesives can stick to moist and rough surfaces. Taking them off will usually result in destroying the facestock. They’re recommended for flat surfaces.
• Semi-permanent: Also called repositionable adhesive, this type lets you peel off labels from their surface in the short-term for adjustment. They settle and harden once reapplied to their new position.
• Freezer: Custom labels with freezer adhesives stay put on the products or their packaging without peeling or cracking—even in below zero settings.

5. Liner

The liner protects your adhesive until it’s applied to a surface. It can be made from paper or film. 

Facestock Materials

Paper and film are the most common materials used for the facestock of custom labels.

Paper

As ink settles well on paper, text and images look very sharp on this surface. Compared to film stock, they’re available in different colors and textures and are more affordably priced.

Paper-based labels are most appropriate for dry and cool indoor applications as they can only handle limited exposure to moisture (water and oil), extreme temperatures, and abrasion. Paper labels are best used for non-perishable goods like canned food as well as household and beauty products like soap bars.

Some common paper facestock examples for labels include:

• White paper: White paper is made of high-quality paper that’s bright and opaque white. It can have a matte, semi-glossy, or glossy finish.
• Metallic paper: Metallic paper gives products a polished sheen. Some of the available colors include gold, rose gold, silver, bronze, and copper bronze.
• Recycled paper: This brown-colored paper stock can give products a vintage, rustic, or handcrafted look. Facestock of this type includes kraft and the black and velvety vellum labels.
• Estate 4: Estate 4 paper is the most durable of the paper stocks due to its “wet strength” or water resistance. It’s also colored white and has a subtle linear texture.

Film

Facestock made of plastic film are tear-free and can conform to the shape of curved or other oddly shaped containers. They’re long-lasting due to their oil and chemical resistance. Film stocks also hold up to spillage, condensation, sweating, and sun exposure. They often have permanent adhesives and can attach to textured surfaces and painted metals.

• Vinyl: Technically called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), these plastic stocks made of ethylene and chlorine have a slight flex and are dishwasher-safe. They can withstand extremely cold environments and can last for up to five years, based on the vinyl formulation. These labels work best on vehicle windows (static cling vinyl) and bumpers, sports equipment, outdoor marketing devices, and frozen food that has to stay in below-zero temperatures for long periods of time. They come in white and clear varieties.
• Polypropylene: Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) is slightly thinner than vinyl and works well on contoured containers as they can stretch horizontally or vertically (biaxial). They have a medium lifespan (six months to two years) compared to vinyl and polyester stocks. They’re advisable for labeling smaller refrigerated items, such as meat, sauces, dressings, cheese, jams, and beverages. They’re available in white, silver, and transparent versions.
• Polyester: Also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and mylar, polyester facestock can last over 10 years, making it the most durable of all film stocks. They’re ideal for industrial use due to their chemical and moisture resistance. These materials remain intact in extreme temperatures and under UV exposure. They’re the most expensive of all three plastic stocks. Professional printers can offer to make these labels using white, clear, and metalized polyester.
• Squeezable film: This material is best for squeezable bottles and tubes, including lotion, sunscreen, toothpaste, and other beauty and health products.

Different Types of Finishing for Customized labels

Labels need the right finish or top coat to make them last and look good longer. Here are some of the most popular label finishes:

1. Varnishes

Varnishes coat facestocks in clear liquid, making labels smoother and more resistant to spills and scuffs. They cost less than UV coatings and laminates but have the least staying power. A glossy varnish can make image-heavy labels stand out, while a non-reflective matte varnish can produce a subdued but professional effect. You can use spot varnish to highlight specific elements on your custom labels like your logo, brand name, or graphics.

2. UV-Resistant Coatings

This type of finish involves applying a special liquid on a label’s facestock and then curing it in ultraviolet light. The coating later becomes a permanent sunscreen that prevents your text, design, and colors from fading and other possible damage. 

Although this is usually a glossy finish, UV coating is also available in semi-gloss and matte. You have the option to cover the entire surface of your label (overcoat) or just selected sections (spot coat).

3. Laminates

Laminates are a thick film-like coating. They offer the greatest protection against sunlight, moisture, and abrasion. A glossy laminate sharpens the content and color of the label’s facestock while a subtle matte finish can give your custom labels an elegant touch.

4. Foils

A hot foil is composed of metalized PET film with heat and pressure-activated adhesive, which sticks well on glass bottles and cans. Hot foil can give a sophisticated look to custom wine labels. Meanwhile, a cold foil uses UV-curable adhesive, so it’s suited for thinner packaging material like plastic that can’t withstand high temperature. 

Finishing Formats: Roll, Sheet, and Fan-Folded

You can order custom-made product labels by sheets or rolls. Let’s see when to best use each of them.

1. Sheet Labels

When it comes to label sticker printing, sheet labels come in sheets of different paper sizes, although the most common is the A4 size.

Using sheet labels is the best option for short runs or smaller quantities (below 250 labels), including testing out the packaging of your new product or selling seasonal products. But some professional services can also offer this type of printing for a larger project.

2. Roll Labels

Roll labels are spun on a cardboard spool and get printed on using a roll printer. They’re advisable for bulk orders, including those that need specialty ink printing. They can be die-cut in any shape and size. Custom roll labels also work best for labels containing unique content per piece, such as bar codes or shipping labels.

3. Fan-Folded Labels

These pressure-sensitive custom labels are on a continuous backing sheet that folds along its perforations accordion style. This self-stacking format makes a great alternative to the roll format for shipping, address, and barcode labels.

Designing Your Own Labels

How do you come up with a label that will attract customers to choose your product? Here are some pointers.

1. Know Your Target Market and Existing Buyers

What’s your target demographic? It’s important to establish who your buyers are when designing your custom labels—and even your stickers and decals, for that matter. Determine their ages, gender, location, lifestyle, educational levels, income, values, and pain points or challenges that your product can solve. Listen to relevant feedback so you can personalize their experiences. Personalization is generally the difference between successful and disappointing campaigns.

Some relevant statistics to keep in mind:

• 56% of consumers become followers of a brand that “gets them” or understands their needs, and 89% choose to patronize a brand that shares their values.
• 64% of food shoppers spent more on products whose labels contained popular phrases such as “fresh,” “no sugar added,” “whole grain,” or “organic.”

2. Research the Competition

Examine and compare the attributes of your competitors’ marketing and branding materials, such as labels, flyers, stickers, and packaging. Take a close look at the color, typography, imagery, size, shape, and target demographic. What do consumers like and dislike about your competitors’ labels? What colors or other design elements are they drawn to? What are the major differences between your labels and theirs?

Take note of those elements that work well and brainstorm ways you can customize and improve them. Your custom labels should command attention when displayed side by side with similar products in-store. For e-commerce items, check if your labels will register well on the camera for photography and video shoots. You can also create custom shipping labels to elevate the look of plain cardboard packaging.

3. Determine the Essential Product Information to Include

Decide Your Information Hierarchy 

List down all the product details that you want your buyers to read on your label. Afterward, arrange them according to importance with the product name and brand name on top. For instance, in a food product, your brand’s logo, product’s weight, and other graphics should go in front. Meanwhile, instructions, expiry date, company’s contact information, and others can appear at the back.

In the image below, the brand’s logo, which includes its brand name and tagline, is on top of the label. The product’s name appears just below the brand’s logo. Its ingredients are listed in a smaller font and occupy the lower half of the label. The product’s net weight and storage instructions are printed at the bottom of the label, in a much smaller-sized font.

Meanwhile, this product’s back-of-pack label includes directions on how to prepare its contents. The company’s contact information, its country of origin, and bar code also appear there.

Highlight Your Unique Selling Point

Why would a customer want to buy your product instead of another brand? Research and create a profile of your leading competitors. See what your competitive advantage is over them so you can incorporate it in your selling point.

You also need to know what your target market needs and wants. Run a survey using your social channels or email questionnaires. Find out what your consumers’ pain points are and how your brand can help overcome them. After analyzing their feedback, you’ll be able to go beyond enumerating your product’s features or what it can offer. You can tell your buyers how your product can meet their needs and wants.

Below, the brand cited the benefits of its iremia oil burner blend on its rear label.

Include Legally Required Content

Check what your national, local, and industry laws state about the mandatory information that a custom label should carry.

In the United States, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act requires household items like cosmetics, cleaning products, and art materials to have storage and safe handling instructions. Thus, custom labels should carry signal words such as “poison”, “caution”, or “danger” and steps for first-aid treatment.

Food and beverage manufacturers are required to disclose the nutritional value and ingredients used in their products on the packaging. According to an American Heart Association survey, a majority of food shoppers (59%) always read packaged food labels before buying the product for the first time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also expects manufacturers to list the allergens, additives, and other chemicals used. 

Many plastic and latex products, such as children’s toys with toy parts, should carry choking hazard warnings, according to the Consumer Safety Protection Commission.

Use Customer-Friendly Language

Again, knowing your target customers is important here. You can review social media comments and feedback to pick out the phrases they commonly use. Also, use the results of your surveys and questionnaires to know what words resonate with them.

Besides using easy-to-understand language, be honest about what your product contains. In the latest Innova Consumer Survey, transparency emerged as the top need among food shoppers. This means including the ingredients list in plain English, certifications, and in-depth nutritional information.

Provide Space for Your Barcode

Barcodes are now necessary in helping you keep track of your products, whether inside the warehouse or the store. Aside from shipping and inventory purposes, they also protect your products and brand from counterfeiters. You can also use barcodes for promotions to reward consumers and build loyalty.

4. Consider the Packaging Materials

There are several factors to think about when deciding on the type of material to use for your individually cut labels. The label material refers to the facestock or that which receives the printed text, image, and barcode.

Shipping Container Size and What It’s Made Of

Will you be sticking the label on cardboard boxes or glass, can, or plastic shipping containers? Does it have a solid color or is it transparent? And how large (or small) is it? You need to measure the surface onto which you will apply your label so you can get the right fit and pick the correct adhesive.

Printing and Finish

Pick a material that carries your preferred texture—matte or glossy—and can take the kind of coating or finish that you want it to have such as hot stamping, embossing, debossing, and others.

Environmental Factors

Your chosen material should stay durable throughout your product’s lifespan. What kind of environment will it be exposed to? UV light can fade out inks, while water exposure can cause the ink to smear or get washed off the label.

Products that are subject to extreme cold such as refrigerated food may need freezer-grade adhesives. Meanwhile, others that are exposed to heat, such as products you take with you outdoors, are prone to peel (label lift). Special equipment can remove condensation to prevent this problem or adhesives should be allowed to fully set 24 hours after application.

Some custom labels may need foam or tape to reduce friction, while labels placed on wearables may need skin-friendly applications to endure stretching and sweat.

5. Select Your Colors and Fonts

Amid the possibilities, it’s best to stick with your core brand colors to strengthen your brand’s identity and reduce the chance of counterfeiting. Also, it’s best to refer to the Pantone Matching System to determine how your brand colors will register on preferred label materials.

Color

Colors are typically associated with certain emotional or psychological responses:

• Green: Green symbolizes growth, a fresh start, health, nature, peace, and wealth. Its darker shades can imply wisdom and prosperity. It’s used by brands that are into organic food and pro-environment products. Some investment firms also use green as it stands for the color of money. Goes well with: blue, yellow.
• Blue: Like green, blue can evoke a sense of tranquility and openness. Many banks and communications firms use this color as it embodies intelligence, security, and reliability. It’s also found in many home cleaning products as it conveys a sense of tranquility and openness. Goes well with: green, yellow, red, and orange.
• Red: Red exudes excitement, warmth, and strength. Brighter shades can stand for high energy while burgundy, maroon, and darker shades can represent elegance. Many food and beverage brands include this color in their packaging. Goes well with: yellow, black, blue, white, and green.
• Orange: Orange also radiates vitality and a sense of adventure but by a notch or so lower than red. It’s also linked to confidence, creativity, friendliness, and innovation. Innovators, technology, sports, recreation, and home improvement brands carry this color. Goes well with: blue, black, and white.
• Yellow: Yellow stands for joy, clarity, optimism, and youth. It’s recommended for children’s products, bath and body items, candle brands, and honey distributors. But it’s also ideal for warning labels and products containing powerful chemicals. Goes well with: red, blue, and black.
• Purple: Purple suggests nobility, luxury, and ambition. It’s also associated with youth, creativity, and spirituality. Several creative startups have opted to use this color, and so have some beverage companies for their wine bottles. It’s also found on custom labels of some anti-aging and high-end skincare products. Goes well with: yellow, blue (when mixed with deep purple).
• Pink: Pink is the color of romance, softness, serenity, and fantasy. Many skincare and beauty business brands tap this color. Goes well with: blue (when combined with baby pink), black.
• Black: Black evokes power, sophistication, solemnity, or mystery. It’s a popular choice among liquor brands and candlemakers. Goes well with: white, yellow.
• White: White represents simplicity, cleanliness, and innocence. It can also stir up feelings of lightness or reverence for what’s supernatural or sacred. The color is a common preference among medicinal, health and beauty, and household brands. Goes well with nearly any color.
• Gray: Gray indicates neutrality, balance, and professionalism. Information and technology, architecture, and industrial circles favor this color. Goes well with: brown.
• Brown: Brown creates feelings of comfort and dependability. Organic products as well as tea, coffee, and chocolate brands include this in their brand colors. Goes well with: purple, gray.

As a general principle, the darker the hues, the more serious your message is compared to bright and fun shades.

Typography

Just like in color selection, the fonts you choose for your custom labels should resonate with your brand. There are mainly four basic types of fonts:

• Sans serif: These fonts don’t have “feet.” A few examples are Arial, Helvetica, Century Gothic, and Corbel.
• Serif: These traditional fonts have feet. Examples include Times New Roman, Garamond, Georgia, and Baskerville.
• Slab serif: Although not very popular, these fonts have thick and bold serifs like Rockwell, Memphis, and Soho.
• Script: Examples of these cursive or handwriting-like fonts are Freestyle Script, Lavanderia, and Yellowtail. The upper case of “Unreadable” script fonts like Precious and Shathika can be used as the first letters of paragraphs.
• Display: Inspired by handcrafted signs and calligraphy, display or decorative fonts are best used for headings instead of body copy. Algerian, Pinewood, and Monoton are examples of display fonts.

To ensure you pick the appropriate font for your product labels, it should:

• Reflect the qualities of your product and brand voice. You can select chunky and loud fonts for fun and affordable products. Meanwhile, clean, light, and delicate or formal-looking fonts are suitable for high-end products.
• Appeal to your target demographic
• Meet regulatory standards, clearly presenting product benefits and instructions
• Work well with your graphics

While you can choose between classic and more cursive fonts for your product names and front-of-the-package details, it’s best to use simple but legible fonts for the rest of the product information such as ingredients list and directions for use.

When you come across a font that you like while browsing the web, you can discover its name by using online font finder tools.

6. Use High-Resolution Images

When preparing artwork to use or submit to your label printing service provider, choose images with a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch. Avoid pulling images uploaded on a website as they’re usually low-resolution and will look blurred when printed.

7. Conduct a Test Survey

You can work with a market research firm to hold a label test survey so you can tweak or further customize its design or content, depending on the feedback, before launching a full custom label printing run.

Set Your Brand Apart with Stunning Custom Labels

The team of creatives at Refine Packaging can turn your design ideas into reality, creating beautiful customized labels that will delight your customers and build brand affinity, all at a reasonable price for your business.  

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote on your custom packaging needs. We’ll support you in creating personalized labels that convey your brand’s unique personality, have amazing social appeal, and protect your product no matter where it travels.

The post Custom Labels: Essential Guide on Types and Design for Printing appeared first on Refine Packaging.

There are generally three types of boxes in the packaging industry: folding cartons or paperboard boxes, corrugated boards, and rigid boxes. 

Rigid packaging boxes are also referred to as set-up boxes as they’re usually displayed in stores along with the products they contain. They often hold high-end items such as electronics, jewelry, and cosmetics, so some people also call them luxury packaging.

Rigid packaging boxes normally consist of two parts: thick chipboard with a 36- to 120-point thickness (about 2-3 millimeters), which is 4x to 5x thicker than folding carton boxes, and the thinner and more flexible paper wrap that’s pasted over the chipboard to cover it. It’s the wrap that gets customized for branding and can feature foil stamping, varnish, coatings, and other premium printing techniques and textures.

Some custom rigid boxes also have lining interiors that add an elegant touch besides shielding products from scratches and dust. 

Comparing Rigid Boxes vs Folding Cartons vs Corrugated Boxes

Rigid set-up boxes are always in 3D form and generally don’t require assembly before they’re filled. Unlike carton boxes, rigid boxes typically can’t be folded to lay flat and reassembled into their box form, although some brands are now developing collapsible ones.

Due to their thickness, customized rigid boxes can withstand the stress of shipping without damage, protecting the usually fragile products they contain. However, rigid gift boxes may not be as tough as corrugated boxes, which are made of several dense paper layers. Corrugated boards are more versatile in that they’re lightweight and can be folded flat like carton boxes. They can also be customized, being the box of choice for stand-up, point-of-purchase, or point-of-service displays. 

Benefits of Using Rigid Boxes

What makes rigid gift boxes a great option for your business?

1. They’re Customizable

You can look into several possibilities when it comes to using a custom rigid box as part of your marketing strategy for luxury retail packaging or e-commerce packaging. Depending on your target buyers, you can choose a unique shape with a bright and fun design or a more conservative layout with little to no embellishments.

Chipboards come in different values of thickness, while you can play around with your logo and brand name on the wrap using specialty paper, printing techniques, coatings, and finishes.

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2. They Don’t Require Setup

Unless you opt for collapsible models, a customized rigid box doesn’t need assembly, so they reduce the labor involved once they’re delivered to your company.

3. They Raise Brand Awareness

Rigid boxes can help increase sales if you can pick a box style or design that stands out from your competitors. Boxes can feature a clear window, sticker labels, or a specific structure that delivers a pleasurable handling and unboxing experience.

4. They Improve User Experience

Quality packaging is important as it’s the next thing that consumers lay their eyes on after seeing or touching your merchandise. Custom packaging boxes can enhance the visual and tactile appeal of a product. This makes the item look elegant, increasing the worth of your brand.

Thus, rigid packaging boxes give prospective and current customers a well-rounded experience from the time they examine it (whether online or in a physical store) until they receive it via delivery or take it home after their in-store purchase.

5. They Can Boost Your Credibility

When the printing of your logo, brand name, artwork, and product details, plus the box’s finish, appear high quality, your brand appears more professional and trustworthy.

6. They Protect Against Damage

As their name suggests, rigid boxes are supposed to be sturdy enough to protect their contents from the effects of storage, handling, and long-distance travel. Their lids are meant to be secure, and the inserts can securely hug the items, including bottles of oil and tincture, so that they don’t arrive broken. Inside panels for sweets can also prolong shelf life.

7. They Can Be Repurposed

Due to their sturdy construction, many pieces of luxury packaging become keepsakes and are reused as drawer separators or storage containers, especially if they have quality magnetic closures or similar resealable lids. From mementos and jewelry to important documents and printed photos, well-designed, high-quality packaging boxes can become a part of one’s work desk or closet for a long time.

8. They Support Brand Loyalty

You can make your rigid packaging boxes reusable for other purposes: to build a following. Using eco-friendly materials is highly popular and can attract environmental advocates who are very particular about how packaging boxes are made. 

When Not to Use Rigid Packaging

Rigid boxes may not be the best option if:

1. You Have a Large Product

Although the structure of rigid setup boxes can offer superior product safety for small to medium items, its design may not be suitable for large home appliances as their heavy weight may put pressure on the edges. High-end corrugated packaging may be a more viable alternative.

2. You’re Not Yet Ready for a Large Expense

As you read on, you’ll discover that you have to pay more for rigid boxes due to more expensive and thicker materials, the more specialized process involved, and higher shipment fees.

If you’re not ready to invest in rigid packaging, you can ask your manufacturer how it can work with your design using a quality folding carton or high-end corrugated box.

3. You Have Limited Time

Rigid boxes take longer to produce than carton boxes, so you may have to go for carton boxes if you have a tight schedule. 

Different Types of Rigid Boxes

Rigid box packaging styles are either two-piece or hinged: 

1. Telescope or Top-Load Boxes

With Corners

The telescope box features a lid that covers the base midway (partial telescope) or nearly all the way to the bottom edge (full telescope). Some full telescope lids have thumb cuts or semi-circular cutouts, which make them easier to lift from the base.

The classic shoebox, which has a lip that is typically one inch deep, is an example of a partial telescope box. Many commercially available high-end gift boxes as well as our own windowless shirt boxes and luxury cosmetic packaging are structured this way. They can come in various shapes, too.

The neck or shoulder (others call it shouldered) box is another example of a partial telescope box. This type of box has a dual base, with the inner one (also called the tray or neck insert) higher than the other. The protruding part of the tray is called the neck while the top edge of the outer base is referred to as the shoulder. The lid rests on the shoulder. There are shoulder boxes with an extra-long neck, creating a gap between the lid and the base of the box.

Meanwhile, the drawer-style box is a variation of the full telescope box. Also referred to as a tray with a sleeve or the shell and slide. This type of box is like your traditional matchbox. It has a slipcase going over the base or “tray” of matches instead of a lid on top. They’re suitable for items that need to be laid down instead of upright to prevent damage or to preserve their contents. Such products include smartphones, jewelry, and some cosmetics.

Without Corners

Cylindrical rigid box styles, also referred to as rolled-edge tube packaging (or just tube packaging), feature either telescopic or shoulder-neck openings. They make a great packaging option for bottles, markers, other circular-shaped items, as well as powdered goods and irregular-shaped objects. Brands can also consider them alternatives to metal packaging.

Some rigid tube boxes have plastic or metal lids. Their interiors can feature plastic inserts (as in the case of beauty products) or foils.

2. Hinged Lid Boxes

With Cover on the Hinge

Hinged lid boxes have covers that are permanently attached to the base. They close due to their weight, via magnetic strip, or other securing material. The lids of some of these boxes, such as the flip-top or cigar box, don’t have a lip that covers the base of the box. The covers of the book-style box are the same as that of a cigar box—the covering flap extends slightly beyond the base so that when you close it, the box looks like a hardcover book.

Meanwhile, the clamshell design has a lip that goes down partially or down to the bottom edge of the base. In some hinged lid boxes, there’s a cloth or other lining that covers the hinge joint. 

No Cover on the Hinge

Custom Rigid Boxes: Different Types of Finish

Besides having versatile structures, rigid boxes can also offer you plenty of finishing types, from the way the wrap encompasses the box to the look and feel of the wrapping material.

Partial vs. Full Finish

When the wrap only covers the entire outer surface of the lid and tray, it’s called a partial finish rigid box. You can see the lips of the wrapping paper folded and glued to the chipboard’s interior, but most of the board is bare and visible.

Meanwhile, the chipboard is wrapped to its entirety in a full finish rigid box. The inner wrap may be colored white or another color.

Exterior Add-Ons

Brands can select from a variety of options when they want to go for fancy packaging.

1. Coatings 

Coating can come in different types:

• Varnish: Varnish is made of clear ink and creates a thin satin, matte, or glossy layer on the wrap. It can be applied to a specific area (spot varnish) or the entire sheet (flood varnish).
• Aqueous coating: A water-based coating gives your boxes a glossy or matte surface, making it easier to clean dirt and fingerprint marks off of them. They’re also scratch- or scuff-resistant and more eco friendly than varnish or ultraviolet (UV) coatings. Because this type of coating is food-safe, it’s usually preferred for boxes that house food and beverage.
• Ultraviolet coating: UV coatings need UV light or sun exposure to quickly harden coating. They offer the highest gloss finish, but foil stamping can’t be applied to them. UV-coated sheets can be embossed, but they should completely harden first.

2. Lamination

Lamination involves spreading polypropylene or a very thin, plastic film on the wrap, making it water-resistant and moisture-free. It reduces creases and small cracks. The higher level of protection it offers makes it pricier than varnish, which is why it’s mostly used for high-end luxury packaging. Most custom luxury boxes feature matte—as opposed to glossy—lamination. It’s the best coating to use when planning to add foil stamping, embossing, and spot UV on your outer design.

3. Hot Foil Stamping

Heat and pressure are used to apply foil designs of gold, silver, or other colors. The bright metallic foil can highlight your brand and logo.

4. Embossing and Debossing

Creating raised areas (embossing) and indentations (debossing) can enhance the texture of your high-end gift boxes and fancy packaging, making it more eye-catching and attractive to consumers. Embossing and debossing create depth when applied to foil-stamped material.

5. Flocking

Flocking is the method used in rigid boxes where there are velvet or suede-like textures on certain parts of or the whole wrap. The short fibers can be made of cotton, wool, rayon, or other synthetic materials. They can be dyed according to your color preference. This process may also be applied on the surface of some inserts.

Special equipment, as seen in the following video, electrically charges the flocking fibers—causing them to stand up—before spreading them over an adhesive-coated material. 

How Are Custom Rigid Boxes Made?

Brands and sellers tap rigid box manufacturers for luxury brand packaging or high-end retail packaging solutions. The creation process normally involves three stages:

1. Conceptualization

Contracting companies can tap the expertise of a rigid box packaging consultant to come up with the right design that will meet their goals. Some manufacturers also have an in-house design and engineering team that can handle conceptualization and prototyping.

At this stage, designers need to know the following points:

• If the item to be packaged is part of a broader product line, which has an existing design that should be followed or patterned after
• If the box will have to hold many items in a specific way
• If a certain artwork should appear in front of the box that may affect sizing specs
• If you want to incorporate advice from your retailer, who’ll ultimately decide which of your products will be put on sale at its store

Once the concept and budget estimates are presented, reviewed, and approved, the box maker can create the template. The contracting company needs to provide the artwork that will go on the wrap of the rigid box.

2. Production

Production is done by machine, hand, or a combination of the two. The wrap is printed beforehand, undergoing lamination or other treatments required by the client. On the other hand, chipboards are scored and cut to the correct size and shape. Machines (quad stayer) or staff—or a combination of both—then fold the tray or base of the rigid boxes and apply adhesives on the corners so that the sides stay up.

In packaging companies with fully automated systems, pre-trimmed wraps are trimmed and lined up in a conveyor belt. An arm places the tray on the glued surface of each wrap. Then the tray with the wrap beneath it passes through a plunger, which glues the wrap evenly on the tray’s outer surface.

3. Delivery

The packaging material itself also needs protection during shipment. This aspect should be considered and included during the design stage. 

Testing

About 11% of shipped goods arrive with damages. This results in the brand replacing the unit, offering a discount, spending on return freight, and missing profit. More importantly, customer trust is adversely affected when boxes—or worse, their contents—come with dents, scratches, or torn parts.

Thus, production of your custom rigid box packages and other high-end packaging will only be complete when testing is conducted.  

Dimension Testing

Even before your chipboard gets wrapped, it has to be tested for accurate dimensions. In an automated assembly line, the folded chipboard should have the precise length, height, and width or diameter to ensure that the wrap will cover it partially or fully, depending on the company’s design specifications. Meeting the prescribed measurements is also necessary to ensure that the product, inserts, and fillings will fit inside.

Label and sticker application is also set automatically in mechanized production. Thus, custom rigid boxes should all have the exact and accurate dimensions so that seals and any other adhesive-based matter will be placed on the right spot.

Drop Test

This allows contracting companies to determine how the box will stand up to accidental falls. The most popular drop test procedures come from the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA).

During the test, the product is placed inside the box and a machine drops the box on a hard surface from varying heights. The test can be performed on the corners, edges, or sides of the box. The manufacturer or supplier should analyze any resulting damage and work out a solution. When the improved box is available, the test is repeated.

Drop test machines for various package sizes and weights are available in the market. 

Common Custom Rigid Box Mistakes to Avoid

Using custom rigid boxes may turn to your disadvantage due to the following:

1. Use of Oversized Packaging

No matter how fancy the packaging is, buyers will be turned off if they discover a small product inside a big box. Disappointment over the false impression can lead to negative online reviews or even a lawsuit.

2. Lack of Differentiation

Your custom rigid boxes shouldn’t only be eye-catching but also distinct from those of your competitors. Be sure to research your segment thoroughly and get your design team’s opinion about how your product can stand out.

3. Insufficient Protection

Boxes for bottles containing liquids may need a grease barrier. Waterproof-coating should be considered for custom rigid boxes that will go on outdoor display.

4. Not Child-Friendly or Pet-Friendly

When you’re targeting adult clients of various ages, packaging should include instructions for human and pet parents. It should clearly state whether contents include choke hazards or hazardous substances. 

Factors That Contribute to High Prices

A custom rigid box can cost an average of $4 to $5 per piece, more expensive than a fully printed and labeled corrugated box (under $2 to $3) or a folding carton box (under $1). As the previous sections mentioned and indicate, the higher cost can result from:

Materials

More expensive chipboard, which is thicker than regular, foldable carton packaging, is used for custom rigid boxes. They come in a variety of colors—including white and black—with natural chipboard being the cheapest.

Your choice of paper and finish for the wrap also affects the final price. Full finish boxes cost more as they require more paper to cover the chipboard.

When it comes to finishes, metallic, neon, and other specialty inks are more expensive than regular ink. And naturally, larger surfaces will entail more materials. Any labels, magnetic strips, or ribbon pulls needed also add to the total expense.

Construction

The tooling cost in your final bill covers the use of custom-made tools needed to produce each custom rigid box, including dies for cutting its shape, foil stamping, and embossing or debossing, as well as print cylinders, print plates, and molds. The fee goes up if your packaging box has a unique shape or various parts and involves many colors and other printing techniques. Inserts require separate cutting dies and molds.

Reputable manufacturing companies use special machines to fold parts of your custom rigid boxes, paste their sides, and cover them with wrap. But manual labor may be required for intricate packaging or inclusion of inserts, which can be made of tissue, cardboard, foam, or plastic.

Volume

The packaging industry also follows economies of scale, so small-run custom packaging projects will cost more than large ones.

Transport

A majority of custom rigid boxes aren’t collapsible so they don’t ship flat, thus requiring higher shipment fees. Moreover, the rising cost of fuel will ultimately impact how much you have to pay couriers or third-party delivery firms.

Storage Space

As custom rigid boxes arrive pre-assembled in their final form, they need plenty of storage space. Ask your packaging company if it offers managed inventory service. This refers to keeping an agreed level of stock for you and shipping on a just-in-time basis or when you need them. You can also survey your business warehouse for any unused space.

Ways to Cut Rigid Box Production Costs

Here are some workarounds to consider when you need to deliver rigid boxes on a budget:

1. Opt for Standard Sizes and Thickness

A complicated structure will inevitably command a higher price. If this is beyond your budget at this time, use a standard size and thickness that will demand less customization from your manufacturing partner. Standard chipboards are easier for them to buy in bulk or may be available in their stock at a volume that can cover your custom rigid box order. This will result in lower costs for you, an early production start for them, and a faster turnaround time. 

2. Go for a Smaller Design

Want to stick with your original concept? Maybe you can reduce the graphics and shorten the text to make them fit in smaller cardboard packaging. You can also try repositioning the product in a different way or even disassembling it to see if a smaller box will work for you. One advantage of using smaller rigid boxes is that more of your products can fit on a store’s shelf at one time.

3. Pick Lighter Materials

Know your options when it comes to chipboard thickness. Then discuss with the design or manufacturing team how a thinner version can support your advertising and functional needs.

4. Choose Digital Printing for Low-Volume Runs

Although not as high-quality as offset printing, digital printing is more cost-effective, especially if you have a simple and minimalist design.

5. Tone Down Embellishments

• Consider adding a viewing window. A cut-out area that will show the product inside the box might be a cheaper alternative to embossing or foil stamping, especially if there’s artwork in the primary package—that is, the label on your product’s bottle, plastic casing, and so on.

• Reduce the area(s) where foil-stamping or embossing will be applied. The cost goes higher for every square inch where these treatments are used. Choose only the essential parts of your box for these finishes.

• Select water-based coatings and low-gloss finish. UV and glitter coatings are more expensive. A low- or semi-gloss finish can be a good alternative to lamination, which is known for high moisture protection.

6. Use Paper and Tissue Paper Inserts

These materials are more affordable than foam padding. Paperboard inserts with slits can provide the support your rigid setup boxes need for gadgets, cosmetics, luxury candles, and more.

7. Contact and Get Quotes from Different Suppliers

Ask three or four reputable packaging solutions companies to give you a quote, specifying your materials and size. Then determine which one can do the job at a more affordable price without sacrificing quality. 

What to Look for When Choosing a Rigid Box Maker

An ideal custom rigid box supplier should have the following characteristics:

1. Specializes in Rigid Box-Making

Folding carton manufacturers currently outnumber rigid packaging makers. Custom carton box makers may offer to do the job for you by outsourcing the work and just bill you for added costs. It’s better to choose a company whose specialty is rigid packaging. Ask for actual samples, not just prototypes.

2. Employs In-House Designers

It’s best to find a producer with a team that can help you come up with custom quality packaging that will best suit your product. This can help minimize delays and improve coordination as you only have to deal with one company from conceptualization to production.

3. Communicates Effectively

Check client reviews. Companies manufacturing rigid setup and luxury boxes with good reviews most likely listen well to what their clients need and want, resulting in a low error rate. They should be able to promptly answer your questions regarding how boxes are made, the minimum order size, and turnaround time, for example. They should also be able to provide practical solutions.

4. Respects Environmental Sustainability

Today’s consumers are drawn to brands that are conscious about environmental protection. A rigid setup boxes producer that’s Forest Stewardship Council-certified means that it uses paper products from responsibly managed forests. You can also choose custom product packaging manufacturers that use recycled fibers, practice water stewardship, and operate with renewable energy. 

Market Updates and Trends

The rise of work-from-home opportunities has recently paved the way for more people to shop online for various goods, including luxury and gift items. The demand for rigid paper packaging remains high despite the growing popularity of bioplastic, which may affect the quality of food and flavor of liquids and releases polluting methane gas.

The personal use and gifting of video games and equipment, confectionery, wine and other beverages, personal care items, bags, clothes, shoes, watches, and jewelry packaged in luxury rigid boxes, especially among millennial customers and Gen Zers, is expected to drive e-commerce growth in the coming years. The market for this box type will be worth more than $5.4 billion by 2030, according to forecasts. Custom two-piece rigid setup boxes will be at the forefront, with its value expected to reach $268 million until 2025.

Collapsible Rigid Boxes

As mentioned earlier, several manufacturers can now design and produce foldable rigid setup boxes. They can offer the versatility and convenience that custom carton boxes can offer, with the top selling point being their ability to store flat, which lowers shipping cost.

Smart Packaging

More and more brands will continue to integrate digital technology into their custom rigid boxes for better quality and customer engagement. Here are some examples:

Printed Electronics

Boxes with near-field communication (NFC) chips can provide more product information, prove authenticity, enable tamper detection, and even detect temperature when consumers bring their smartphone close to the NFC tag. Brands may also use NFC and radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers to track orders.

Quality custom packaging may also feature LED and OLED lighting devices. These flat, nanometer-thin types of lighting can make your business logo, product name, or parts of the packaging glow or cause a holographic image to appear using hand pressure or with the aid of a smartphone, without the need of a battery.

Augmented Reality

Brands can include a QR code in the packaging that will allow buyers to view the product with animation and sound effects or play a mini-game, with virtual objects seemingly emerging from thin air. The visual appeal of AR-enabled packaging is reportedly two times stronger than regular ones.

Impress Your Customers with Luxurious Rigid Packaging Boxes

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post Rigid Boxes: A Complete Guide to Luxury Packaging appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Are you looking for a way to elevate the look of your packaging and protect the products inside?

Custom box inserts may be just what you’re looking for. 

Custom packaging inserts can be made from a variety of materials like cardboard, foam, and fungi. These stylish and practical inserts can be custom-sized to fit your unique products.  

You can use packaging inserts to ship all kinds of products. Want to give that bottle of wine a little added padding? Have a plant you need to send? A custom insert will hold them securely, so they arrive at the recipient safe and sound. Even large and heavy items can get added protection when nestled in a custom insert.

Custom inserts not only cradle your precious cargo, so they get to their destination in one piece. They can also give your packaging that wow factor. Custom inserts can take your customers’ unboxing experience from ho-hum to something they’re eager to share with friends word-of-mouth and the world through social media. 

So, let’s get started! Here’s everything you need to know about custom boxes and inserts. 

Types of Custom Inserts

There are items you can place in a box and send off without putting any thought into it.  However, you give your customers a lackluster experience when they open that box. 

Also, most products need some sort of added protection to ensure their safe arrival. This is where void fill options come in handy. Examples like packing peanuts, crinkle paper, PE foam, and air pillows protect your products and help boost their presentation. 

These are all great options for certain products and in certain situations. But sometimes, you want to add something a little extra to make your customers’ experience much more special.  

Enter custom packaging inserts. 

Custom inserts keep the cargo safe from damage during shipping as they fit the exact specifications of your products. More importantly, they add style to the packaging and help you achieve your branding goals. They’re also not limited to securing the actual products. You can use inserts as trays or dividers.

But what type of packaging insert is right for you? 

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First, you must choose what sort of material you must use for your custom inserts. Each material has its characteristics that add to the presentation of the product packaging. 

Also, coming up with the best custom packaging depends on the product you’re putting in the box. Each product requires different ways to keep it safe during delivery. You can’t just use any material for your packaging inset and expect the product to arrive at the destination without any damages.

According to studies, product damage is the cause of 34% of customer returns related to packaging. So, you can’t afford to lose more than a quarter of your sales due to negligence.

It’s also important to keep in mind the company vibe you want to reflect. If your company mission statement centers around sustainability and environmental causes, use eco-friendly materials for your packaging inserts. 

Last, your budget will also play a part in what type of insert you choose.

To give you a summary of the different kinds of custom boxes, below is a handy table for your reference:

Now, let’s take a look at common materials used for custom inserts: 

Paperboard Inserts

Not all inserts need to be heavy-duty. Sometimes products don’t need much protection, but you’d still like to have an appealing presentation.

Paperboard inserts won’t give you maximum protection, but they’re a great choice for carton boxes and invitation boxes. They’ll keep your products in place and add to an overall pleasing presentation.

Paper stock is also good for small, lightweight items, such as beauty products or stationery. These inserts usually come in natural kraft color or white. Finally, there’s plenty of opportunities to add your branding, such as colors, logo, and message, suitable as paperboards are easy to print on.

Corrugated Inserts

Another affordable option is corrugated cardboard inserts and boxes. They’re heavier duty than the paperboard inserts and offer more protection. You might see these used in a box to separate fragile items like bottles.  

As you can see in the below image, Fuego Box uses custom inserts to display their hot sauce bottles beautifully and to prevent the bottles from spilling into each other. No one wants to open a box to find glass shards and sauce strewn around.

As with the kraft paper inserts, you can also easily print on corrugated cardboard. So feel free to add a message or use a brand color.

Rigid Chipboard Inserts

Rigid chipboard inserts are made from reinforced cardboard, making them good for shipping and protecting fragile items like ornaments or perfume bottles.

They’re also great for keeping products separated, so they don’t rattle into each other.  And since the design is pretty solid, this type of divider might be reused by customers to store other items down the road. 

Foam Inserts

Foam inserts are best for protecting fragile items like glass, camera lenses, and jewelry from scratches and scuffs. 

This foam padding type is made up of pre-scored squares that you can simply take out to fit your product. Since it eliminates the need for die-cutting, it’s a more affordable option. At the same time, these inserts are also super-lightweight and help decrease your shipping costs.

If you have different size products or have a smaller budget, “pick and pluck foam,” is an alternative to the die-cut foam inserts.  

Pulp Packaging Inserts

Pulp packaging inserts can be used for fragile items because they offer a lot of protection. Molded pulp inserts are made from recyclable and biodegradable materials like cardboard, sugarcane, bamboo, and other natural fibers. A perfect example of this packaging insert type is an egg carton.

Pulp packaging is highly versatile and comes in different shapes or sizes. They can even support heavy items like wine bottles. When empty, you can stack these inserts on top of each other to help you save storage space.

Mushroom Packaging

If you want to go further on the sustainability front, packaging made with mushrooms is the way. This packaging can be molded to fit just about any product, from cosmetic to CBD.  

For example, Ecovative Design’s Mushroom Packaging can be grown in only seven days and made from hemp hurds and mycelium.

Their packaging is 100% biodegradable so that you won’t be adding to the overfilling landfills. And you can even add it to your home’s compost pile.  

Molded Plastic

This packaging type is made from natural or synthetic materials with a polymeric structure, making it easy to mold when softened. Common examples of molded plastic include soda bottles, lids of takeout coffee cups, and water bottles.

Molded plastics were popular back in the day due its durability and cost-effectiveness. However, its non-biodegradable nature makes it harmful to the environment. 

Out of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic created between 1950 and 2015, only 9% has been recycled. Its effect on marine life has been devastating. This is a large reason why people are more conscious about using less plastic as much as possible. 

Coming Up with the Structural Design

Custom packaging inserts mean they’re specially made to fit your products and beautifully reflect your company vibe.  However, ensuring you get the right fit and look will take a little work on your end.  

First, it’s essential to determine the exact dimensions of the products you want to place in the insert. If you have a somewhat regular-shaped item, like a candle, or something cube-shaped, simply measure and share its dimensions with the manufacturer.  

But how about for odd-shaped items like drills, cameras, or game controllers? They have all kinds of nooks and crannies that make it challenging to get precise measurements. If the opening is too big, the item will fall out. Too small and it won’t fit. The insert is supposed to cradle your item just right to keep it safe and attractively displayed.  

In some cases, you may need to send the physical product to the manufacturer to get the measurements right. From there, they can build the insert around the product.

Also, avoid over-engineering your custom insert. You want it to offer the protection your items need, but you don’t want to add unnecessary weight or bulk to your packaging.

On top of ensuring the right fit for your products, you must also consider the fulfillment side of things. Cardboard inserts are usually made and stored flat, then folded into shape, and placed in the box.  Someone or something (if you’re using automated machinery) must put the inserts in all of those custom boxes.

While fulfillment should be easy, common issues you may encounter include receiving the wrong package due to poor shipping management. Getting your inserts printed and shipped by a reliable fulfillment center is key to a hassle-free delivery.

Also, you don’t want to frustrate customers with their unboxing experience. Make sure that taking the items out of the insert is as easy as possible for customers. 

Also, consider how your customers will dispose of this packaging. Is it easy to break down? Easy to recycle? Most people don’t want to fill their trash cans with excess packaging. 

Custom Printing and other Design Elements

Inserts don’t have to be a drab brown color unless that’s the look you’re going for. In fact, your insert doesn’t have to match the outside of the mailer box. Feel free to give your customers a little surprise inside. 

You can pick a bold color, print your logo or catchphrase, or write a message to your customers like a simple “thank you.”

Here are three of the leading printing techniques for paperboard or corrugated material:

1. Flexographic printing (or Flexo): This process stamps a non-photo quality design onto the cardboard material.  Since it works well on smooth and rougher surfaces, it’s a good choice for printing on corrugated material. And it’s a good option for large quantities.
2. Digital Printing: This newer printing technology uses the CMYK ink spectrum, giving you a wide choice of colors. Digital printing prints the design line-by-line so you can get photo quality. This process is more cost-effective for small batches, and it has a quick turnaround.
3. Lithographic printing (or Litho): The design is printed onto a label, and then that layer is stuck onto the cardboard.  Litho printing can give a premium look to your packaging.  You can add things like foil details and emboss with this method.  Litho is a good choice for large quantities of premium packaging. 

You can also choose what kind of coating and lamination you’d like for your inserts. Do you want to go for a glossy look? Or maybe a matte finish is more in tune with your brand. 

Get as fancy or simple as you want. Just make sure it ties in with your overall branding goals to delight your customers. 

Benefits of Custom Inserts

As seen above, there are tons of options for custom inserts. It’s now a matter of planning for the right materials and design elements for your custom insert design.

The extra time and effort you may need to invest in coming up with a custom insert design can have big-time benefits.  

Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages of going with custom box inserts: 

Robust Product Protection

The most important job of your packaging is to ensure your goods arrive in one piece.  

The last thing you want is for your customer to open a box and find out that the special wine glass or new camera lens is shattered into pieces.

It doesn’t matter how great your products are or how pretty your packaging presentation is. If your products arrive broken, your customers will not be happy. And this incident could create a bad lasting impression about your brand that could lead to lost revenue.

Custom inserts are designed to secure and protect your products inside the box that they’re shipped in. They’ll effectively secure your unique products, no matter their shape or size or how many they are.

Presentation

Custom inserts can give your packaging a polished look that customers will take notice of. They can present your items in a way that makes your products the focal point. 

A beautiful presentation can lead to immense marketing benefits. For example, unboxing videos are pretty popular nowadays. In fact, the time people have spent watching unboxing videos from their phones is equivalent to watching “Love Actually” more than 20 million times. And most of the time spent on these videos is about the packaging of the product.

Also, many influencers, and even your everyday customers, have taken to sharing pretty packages on social media channels, such as Instagram and Pinterest.

Finally, according to surveys, 72% of Americans agree that packaging can influence their purchasing decision. In the case of e-commerce and retail, looks matter.

Amplify Your Brand Recognition

Custom package inserts can help customers take notice of your brand. You can add your logo to the insert or use your brand colors. You can even keep branding to a minimum to achieve a raw and bare look.

No matter what style you choose, giving your customers a thoughtful, high-end experience through your packaging will make your brand more memorable and excite your customers.  

And why is building brand loyalty so important? Consider this:

• 43% of customers spend more money on brands they are loyal to. (Fundera)
• 94% of people said they’d be highly likely to recommend a brand they were emotionally engaged with. (Genler)
• 48% of consumers report that they are more likely to become loyal to a brand during the first purchase or experience. (G2)
• 50% of shoppers say they’re more likely to recommend a product with branded packaging. (BusinessLoad)

Custom packaging inserts are a great way to pump up customer loyalty. Not leveraging your packaging to get your brand noticed potentially leaves a lot of money on the table. 

The Environmental Angle

Environmental concerns are on top of the consumers’ minds, and this includes packaging.  No one wants to contribute to landfills or have a giant carbon footprint.

Recent research conducted about sustainability concludes the following:

• 74% of those surveyed would pay more for sustainable packaging, and nearly one-fourth are willing to pay for an increased cost of 10 percent or more.

• 60% of consumers say they are less likely to buy a product in harmful packaging.

The bottom line is that the friendlier your packaging is to the environment, the better.

Inserts made from paper or cardboard are not only easy to recycle but also sustainable. Look for manufacturers who use responsible forestry.

Want to go a step further? Try inserts made from organic material like fungi.  Not only are they super sustainable, but they’re even home compostable.  Who would have thought discarded packaging could help grow a garden?

A Few Potential Drawbacks

As with everything, there are some potential drawbacks to going with custom box inserts. Ironically, many of their cons are what make custom inserts so special. There are three main disadvantages:

• It’s a custom design: On one hand, custom design will make your brand stand out. On the other hand, unlike stock packaging, they’re going to take longer to complete. You can’t grab these inserts off the shelf or put your order in and expect the product the next day. 
• These inserts are product-specific: Sure, this means they’ll offer optimum protection and fit your products like a glove.  But, if you sell a bunch of different products, this may be problematic. Coming up with custom inserts for hundreds of unique products could prove to be a logistical nightmare.
• They’re more expensive than many other void-fill alternatives: As with all of your packaging needs, you need to keep your budget in mind.  Custom inserts might not fit your bottom line today, but they may be something to consider in the future. 

A Little Inspiration

The eCommerce industry generated an estimated $839 billion in sales last year, which increased over 40% from the year before. But there’s a lot of competition out there.  Everyone is trying to claw their way to the top.

So, what can you do to get your products noticed?

It’s going to take a little effort on your part to keep your current customers and attract new ones. Beautiful packaging, including custom inserts, is one way to do that.  

Let’s take a closer look at how some companies are using custom box inserts to enhance their customers’ experiences:

Warby Parker

Finding that perfect pair of eyeglasses that look just right on your face can be a real chore.  That’s why online prescription eyeglass retailer Warby Parker introduced a program where they’ll send out five free pairs of glasses. Decide which one (or ones) you’d like to keep and send the rest back.

Since glasses are fragile, they require extra care when mailing them out. Warby Parker uses a corrugated box with insert dividers to keep the glasses separated and ding-free.

Ritual Vitamins

Ritual is an online multivitamin retailer that developed itself into an Instagram darling.  So you know presentation is important to them including with their packaging.

In the above example, Ritual uses its signature bright yellow color for an eye-catching insert. This color is found splashed across their website, so including it in their packaging reinforces their brand identity. 

Cupcakes

Cupcakes aren’t just for little kids’ birthday parties anymore. In recent years, all kinds of boutique cupcake shops have sprung up across the country, lending these once humble little cakes an air of sophistication.

But nothing less unflattering than a smooshed cupcake. These delicate little cakes need protection. Custom inserts can ensure these tasty morsels make it home looking as good as they did on the bakery shelf. 

Winestyr 

More people are enjoying the ease of ordering their wine, especially since the pandemic. But can you imagine the mess a shattered wine bottle would unleash upon delivery? Talk about a way to lose customers fast! 

Winestyr is fully aware of this. As an online purveyor of artisanal wines, you can join their wine club or order premium gifts. Since their whole business is about shipping out their product to customers, they have their packaging dialed in.

In the above example, they have three wine bottles nestled in a cardboard insert. The insert both protects the bottles and nicely presents them.

Esquire Beast Box

Esquire needs no introduction, but its new subscription gift box does. Named “Beast Box,” it contains various men’s grooming products, in line with Esquire’s branding.

The box insert has different-sized sections for each of the products included. Also, the understated color scheme exudes masculinity, which is just what you’d expect from the brand.  

Pirells Innovative

Here’s a concept design from Pirells Innovative for a premium watch box. The monochrome color complements the simple yet elegant design. The pattern made on the mailer box and the inside insert are made by cutting the black paper, which gives it a unique, memorable look.

When you pop open this box and find a watch lying on the insert, the overall presentation oozes luxury and sophistication. 

Tait Design

You wouldn’t expect a design studio to skimp on presentation, and Tait Design does not disappoint. 

The hot pink cardboard box for their yo-yo matches the printing color on the outside of the box. It pulls the whole look together and makes a “child’s” toy feel unique and fancy.

Get People Talking with Memorable Custom Packaging Box Inserts

Custom box inserts can take your packaging from unremarkable to something that gets people talking. Packaging inserts are only one component of your overall marketing arsenal, but they can build trust, increase brand recognition, and enhance your customers’ overall experience. 

Custom box inserts will protect your goods and make them look good. They’re made from various materials, so you can find one that reflects your company’s values. What’s not to love?

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post Ultimate Guide to Custom Packaging Inserts appeared first on Refine Packaging.

First impressions count and, in the age of e-commerce, the first point of physical contact many customers have with a brand is when they get a knock on the door from the mailman with a package delivery to sign. 

A lot happens in the first few seconds after a package is delivered. When your customer first lays eyes on the box you’ve sent to them, you have an opportunity to trigger an emotional reaction. Play your cards right, and you can delight your customer, reinforce your message, and build brand affinity. Alternatively, if your packaging supplies and boxes aren’t up to scratch, your customer may feel frustrated, underwhelmed, and less likely to order from you again.

These days, it’s simply not enough to just deliver a package safely. Of course, this is of paramount importance, but it’s really the bare minimum and now expected. What’s needed today is customization. 

In the 2021 fiscal year, FedEx Express delivered an amazing 6.6 million packages each day. You may be an online shopper yourself. Just think back to the amount of packages you’ve ordered over the last few months. Chances are, the e-commerce packages that stood out from the crowd are the ones that were customized. 

This is because a premium look and feel, plus clever branding, has the power to build relationships between e-commerce brands and their customers. In the absence of physical stores and face-to-face customer service, your shipping boxes are more than just a safety measure; they’re a creative medium that can be harnessed for communications and marketing. 

Still not convinced? Think about the growing number of unboxing videos and posts on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Then there’s the research by experts, which shows just how much consumers value thoughtful, customized packaging: 

• 72% of American consumers say their purchasing decision is influenced by the packaging design. (Ipsos)
• 61% say they are much more likely to repeat a purchase of a luxury product if it came in premium packaging. (Dotcom Distribution)
• 40% of consumers will share an image of your packaging on social media if it was unique or branded. (Dotcom Distribution)

Unboxing the Magic of Packaging with Custom Shipping Boxes

Leading e-commerce players are those who understand the magic of an end-to-end customer experience. Sure, you have a great website, but the customer’s retail experience isn’t over until your product is safely shipped into the hands of your customer. Factors like product quality, competitive prices, fast checkout and shipping, and a good online customer service team play an important role, but the unboxing experience is also crucial. 

In fact, a wondrous unboxing experience can be the difference between a one-off customer and a loyal brand advocate. While it’s tempting to keep costs as low as possible and go for the cheapest packaging options from a financial perspective, this doesn’t bode well with consumers.

According to GfK, consumers value brands with a premium look and feel. In fact, they’re more likely to buy less products that are higher-quality than more products that are of low quality. 

When your product arrives, the packaging instantly gives a first impression to your consumers. A plain cardboard box can look cheap and thoughtless, which is the opposite of the premium quality that today’s consumers crave. 

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On the other hand, when your products arrive in bespoke, carefully designed custom shipping boxes, you demonstrate to your customer that you’ve put thought into the shopping experience and care about your brand. 

Plus, your designs can go beyond just being eye-catching and pretty; they can tell your brand story. With the right typography and messaging, your custom shipping boxes can become another key vehicle in your marketing strategy. 

It’s clear that by customizing shipping boxes, brands can improve their relationships with customers and boost both marketing and sales efforts.

Is a Shipping Box Right for My Business? 

Of course, a shipping box isn’t the only way you can get your products to your customers. There are other options, too, like the mailing envelope.  

Mailers are a good choice for lightweight, robust items like clothing or jewelry that is already packaged in a gift box. You don’t need to pick between mailing envelopes and shipping boxes, though. Depending on the products you offer, you may choose to use a mailing envelope for smaller items and a shipping box for larger ones. 

To help you understand the pros and cons of each shipping container, we’ve created a handy table below that gets into the details. 

Mailing Envelopes vs Shipping Boxes

Once you’ve made up your mind between mailers and a shipping box, it’s time to move to the next stage. 

Types of Boxes and Box Style to Consider

You know you’d like to use custom shipping boxes to delight your customers. Now, it’s time to think about the type of box to go for. Generally speaking, there are six main kinds of custom shipping boxes, designed to accommodate different products. Take a look at the main types below. 

• Regular Slotted Container: Think of regular slotted containers as the traditional, common box. It’s likely that most of the packages you receive come in these types of boxes. This is because regular slotted containers are versatile, reliable, and come in a wide variety of sizes, making them ideal for a range of products. Regular slotted containers have a simple design, making them easy to manufacture with little waste.
• Full Overlap Container: A full overlap container is like the sister of the regular slotted container. The one main difference is that the flaps in a full overlap container overlap one another to completely cover the box’s width. This gives the box another layer of thickness, which provides more padding and safety. For products that are more fragile, the full overlap container is a great option. Again, it comes in many sizes. 
• Full Telescope Containers: Full telescope containers are an unusual shape. They’re usually the length of a telescope, which is where they get their name from. They’re made from two slotted regular banks that are placed together. This gives the box layered edges, making them sturdy and strong. The long, rectangular shape of full telescope containers makes them perfect for products like magazines, newspapers, and even artwork. The shape of these types of containers could be instrumental in making a brand statement. 
• Wraparound Blank: The wraparound blank is pretty much like a regular slotted container box but switched sideways. These custom boxes are usually used for rigid products that will fit snugly within the wraparound blank, making for a tight, protective fit. Wraparound blanks are typically packaged using a robotic machine, which is great from an efficiency and productivity standpoint. Usually, these custom shipping boxes are used for perishable products like food and wine, as well as home and personal care items.
• One-Piece Folder Box: The one-piece folder box is for items that are slim and shallow. This box uses one piece of cardboard, creating a smooth bottom. The flaps of this piece of the cardboard are used to create the top of the box, and also broken up into side flaps. One-piece folder boxes are easy to assemble, making them convenient for small businesses to use and store. They’re often used for shipping books, magazines, artworks, or picture frames.
• Five-Panel Folders: Five-panel folder boxes are made from corrugated box material. They are created using a single piece of cardboard that is divided into panels. The fifth of these panels is used as the closing flap, which functions to seal the box. Usually, these boxes are used to ship long, slim items like metal rails. Because of their unusual shape, they’re less likely to be used for e-commerce products.

Once you know the kinds of boxes out there, the next question is: How do you create an amazing custom shipping box strategy at the right price? Here are five things you need to know.

1. Size Matters

Before you can start customizing your bulk shipping boxes, you need to first think of the basics, starting with size. 

If your shipping box sizes aren’t right, not only will they cost more, but your items could end up being damaged if the box isn’t properly filled. Plus, it’s well-known that online shoppers hate waste. In fact, 88% of U.S. and U.K. consumers want brands to be environmentally friendly and use sustainable materials. So if your box is too big and overfilled with non-recyclable filling, your customers won’t be happy.

Not only that, but a too large or too small box demonstrates a lack of care and thought,  which relates back to the premium look and feel concept we mentioned earlier. If a customer’s first impression of your brand is that your custom shipping boxes are tatty and poorly packaged, you need to do a better job.

To decide what size box you need, assess the needs of your company, and take the time to analyze your products. The box you choose will need to tightly fit them inside but leave some room for padding to minimize the likelihood of product damage during handling, storage, and shipping. This will also help reduce shipping costs. Generally speaking, the smaller and lighter the box, the lower the cost of transport. 

As mentioned previously, if your products are small enough, then you may want to consider customized mailers. These sleekly designed packages do exactly what they say on the tin: They arrive in the mail. You’ll often see these kinds of packages used for subscription boxes. 

If your business needs a shipping service to move your products, then your next best bets are shipping cartons or cardboard shipping boxes, assuming that your products are not fragile or delicate. If this is the case, then the best choice is corrugated shipping boxes, which are more robust and sturdy. 

2. The Look and Feel

Once you’ve got the size and type of packaging figured out, it’s time to get to the fun part: design. A sense of style and flair for design can turn a plain rectangular box into a marketing superstar. 

Creating a customized shipping box goes beyond just graphics and colors. You can consider textures and finishing options, too. You want your box to best represent your brand and your products. Every choice you make has the potential to be a statement. 

The first thing to consider is the texture of your packaging. Depending on your brand values and colors, this could be anything from embossed gold to kraft-feel brown, or even a luxurious leather texture. When it comes to textures and the whole design process, this is an opportunity to let your creativity go wild. So choose the right material and create something spectacular that wows a variety of customer types. 

As an example, take a look at Earth Fare’s eye-catching customized packaging. The company’s eco-friendly packaging instantly conveys the brand’s values as a natural, ethical company.

However, you don’t have to stick with neutral cardboard brown. You can customize your boxes’ colors so that they are in line with brand guidelines. You can also decide if you want the color finish to be glossy or matte. It’s worth remembering that different colors and textures need to be carefully combined to make sure you get the look you want. We advise experimenting before you commit and order your custom shipping boxes in bulk. 

3. The Custom Box Design

We’ve already mentioned brand guidelines, and the design element of custom shipping boxes is where these come to the forefront. Your logo, typography, artwork, company strap-line, and more can come into play here. After all, customized shipping boxes are an excellent marketing vehicle. 

It’s likely that your social media pages and websites are exploding with your brand tone of voice, and it should be on your packaging, too. Your custom shipping boxes are a storytelling opportunity, a way to build affinity with customers. Tell them something they didn’t know about your company, and make them feel special. What you write—or don’t write—is important. 

Think about your brand and its values: Are you subtle and elegant, loud and proud, or colorful but modest? Once you’ve narrowed down a few words to define your brand, it’s time to think about how the design of your customized shipping box can reflect this.

For example, if your brand is eco-friendly and values minimalism, you may want to go for a crisp kraft paper with a small amount of lettering in a delicate typography. Alternatively, if your brand is exuberant and colorful, then you may want colored cardboard, decorated with different patterns. 

Keep in mind that small boxes have limited room. For example, if you’re a cosmetics brand and are only delivering a single product, it’s likely you’ll only need small boxes. However, this doesn’t mean you need to skimp on the design. Instead, think of how you can make the most of the space you have to make an impact. 

After you’ve got the design sorted, it’s time to think about printing options. The option you choose takes price into consideration, but it’s also worth thinking about the intricacy of your design. There are three main print methods to consider:       

• Flexographic/direct printing: This is perfect for high-quality printing of basic designs, featuring a maximum of three colors. This option is cost-effective and produces a beautiful, professional-looking finish in your custom shipping boxes. 
• Lithographic printing: This is great for more intricate designs or those that incorporate photography. Lithographic printing is often considered as the highest caliber in terms of quality, although it is more expensive, especially if you need a large quantity.  
• Digital printing: This is a more basic form of printing that can even be performed from home. It’s cheaper but also produces low-quality prints. If you’re on a budget or think your designs may change, then digital is a great option to start with. 

4. Customize Your Box From The Inside Out

You’ve mastered the exterior design of your custom shipping boxes and you’re sure it will wow your customers. Now, it’s time to think about how you can continue the wow factor once the box is opened. 

The inside of your shipping boxes are a continuation of your brand story. You can design the interior of your box just as you would the outside, with typography and brand colors that continue to tell your story. 

Aside from the box itself, think about the interiors that surround your product—the filing. While bubble wrap and styrofoam are traditional packaging cushions, they aren’t the most exciting or ingenious. However, with a little bit of thought and creativity, you can turn your packaging cushioning into another tactic in your customization strategy.

For example, if you use packing peanuts, you could consider changing the color and shape so that they represent your brand. Alternatively, you could consider using colored tissue paper to add a sense of luxury to the unboxing experience. 

Aside from cushioning, it’s a good idea to think about how else you can make the unboxing experience YouTube-worthy. If you’re a small company, you could perhaps include personalized, handwritten notes to make your customers feel special and show the care that goes into packaging your products. Details like stickers, newsletters, ribbons, and free samples are also a great way to make the unboxing experience feel even more rewarding for your customer. 

5. Outside the Box

When it comes to sealing your custom boxes, there are two main kinds of tape to consider. There’s water-activated tape and pressure-sensitive tape. 

• Water-activated tape is a type of paper tape that incorporates a water-based chemical. When you put the tape on the carton, a chemical reaction is triggered, which strongly bonds the tape to the box. This makes water-activated tape extremely strong and almost tamper-proof. It’s also great for keeping products safe in even the roughest conditions, as the tape’s bonding measures mean it’s difficult for water to get into the box. 
• Pressure-sensitive tape, by comparison, uses a sticky adhesive substance, which sticks to the box when it’s rolled on. This is the kind of tape you’ll be familiar with in everyday life; it’s used in sellotape and masking tape, for example. Pressure-sensitive tape isn’t as strong and robust as water-activated tape. However, for small items and small businesses, it is good enough to do the trick, especially if your items are durable. 

Finally, after all the work you’ve put into creating amazing custom boxes, you should tell the world about them. Display your beautiful boxes with promotional products in them on social media, and share posts from customers who do, too. Ultimately, your customized shipping boxes can become another part of your content marketing strategy, helping you attract new customers and ensure your current ones keep returning. 

Logistics, Logistics, Logistics

A custom shipping box strategy doesn’t start and end with the box. There’s the whole process of getting your beautiful packaging in the hands of your happy customer. In the world of e-commerce, your price strategy for shipments can be a competitive differentiator. 

Free shipping, same-day shipping, and next-day shipping are all huge plusses. However, your choices need to make financial sense. If your model isn’t profitable, then this could cause long-term damage to your business’s revenue stream. 

Here’s an overview of the most common shipping methods for your custom shipping boxes, and how they could work for your company. 

Free Shipping

Did you know that 90% of consumers would increase their online shopping spending if they could select free shipping? However, while shipping may be free to the end consumer, it won’t be free for your business. There will always be costs involved.

Free shipping can be a viable option for many companies though. It’s all about the tactics you employ to strike a balance. For example, you could make the prices of your products more expensive to account for the cost of free shipping. Alternatively, you could strategically add the cost of free shipping into your financial planning and deduct it from your revenue. 

There are other options, too. Rather than offering free shipping across the board, you could run special sales, such as during the summer or Black Friday, in which free shipping is advertised for a short time. Another tactic is to offer free shipping for orders over a certain price. 

Charge Up-to-Date Carrier Rates

A more straightforward method is to align your shipping prices with real-time rates from suppliers like FedEx and USPS. If you’re savvy, you could even offer your customers a range of choices from different suppliers, enabling them to choose the option that works best for them. 

Some may wish to go for the cheaper option that takes a little longer to deliver. Other customers may want their product as soon as possible and so are willing to pay a little more for quick delivery. This transparency and the power of choice can go a long way toward making happy customers. 

Charge a Flat Rate

Another popular choice is what’s known as flat rate shipping. This is where you select a standard rate for shipping. Often, the rate is cheaper for a few days delivery and more expensive if the customer chooses next-day delivery. Flat rate delivery puts you in control and can be helpful from a financial planning sense, as you won’t have to incur the cost of free delivery. 

That said, flat rate shipping doesn’t take into account fluctuations in dimensional pricing, so if your products vary greatly in size, it could be a risky option.

Offer Pickup Options 

Another option to consider is offering pick-up delivery options, either curbside, store, or locker deliveries. This option can be viewed as more sustainable by end consumers, as it drops a number of parcels often at a central delivery point rather than delivering them to individual addresses. 

However, pickup options are often less convenient for the customer, unless the pickup spot is right down the road from their office or home. For this reason, we recommend offering pickup options in addition to one of the strategies above. 

Keep Your Products Memorable and Secure with Custom Shipping Boxes

You may be thinking, “This all sounds great, but where can I get customized shipping boxes?” Don’t fret because you’re in the right place. At Refine Packaging, our bread and butter is helping brands create customized packaging for all kinds of products. 

We understand that designing custom size shipping boxes in bulk can be a daunting, overwhelming task, which is why our friendly, experienced team is on hand to make the entire production process smooth, rewarding, and simple. 

Our team of creatives can turn your design ideas into reality, creating beautiful cardboard printed boxes that will delight your customers and build brand affinity, all at a reasonable price for your business.  

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote on your custom shipping box needs. We’ll support you in creating custom shipping boxes that convey your brand’s unique personality, have amazing social appeal, and protect your product no matter where it travels.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Custom Shipping Boxes appeared first on Refine Packaging.

When you think of advertising, what word or phrase first springs to mind?

Maybe it’s the TV show Mad Men. Or if you’re a business decision-maker, perhaps your mind goes to Google SEO rankings and Facebook ads. These are all valid answers, but we bet the term “shopping bags” didn’t spring to mind. 

That’s right—shopping bags! And specifically, the customized ones. While you may have your digital advertising efforts down, many companies are forgetting the power of traditional, subliminal promotion. Eye-catching, colorful custom paper bags with your branding and logo can draw in new customers, boost brand recognition, and even improve your revenue. 

The Business Benefits of Custom Shopping Bags

The benefits of custom shopping bags go beyond just marketing and advertising, particularly if you use paper. Recently, renowned luxury department store Harrods announced its plans to replace all of its plastic carrier bags with fully recyclable paper bags by the fall. The paper bags will be 100% recycled and also partly made from recycled materials.

The reason for the change, according to news analysis, is a commitment to sustainability, both from a corporate social responsibility standpoint and due to rising consumer demand. For more and more physical retailers, plastic just isn’t cool anymore. Its impact on the environment is hard to ignore, and as consumers become more aware about the dangers of plastic, they are looking to brands to help them make more eco-friendly choices.

As the below stats from IPSOS show, paper leads the way:

• 93% of consumers agree that paper is sustainable and should be used more as packaging.
• 86% of consumers agree that if they can choose between paper packaging or another material, they choose paper.
• 79% of consumers believe that paper is more pleasant to handle and touch.

Paper shopping bags don’t just look more eco-friendly, either—the science backs it up. A study from the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute looked into the greenhouse gas emissions produced by paper and plastic bags. It found that paper bags had a remarkably lower impact on the climate than LDPE (low density polyethylene) bags.

In the US, states are catching on to the downsides of plastic bags. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, and Maine, just to name a few, have all brought in bans on single-use plastic shopping bags. 

So more customers want paper, states are mandating it, and scientists are recommending it. All in all, it seems that using custom paper bags is a no-brainer. But where to begin? That’s exactly what we’ll help you with below. 

Why Should You Use Paper Shopping Bags?

Before we dive into the what and how of a customized paper bag packaging strategy, we first want to nail the why. Being confident that paper grocery bags are right for your business and understanding how they can help you create a lasting impression is essential to making an informed choice. Here are some of the most common reasons why custom paper bags are a business asset: 

1. Sustainable 

We’ve touched on this above but we’ll say it again: Paper bags are an excellent eco-friendly packaging option. They are made from wood—a raw, renewable resource—and can be recycled. Consumers are also acutely aware that paper bags are better for the environment. This means that by choosing to use paper gift bags, shopping bags, and grocery bags, you’re not only looking after the planet, but you’re also showing your customers that you care, something they will no doubt appreciate! 

2. Versatile

As you’ll find out below, paper bags are definitely not one size fits all. Different sizes, shapes, colors, handles—the possibilities are endless. If you want to tell your brand story through custom packaging, then paper is an excellent and inexpensive option. 

3. Free Marketing

Have you ever wandered around a shopping mall when a colorful shopping bag caught your eye? Maybe seeing the brand’s bag made you determined to find their store and go inside, or you remembered the name and brand colors. Either way, a well-designed paper shopping bag can boost brand affinity and lead to new customers. Plus, because paper bags are reusable, your customers may take them out again and again. Meaning, hundreds of people could learn about your brand, thanks to just a few bags! 

4. Cost-Effective

Facebook ads that point to relevant product pages on your website, SEO (search engine optimization), and Instagram influencer marketing can put a big dent on your marketing budgets in an instant. While these have a role to play in modern advertising strategies, we can’t forget the power of the in-person shopping experience. Personalized paper shopping bags are relatively cheap to create via bulk orders and offer limitless marketing potential. 

5. Tell Your Brand’s Story 

A paper bag is kind of like a blank canvas. Your team gets to decide what to put on it: the story you want to tell, the colors, the fine details. These bags offer a chance to unleash your creativity and make your company memorable to everyone who uses and sees your branded paper bags. 

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Custom Printed Paper Bags: The Basics 

At this point, we hope you feel excited about the potential of harnessing custom paper bags for your retail strategy. As you look for the right printed paper bags for your company, it’s important to remember the basics. Your paper bag needs to be as functional as it is fun. So it needs to: 

• Provide enough space to safely carry the volume of purchases by customers. You may need to consider offering different sized bags if your products vary greatly in size 
• Be strong enough to hold the weight of goods
• Provide customizable options that enable you to convey your brand’s story and values 
• Ideally, support environmental efforts and be in line with your company’s sustainability commitments 

8 Types of Paper Bags

So now it’s time to jump into the eight most common types of paper bags out there. There’s no such thing as a wrong or a right bag. The type of bag you choose will depend on the kind of products you sell, as well as the customer you’re trying to appeal to.

For example, some of the bags below are better for small items, while others are better for adding a touch of luxury to the in-store experience. Remember, too, that all of these bags can be customized so that they are unique to your company.

1. SOS Bag

The SOS bag is the iconic brown bag used for kids’ lunches. You often see it in cartoons—a generic, brown paper with edges that you fold over. The SOS bag can also come with small handles. Typically, it’s used for food and drink items but can also be used for small items like skincare or jewelry. While the bag is known for its natural brown kraft color, it can also be customized and designed in different shades and finishes. 

2. Pinch-Bottom Bags

The pinch bottom bag gets its name from the tapered bottom. It’s usually used for bakery goods and other food items. It has an envelope-like opening and is grease-resistant inside, which is why it’s favored by food stalls and coffee houses. It’s also suitable for takeaway bags.  

3. Merchandise Bags

Merchandise bags are probably the most common type of paper shopping bag you’ll see out and about. They come in a variety of styles and sizes, making them an excellent vehicle for customization.  

4. Euro Tote

The Euro tote is a step up from the SOS bag. This paper bag is heavily associated with luxury. These bags tend to be highly customized, down to the look and feel of the handles. When designed well, Euro totes can be their own form of gift packaging and go a long way to boost brand recognition.  

5. Bakery Bags

Bakery bags are designed specifically for the food market. They feature wax linings to preserve food items, making them a great option for muffins, bread, pastries, and more.  

6. Mailing Bags

Mailing bags get a sneaky mention on this list. Even though they’re more a form of ecommerce packaging, they do have “bag” in the name and are made from paper, too. Mailing bags are padded mailers. They’re great for shipping small items to customers who have purchased online. For a deep dive into padded mailers and other e-commerce options, check out this article about ecommerce packaging. 

7. Recycled Bags

While all paper bags are recyclable, not all paper bags are recycled. By this, we mean that not all paper bags are made from material that has already been used. However, you can specifically pick at least partially recycled paper bags. Doing this is great for the environment and is something you can shout about to your consumers who, as we’ve seen above, appreciate when brands choose paper-based packaging. 

8. Vogue Bags

Vogue bags ooze luxury and theater. These bags are more than just a paper bag; they’re an experience. With tissue paper, freebies, handwritten cards, and more to be usually found inside, these designer paper bags are a great way to make your clients feel like a million bucks. 

Common Types of Handles

Paper bags are about more than just the bags themselves; the handles play a huge role, too. There are a variety of customizable options, ranging in price and look and feel. Take a look at some of the most frequently used options below. 

1. Ribbon 

Ribbons are pretty, glossy, and add a touch of luxury to paper bags. They are also easily customizable. They can come in almost any color and suit most of the bag types mentioned above. Ribbons are quite durable but would not be appropriate for really heavy items, as they may snap. 

2. Cotton

Cotton has a similar look and feel to ribbon. It also portrays a sense of luxury, finesse, and is easily customizable. The main difference between cotton and ribbon is cotton’s durability. Cotton is a dense, strong material, meaning it can carry heavier products than ribbon.

3. Twisted Paper

Twisted paper handles are a cheap and cheerful option. While they aren’t as premium as cotton or ribbon, they are cost-effective and also very strong. They can endure a heavy weight and are extremely easy and quick to produce for manufacturers.

4. Folded Paper

Folded  paper is another cost-effective option. These handles are made from a piece of paper, making them great for lightweight purchases and small bags. However, be warned, folded paper bags tear easily if the weight of the bag gets too heavy. These handles also tend to disintegrate in heavy rain. 

Let’s Get Bespoke! 

Once you’ve chosen the type of paper bag you want and the coordinating handle, it’s time to think about customization. This stage is an opportunity to let your creativity shine and turn your visions into reality. No idea is too bold or whacky. Custom paper gift bags are a blank canvas that’s perfect for your art! 

In terms of cost, it’s important to note that the size of your bags directly correlates with the price. Depending on what kind of products you sell, you may want to order a few different sizes of bags. Similarly, the cost is strongly dictated by the amount of bags you order. How many stores you have will dictate the number of bags you need. You can choose to buy paper bags wholesale and keep them in warehousing facilities. Alternatively, you may want to put in a repeat request for your customized bags each month. 

1. Color Your Bag Beautifully 

You can choose any color, or colors, for your bag. Aside from colors, you can add colored features, like stripes, your logos, artwork flowers, and more. You’ll notice that a couple of acronyms pop up again and again when you’re looking at designs: RGB and CMYK. RGB stands for red, green, and blue. These colors are used for images on your computer screen. CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (Black). If your design contains three or less colors, then RGB will be adequate. But if your design is more complex, then CMYK is the option you should go for.

2. Carefully Choose the Type of Paper

There’s more than one kind of paper that you can use for your bag. Paper varies in strength and thickness. The stronger the paper, the better it is for heavy products. However, if you sell lightweight products like jewelry, small gift items, and other accessories, then you may want a lighter paper option. Here are the main types: 

• Kraft paper: Kraft paper is what’s used for SOS bags. It has a natural, eco-friendly feel and is cost-effective. Kraft paper is best used for small to medium-sized items.
• Recycled paper: Recycled paper comes from 100% recycled paper, making it a great choice for eco-conscious brands. Recycled paper is also very versatile and varies in thickness, making it suitable for all types of products. 
• Art paper: Art paper is derived from wood pulp. As the name suggests, art paper is ideal for creating designs because it has a smooth texture. Like recycled paper, art paper comes in varying thicknesses. Art paper also varies in terms of textures.  

3. To Laminate or Not to Laminate?

Lamination is a process where a thick layer of plastic is applied to your paper bags, giving them an enhanced finish and improving durability. There are different types of lamination finishes, which we’ve put in the handy table below:

4. Finishing Touches

The outside of your bag is now looking beautiful, but what about the inside? To truly delight your customers, you want the personalization journey to continue once they open your paper bag, too. Most paper bags are white or brown on the inside. You could, for example, print your brand’s logo or slogan on the inside of the bag to enhance brand visibility. Alternatively, you could use embossing or debossing to add a touch of luxury to the inside of your bag. 

Another option is spot UV varnish, which can be used to create glossy, elegant patterns inside your bag. Also, you should consider how you put your logo on your bag. For example, foil stamping is often used to create attention-grabbing, bold statements, a la Urban Decay below. Similarly, embossing and debossing can be used on the outside of the bag for eye-catching designs.  

The Future Is Paper

So, that’s it—our ultimate guide to custom paper bags. As you can see, it’s clear that paper has a lot to offer to your retail strategies. Just as cardboard is leading the way in ecommerce, paper is fast proving itself as the go-to option for physical stores. Through design and customization, you can elevate your printed paper bags so that they become a marketing vehicle, one that enhances customer loyalty, boosts revenue, and increases brand awareness.  

Here at Refine Packaging, we’re experts in helping brands of all shapes and sizes to create customized packaging strategies that bring an ROI. Whatever your vision is, our experts are on hand to help you turn it into reality, at a price that’s right for your business.

Ready to embark on your custom paper bag strategy? 

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Custom Paper Bags appeared first on Refine Packaging.

What’s both stylish and can be shipped directly in the mail? A mailer box!

These not-so-humble box mailers are not only durable (to keep your products safe), but they’re also highly customizable, so you can get your brand noticed and create memorable experiences for your customers.  

Mailer Boxes: Shipping Essentials for Ecommerce

In retail, mailer boxes can be used as gift boxes and for sending out promotional materials. They are easy to assemble and extremely effective for keeping ecommerce orders safe and secure. Mailer boxes are nothing new, but they’ve become more mainstream because of the thriving subscription box market. 

Subscription boxes, as we know them today, have only been around since 2004, but they are now a dominant feature of the ecommerce landscape. Consider this:

• Fuel by McKinsey estimates the total market size of the subscription ecommerce market is about $12 billion to $15 billion.
• A survey by Clutch found that 54% of online shoppers are subscription box service members.

Many of the products subscription services are shipping out arrive in mailer boxes. These boxes, usually custom mailers, are very versatile, so they can fit all kinds of items. Everything from razors and makeup, to video game accessories and dog treats, can be ordered through a subscription box service. All of these items can fit neatly and be attractively displayed in a mailer box.

Mailer boxes aren’t limited to subscription services. They’re commonly used to send out everything from books and business cards to jackets and computer keyboards. In other words, if you order things online, you’ve likely seen a mailer box. 

All of this translates to a tremendous amount of boxes arriving on people’s doorsteps. 

Let’s find out how you can get the most from mailer boxes and stand out from the competition. 

Building Your Brand with Mailer Boxes

Not so long ago, companies and their customers gave little thought to what kind of box their products were shipped in. They just wanted the item inside to arrive intact and to be what they expected. But times have changed. A company that ignores what their mailer boxes look like is missing out on a highly effective and lucrative marketing strategy. 

Sure, ordering online is convenient, but often, customers are looking for more. They want to be wowed by the complete experience, including the shipping mailer boxes their goods arrive in. 

Mailer boxes offer so much room for customization. Even if your company is just starting out, you can give your customers a special experience. Everyone from tiny Etsy stores to well-established brick-and-mortar stores use mailer boxes for shipping their products and increasing brand recognition.  

Mailer boxes offer a lot of flexibility. You can:

• Come up with a unique design that promotes your brand. 
• Make use of your logo, slogan, and brand colors.  

Remember to stay consistent with your branding across all of your marketing channels. Think about what colors you’re using on your website or what type of font you’ve used for your logo. You want people to see the mailer box and immediately identify it with your brand.   

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Social Media and Unboxing Videos

Nowadays, social media is a key component of any marketing campaign, and unboxing videos are examples of initiatives that can skyrocket the value of your brand.

If you think people aren’t watching someone else open a box, think again. Try a cursory search on YouTube for unboxing videos, and you’ll be surprised at how many videos pop up. These videos are strangely addictive and popular.  

What is the first thing people see in an unboxing video? You guessed it – the box! You don’t want to skimp on your mailer box design and miss the opportunity to create that valuable first impression.

Two of the most influential YouTube unboxing channels are Ryan’s World with 28 million subscribers and Unbox Therapy with nearly 18 million subscribers. That’s a crazy amount of people tuning in to see someone else open a box. 

Sure, people tune in to these channels to see the actual products being unveiled, but they’re also enjoying the accompanying excitement of unwrapping the layers of packaging. 

If you want to get noticed by customers (or influencers), the overall presentation is important–and yes, that includes the box! A beautiful custom mailer can enhance your customers’ experience and even give your products a higher perceived value. 

What to Look for in a Mailer Box

Now that we’ve established the branding importance of mailer boxes, let’s talk about what makes up mailer boxes. As with all custom packaging, you want your boxes to be top quality. 

Here are some things you should consider when buying mailer boxes:

1. Paper Grades

Mailer boxes are primarily used to mail items and therefore durability is a must. That’s the reason why these boxes are usually made of corrugated material. It’s important to pick the right manufacturing paper for your purpose and products. 

Here are some common paper grade options for mailer boxes:

Kraft Corrugated Cardboard

These are the basic brown corrugated mailers we’re all familiar with. Kraft cardboard is an affordable option that gives you a rustic, natural look. Corrugated mailer boxes are made up of between 60-100% recycled material. 

Uncoated White Corrugated Cardboard

Some people prefer white corrugated mailer boxes. The look is cleaner, and graphics will stand out more with this choice. White corrugated packaging boxes also look high-end.

Clay-Coated Corrugated Cardboard

This corrugated packaging option gives you a smoother, brighter surface. It’s a little more expensive, so it’s a good pick for luxury brands.

Corrugated cardboard boxes also come in different thicknesses. Think about what you’re mailing. Is it lightweight? Fragile? Then decide on the flute grade (thickness) you need. Some common box mailer flute grades are E-flute 1/16 and B-flute 1/8.

Any kind of box can be dressed up or down, depending on your budget and the aesthetic you’re going for. A small budget is not an excuse to be boring. A simple brown box printed with your logo can create a lasting impression. 

Even if your budget is almost non-existent, you can customize your mailer boxes. Order a hand stamp with your logo or try a custom sticker. It’s all about making your boxes your own and reinforcing your brand. 

2. Closures

All of these boxes should be easy to assemble and need to be securely closed up somehow. Unlike regular shipping boxes that are often closed up with packaging tape, mailer boxes have some sort of tab-locking mechanism.  

Some mailer boxes come with additional protective dust flaps to keep dirt out. You can even choose a box with a tear strip for added security. If you’re mailing the box, you can further secure it with tape or hot melt glue, so it doesn’t pop open during shipping. 

3. Printing

You want your custom mailer box to create a good first impression as soon as it hits your customer’s doorstep. This means you want your text and graphics to look crisp and high-quality. Unintended blurry images are a no-go.

How good your graphics look comes down to the printing process you choose. There are several options out there, and there are a few factors to consider, namely your budget, any time constraints, the quality you’re looking for, and whether you are using your mailer boxes for shipping or retail packaging.  

You no doubt realize the important role colors play in evoking a certain mood or increasing brand recognition, so it’s vital to understand a little bit about how these colors are printed on boxes. 

There are two main color processes used when printing on mailer boxes: PMS and CMYK.

Pantone Matching System (PMS) 

PMS uses premixed ink formulas from Pantone, so you’re sure to get consistent colors across all types of mediums. With PMS, you get more vibrant colors. It is the best option if you’re using a lot of thin lines or metallic or fluorescent colors.  

If you’re using three colors or less, PMS is the cheaper option. But that doesn’t limit you to only three colors. You can “tint” colors to save money. For example,  if you’re using green, you can add a little white to come up with mint green.  

CMYK

CMYK is the other color option. It’s made up of four colors: (C) cyan, (M) magenta, (Y) yellow, and (K) black. This process creates the images out of tiny dots. It’s your best bet if you want to use full-color photos or need a lot of different colors. 

Now, on to the actual printing. There are two main options for printing on your custom mailer boxes: direct printing and pre-printing.  

Direct printing, sometimes called post-printing, is when you print directly on the box. This method is often used with corrugated boxes. 

• Flexography (or flexo) is a popular option. With flexo, you’re printing directly on the box. Flexo is affordable, has good printing speeds, can be quickly set up, and works well on both rough or smooth materials. Flexo uses PMS colors, so if you’re looking for full-quality photo images, you might not get the results you want.
• Digital printing is a printing method that’s gaining in popularity. It gives you higher quality than flexo. It’s fast but best for low volumes.
• Offset lithography (or litho) falls under the pre-printing category. It’s usually used for printing on custom labels, which are then glued to the box. This option is great for higher-quality photos or if you want to add some embossing or foil stamping. Litho labels can cover the whole box or just a small section. It’s up to you. 
• Foil stamping (or hot stamping) will give you an elegant, sophisticated look. Foil stamping is a printing technique that uses hot dyes to press a metallic print and foil onto the surface of the box. You can use a variety of colors, but a popular option keeps it simple – a black background with gold or silver foil. Foil stamping is usually found on the outside of the box. But why limit yourself? If you want something a little different, try it on the inside of the box.  

Keep in mind that these printing techniques aren’t mutually exclusive. Feel free to mix things up to grab your customers’ attention. 

If you want to get extra fancy, you can even combine direct printing with a litho label. Or if you want to splurge, go with two-sided printing. Whatever you choose, try to get the highest quality that’s within your budget. You don’t want to skimp on the appearance of your mailer boxes. You want them to look sharp and stand out. 

4. Finishes

Beautiful printing can be eye-catching and stand on its own. But if you want to elevate your product packaging design even more, consider adding a coating or other finishing touches. They can give your box a polished, high-end look.

Aqueous Finish

One popular and relatively affordable coating option is an AQ finish. This vegetable cellulose coating was introduced in the 1970s. The coating makes a box look shiny and smooth and protects it from smudges and scratches. You can opt for a glossy or matte finish – or even satin, which is somewhere in between.  

Another benefit of an AQ finish is it’s eco-friendly. Since it’s water-based, it’s nontoxic and can be easily recycled. 

UV Coating

This is a clear liquid coating that’s applied and then dried with ultraviolet light. This coating will give your box some added texture. You may want to opt for a spot UV varnish where it’s only applied to a specific area of the box. This is a great way to make a desired design element pop, such as your logo or slogan.  

To recap, here’s a table of the features and qualities to look for in mailer boxes:

Keep Your Custom Mailer Box Eco-Friendly

There’s no denying that e-commerce is booming. LimeLoop compiled data from the major shippers (USPS, FedEx, and UPS) and estimated that around 165 billion packages are shipped in the U.S. each year. But with all of these online sales comes huge amounts of waste heading to our already overflowing landfills.

This is concerning to customers and businesses alike. You can’t go a day without hearing distressing news stories about climate change or other impending environmental disasters. Sure, consumers love to buy the latest and greatest, but they’re also concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases. 

One study found that 74% of consumers were willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, and a quarter of these were willing to pay an increased cost of 10% or more. 

There’s no way to get rid of packaging completely, but customers appreciate companies that make an effort to be less wasteful. So give customers what they want. Box mailers not only look good, but they’re also one of the more eco-friendly options for packaging. 

Here are some reasons why:

• Most mailer boxes are made from post-consumer recycled materials.  
• Mailer boxes can be recycled again and again. They’re easy to break down, which encourages people to make an effort to put them in a recycling bin. According to the EPA, in 2018, approximately 32.1 million tons of corrugated boxes were recycled, which was a 96.5% recycling rate for corrugated cardboard boxes. That’s keeping a lot of packaging out of our landfills.
• Mailer boxes are easy to ship. They’re relatively lightweight and stack neatly in a truck, so it takes fewer trips to get them to their destination. Additionally, they’re usually shipped flat to retailers, which saves considerable space.
• Mailer boxes are usually made of corrugated cardboard materials, which biodegrade much faster than other shipping materials. Plastic, for example, can take upwards of 500 years to biodegrade. Embracing eco-friendliness isn’t lost on consumers. In a survey by consumer research firm Toluna, 66% of respondents said that paper or cardboard packaging is better for the environment.
• Retail and shipping mailer boxes are mostly made from materials sourced from sustainably managed forests. Look for companies that have FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certification for their corrugated mailers.
• Mailer boxes are sturdy enough to repurpose. You could use beautifully colored mailer boxes to store old postcards and other small mementos.

Eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean dull and monotonous. Sure, simply adorned kraft mailer boxes may convey the look you’re going for, but if you want to add more zing, there are many options. Today, you can find water-based, soy-based, and even algae-based inks that look beautiful and are good for the environment. So don’t let environmental concerns limit your color palette. 

Mailer Box Design: Be Sure You Get What You Want

With so many options for your custom mailer boxes, you want to get exactly what you want. No matter if you work with a designer or decide to go it alone, you want to make sure your mailer box design will fit your needs.

Are small mailing boxes the right size for your products? Make sure you can fit all of your goods comfortably. You don’t want a fit that’s too tight or to have your items swimming around in there. How about the graphics? Are the colors right?  Do your custom mailers with logo look good? Is everything spelled correctly?

When ordering custom mailer boxes, make sure to check the final proof. You can look at an online proof with a flat view, or perhaps a 3D mockup will help you visualize the final product. If you’re ordering a lot of mailer boxes and you have time, you may want to order a physical sample, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Your shipping mailer boxes are the face of your business, so make sure you get everything just right the first time. You’d hate to order 1,000 boxes with your company name misspelled or the wrong URL emblazoned on the side. 

What Goes Inside Your Box

Mailer boxes are durable, but that doesn’t mean you can simply toss your items in and throw the box in the mail. There are certain things you may want to include inside.

Let’s start with protecting your product during shipping and fulfillment. Some items will fit perfectly snugly in the box and not need added padding, but for many items, you’ll need some sort of void fill to cushion your product so it’s not rattling around inside. 

Here are some common options for void fill:

• Packaging paper. This is an excellent way to fill space and protect your items. You can wrap individual items or ball the paper up to cushion your goods. Packaging paper looks decent and is recyclable.
• Crinkle paper. You’re probably familiar with the basic kraft crinkle paper. Color options are almost limitless. 
• Tissue paper. This is a simple, affordable option that can elevate the look of your packaging. It’s not the best for fragile items but works well for items like clothing.
• Cardboard inserts. Custom-designed inserts will protect moderately fragile items. Inserts are made to fit a particular item, so it’s best to use them on the products they were made for. 
• Foam cushions. If you’re shipping something fragile, this will help protect your items from scratches and breakage. You can cut the foam to shape to make it more useful. One big drawback is this type of cushion is not environmentally friendly. 
• Air pillows. These aren’t the most beautiful, but they’re lightweight, easy to store, and get the job done. 

In addition to protecting your products, throwing a few added goodies into your mailer box can make the experience more personal for your customers. That’s something most will appreciate. According to one study, consumers were 80% more likely to make a purchase when companies offer personalized experiences.  

So don’t waste the opportunity. It doesn’t take much to make your customer feel special.  Here are a few things you could include in your box mailers:

• Enclose a personalized thank you note. Or if you haven’t printed anything on the inside of a box, write “thank you” inside the top of the box. 
• If possible, use your customer’s name. In an Accenture survey, 56% of respondents said they were more likely to shop in-store or online at a retailer that recognized them by name.
• Toss in some coupons. People love discounts.
• Include small samples for other products. Your customer will feel pampered and special, and it’s a great way to introduce them to some of your other products.
• Add little toys, candies, or stickers. If you’re going for sophistication, this may not be the look you’re envisioning, but sometimes, a little frivolity is appreciated.
• Encourage your customers to share their experiences on their social media channels. Put your social media handles on the box with a hashtag you’d like to see trending. 

As with all marketing endeavors, presentation counts with mailer boxes. Of course, you need to work within your budget, but that shouldn’t stop you from adding a little something extra. Who knows? You might get lucky and a social influencer may share an unboxing video of your product.  

Perhaps more likely, customers will spread their impressions through word of mouth.  According to the American Marketing Association, almost 75% of consumers identify word of mouth as a key influencer in their purchasing decisions. And what better way to get them talking than getting them excited about your beautiful packaging? 

Corrugated Mailers in Action: A Little Inspiration

Having a lot of options is usually a good thing, but it can also feel overwhelming.  Sometimes, it helps to look at what others are doing. 

Here are some mailer box examples that will get your creative juices flowing and give you a good jumping-off point to come up with your own mailer box design:

1. Lily and Onyx

Lily and Onyx curates locally and internationally crafted goods that promote things like mindfulness and the “California” lifestyle. Their mailer boxes stay on brand. You can see the above packaging uses simple, tasteful, soothing colors, and typography that reflect the boho vibe the company is going for.  

As with their products, Lily and Onyx’s packaging has a natural look. You won’t find any wasteful packaging here.  

2. Love With Food

Love With Food, a snack delivery service, proves you don’t have to send out high-end goods to use stylish mailer boxes. Their service starts at just $7.99 a month, but they don’t skimp on their boxes. Their custom mailer boxes are bright red with white lettering, which reflects the branding on their website. The simple but bold color combination is sure to grab attention.  

3. Vegancuts

Sometimes, simplicity is the perfect reflection of your brand. Vegancuts offers snack, makeup, and beauty boxes. All of their offerings are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They’re not about unnecessary excess, which is beautifully reflected in the simple line drawings and script on their printed mailer boxes. 

4. FabFitFun

Simplicity is not the name of the game for everyone. Popular lifestyle box subscription service FabFitFun is all about living life to the fullest. Their custom mailers are anything but subdued. Each season, they send out a new box with a new design. The boxes vary by the season, but they usually use several colors with images that cover the box inside and out. 

5. greenUP Box

What would you expect from a subscription box dedicated to reducing waste and plastics? Probably exactly what greenUP Box is sending out. Not only are their products all eco-friendly, but so is their packaging material.  

The leaf-covered design and earthy green color of the box are reminiscent of nature. The box and the crinkle paper inside can be easily recycled, so no waste here.

6. American Influencer Beauty Bundle

Sometimes, it’s all about the glam factor. American Influencer Beauty Bundle is a bi-monthly subscription service that gives customers exclusive access to influencer beauty products. Their shiny mailer boxes have a luxurious look that appeals to their customer base looking for the latest beauty trends. 

7. Smartass & Sass

As their name suggests, Smartass & Sass is all about “snark, sass, and sarcasm.” Their custom-printed mailer boxes might not appeal to everyone, but they reflect the company vibe and cater to their customer base. Spend a few seconds on their website and you just know this is a fun company with a certain brand of humor. 

Smartass & Sass uses boxes that look bold but are quite simple. It has kept the box for their secondary packaging to a single bright blue color with their name and a geometric pattern on top. They put their website address on one side and their catchphrase, “classy, sassy, and a bit smartassy,” emblazoned on another. Inside, they kept it plain to keep the emphasis on the quirky products you’ll find in the box.  

Every month has a different theme, so you never know exactly what you’ll get, which adds to the excitement. They even share unboxing videos on their website of past boxes, so you get an idea of what kind of experience you can expect when this box lands on your porch.

Put the Spotlight on Your Brand With Mailer Boxes

You’ve got a desirable product, so don’t leave your packaging decisions as an afterthought. Packaging should be a critical part of your marketing plan. It’s often the first thing your customer sees, so you want to get it right and make a great first impression. Think about what your company represents, and make sure your packaging reflects that.

A thoughtfully designed mailer box can up your game and boost your brand identity – and, in turn, increase your sales. Remember, customers are looking for the whole experience, so make your mailer box memorable and special. A quality mailer box can both ensure your goods get to your customers in one piece and – just as importantly – have them coming back for more.  

Refine Packaging is the top choice for the world’s Inc 5000 and Fortune 500 companies. With super fast production times, affordable pricing, and a sky’s the limit attitude, we’ll help you turn your custom packaging into a competitive differentiator. Contact us today and a dedicated packaging specialist will guide you through every step of the custom packaging process without breaking a sweat.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Mailer Boxes appeared first on Refine Packaging.

Did you know that by deciding to ship or display your items in a cardboard box, you’re already ahead of the game? Yup, people are loving cardboard these days. 

A recent survey conducted by Ipsos found that:

• 71% of those surveyed said they were more likely to buy brands that package their products in paper or cardboard, rather than other materials like bubble wrap or plastic.
• 63% of those surveyed said that paper and cardboard packaging makes a product seem premium or high quality. 

Ok, so you’ve made the smart decision to package your goods in cardboard boxes, but is that enough to get your products noticed? Nope.  

You can’t just throw your goods in a nondescript box and call it a day.  No – in today’s world of unboxing videos and endless social media diatribes about the whole package opening experience, you’ve got to go above and beyond with ideas for your box design to stand out from the competition. 

Today’s consumers have so many options. They no longer have to rely on what’s available in their town – or even their country. They’re looking for a complete shopping experience – whether they’re checking out a store shelf, or browsing an ecommerce site. And they want the boxes their products come in to wow them. 

Think about what makes you buy a certain brand. Perhaps it’s word of mouth, or maybe loyalty, but more than likely packaging is also a major consideration.  

So, just how important is box design to your bottom line? Well consider this:

• A study by Ipsos found that 72% of Americans’ purchasing decisions are influenced by packaging design.
• 66% of those surveyed by WestRock said that they tried something new because the packaging caught their eye.

So, don’t leave box design as an afterthought.

It’s important to come up with a creative, yet practical, box design so you can fully leverage this powerful marketing tool.

Functionality Counts When Reviewing Box Design Ideas

Successful box design, like the custom boxes pictured above that we produced for Adidas, is much more than choosing your favorite colors to splash across the sides (albeit that is an important element).  

When coming up with your box design ideas and overall design plan, it’s essential to first understand the main functions of a box. 

Here are some fundamentals you don’t want to ignore with your box design when reviewing box design inspiration:

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Your Box Must Protect What’s Inside

First off – and most importantly – your box needs to effectively protect what’s inside. 

If nothing else, you’ve got to make sure your custom box design keeps the items inside safe during shipping.

This means your box needs to be sturdy and tamper-proof. No one is going to appreciate a beautiful box if their wine glasses arrive in shards, or their poster arrives crumpled. You want your items to get to their destination intact.

Your Box Should be Efficient

The structural design of the box can play a large role in your bottom line, as well. When deciding on a design think about things like shelf and storage space. You don’t want to have an oddly shaped box if it’ll be difficult to store in your warehouse. 

Also, consider transportation costs when designing your box. The box size and weight of a box can unnecessarily jack up your shipping costs if you’re not careful.

Your Box Should Be Informative

It’s important that your box clearly labels what’s inside. When people pick up a box they want to know what’s in there, so, if there’s room, go on and include information about the contents, such as ingredients, expiration dates, or instructions on how to use the product. 

Packaging boxes are also a great place to add specific company information. A custom box has only so much marketing real estate, but you can point consumers to other marketing avenues, such as your website or social media channels, where you can offer more in-depth information about your company and products.

Your Box Should Reinforce Your Brand Identity

Yes, your box must offer protection, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore how it looks. Boxes are a great way to make a strong first impression and pump up your brand recognition.

The box design is not a place where you want to skimp. To fully harness this powerful marketing tool, you’ll want to have your logo stand out and make use of shapes and colors that represent your brand.  

Make a Design Plan for Your Box

Once you understand the important functions of a box, it’s time to come up with a design plan. To help you formulate your plan, it’s helpful to ask yourself a couple of questions:

What are you selling?

Boxes come in all different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, so to get the right box (or boxes), you’ll need to have a clear idea of what products you’ll be putting in the box.

The size of your boxes and weight of your items will dictate a lot of your box options. Heavy items may need to be put in strong reinforced boxes, whereas you may get by packing lighter, smaller items into thinner carton boxes. 

You’ll also need to take into consideration whether or not the items are fragile. You obviously won’t want to pack a piece of stained glass in a flimsy, unpadded box.  Likewise, it wouldn’t make sense to invest in double-wall corrugated boxes if all you’re ever boxing up is socks.

For most companies, it might be difficult to get by with a single size box since many sell products of various sizes and shapes. But even if you sell only one type of product, you should think about whether multiples can be packed together in the same box.  

Who is your target audience?

No matter what products or services you’re selling you likely have an ideal customer in mind.  Who are you trying to appeal to? Think of the demographics of your target market.  Consider things like the ages of your customers, their income level, their geographic location, and what they consider important. 

Maybe you’re looking to sell upscale cosmetics to millennials, or maybe you’re trying to market paper straws to eco-conscious customers? Whatever your product, your packaging needs to represent your brand. 

Boxes are an essential component of your overall marketing strategy. You want to be consistent across all of your channels – including your website, social media accounts, and retail packaging. 

Your customized box design should reflect what your brand stands for. Sometimes a box is your customer’s first interaction with your product. So your boxes need to represent your products in the best possible light.    

Understand Some Basic Design Rules

Sure, you want your box design to be unique and stay true to your brand identity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from other companies’ successes (and failures).

Here are a few tried and true design “rules” that will help get you started with your box design:

Color Counts 

When it comes to marketing your products, color plays a huge role. Studies have found that color increases brand recognition by 80% and that 85% of shoppers say that color is a primary reason for buying a particular product. 

Some colors are so iconic that if you look at them you know the company without seeing a logo or other brand identifier. Think of the classic blue Tiffany box that’s synonymous with luxury. Tiffany & Co. trademarked their “Tiffany Blue” in 1998.

Other companies have also successfully trademarked their colors, such as T-Mobile (magenta), UPS (deep brown), Wiffle Ball Bat (yellow), and 3M Post-Its (canary yellow).

Of course, not every company has a signature color, but successful brands know that certain colors evoke specific moods. You want your box colors to reflect the vibe you’re going for.  

In general, go for darker colors if you want to project a more staid, established look, lighter colors and pastels will give off a cleaner, more youthful look, or choose bright, bold colors to grab attention. 

Flonomics provides retail analytics to companies wanting to better understand how customers are interacting with their brand. They studied how different colors influence shoppers and their purchasing habits. They found that: 

• The color red stirred up feelings of excitement, passion, and energy.
• Blue gave off a trustworthy and reliable vibe.
• Green was all about nature, earthy feelings, and freshness.
• Orange was playful.
• And yellow was reminiscent of sunshine and evoked a warm mood.  

Put Some Thought Into Your Typography

How often have you seen a box with absolutely no words on it?  They’re out there, but pretty rare.  Most product box design involves some sort of typography. Typography is the arrangement of letters and words. It includes things like font sizes and styles. 

It can be fun to get creative with your font choices, but remember you want your words to both look good and be legible. Don’t overdo it with too many competing font styles.  That can just end up looking messy and clouding your message. 

Pay Attention to Quality

Put some thought into your materials. Flimsy, poor-quality paper packaging may be cheap, but is that the best look for your product? 

Definitely not, if you’re aiming to impress. Think about what you’re selling and have your boxes mirror the quality of your goods. Customers will expect their high-end purchases to come in a quality box. 

The same goes for graphics. A lot will depend on your budget, but try to use high-resolution graphics if you can afford it. An unintended, blurry image is not a good look.  

Don’t Have Too Much Going On

It helps to start with a focal point. If you have too many fonts, competing colors, and a hodgepodge of graphics, your message will get lost in the middle. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with too many competing design elements. Instead, let your design elements complement each other and give them breathing space.

Of course, sometimes design rules are meant to be broken. Look at these box design tips through the eyes of your customer. The most important thing is to know your target audience and what look will appeal to them.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Some Help

If all of this feels too overwhelming, seek another pair of eyes to look over your design, or hire a professional. Box templates (known as dielines) can often be found online, and you can find designers at almost any price point to help you come up with a captivating box design.  

If you’re on a super-tight budget, try Fiverr, or if you have a little more to spend try 99designs, Dribble, or Behance. 

If you need one-on-one box design support, the graphic designers at Refine Packaging are here to help. Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote on your custom box packaging needs and we’ll work with you to create a look and a package that brings together the very best of your brand personality, social appeal, and quality product design to create a look that is unmistakably your own. 

21 Box Design Ideas You Can Adapt for Your Own Packaging

Ok, you’ve got your plan and have a grasp of some basic design elements. Now, it’s time for the fun stuff. Let’s check out some box design eye candy. 

Here are twenty-one examples of companies who got their custom box design right by implementing various strategies:

Box Design Idea #1: Tell a Story

What better way to develop some rapport with your customers than to introduce yourself and tell your story. Stories are a great way to connect with your customers on a more personal level. Tell them who you are, where you came from, and what’s important to you.

In 2016 organic breakfast cereal company Kashi introduced “stories,” on the back of their cereal boxes. These little vignettes had full-color photographs and explained how the food was made and where it came from. They highlighted real people, such as farmers, millers, and others involved in the process of making the cereal. 

Of course, you can squeeze only so much copy on the back of a cereal box. That’s why Kashi also included a link to their website where the interested consumer could watch a more in-depth video on the subject. 

Box Design Idea #2: Use Patterns

Try using various patterns on your retail packaging boxes. Chevron, stripes, polka dots, and herringbone are popular options. Use them on their own or in conjunction with other images.  

Box Design Idea #3: Use All Available Space

A custom product box is more than a single side. Why not get more bang for your buck and cover the entire box with meaningful graphics, sayings, or information about your brand.

There’s a reason, lifestyle brand FabFitFun’s subscription box designs are splashed all over Instagram and are featured in so many unboxing videos on YouTube.  

They change up their mailer boxes depending on the season, but they usually use bright graphics and take full advantage of the entire box – inside and out.

Box Design Idea #4: Keep it Simple

Dutch company Slopes & Town sells accessories, such as multi-purpose belts and socks made from bamboo fibers and recycled plastic. 

The company’s mantra is an emphasis on sustainability and keeping waste to a minimum. This includes its eco-friendly packaging, which is often made from kraft paper. There’s no excess with their custom boxes.

Box Design Idea #5: Don’t Forget the Inner Sections

The outside of a box may give the first impression, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore what’s inside. 

Tait Design Company’s Turbo Flyer comes in a box that doubles as a cardboard carrying case. The multiple pieces of the balsa model airplane kit fit neatly inside. So, whether you want to store it in your closet, or take it to the park, you know your airplane will be secure.

Box Design Idea #6: Use an Interesting Shape

Boxes don’t have to be cuboids. They’re usually rectangular for ease of storage and transport, but there’s no hard and fast rule saying you can’t have a triangular, hexagonal, or whatever-shaped box. Below is a prism-shaped box concept for a soap company. 

Box Design Idea #7: Remember Your Product

Always keep your product in mind. Your box and packaging should reflect what’s inside. Take, for example, the Australian company, Young Willow, which specializes in stylish, high-end baby gifts, including clothing, bibs, books, and little toys. 

One glance at their website and you can see the sophisticated look they’re going for. There are no garish primary colors to be had with this brand – everything looks soft and subtle. Their boxes further reflect their brand image. 

Baby showers are big business and what better way to elevate the gift experience for that mother-to-be than to present your gift in a gorgeous box. Young Willow’s gift boxes are so pretty, they sell them as a separate item on their site.

The custom packaging boxes come in soft muted colors, such as lavender, green, and pink pastels, with the brands’ name embossed on the top. Pop open the box and the muted color scheme continues inside. This is a box that will not likely be casually tossed in the recycling bin.  

Box Design Idea #8: Add Some Fun

Depending on what you’re selling a little frivolity can go a long way. A nice warm plate of cookies can bring out the inner child in anyone. Thelma’s decided to have some fun with their cookie boxes. 

Instead of packing their cookies into one of those ubiquitous, pink pastry boxes, they went for something much more memorable, a distinct oven box.  I can almost smell those cookies.  

Box Design Idea #9: Go Bold

When you think of mid-century modern design, iconic industrial designers, Ray and Charles Eames likely spring to mind.  They received numerous design awards and their furniture has been exhibited in museums throughout the world. 

So, it’s no surprise that a lot of thought went into the customized boxes housing a product as simple as children’s building blocks. 

Eames House Blocks are packaged in a carefully designed box that reflects the Eames’ sophisticated, but non-fussy brand. The box is a simple shape and the graphics aren’t very complicated, but it gets its boldness from the sharp geometric shapes infused with strong red and black colors. 

Box Design Idea #10: Make it Gift-Worthy

Sometimes a beautifully designed custom box is as much a part of the gift as what’s inside. In many cultures, tea drinking is a ritual. Teabox brings this experience into people’s homes with an assortment of beautifully appointed gift boxes.

Slide open the beautifully illustrated box and you’ll find two gourmet blends of Indian tea in glass vials nestled inside. The gift-like box design elevates the experience for the recipient.

Box Design Idea #11: Use a Single Bright Color

You don’t have to use a rainbow of colors to capture attention with your box. A single color can make a bold statement.

Kong Box sends out monthly boxes full of dog toys and treats. The goodies are shipped out in bright red boxes. You’ll also find this same vivid color throughout their website. 

Box Design Idea #12: Add a Packaging Sleeve

Often a company will use a packaging sleeve in place of a box since it can be a more affordable option. You’ll often see these sleeves used on a bar of soap or a pair of socks. But some companies incorporate this element into their overall custom box design. 

Mother E Essential Oils uses a standard box design to store their essential oils. Where they mix it up is with their packaging sleeves. They use different sleeves depicting various nature scenes depending on what essential oils are in that particular box.  If they ever want a new look, a sleeve is much easier to change up than a whole box redesign.

Box Design Idea #13: Experiment with Fonts 

Something as simple as using an interesting font can elevate the look of your custom box design. You can go modern or vintage, quirky or traditional, winsome or staid – just be sure to make it memorable and unique. The right font can help boost your brand recognition. 

Skoff Pies used several different fonts that compliment each other to come up with a retro vibe for their comfort food pies. 

Not sure where to get started? The internet is a treasure trove of fonts. Check out sites like Google fonts or Behance to find free ones, or, for a wider variety, splurge a little and buy one from Creative Market or MyFonts.

Box Design Idea #14: Use Product Photography

Photographs are a great way to showcase your product. If you decide to go this route make sure to use high-quality product photography.  

Anovo used a picture of their product, as well as small pictures of fresh-looking food, including steak, salmon, and asparagus on their nano precision cooker boxes. But the photos aren’t overwhelming. Anovo went with plenty of white space to make the colorful photos pop and appeal to both your eyes and your taste buds. 

Box Design Idea #15: Try Some Humor

Humor can be a little tricky since we all find different things funny.  But when it works, it works. Just remember to keep your target customer in mind. You don’t want to offend anyone.

Box Design Idea #16: Give ‘em a Sneak Peek

Cutout windows offer your customers a glimpse of what’s inside, and sometimes the option to touch your product. Cutout windows, which are accomplished through the window patching process, are often used for food items so you can see what you’re buying. Who wants to splurge on expensive cookies, if you discover they’re a crumbled mess when you open the box. 

Cutouts are also a good option if you have a colorful or textured product. Zandra Beauty sells a variety of artisan soap bars that come in different scents and colors.  Each variety of soap is a different color and comes in different cosmetic packaging.

The little cutout gives you a glimpse of the colorful bar of soap inside. You could make quite an attractive display on a store shelf with all of the different colors peeking out.

Box Design Idea #17: Make it Multi-Purpose

Sometimes the box is a work of art. Check out the latest beautifully illustrated box from CauseBox. CauseBox is all about curating socially conscious items for their subscription boxes. You’d feel bad tossing this box in the recycling. It would make stylish storage for old letters or other small mementos. 

Box Design Idea #18: Use a Limited Color Palette

You don’t have to use every color in the rainbow to make your boxes interesting.  For a softer and more sophisticated look try different shades of the same color. 

One popular design trend for custom boxes that’s been incorporated in everything from painted walls to cakes and hair dye is ombre. Ombre is when you blend one color hue to another, usually going from light to dark. Why not try it in your product box design for a current look?

Glossybox is a subscription beauty box service. They frequently redesign their ecommerce packaging boxes depending on the season. Their current holiday box beautifully blends different shades of pink for a cohesive look. 

Box Design Idea #19: Use a Custom Stamp

Sure, it would be great to have custom beautifully designed boxes with your logo embossed on the sides or printed in an array of colors. But that’s not feasible for every company’s budget.  But don’t fret, there are affordable design elements just about any business can incorporate in their cardboard box design.

If you’re strapped for cash, or you’re just looking for a simple aesthetic – then consider a custom stamp.

Etsy shop, HeirloomHomeStudio, designs and produces porcelain tableware that’s inspired by the farm-to-table movement. Their brand stresses simplicity and their products have a vintage look. This vibe is beautifully reflected in their understated stamped boxes. 

Box Design Idea #20: Seal Up Your Boxes with Something Pretty (or Practical)

Another affordable packaging box design option is colorful, or branded packaging tape. Packaging tape can be used for brand promotion, handling advice, reducing theft, or to advertise other products. Since you can order packaging tape in small quantities, any company can take advantage of this affordable, low commitment option. 

Box Design Idea #21: Use Custom Labels or Stickers

You don’t have to print your graphics on the actual box to get a professional, attractive look. Maybe you don’t feel like committing to a single product box design.  A well-designed sticker or label will look good and allow you to easily change the look of your boxes depending on your mood.

Nosejoy is a fragrance subscription box service. Each month, they send out four to five scent-filled items, such as candles, soaps, or lotions from upscale boutique brands. 

They completely change the look of the box each month by using a different sticker on the front.  One month it might be deep blues with a mermaid picture, the next month might be all about bright yellows with pictures of lemons.  

Get Designing and Bring Your Box Design Idea to Life

Your custom packaging should never be an afterthought. Boxes and other packaging materials are far too important a marketing tool to ignore. Thoughtful box design strategies like the ones mentioned above can help you attract new customers and retain your current ones. 

Keep in mind that various box design elements aren’t mutually exclusive. You can incorporate several into your design – just don’t let it look too cluttered. You may need to experiment a little to find the right fit. You want your message to shine through and be consistent across all of your marketing materials.

Everyone from small Etsy stores to giants like Amazon put a lot of thought into their shipping box designs. Quality design doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It can be as simple as a sticker, or as fancy as a multi-colored embossed high-quality box. The important thing is that your product box design reflects what’s important to your customers and your company.

The post 21 Box Design Ideas to Pump Up Your Packaging appeared first on Refine Packaging.

You might not think much about the product packages that arrive on your doorstep. 

But did you know that product packaging has different levels? 

Known as primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, each package has its place and its purpose. 

In this article, we’re going to reveal the differences between each type of packaging, when each one is used, why they matter and how to find a professional packaging company to help ensure your product packaging is designed right every step of the way. Let’s take a closer look. 

Primary Packaging 

Primary packaging is the packaging that comes in direct contact with the product itself.

A cereal box wouldn’t be considered primary packaging, but the bag inside the box would, since it’s the part that actually holds the contents of the box. If all cereals were contained in the box alone (without the bag), they’d be much more susceptible to going stale or being affected by moisture or light, which could degrade their taste, texture and consistency. 

The main job of primary packaging is to protect and preserve the product inside. In this example, bags are rather clunky and liable to slip out of your hands. Plus, they don’t exactly fit neatly in a cupboard. It’s harder to print information about the product on them, and thus we have the bag inside the box — to keep the product fresh and outside of light, moisture and other elements that could affect it. 

Primary packaging is often referred to as retail packaging, although this term is sometimes used to describe secondary packaging as well. Using our cereal example above, primary packaging doesn’t just reference the bag that the cereal comes in, but the box that the bag is stored in, as well. As you’ll know if you’ve ever been down the cereal aisle in the grocery store, the brightly-colored boxes with deeply-textured images of cereal are designed to attract your eye and your attention. 

In terms of what’s considered primary packaging, you can think of it as the answer to a simple question — is this the packaging that the product is normally bought in? If so, then that would be considered its primary packaging. As another example, carbonated drinks are kept in a can — the can would be considered the primary packaging because it’s how the product is delivered to the consumer. 

Secondary Packaging

Secondary packaging is generally used to group a certain amount of products together into a cohesive unit that’s easy to identify. The SKU, or Stock Keeping Unit, makes it easy for vendors to identify the movement of stock as well as inventory. Secondary packaging makes it possible to group products so that they can be more easily tracked. Smaller shipments of products are often shipped using secondary packaging. 

The packaging itself can be made up of several individual pieces including:

• The box itself
• Interior padding
• Product separators
• Reinforcement to prevent crushing or denting the box
• And so on

For most people, secondary packaging is what comes to mind when they think about packaging. Everything from the branded ecommerce packaging that you receive in the mail to the customized boxes that line the shelves at your local retail store are part of the secondary packaging level.

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The individual pieces of secondary packaging can be further customized, in order to make the product more visible and easily found in a warehouse or retail store. Referring back to our cereal example, the secondary packaging would be the box that contains multiple custom boxes of cereal for storage in a warehouse before it goes onto retail shelves. Another example would be a “fridge pack” for the carbonated drinks, which is what is used to store several of the cans together and offer another layer of protection. 

Sometimes, primary and secondary packaging can overlap. For example, retail stores often receive shipments of a newly-released movie in a box that doubles as a display stand. The box serves as secondary packaging to protect the item, but it also serves as retail packaging to catch the consumer’s eye, even though the DVD case itself is how the movie is delivered to the consumer. 

Consumers will often see and interact with secondary packaging, particularly if it follows the two-in-one shipping and marketing option like the aforementioned DVDs or carbonated drinks. If you plan on using your product packaging similarly, it makes sense to consider how your product packaging design can leave a memorable impression on your customers.

Tertiary Packaging

Tertiary packaging is often known as bulk packaging or transit packaging. It’s used to transport larger numbers of goods safely and securely to their destination. Imagine several boxes full of cereal boxes arriving on pallets to distribution centers.

This kind of packaging makes it easy to handle, store and ship goods as single, self-contained units. Oftentimes, tertiary packaging consists of several cardboard boxes huddled together with stretch-wrap to prevent the packaging from being jostled and bumped around in transit. 

Consumers generally don’t see tertiary packaging, since it’s often used just to add another layer of protection to the secondary packaging and also to group larger shipments together for storage and easy retrieval of SKUs. 

Why Do Packaging Levels Matter?

Whether items are being shipped in a large group or you’re grouping together similar products for retail display, or individual items for customer consumption or use — custom packaging at every stage is important. 

On the tertiary packaging level, consumers may not see it, but that doesn’t mean you should pay any less attention to it. At every level of your packaging, whether consumer-facing or not, there’s strategy involved. Keeping your product (especially if there’s a large number of them) safe during shipping and fulfillment is just as important as catching the consumer’s eye on a retail shelf. 

Of course, it’s also understandable that you want to save money while protecting your product. The good news is that working with a knowledgeable, experienced packaging company is what often makes the difference between your goods arriving safe and sound and presenting itself as the customer’s best option, versus arriving broken, dented, crushed, torn or worse. 

Help is Here for Every Level of Your Custom Packaging Journey

Fortunately, Refine Packaging is here to help. With our extensive knowledge and expertise in all things product packaging and printing, we’re able to help you stay on budget while exploring amazing options that will highlight and position your product as the consumer’s very best option from among all of your competitors. 

From secure tertiary packaging that keeps your items secure from the warehouse or distribution center to store shelves, to secondary packaging that highlights your brand while making it easy for consumers to access the product itself, to primary packaging that puts the spotlight squarely on your product, putting it head and shoulders above the rest — you can count on Refine Packaging to provide you with consulting and fulfillment services at every step of the process. 

Even if you don’t yet have a vision for your brand and you need input on how to properly communicate it to consumers, our staff of talented graphic artists can help guide you every step of the way. Spanning many different disciplines and backgrounds, we have the skills to take your vision and transform it into a beautiful product design.

Effortlessly communicate your brand and promote your product’s unique style. It’s possible not only with the graphics and packaging design themselves, but also with the materials used in your packaging.

Eco-friendly and environmentally-conscious, rustic and primitive, elegant and modern, sophisticated and luxurious. No matter what type of impression you want to convey, Refine Packaging is able to bring it to life.

You’ve worked hard to create an incredible product. Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote on your product packaging and let our exceptional team of packaging and printing professionals help design packaging that reinforces everything you want users to know about your product and its superb performance and style. 

The post The 3 Levels of Packaging: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Packaging appeared first on Refine Packaging.