When using custom packaging, the prepress printing process needs as much attention as the design. This process is vital in determining the overall look and feel of your packaging, so getting this part right and having a standard procedure in place is imperative.

One of the main processes you need to get right from the start is your box dieline. This is an essential process, as dielines ensure your designs are accurate and meet your expectations. They are a great place to start, especially if you are still in the planning phase of your packaging design. 

So in this article, we’ll take you through the steps of correctly making dielines for prepress. But before we jump into our step-by-step guide, let’s take a moment to understand its definition.

What is a Dieline?

Put simply, dielines are vector files and essentially the flat blueprint version of your finished packaging, which acts as a guide when making cuts, scores, and indentations in the die-cutting process to construct your packaging.

Knowing that dielines are the blueprint for your final package is enough to understand their importance, but if you would like to read more in detail about what is a dieline in packaging, we have an in-depth explanation here.

Source: PakFactory

But now that you have a better idea of what a dieline is, let’s dive into the step-by-step guide to preparing your dielines for prepress and print!

Working out the Details

Before creating packaging dielines, there are a few essential things for you to consider.

Size

The first thing you need to determine is how big you need the packaging for your product. Ideally, your packaging should be the minimum size your product needs to sit comfortably inside.

Dielines are usually printed on sheets that fit industry standards, so make sure you are not opting for astronomically large packaging sizes, as printers may not accommodate the larger sheets required for the die-cutting process on oversized projects.

Weight

The weight of your product also needs to be considered. Heavier products may require thicker stock like corrugated cardboard to hold and protect products adequately, which affects the type of dieline you require.

The Purpose

Finally, the purpose of your packaging needs consideration as it will affect how your box dieline will look. Are you an e-commerce business that relies on shipping your products? Or are you a retail business that needs to create a strong shelf impact in-store?

For example, e-commerce businesses will likely choose thicker card stock like corrugated paperboard to protect products in transit. As an e-commerce business, It’s important to consider how your packaging will arrive at your customers’ locations, so its dielines may include some additional flaps or tabs to account for extra cushioning when constructed.

Source: PakFactory

On the other hand, retail businesses are likely to choose folding cartons or rigid boxes for packaging lighter-weight products, meaning the dieline may feature fewer flaps and tabs.  

Understanding how your packaging will serve your industry gives you a better idea of what to expect when making your dielines. But now that you have the details set, it’s time to translate that into a guide the printer and die-cutting machine can understand.

Creating A Dieline Template

When creating a box dieline, many technical details must be kept in mind, making it challenging to understand. Custom packaging companies or manufacturers usually provide their own dieline templates to ensure the structural design of your packaging works when constructed. This way, all you have to do is position your artwork designs and ensure the colors match for printing.

To better understand how to do this, we’ve provided a free dieline template for your usage: 

To place your artwork design onto the dieline, you’ll need Adobe Illustrator to open the file, which, as mentioned earlier, should be a vector file. The dieline will also feature several differently colored lines correlating to instructions for the die-cutting machine.

When placing and positioning your artwork designs, it’s essential to understand what these lines mean. Please remember that each company will have its standard for the colors mentioned, but the ones outlined are related to PakFactory’s standard for dielines. With that in mind, let’s look at what each color and line means.

Cutting Lines

Marked in black, cut lines are probably the most crucial part of your dieline. They communicate where to cut your dieline to construct your final packaging.

Crease Lines

Crease or fold lines are usually marked in red and communicate where to fold your packaging. The red dotted lines ensure ease of construction for your packaging once complete. 

Bleed Lines

Bleed lines are marked in green, separating excess space from the space that will ultimately feature your artwork design. Bleed lines help prevent any obscuring of your artwork and ensure your packaging design remains how you planned it on your vector file!

All artwork should ‘bleed’ over into the next panel or onto the excess space beyond the cutting lines to prevent a white border from forming around the design’s edge.

Safe Zone

The safe zone is marked as a green dotted line and indicates to the printer which areas are guaranteed to be seen on your custom-printed boxes. Safe zones help printers with their alignment, ensure printed artwork is placed correctly on the finished project, and account for any stock movement during printing.

Glue Tabs

Your glue tabs will be shown as green crisscrosses to indicate where glue needs to be placed in the construction of your packaging. Do note that some packaging structures, like auto-lock bottom boxes, do not require a glue tab as they are designed to work without glue or tape.

Prepress Workflow and Proper Artwork Design

We mentioned the prepress printing process before, and you might wonder, what is prepress? 

Prepress involves all the printing processes and procedures between designing the print layout and the final print. So now that you have a good understanding of the lines mapped out on your blank dieline from the above section, it is time to start this prepress process!

The first step is determining precisely where your box’s top, bottom, sides, and interior is on your box dieline. It can be tricky to distinguish what parts of your packaging will show and which elements will be tucked away. Make sure you mark the sections of your packaging you want printing on before positioning or creating your artwork designs.

 Artwork can be created directly on the dieline you’ve opened on Adobe Illustrator or transferred from another file, but follow the below prepress workflow to ensure the best accuracy and quality of your designs.

1. Dieline: DO NOT flatten/scale/resize dieline templates.
   
2. Color: Artwork files need to be formatted for the CMYK colorspace. CMYK will provide the most accurate color results when transferring your designs from the computer to a printer. PMS color code must also be indicated along with a swatch.
   
3. Artwork: When designing your artwork, ensure any artwork ‘bleeds’ into the bleed areas to prevent white spaces but have your main artwork and information within the borders to avoid cutoff. Also, ensure that any thin lines in your artwork be at least 0.25pt.
   
4. Images: Embed any images you use and set the resolution to 300 DPI to avoid blur.
   
5. Fonts: Place fonts last after all artwork, images, and color are complete. Ensure the text size is at least 6pts, and for black text, QR codes, or UPC barcodes, use 100% K value. Finally, convert all fonts to outlines. Outlining ensures the inclusion of your selected typeface and avoids issues of missing fonts. Select your text and find “Create Outlines” under the type menu to do this.

When submitting designs to PakFactory, we have provided a simple checklist to follow that will help you. But now that you’ve finished your dieline, it’s time to consider the printing method.

Read more on how to prepare your artwork on Adobe Illustrator.

Choosing the Right Printing Method

As previously discussed, dielines are printed on large sheets of the material of your choice before being cut out and constructed. Linking back to the size of your packaging, opting for bigger sizes of your dieline may not be effective, as it may not hold its shape after construction, and printing may not be possible on sheets as large as you would need. 

So, once again, it’s essential to consider the minimal size your product needs to comfortably sit inside the packaging so your dieline is at a reasonable size for printing.

Source: PakFactory

Other things to consider are the vibrancy and complexity of your artwork designs. If your artwork designs are vibrant and complex, you’ll likely opt for offset printing to ensure the highest quality results. This is also important for designs that feature a lot of text, as it needs to be easily legible for customers.

Alternatively, for designs that are more minimalistic or don’t require exceptional clarity to be impactful, digital printing may be more suitable for your packaging design.

Getting Ready for Manufacturing

Once you finalize your packaging dieline design and choose your printing method, it’s pretty easy to feel 100% confident in your project and send it off for mass production. However, it’s essential to put your packaging through quality control checks to ensure it can withstand any conditions it may face before mass production.

Source: PakFactory

Work with your manufacturer to prototype your final design before mass production. This way, your packaging designer or manufacturer can alter your box dieline depending on any structural issues it may have faced during the quality control process. 

Ordering a sample of your finished design will allow you to physically interact with your packaging and reposition and fix any errors in artwork design or text that may appear on your final package. Read more on why ordering samples is important for your packaging.

But once you have approved your prototype samples and made any necessary changes, that’s it! Your packaging dieline is ready for mass printing and production.

Final Dieline and Prepress Checklist

Creating packaging dielines can be daunting, which is why packaging design and structural engineering services are helpful! PakFactory has a lot of experience working with different businesses across industries on their packaging designs, and dielines are no exception. Hopefully, we’ve made preparing a packaging dieline for your project more manageable with the above information and checklist.

However, if you have questions or want to continue your journey into custom packaging further, contact one of PakFactory’s product specialists today!

The post How To Prepare Dielines For Prepress & Printing first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How To Prepare Dielines For Prepress & Printing appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Sustainability efforts continue to rise for all industries across the market. Businesses worldwide endeavor to make a concerted effort to meet sustainable consumer demands while maintaining high-quality product packaging. 

The restaurant industry, in particular, has seen an enormous influx of sustainable packaging options. From biodegradable to recyclable packaging, the restaurant industry is taking significant steps toward eco-friendly solutions. 

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the most popular biodegradable packaging option, cornstarch packaging. If you haven’t already made the switch, we’ll lay out everything you need to know to take the leap toward more sustainable efforts in your packaging! 

What is Cornstarch Packaging?

Source: PakFactory

Cornstarch is a biodegradable packaging material that can replace polystyrene (Styrofoam) and plastic. Available in transparent and opaque materials, cornstarch can be used in various ways, but the most popular way to utilize cornstarch packaging is for takeaway food. 

This includes packaging options such as;

• Trays
• Lids
• Bags
• Plates
• Containers

Unlike petroleum-based plastic, cornstarch containers are biodegradable and renewable, making them an excellent choice for eco-friendly packaging material and plastic alternatives. 

How is Cornstarch Packaging Made?

Cornstarch is part of a more significant movement of emerging bioplastics derived from agricultural waste or byproducts. More companies are starting to create their own environmentally safe alternatives to plastics using various renewable resources like vegetables, oil, fats, recycled food wastes, and, you guessed it, cornstarch.

Cornstarch containers use polylactic acid (PLA) plastic made by fermenting the plant sugar and starch. Compared to traditional plastics, PLA plastic is much more environmentally friendly and sustainable as it releases fewer greenhouse gases during production and does not include toxic materials. 

Not only is PLA plastic better in production and the exclusion of toxic materials, but when disposed of correctly, it can serve as fertilizer and only takes several months to break down instead of the hundreds of years traditional plastics take.

There are even an array of PLA plastic types or grades to choose from, including;

• 2002D – used for thermoforming
• 3051D – great for injection molding
• 4032D – ideal for producing films
• 6201D – used to produce staple fibre
• 7000D – ideal for making bottles

On top of being more environmentally friendly, cornstarch packaging is very cost competitive to traditional plastics, using the cheapest commercially available sugars, so there is no need to worry about exorbitantly higher costs, overuse and limited supplies. Moreover, the FDA has also approved PLA for use as a polymer, and it is regarded as 100% food safe.

The Lifecycle of a Cornstarch Container

We briefly touched upon the lifecycle of cornstarch packaging in our previous section, but it is worth going into more detail about why this material is so much better than traditional plastics.

For starters, at the beginning of this package’s lifecycle, it is derived from renewable resources, unlike petroleum-based plastic. And in the processing and manufacturing phase of its lifecycle, cornstarch plastic emits fewer greenhouse gasses than traditional plastic.

Once this eco-packaging reaches the consumer, it is used like any other product before moving into the end phase of its lifecycle, disposal.

The main characteristic of biodegradable cornstarch packaging is that it naturally degrades or can serve as fertilizer, leaving behind no negative environmental concerns or hazardous gases. Within months, cornstarch plastic can break down into just carbon dioxide and water, further helping to reduce the carbon footprint of both consumers and businesses. 

But is it worth investing in?  The short answer is yes.

The Cornstarch Packaging Market

Because of the exponential growth in the environmentally friendly movement, starch packaging materials and other bioplastics are quickly gaining market share. According to Globe News Wire, the biodegradable cornstarch packaging market will reach USD 126.85 billion by 2026.

Bio-based materials have many environmental benefits over time, and being renewable can make them an even better alternative to less eco-friendly options. As more companies pledge to change for a healthier planet, identifying and scaling sustainable packaging options is crucial to product and business success.

But what exactly are the benefits of cornstarch packaging for your business?

The Pros & Cons of Cornstarch Packaging

Using biodegradable packaging material offers companies many benefits, especially as a replacement for conventional plastics. Looking back at the lifecycle of cornstarch containers, we can already see the benefits to businesses and the environment.

The main advantage of using cornstarch packaging is that it is renewable since corn is affordable and readily available. Unlike petroleum-based plastic, there is no scarcity of resources, making it easier to utilize this kind of packaging material effectively and for the long term.

Starch packaging materials are also 100% biodegradable, recyclable and compostable, making them great for an eco-friendly initiative.

On top of this, no harmful toxins are present in the material, making it much safer to produce and use for consumers. Cornstarch is effective as food packaging since it is 100% food-safe, has a high aroma barrier, and is resistant to food fat and oils without additional coatings or chemicals.

Source: PakFactory

Furthermore, cornstarch packaging has low flammability and works well for printing applications, allowing businesses to brand their packaging without causing harm to the environment and offer a high-quality customer experience. 

But while these cornstarch benefits seem significant enough to make the change, it’s still essential to cover both sides of the coin. Let’s examine the drawbacks to ensure you are well-informed about your decision. 

Firstly, because cornstarch is so new as a packaging material, infrastructure is not in place yet to fully support it. While this will improve over time, using cornstarch as a packaging material currently poses some challenges. Though the polymers in cornstarch packaging are indeed eco-friendly and compostable, only a few facilities can now accommodate them. 

This type of packaging also relies on customer behaviors. Because most customers will not compost the material properly, most cornstarch packaging will likely end up in landfills due to improper disposal. In addition, composting PLA plastic in large quantities could cause other issues, as doing so may make regular compost more acidic, posing a threat to the environmental impact. 

The only way to combat these issues is by raising awareness about this packaging material and the proper disposal process to prevent more packaging from ending up in landfills.

Why You Should Switch to Cornstarch Packaging

Despite its drawbacks, cornstarch containers are still much more eco-friendly than plastic. So now that you’ve seen all the benefits and disadvantages of this eco-friendly alternative, you might still wonder, is it worth switching to this biodegradable packaging? 

Yes! Cornstarch packaging material can significantly benefit your business and the environment, making this packaging solution worthwhile. It can help your business become more socially responsible and attract eco-conscious shoppers focused on supporting eco-friendly businesses.

Source: Chris Martinie

Consumers have become much more conscious of greenwashed packaging and are much more knowledgeable about materials in the industry. Using cornstarch is an excellent start to help market your brand effectively and establish a more authentic connection with customers.

Make the Jump to Sustainability

With impending bans on single-use plastics looming, switching to more sustainable options is fast becoming a necessity rather than a choice. 

Even so, using more environmentally friendly and innovative options such as cornstarch packaging materials or other biodegradable options helps you stand out and highlights your commitment to an increasing push for sustainability. 

As we continue to learn more about the fate of plastics, exploring biodegradable and sustainable packaging materials is vital to stand out as a brand in the long run.

Were you looking to learn more about your sustainable packaging options? Get in contact with our product specialists to discuss your options today!

The post Why Cornstarch Packaging Is Beneficial To Your Business first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Why Cornstarch Packaging Is Beneficial To Your Business appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

If you’re looking for an affordable, fun and creative way to showcase the personality of your budding business or an indie artist looking to begin selling something online, designing a sticker is an excellent avenue for you! According to eRank, which tracks trending products on the giant e-commerce marketplace, Etsy, stickers were one of the most searched terms on the website, showcasing this demand.

Source: Unsplash

Custom stickers are so versatile, with their ability to stick on any surface like a laptop, notebook or phone case and their ability to adopt any genre or style. The only limitation is your creativity and imagination, so in this article, we will go over five easy steps to start selling your DIY stickers online!

What are Custom DIY Stickers?

Before we get into the steps of how to make your own sticker, it is essential to know what a custom sticker is. Now, you might think a sticker is a sticker; you peel it and put it on a surface and done! Though you are not wrong in this sense, there is more to it than that.

A custom sticker is an individually cut piece of adhesive paper or plastic that can have up to five moddable layers manufactured to fit your needs. These layers include:

1. Laminate (optional): For protection
2. Ink: Features your custom design typically made via the CMYK color system.
3. Media: The paper or plastic your design is printed on
4. Adhesive: The sticky part of a sticker
5. Backing Paper: The paper that protects your sticker and makes it easy to peel and apply.

Why Make Custom Stickers?

As mentioned earlier, stickers are so versatile, and there is a big market for them online. Whether it’s your illustration or photograph, anything can become a custom sticker to sell online. You can even have different sizes, shapes and unique finishes that work better for various items and audiences.

Source: PakFactory

With the limitless possibilities for creativity, stickers can fit into any style or genre you want, and finding a consumer base that enjoys your particular style isn’t a challenging task. Even from a business cost perspective, making stickers in small orders or larger batches can cost less than $1, and shipping isn’t very costly either, with a rigid envelope the only thing you need.

So if the above facts convinced you to start your voyage into selling your stickers online, let’s cut to the chase and get into how you can quickly get started!

How to Make Stickers Ready for Online Sale

Designing and selling stickers online is relatively straightforward, but like all good things, you still need to overcome a few challenges. The most challenging part regarding DIY stickers comes at the beginning of the five steps.

1. Designing Your Sticker

Finding a unique aesthetic can take time and effort. We suggest tapping into your hobbies, interests, artistic styles that inspire you, or symbols that represent your business or personality when creating a design.

Source: Unsplash

Once you’ve found that, you can design your stickers to match those inspirations, and we suggest that any design you create be done via the CMYK color system, as this is the standard for print materials.

Learn more about CMYK here.

2. Select a Printing Method

When choosing how to print your stickers, you have two options: print at home or have the professionals do it for you.

• Printing at home requires more work and time, but it allows you to have control from start to finish and prints stickers on demand. However, you will need the proper equipment, and there are naturally fewer customization options on materials and finishes when making stickers at home. 
  
  You’d need a Cricut machine to cut your stickers. Start with calibrating your Cricut machine via the software included with the device. We recommend a few test cuts first, as printing at home involves some trial and error to get perfect.
  
  Once you’ve calibrated your machine, choose your file on your computer, connect it to your printing machine and print using your sticker paper. Apply any lamination or finishes before using your Cricut device to cut the stickers. To help you start making stickers at home, we’ve provided a sticker dieline template below for you to try!

• The other option is to use a printing or manufacturing company. With professional help, you can eliminate the guesswork and hassle while giving more freedom to customize your design. Professional printing companies can create high-volume orders in less time at affordable prices and offer higher-quality finishes and unique templates unavailable at home.
  
  So if you need a custom sticker or label, PakFactory cuts the hassle and gives you a high level of customization you won’t find making custom stickers at home.

3. Where to Sell

Once you’ve completed your sticker design at home or through a professional printing company, it’s time to decide where to sell your products online. Thankfully, there are plenty of options.

Etsy requires making, shipping and managing orders on your own while providing very little customization for your storefront. Each new product comes with a recurring $0.20 listing fee and a 5% commission for each transaction. However, Etsy is simple to set up, and a considerable audience uses this platform, making it an excellent way to get your brand out there.

For Redbubble, selling is easier as you don’t need to make or ship the products. Redbubble allows you to upload your artwork stickers for free and they will handle the production and fulfillment. However, when a customer buys an item, you will need to pay for the manufacturing and shipping costs, which results in a lower profit margin.

With Shopify, you can customize your online storefront with branding, designs and promotions. A monthly fee is required to keep your shop running. But the challenge is that you will need to promote the store via social media, online influencers or email marketing. Do note that many online sellers utilize multiple platforms to diversify and extend their range.

4. Pricing Your Sticker Design

Once you’ve decided where to sell your stickers, how do you calculate pricing? When you’ve put a lot of time and effort into designing the perfect sticker, deciding on a fair price can seem complicated. The best way to determine a reasonable price is to look at your competitors.

Most stickers online will sell between $2-6, but factors like size, materials used (like holographic paper), and design complexity should be considered. Ideally, you need to make a small profit, so calculate the time spent and materials used to create your sticker when deciding upon a fair price.

5. Shipping Your DIY Stickers

The final step is to send your stickers! We mentioned Redbubble handles this, but if you are using other options, you must consider the best way to get your stickers to customers. Thankfully, shipping stickers is a breeze! You only need a stamp and a rigid mailer to protect your stickers from damage.

But if you wish to get a bit extra fancy to distinguish yourself from competitors, online sticker shops are known to create fun packaging to accompany their stickers. Consider handwritten thank-you cards, branded stickers or other custom inserts for extra flare.

Source: Unsplash

Cuts and Types of Stickers You Can Make

First, you must decide on the type of sticker you want to make before you can look into posting them online. For this, there are two main cuts for stickers: die-cut and kiss-cut.

Die-cut stickers conform to the exact shape of a sticker. This can be as simple as a circle or as intricate as the shape of a leaf on a tree. With this method, the sticker and the backing paper are cut to the shape of the actual sticker.

Kiss-cut stickers are when the cut is made only on the sticker layer. When the sticker is removed, the backing paper remains, allowing for sheets of stickers with multiple designs.

Sticker Materials and Finishes

Alongside the different cuts you can have for your sticker design, stickers can also have different looks and feel depending on what they are printed on. Matte, for example, may highlight finer details, while holographic may make work better with bolder designs. Below are some popular choices:

• Glossy Paper or Vinyl
• Matte
• UV Coating
• Hot Foil Stamping
• Holographic
• Scratch Off

We recommend experimenting with different finishes to find the best one that suits your sticker design.

A Sticker for All Occasions

Making sticker designs are a great way to showcase your creativity, personality and artistry while being an excellent product to sell online. Stickers are versatile for all industries, genres and styles and work not only for indie artists and small businesses but for larger businesses too.

So if you want to begin making custom stickers to sell online, look no further than PakFactory. To start your journey today, speak with one of our professional packaging specialists for more information on custom stickers and labels!

The post How to Make and Sell Stickers Online in 5 Easy Steps first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How to Make and Sell Stickers Online in 5 Easy Steps appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Box dimensions are a critical part of any package as they significantly impact what materials are needed, the cost of production, and shipping and warehousing costs.

Think of it this way; minimal room for movement in a box means minimal room for damage and a reduction of your overall costs, so it is essential to get the measurements right!

To help you do that, we have laid out a clear step-by-step guide for finding and measuring dimensions, calculating the volume of a box, and one essential consideration to keep in mind to provide you with the most accurate measurements.

The Three Dimensions of a Box

The first step to creating perfect packaging is to measure the three dimensions inside your box, not outside — more on why you need to do this later — by using a ruler or tape measure and rounding each result to the nearest whole inch. But to do that, one must know the three dimensions: length, width, and depth.

Source: PakFactory

Keep in mind that different companies use depth and height interchangeably. However, the industry standard order of dimensions when recording or reading measurements remains the same: Length x Width x Depth (LxWxD) or Length x Width x Height (LxWxH). 

• Length: The longest side when looking at the top of the box.
• Width: The shorter side when looking at the top of the box.
• Depth (Height): The side perpendicular to the length and width.

1. In the case of a tall or upward-facing box, the depth will be the most prominent dimension, while the length and width will be smaller.

Source: PakFactory

2. As seen below, the depth and width will be much smaller than the length of long boxes.

Source: PakFactory

Regardless of your chosen package, you must always know the exact package dimensions before moving on to manufacturing. Below are a few additional examples of different box sizes and where to find their length, width and depth.

Source: PakFactory

Calculating the Volume of a Box

The next step after measuring your box’s length, width and depth is to calculate the volume to help determine how well your product will fit inside the package and give you a better idea for your shipping, warehousing and distribution processes.

Volume plays a crucial role in material optimization, cost reduction and the structural engineering of your packaging, so do not skip this step! Simply multiply the three dimensions using the below formula to get a volume measurement in cubic centimeters:

Length x Width x Depth = Volume

It is worth noting, though, that when calculating the volume of a box with the above formula, knowing which measurement corresponds with which dimension is technically optional. However, we highly recommend knowing this information to avoid future confusion or mistakes; it’s just a good habit to maintain.

But if you are not the best at mathematics and are looking for a tool to help make this process easier, use this convenient calculator to get exact volume measurements for your packaging.

The Issue of External Dimensions

Though we’ve shown how straightforward it can be to find the dimensions of your package, measure its exact length, width and depth and calculate for volume, there is still one essential consideration to keep in mind.

We mentioned earlier that you should measure your box’s internal dimensions, and we are about to explain why.

The industry standard for box dimensions relies on internal measurements, not external ones. The distinction between the internal and external dimensions is vital for obtaining packaging that fits your products perfectly. Interior dimensions are much more accurate for both the manufacturer and your product!

Most manufacturers even set a clear distinction between internal and external sizes, so while it may seem natural and easier to measure the outer dimensions of a box, the interior measurements are what matters for your custom packaging project.

Source: PakFactory

Measuring internal dimensions ensures your product can fit inside the box and is secure. Leaving minimal room for movement inside the package will guarantee your products’ safety during shipping and handling and allow your business to provide high-quality products every time.

On the contrary, if you measure external dimensions, it could prove problematic as external dimensions don’t factor in the thickness of a box, which could result in packaging that doesn’t quite fit your product.

This is especially important in the case of corrugated boxes.

Corrugated boxes feature a fluted texture weaved between two paperboards, making the material thick and adding a couple of millimeters to every measurement you take from the outer lining of the package.

So to get more accurate measurements, always measure the internal dimensions!

One Click Away

Now that you know how to find the length, width and depth (height) of your box, how to measure its dimensions, calculate the volume and have a better understanding of the importance of internal dimensions, you can now apply these easy processes to any packaging project! 

That said, nothing beats the professional help of a packaging expert.

Visit Pakfactory and speak to a packaging expert regarding your custom packaging project and how it can benefit you and your business!

The post How to Correctly Measure The Dimensions of a Box first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How to Correctly Measure The Dimensions of a Box appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Ensuring the highest quality, protection and care without compromise is essential when considering factors such as an individual’s health and well-being. 

However, these requirements don’t just apply to the products but also to medicine packaging design.

For pharmaceutical products, packaging design and labeling are just as crucial. 

Pharmaceutical packaging design must protect these sensitive products from contaminants like water, light and dust, while the labels need to be clear, concise and display pertinent information correctly.

Failure to meet these standards is a quick way to go out of business, so in this article, we will cover the major factors you need to consider to stay compliant and meet the high standards of the pharmaceutical industry.

However, despite the high standards, medical device packaging to meet these requirements has never been easier!

With the introduction of smart packaging design, quality control, tracing, and transparency have never been so easily achievable.

But before we look into this trend, let us first look deeper into medical packaging requirements.

Regulatory Bodies for Medical Devices and Packaging

Before we go into detail about the design, testing and other considerations for your pharmaceutical packaging design, it is first essential that we begin with the broad strokes.

The medical industry is strictly regulated, as we mentioned before. So before companies can even begin considering options to meet end-user requirements, they must first satisfy the regulations set in place by the government and global regulatory bodies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) are the main central bodies you must comply with concerning medical device packaging design requirements.

The FDA is the US government regulation, while the ISO is an international nongovernmental organization comprising many national standard bodies.

Why do you need to ensure compliance with both FDA and ISO regulations?

Though the ISO is a nongovernmental organization, it still plays a vital role in facilitating global trade. The ISO works in 167 countries and sets forth common standards across all of them.

These regulations ensure that all products conform to the minimum international standard.

Whether your medical device is classified as a Class I, II, or III, it must meet a long list of requirements set forth by these regulatory bodies.

These regulations include standards for labeling, data integrity, usage, sterilization, age testing, shelf life, and international distribution.

And though the actual list of regulations and requirements for every medical device class is more in-depth and extensive, most organizations and manufacturing companies employ internal or third-party departments to keep track, integrate and stay up-to-date with these requirements.

Determining the medical requirements at an early stage of development minimizes the risks of defects and costly recalls, so ensure that you meet FDA and ISO standards.

But now that you know a little more about the FDA and ISO’s role in setting standards for medical products and their packaging design, we can finally shift focus and take a closer look at how to design medical packages to meet these standards.

Considerations for Designing Safe and Compliant Medical Device Packaging

As mentioned briefly above, packaging design for medical products has several regulations, particularly on labeling, sterility and barrier requirements.

But before you can begin thinking about labeling, sterility and appropriate barriers for your package, it is essential to discuss and communicate your preferences with your chosen packaging partner first.

The specific package characteristics and films you choose can significantly alter the manufacturing process through different machine model requirements, applications and sealing elements.

It is essential to discuss your materials and packaging preferences with your selected packaging partner to prevent future problems that might require you to redo all of your pharmaceutical packaging design.

Be sure to cover things like looks versus function preferences, possible resource backlogs, prices, sealing methods and other factors, such as if you wish to utilize recyclable materials.

The push for sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly popular, and this must be considered with medical device packaging as well.

Your packaging partner will not determine the medical requirements for your packaging but will help you monitor these factors and offer helpful insight into concerns and considerations.

Medical Device Packaging Requirements for Sterility and Protection

After discussing the materials and other preferences with your packaging partner, sterilization and barrier properties are the next vital factor to consider.

From a design perspective, the materials used in the medical package must survive the sterilization process, maintain sterility, and serve as a viable barrier to contaminants afterward.

It is worth noting that there are various sterilization methods, such as Ethylene Oxide (EO), radiation or steam, and materials react differently to each option.

Ensure your chosen material is compatible with the sterilization method, but also keep in mind the compatibility with required barriers and protections.

Some barrier requirements medical devices may need include:

• Oxygen
• UV Light
• Solvents
• Moisture
• Odors/Vapors
• Acids/Bases
• Microbial
• Temperature

Again, the chosen material is important in determining what your package can protect against, so we emphasize communicating with your packaging partner and deciding your materials carefully.

Human Considerations and Labeling in Pharmaceutical Packaging Design

Once you’ve chosen the appropriate material and ensured compatibility with sterilization and the required protection barriers against contaminants, the next consideration is the human factor.

While protecting your device against contaminants is crucial, accessibility is also worth considering.

Your medical package design should consider the end-user and make it easy to access within their given environment while maintaining sterility when opened.

However, note that some devices might require additional design considerations to make access easy for adults, but deter children, seniors or others with disabilities from access.

Consider all possible situations in which your medical device might find itself and design your packaging around this to accommodate potential emotional, environmental or physical external factors.

Proper labeling and instructions also help with this.

Clear and concise instructions significantly help the end user, while proper labeling allows clearly defined claims of your device’s capabilities, which will aid in the successful launch of your product and prevent misuse by the end user.

Not including these labels or having inaccurate labels is one of the main reasons the FDA issues product recalls, so ensure your labels are correct and accurate!

Work closely with regulatory, quality assurance and manufacturing teams throughout the process and implement the labels before the testing phase so corrections can be made as early as possible.

Supply Chain Considerations

The final consideration when designing your medical device packaging is the supply chain.

As mentioned earlier, different medical devices and medicines have additional requirements for various life-cycle aspects, and the supply chain is no different.

When designing your medical device package, consider the transportation and storage requirements of your medical device.

Is it temperature sensitive? Light sensitive? Does the device require records of its movements, or should tracing be implemented on the package? Can your package even survive through rough transportation prone to contaminants?

All of these questions must be addressed when you design your pharmaceutical packaging, and this is where testing helps solve these issues.

Testing of Medical Device Packaging

After all considerations are made, and the designs have been implemented, your medical device package still needs to undergo stringent testing to ensure the implemented sterilization, barriers, and other systems are safe and effective.

From manufacturing to transit and storage, and even up to the point of contact with the consumer, your pharmaceutical packaging must meet the requirements outlined by the FDA and ISO.

Certified third-party testing laboratories are available to aid in this process and incorporate tests such as performance, accelerated aging, temperature, humidity, seal and sterile integrity testing in controlled environments to ensure accurate results.

Some examples of requirements that need to be met during testing for medical device packaging include, but are not limited to:

• Packaging systems must be able to protect their contents when exposed to hazardous conditions during handling, distribution and storage.
• Seal and package strength must maintain effectiveness and safety when exposed to mechanical forces.
• Package integrity must maintain the sterility of the barrier until opened at the point of use.
•  The sterile barrier system must remain intact throughout the expected shelf-life of the product.

ISO 11607-01 and the FDA packaging requirements in Code 21CFR211.94 should be reviewed for more in-depth and detailed information on medical package requirements.

Emerging Trends in Medicine Packaging Design

Though there are many requirements and regulations for medical device packaging and much to consider when designing a package to meet these high standards, keeping up with packaging trends can help alleviate these stresses.

Smart packaging and tracking technologies are beginning to grow in popularity, making it much easier to adhere to the stringent requirements of the medical industry.

Advanced sensors and indicators have been developed that can help monitor the condition of a medical product from transportation all the way to the shelf and can even improve the product’s shelf-life.

Other technologies like RFID tags and tracking stickers have made supply chains more transparent by allowing companies to gain real-time insight into the logistics and transportation of their medical device packages.

Smart packaging technologies have also improved the end-user experience by ensuring that quality, transparency, and pertinent information are available quickly and efficiently.

As smart packaging becomes more prevalent in the medical industry and various other sectors, implementing these technologies into your medicine packaging design may be worth considering.

Stay ahead of the curve and help alleviate some of the stresses of designing a package that meets FDA and ISO requirements.

Medical Packaging Design Has Never Been Easier

Regardless of the function or purpose of your medical device, the FDA and ISO will always hold high standards for pharmaceutical packaging and products.

When an individual’s health and well-being are factors, this is understandable.

But though the standards will not be lowered, and companies still need to adhere to the stringent requirements, pharmaceutical packaging design is ultimately becoming more accessible.

Yes, companies still need thorough planning and consideration regarding labeling, data integrity, usage, sterilization, age testing, shelf life, and international distribution.

However, with the rapidly advancing technology and the innovation of newer and better solutions, pharmaceuticall packaging design will only get easier.

Smart packaging is growing in all sectors, enabling packages to do things they never could before.

So if your company is looking to design a package to meet the high standards of the medical industry, we recommend considering smart packaging!

The post Pharmaceutical Packaging Design: Safety, Compliance, and New Technology first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Pharmaceutical Packaging Design: Safety, Compliance, and New Technology appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Businesses like Starbucks utilize unique holiday cups during the Christmas season, and Nike regularly designs limited edition shoes and packaging that consumers highly covet.

But why are limited edition items so appealing to consumers? Why do limited edition campaigns work?

The answer is quite simple. 

Limited edition items create a sense of exclusivity and prestige. These unique items are marketed as only having a limited number produced or being available for a limited time, after which they will no longer be sold.

Because there is a set time limit or a finite number of the limited edition product, consumers feel they need to have it before it is gone.

Scarcity naturally increases the demand and perceived value of items. 

Companies tap into this mentality to create a highly sought product by utilizing these principles with unique and select products.

A Limited edition marketing strategy heavily play into the scarcity mentality of human behavior, where items that appear scarce generate more interest and apparent value.

However, offering limited edition products isn’t enough.

When you create limited edition products, you want to differentiate them from the other products you usually offer.

Designing limited edition packaging is also required to do this, but where do you begin? 

Like all projects, planning is the first step. 

By following the upcoming steps in this article, we hope to give you a solid understanding of all the requirements and planning needed to make your own special edition packaging while offering some tips and examples to help you succeed.

Planning Your Limited Edition Marketing Strategy

Before beginning any design, we must always start with thorough planning and research to maximize the chance of success and reduce the number of hurdles and bumps along the way.

We cannot emphasize enough the need to plan and research before beginning any project, so the first step of creating special edition packaging is:

Understand Your Target Audience

Different things appeal to different people. You cannot change this; no universal limited edition design or strategy will reach and appeal to all demographics.

Therefore, it is essential to know which audience you intend to reach and what is specifically effective at appealing to them.

For special edition products and packaging to be effective, it has to appeal to the audience you are trying to sell to.

So to do this, you need to do your due research!

If your business utilizes social media or a website, go through those analytics to help determine the target audience you should focus your marketing efforts.

Research demographic data points and know which products are popular with your audience and what packaging most effectively appeals to them.

A deep understanding of your audience protects you from overspending on limited edition marketing and will set the foundation for how you plan, design and present your limited edition packaging to the target consumer.

Let’s look back at Nike and their limited edition shoes as an example of understanding a target audience.

Nike has a collection of limited edition Chinese New Year shoes that feature unique designs based on that year’s Chinese zodiac sign. In 2022 the designs were based around the tiger, while in 2023, the designs are now rabbit themed.

These limited edition Chinese New Year shoes show that Nike is culturally conscious of their Chinese demographic and specifically caters to this audience through limited edition products that feature the year’s zodiac animal.

Nike also has special boxes designed around the zodiac animal and Chinese New Year festivities to accompany this limited product.

But while these designs are meant to resonate with Chinese culture, that same effect is lost to people of a different culture.

Yes, these Chinese New Year-themed designs may appeal to collectors and others who find the designs unique, but it is clear that Nike specifically targeted their Chinese demographic when creating the limited edition product and package.

This brings us to the next thing you need to know before designing limited edition packaging.

Stay Current on Packaging Trends

It is not just your audience you need a deep understanding of but also packaging trends.

Like Nike changes its Chinese New Year packaging and product to fit the current Chinese New Year zodiac animal, you must also consider overall industry trends with your limited edition packaging.

Staying current on packaging trends applies to all your packaging, but these trends doubly affect special edition packaging.

Your packaging design has to look current and fresh to attract consumers to your limited edition packaging.

Old, dated, or reused designs will be counterintuitive to the prestige and exclusivity limited edition items should elicit.

Some current packaging trends include:

• Sustainable Packaging – Eco-friendly, biodegradable and recyclable packaging is becoming increasingly important for companies to pursue, with more and more consumers championing a healthier planet.

• Minimalism – Simple and clean designs are a growing trend. Find a balance between eye-catching colors and graphics, but refrain from overstimulating the consumer with excessive designs.

• Smart Packaging – Consider including technology like QR codes and RFID tags on your limited edition packaging.

• Vintage Style Designs – As mentioned above, avoid using old or dated designs, but if done and marketed carefully can elicit positive feelings of nostalgia and familiarity.

• Multi-Sensory Packaging – Packaging that is not only visually appealing but also caters to the sense of touch or smell can also be utilized to create a unique customer experience.

• Localization – Consider packaging tailored for specific regions or cultures. Like Nike with their Chinese New Year collection, think of different cultures and cater to them. Use language, images and colors that resonate with the target cultures.

• Reusable Packaging – Like sustainable packaging, reusable packaging is another eco-friendly option. This trend encourages consumers to repurpose or reuse the package instead of throwing it out.

• Gender-neutral Packaging – The move away from traditional gender-specific packaging is helping brands appeal to a broader and diverse audience.

However, not only do you need to keep track of the overarching trends in the packaging industry, like the push for increased sustainability and eco-friendliness, but you also need to have precise timing.

When you market and launch your limited edition product, it must match its intended season or holiday.

The last thing you want to do is launch a limited edition item when the season or holiday has already passed.

Doing this will automatically make your product seem like old news and counteracts the feeling of exclusivity and prestige with a limited edition product, so plan your release schedule wisely!

Create a Sense of Urgency

Whether designing the package for a coming holiday or season, building and maintaining a sense of urgency is vital to a successful limited edition run of any product.

We mentioned earlier that the scarcity mentality plays a heavy role in the success of limited edition products and packaging, so lean into that behavior!

Consider adding a countdown timer on your webpage or posting on social media about your limited edition product’s impending arrival and departure.

Inform your customer base that there is only a limited amount of stock available.

Create a buzz around your product and increase the anticipation of your customers for its arrival.

If you collaborate with other brands and artists – more on this later – tell your customers that the collaboration is a “one and done” deal. Once the product is sold out, then there will not be a re-run.

An example of effectively creating a sense of urgency for your limited edition products can be seen in one of Starbucks’ campaigns.

Starbucks once added a visually appealing and social media-worthy unicorn frappuccino to its menu. The catch was that this drink was only available for a few days.

The drink sold out within the first day of the campaign, but the nearly 160,000 social media posts about the unicorn frappuccino speak for themselves!

Starbucks effectively built the buzz around their limited-time product through social media by stating that it was only a few days.

Further demand for this product was added with the unique visual appeal of the beverage and the creative name of a unicorn frappuccino.

We will delve more into the role social media plays with limited edition packaging in the next section, but first, there are a few other tips to consider before then.

Tips for Designing Your Limited Edition Packaging

Now that you’ve done your research and planning, you can now move on to the design of your limited edition packaging.

Like your limited edition product, the packaging must be unique and different from your usual offerings and competitors’ offerings.

As mentioned before, anything that is limited edition should elicit a feeling of prestige and exclusivity. Therefore, the packaging should reflect this and differ from regularly available products and packaging.

Limited edition products and packaging, especially uniquely designed ones, should naturally add value to a product because they become collector’s items.

With collector’s items, the package is just as important as the product. 

The consumer commonly preserves a limited edition product inside its packaging to retain or increase its original value, so having a unique package will help create that need to collect your product.

But how do you make effective limited edition packaging?

Let’s look at some tips and examples to help get you started!

Combine Eye-Catching Colors, Graphics and Unique Features

The first tip you should consider is using a combination of colors, graphics and features in combination to catch the consumers’ eye and design unique graphics that have not been seen before.

This does not mean overloading the consumer with a flood of colors and flashy abstract designs but tastefully incorporating these unique ideas into a cohesive image.

Think of the limited edition product you are selling and design your package around it.

Consider starting with a strong brand foundation before branching out, experimenting and exploring the many design options.

Begin by incorporating any key colors, graphic elements, or styles synonymous with your brand. 

Ensure that consumers know where the limited edition product is coming from.

Limited edition packaging is more effective when consumers can recognize the brand behind it. After all, a company’s brand plays a big part in increasing the consumers’ perceived prestige and want for limited edition products.

Just think of it this way, people are more likely to spend on limited edition products from recognizable and popular brands than ones they are unfamiliar with.

For example, look again at Nike’s Year of the Rabbit shoes and packaging.

The shoes feature a furry swoosh and an embroidered rabbit on the side, clearly representing 2023’s Chinese New Year zodiac animal. 

But the product is further enhanced by the themed package it comes in.

The package tastefully incorporates a unique and eye-catching graphic design in that the entire box also looks like rabbit fur, along with a simple Asian-inspired graphic design of a rabbit on the top of the box.

They do not feature bold colors, but incorporating white text with a unique gray fur box and Asian-inspired rabbit design still attracts attention for its distinctive look and on-theme design.

Also featured on the packaging is Nike’s universally recognized swoosh, but it is not the primary graphic commanding attention from the consumers. 

Though Nike featured their signature swoosh so consumers knew their brand was behind the package, the logo was not the primary focus, which leads us to our next tip.

Put The Audience First

Designing limited edition packaging should primarily focus on the consumers. 

Yes, consumers need to know the brand behind the product, but that should be secondary for your limited edition packaging strategy.

Consumers do not need to know the complete history of your brand, nor do they need to know your branding claims and product story.

Keep it simple and stick to the key elements of your brand, as mentioned above.

Consider what the customer base wants in a limited edition product instead of cluttering your package with brand marketing.

The unique design of your limited edition package should speak for itself, and this is what limited edition is all about, something your consumers have not seen before!

Get creative with designs and themes. Experiment with your packaging and have fun.

Design your package to make the customer base want to keep and display it.

The ‘afterlife’ of your limited edition packaging is just as important as its first impression.

As mentioned earlier, being collectible is part of the limited edition experience, so reflect that in your packaging!

Collaborate With Other Well-Known Influencers

Considering a collaboration with a famous artist is another way to increase the prestige and exclusivity of your limited edition packaging.

Hiring a famous artist to put a twist on your usual design is a great way to reach a wider audience while also emphasizing how unique your limited edition product and packaging are.

Collaborating with famous artists is mutually beneficial as you can tap into their audience, and they can tap into yours.

In addition to the added reach of collaboration, the exclusivity of your limited edition campaign is further enhanced when a third party is involved. It is not every day that an artist collaborates with a company to create something memorable.

But you don’t have to limit your options to just artists!

Brand and pop-culture collaborations are also common strategies.

An example is when Lego collaborated with Adidas to create something memorable and unique.

The shoes and packaging designed by Lego and Adidas showcased both brands coming together and collaborating to make special edition products that oozed uniqueness and collectibility.

Both brands include their logo on the packaging, but they mashed their styles together to create an unforgettable box.

Featured on the package was a bright blue box resembling a Lego brick and the three white stripes synonymous with Adidas. 

However, to add a little extra Lego flare, the Adidas stripes were jagged instead of straight, also resembling Lego bricks!

When did you last see a shoe and package designed with a Lego theme?

Another brand that effectively utilizes collaborations is Surpreme.

Supreme frequently collaborates with different artists, brands and influencers to create unique products in limited quantities.

They are a brand built upon the scarcity model and successfully leans into this by frequently collaborating and creating a sense of anticipation and urgency to purchase the next big thing they make.

Some notable collaborations Supreme has done recently include brands like Burberry, artists like Nate Lowman and fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. 

Supreme is one of the leading examples of how collaborations are effective for limited edition products.

Regardless of who you collaborate with, the extra buzz is bound to happen if you decide to collaborate with an artist or brand! 

Packaging for Social Media

Looking back at the previously mentioned Starbucks example, designing your package to look great on social media is another factor you should consider when designing for special edition marketing and packaging.

When special edition packaging is visually appealing and unique, consumers are likelier to post them on social media and further expand your brand’s reach.

Social media is a huge tool for limited edition marketing, and even more so for limited edition products.

Not only should you utilize social media to increase the buzz around the eventual launch of your limited edition products, but you should also design your package around the idea that photos of it will be posted for a broad audience to see.

When potential customers see your package and product posted on social media, it will naturally add to the buzz around the product and make more consumers want to purchase your limited edition offerings.

Don’t Limit Your Limited Edition Packaging

Regardless of your business’s industry, limited edition offerings should always be unique and differ from your usual products.

Limited edition products and packaging allow brands to experiment, play and have fun with their existing customers and new customers while also building their brand’s reputation.

Understand your target audience and cater to their wants, but maintain your brand identity with your packaging. The audience comes first with limited edition packaging, but they should still know where it comes from.

Maintain a strong brand foundation and branch off from there. There is no need to plaster your logo all over the package!

As long as you stay current with packaging trends and build a sense of urgency with your upcoming limited edition product launch, it’ll be hard to get things wrong!

Don’t be afraid to add unique twists and experimentations, like collaborating with unexpected artists and brands.

The name of the game for limited edition marketing is to showcase your company’s creativity, so think outside of the box!

The post How to Create Packaging for Limited Edition Products first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How to Create Packaging for Limited Edition Products appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

With the sheer amount of packages handled by carriers on a daily basis, it’s only a matter of time before something unfortunate happens to one of your packages shipped to a valuable customer.

Things like boxes shifting during transport, trucks hitting bumps on the road, and accidental drops are all common causes of breakage. 

And though you cannot remove these factors entirely, mitigation through careful packaging is the solution.

Even items that don’t seem like they would be at risk from damage can break, so you can understand how fragile items are even more susceptible to mishandling.

Fragile items include artwork, glass, electronic devices, antiques and mirrors.

In fact, 34% of packaging-related returns are because a customer received a damaged product, so protecting these fragile items is crucial!

The last thing you want is an unhappy customer, so how do you protect your items during shipping when packing fragile items?

In this article, we will show you exactly how to package fragile items for shipping and mitigate the probability of breakage.

How to Pack a Box for Shipping

Choose the Right Box for Shipping fragile items

All items, regardless of being fragile or not, need proper packaging to ensure they can reach their destination in one piece.

And to begin, it all starts with the box you choose to transport the item.

Using a larger box than necessary may be tempting because you can fit more packing materials around your fragile item, but do not be fooled.

On paper, it might make sense. More packaging material around your item equals more protection, right?

Well, in reality, this is not the case.

The excess amount of materials you use to fill the sizeable void space in your box can also shift around during transport and adds an extra factor you need to worry about. 

Using a larger box than necessary needlessly increases the probability of filler materials shifting and, in turn, increases the chance of breakage.

And as an added negative to using a bigger box, it will also increase the shipping and handling cost because of its size!

However, having too big of a box is not the only problem when choosing the correct package for your item. 

On the opposite end of the problem, having a box that is too small is also not ideal.

A box that snuggly fits your item will not allow for any protective wrap or filler and leaves it at the mercy of whatever rough handling it might endure.

Ideally, the best size for a box is one that leaves two inches of space around all sides of the fragile item. 

This leaves room for protective filler and avoids unnecessary handling costs you might have incurred should you have used a large box.

But proper measurements must be done to ensure your item fits perfectly with your box.

With a ruler or measuring tape, ensure you know your item’s length, width and depth to make an informed decision on the correct sized box.

Alternatively, you can also use two boxes for an added layer of protection but don’t forget the filling.

Deciding on bubble wrap and Filler

The next thing to look at to properly package your fragile items for shipping is the insert you place inside the box.

If you chose the correct sized box for your item, there would still be around two inches of void space to fill, and there are several standard options to choose from.

Keep in mind careful packaging is still required regardless of the options you choose to use:

1. Bubble Wrap – Carefully wrapping your items with this material gives an extra layer of protection through the many air bubbles features on the wrap.

2. Packing Peanuts – Adding packing peanuts alongside other protective filler materials doesn’t hurt if you still have some extra space.

3. Air Bags/Pillows – Air pillows provide lightweight airbags around your item and are another excellent option for filling void space.

4. Crumpled Packing Paper – Crumpled packing paper can serve as a filler or wrapping material to complement bubble wrap.

5. Foam Enclosures – If your item is very fragile or expensive, you can also consider encasing the object in custom molded foam for the most protection. However, this method is not as scalable as the previous options.

Protection for your fragile items should be considered an investment.

You get what you pay for, and if you use cheap boxes and packaging materials, the protection of your items will suffer. 

It may even lead to more losses because your items were damaged and customer satisfaction was affected.

Fragile Packing Steps and Techniques

Wrapping to ship fragile Items

How do you pack a box nicely and adequately?

If you’re wondering how to ship glass or any item with a hole or space in it, like a wine glass or cup, fill that space with crumpled paper or bubble wrap.

Afterward, cover your item in a layer of paper and use a little tape to secure it where needed.

Next, wrap the item in one or two layers of bubble wrap and secure it with packing tape.

Only use tape as necessary because too much will frustrate and negatively affect the customer’s unboxing experience.

This is especially true for fragile items, as customers may accidentally break the object when attempting to open an excessively taped item.

Pad the Inside of the Box

After carefully wrapping your item, the next thing to do is place it into your box and fill the remaining extra empty space.

The choice is up to you when choosing filler, as the primary objective is to prevent the item from moving inside the box. Your wrapping should already sufficiently protect the fragile item.

Place the wrapped item into your box and fill the four sides with more packing material before filling the top as well.

The package should be able to close without bulging and move around in various directions without feeling a shift of the content inside.

Once you are happy with your package’s look and feel, securely seal the box with packing tape and move on to the next step.

Properly Label the Fragile Package

Even if you are confident that you’ve packed your item securely, you should not skip out on adequately labelling the exterior of your package.

Affixing “Handle With Care” or “Fragile” onto your package’s labelling will give you added security because carriers will know the package is delicate.

Having clear fragile labels on your packaging also helps with recourse between you and your shipping company when these damages occur, so label your fragile packages properly!

The Carrier Options

Before we cover the differences between each major carrier, regardless of the company you choose, you should always consider purchasing shipping insurance for added security should your item break.

Shipping insurance reimburses a sender if a package is lost, stolen or damaged during transit, so this added safety is necessary for fragile items.

But now, with your package ready and the importance of shipping insurance covered, which carrier should you go with? 

To get that answer, you need to know where you want to ship your item to, the rates of each carrier and their tracking capabilities. 

USPS

USPS used to offer a Special Handling-Fragile service where, for an added fee, fragile packages were treated with priority and extra care.

This service has recently been discontinued. 

However, the carrier encourages the purchase of shipping insurance alongside proper packaging and labelling practices to mitigate the risks of damage to fragile items.

UPS

With UPS, you can go to your local UPS store and have your fragile item packaged for you.

UPS offers packaging services ideal for those who are not experienced or confident with packing their fragile items.

This service requires you to purchase the packaging materials from your local UPS store, but as long as this is done, the carrier promises your package will reach its destination undamaged.

However, should anything happen to your package during transit, UPS will reimburse you for the item’s value, the retail price you paid for packaging materials and services, and the shipping cost.

This service significantly lessens all the stress and worry of shipping a fragile item.

FedEx

Like UPS, FedEx also offers packaging and shipping services if the item is packed and shipped via FedEx.

Reimbursement for lost or damaged goods is limited to $100 unless a higher value is declared and an extra fee is paid.

For items higher than $100, fragile items, or items with a value difficult to ascertain, the maximum reimbursement amount is $1000. 

Set Your Customer’s Expectations

Once your package is in your preferred carrier’s hands, it is up to them to get your package to its destination safely.

At this point, there is not much else you can do but hope your package arrives safely.

Your carriers handle numerous packages daily and are professionals at getting packages from one point to another.

Including fragile labels on your package will help these professionals know how to handle and care for your delicate package.

However, as mentioned earlier, accidents and unforeseen circumstances happen, in which case shipping insurance will help recoup costs.

Human error or interference is always a risk. 

The final recommendation is to have a clear line of communication with your customers, set their expectations, and minimize any negative emotions if your package arrives damaged.

Inform your customer that the item you are shipping is fragile. Reassure them that you’ve done your part in careful packaging and labeling of the parcel.

Provide them with tracking so they can keep tabs on their package.

Consider telling your customers they can request a refund or replacement should the item arrive damaged.

Again, you can minimize the costs of remedying unforeseen circumstances with shipping insurance.

But if you’ve followed the steps in this article, you are in the best position to minimize the risk of shipping fragile items and ensure your package arrives in one piece.

To recap, package your fragile items carefully. 

Remember the best box size for your item and wrap it in sufficient bubble wrap. Fill the empty space in the box with packaging materials to ensure no shifting occurs.

Use labels on your box to notify carriers of delicate items and help assist with handling. 

Research your carriers thoroughly for the best option and get shipping insurance! 

There is no way to completely eradicate the risk of damage to fragile items during transport, but hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to minimize it.

The post How to Safely Ship Fragile Products and Avoid Breakage first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How to Safely Ship Fragile Products and Avoid Breakage appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

This has forced many businesses to rely on their e-commerce platforms to bring in revenue and keep their brand afloat. 

It has been an immensely strange time for brick and mortar retailers, e-commerce has become the saving grace for many of these businesses.

We will continue to see a shift to e-commerce and we may be looking at a norm of online shopping as the year continues to pass due to convenience and supply chain issues.

But, what does this mean for brand differentiation?

Brick and mortar stores offered the upper hand for brands as customers were able to interact with their packaging and product first hand.

With online shopping it’s more difficult to brand differentiate as customers are only able to interact with images of your products. 

This is why it’s important to consider your ecommerce packaging and the impact it may make on your customers from their mail rooms to their unboxing experience!

Let’s start from the beginning and discuss the key aspects of ecommerce packaging that lays the foundation for a successful customer experience. 

How Does E-Commerce Work?

When thinking about how e-commerce works, you have to think about two distinct elements:

1. How your product is presented online vs. in person

2. How shareable is your unboxing experience

While it’s true that the first impression is made through the computer screen, the first physical interaction is where you can count on customer retention. 

The unboxing experience of your products plays a crucial role in the true first impression customers have of both your brand and product. 

While this may seem more convenient than splurging on premium packaging, it’s actually much more difficult than it seems!

Your customers’ expectations and anticipation is built from a simple digital image they see on their computer screens. 

Your business is responsible for meeting and/or exceeding customer expectations.

How do you accomplish this? 

By choosing packaging based on the purpose rather than the appeal. 

Let’s put it this way, it’s what’s inside that counts! 

What is Frustration Free Packaging?

Frustration-free packaging is a type of ecommerce packaging that is designed to make the delivery process smoother and less stressful for both the customer and the seller.

Simplistic Design

It aims to eliminate the hassle of opening the package and reducing unnecessary packaging material. Frustration-free packaging typically involves using a minimalistic approach with simple, yet effective designs that make it easy to open and recycle

Cost and Environmental Benefits

It also helps to reduce shipping costs, decrease the environmental impact, and improve the overall customer experience.

Improving Customer Experience

With frustration-free packaging, customers receive their orders in a timely and efficient manner, without any unnecessary stress or frustration, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved.

The Importance of Ecommerce packaging

The right ecommerce packaging helps your business stand out.

The wrong choice can lead to a plethora of issues ranging from damaged products to weakened brand connections and customer retention.

To create e-commerce ready packaging, one of the better guidelines to follow is Amazon’s aim to create ‘Frustration-free packaging’ (FFP).

This consists of creating packaging that is low waste, easy to open, and offers considerable protection during shipping without driving up costs.

This seems like a lot to pack into one kind of packaging, but it is completely possible when you work with packaging experts during the design process.

Working with a packaging expert can be vital for guidance around the right packaging materials to use and the marketing message that needs to be conveyed.

Protection

The primary reason e-commerce ready packaging is essential is because it protects what you’re trying to sell, which in essence, is a pretty simple objective.

Shipping and distribution will be a stress-free process for your business, and you’ll have a slew of happy customers that receive their product undamaged and ready to be used.

Furthermore, well-protected products add significant value to your brand. There is no risk of refunds and exchange, and it creates a strong impression that serves your brand well overall.

Marketing

From a marketing standpoint, ecommerce ready packaging provides a lot of return if you make the proper investments.

Through the right design, you can create a meaningful unboxing experience for customers that they will always remember – which is vital for building brand equity with customers.

The right ecommerce packaging will ultimately be your differentiator and help customers distinguish the products from computer screens to their homes.

It primes them for the product itself and creates a sense of excitement. 

Ultimately, all of this will serve as crucial components in building an authentic and long-lasting connection with your customers.

Branding

In today’s competitive ecommerce market, creating a strong brand image is critical to success, and packaging plays an essential role in achieving this.

The way you package your products can have a significant impact on how customers perceive your brand. Well-designed, high-quality packaging can make a positive impression, enhance the perceived value of your products, and differentiate your brand from competitors.

On the other hand, poorly designed or low-quality packaging can harm your brand’s image and discourage repeat purchases.

By investing in ecommerce packaging that aligns with your brand values, you can create a memorable unboxing experience that delights your customers and builds brand loyalty.

Ultimately, a strong brand image can help your ecommerce business stand out in a crowded marketplace, improve customer retention, and drive revenue growth.

The First Steps of Ecommerce Packaging

Packaging has become just as important as the product in delivering a first impression. 

Thorough research and planning will help you find ways to have your packaging complement your merchandise and brand identity.

Furthermore, custom packaging can help you create a strong brand identity that’s sure to impress your customers.

If you are in the beginning stages of deciding your first ecommerce packaging for your online products, we’ll help you out in deciding which options work best for your product!

At very low quantities, consider standard sized packaging options with inexpensive customized additions.

Standard sized packaging can be made fancier through the use of;

• Ribbons

• Labels

• Sleeves

Before starting anything, you will have to know what your overall goal is for your packaging.

Determining your budget based on how much value your packaging can bring to your product will help lay the foundations for a successful packaging design. 

This way, your packaging will not exceed your budget, coming out of your profit margins. 

Adding value by promoting, protecting and complimenting the respective product, can boost your brand visibility in turn boosting your sales.

Consider how many products you expect to sell in a period of time and how much of your margin you are able to invest into your product packaging. 

This will give you a good ballpark range of what your packaging, design and shipping options will entail, allowing you to make a well rounded, informed decision on your packaging options.

What is the target market and how are your competitors packaging their products? 

All of these factors can help determine the type of packaging and the volume you need for your first production run.

Custom packaging can leave a lasting impression on your customers giving your products a higher perceived value and quality.

Once that’s settled, start thinking about how you’ll place the product in the packaging, as this will determine the structure of your box.

For example; If you’re in the cosmetics or beauty business it’s common to place the merchandise where its entire size, shape, and color can be seen without having to open the packaging.

Based on where you want to place the product and how much space it may occupy, you can now determine the measurement of your packaging.

To be the most cost effective and protective it is best to minimize the dimensions and keep the packaging lighter and smaller. 

Through structural engineering packaging specialists can help you create packaging that leaves minimal space for your product to move around in.

This in turn will offer your products more stability and minimize the risk of damage!

Exploring Ecommerce Packaging Materials

Corrugated shipping boxes and poly mailers are the most popular packaging materials on the market for ecommerce packaging.

Made from recycled materials, corrugated packaging is very protective and can come in various shapes, sizes and thicknesses making it incredibly versatile for a range of products. 

Choosing the right material stock depends on your artwork and your branding designs. 

Check out the different options below:

• Natural White (Digital & Offset): For colorful and flood printing.

• Bleached White (Digital): Brighter output of colors to mimic offset printing slightly

• Kraft (Digital & Offset): Environmental and rustic look – perfect with black print and there is no coating required.

Read more on choosing your packaging materials

Material Thickness Options

Typically, manufacturers can make the suggestions on the thickness of the paper based on the weight of your products and the dimension of your box. 

It is still good, however, to have an understanding of what they are and how they can benefit your product.

E-Flute

The average thickness of E-flute is 1.2mm.

This type of fluting is ideal for packaging;

• Software

• Retail

• Beauty

• Food

• Etc.

B-Flute

The average thickness of B-flute is 3.0mm.

L x W x H = >570 anything more than this total dimension is B-Flute 

This type of fluting is ideal for packaging;

• Shoes
• Industrial products
• Furniture 
• Etc. 

Discussing Popular Packaging Styles

Now that you have a better idea of your material choices and thicknesses, you can start looking for the ideal structure to accommodate your product.

Consider how much protection you need and the weight of your product. 

Heavier and larger items generally require greater protection to withstand harsh shipping and handling conditions.

Some of the most popular and cost-effective ecommerce packaging options used for shipping can be found below:

Roll End Tab Lock Corrugated Shipping Boxes

The tab lock roll end box or mailer boxes are corrugated box styles that are well sealed, sturdy and easy to unbox. 

This is the most popular ecommerce packaging box due to its durable capabilities and unboxing experience.

Corrugated boxes offer versatile printing and finishing capabilities allowing you to build an authentic connection with your customers from the comfort of their own homes!

Regular Slotted Corrugated Boxes

Slotted corrugated boxes are your typical shipping box. 

The sheet is formed where one panel and one end panel can be joined together to create the box.

This style is ideal for large and heavy weight items that need that extra support and care during shipping.

This type of box requires manual taping when put together, but this is simple enough and can be done very time effectively. 

Roll End Tuck Top Corrugated shipping Boxes

Roll end tuck top boxes are shipping boxes that can be folded without hassle during assembly. 

The top can open and close smoothly and ensures maximum closure with a tuck based on the inside of the box.

These shipping boxes are ideal for;

• Catalogs

• Clothes

• Gifts

• Electronics

• Health products

• Beauty products

• Small hardware

Shipping Poly Mailers

The poly mailer is a flexible packaging type, made from polyethylene LDPE, or paper. 

Think of an Amazon bag or FedEx mailer bag – these are both poly mailers. 

A padded envelope is also considered a poly mailer. 

With it being light and versatile, it is a popular choice for e-commerce businesses that ship all types of products of light to medium weights.

Unfortunately poly mailers are not great for heavy products, since they may not provide adequate protection and support.

This packaging type is very cost-effective, tear-resistant and usually waterproof!

Poly mailers have a self-seal adhesive strip for easy closure and are available with a padded interior or as a simple flat-packed bag, making packing and assembly a breeze.

Read more on choosing your box structure.

Choosing the Right Printing Method

The quality of print significantly affects the presentation and overall look of your product packaging.

While your custom shape and size is important to accommodating your products, the printing is important to accommodating your customers.

Displaying clear and concise information is important to forming an authentic connection with your customers.

Because of the harsher shipping journey ecommerce packaging faces, high quality printing is not usually recommended for the exterior of the box as they will likely get damaged, tarnishing the overall unboxing experience. 

Instead, e-commerce businesses tend to opt for interior printing or retail packaging inserts, which we will explore a little later. 

These are the two main printing options for corrugated linerboard:

Digital Printing

Digital printing is the process of transferring a document on a desktop or any digital storage device to a particular printing substrate through a device that accepts graphics and text output.

The ink of the printer is printed directly on the packaging material, working similarly to your average printer your use at home or at the office. 

It is perfect for low quantity orders and is far less expensive than other printing methods, since no printing plates and dies are required. 

Check out our digital printed corrugated boxes: PakFactory’s Digital Corrugated Boxes

Typically, digital printing is advised if e-commerce businesses are looking to print on the exterior of their packaging. 

Because digital printing is much more cost effective and time efficient, e-commerce businesses can afford the risk of potential damage in return for a little brand differentiation. 

Just a reminder – try to keep your artwork as minimal as possible in terms of details and colors. The simplicity will provide a better output quality when printing in digital.

Having too many small details and lots of colors in digital will fog the overall quality of the artwork and can end up looking very low quality.

Digital printing is the best for low quantity orders as it is the most cost and time effective printing method. 

Offset Printing

Offset printing is a printing press technique that transfers the ink from a plate to a rubber roller (or blanket) and then to a paper material.

It is typically used for printing large quantities of;

• Newspapers

• Brochures

• Stationery

• Magazines

• High quality boxes

The set up costs are quite expensive for offset printing. However, the quality is impeccable!

Typically, offset printing is advised for printing on the interior of the packaging or on packaging inserts for optimal color output and quality. 

Due to the set up costs being so high, it’s best to opt for offset printing if you have a high quantity order. 

Check out our off-set printed corrugated boxes: PakFactory’s Freedom Offset Corrugated Boxes

What makes offset the desired choice for printing is its ability to print in PMS Color and produce special printing processes such as;

• Matte & gloss lamination coating

• Spot UV

• Foil stamping

• Embossing/debossing

These finishing capabilities are much more difficult to achieve with the digital printing process.

Read more on printing methods.

Using Custom Box Inserts

You can also consider adding box inserts for protection or promotional inserts for marketing purposes.

Box inserts offer extra support and durability for your products and also allows you to enhance the unboxing experience by adding value to your packaging.

To help you decide, we have enumerated some types of inserts for different purposes.

Box Inserts

If you want to protect and organize your products, you can use cardboard or foam inserts to divide and protect your products.

These types of box inserts will prevent your products from moving around in the box during transit. 

They also enhance your brand identity through offering a higher end unboxing experience.

Box inserts are available in: – Foam material
– Plastic
– Paperboard

Promotional Inserts

Promotional inserts are one of the cheapest ways to promote your product and increase brand awareness, customer loyalty, and sales.

A custom message, cross promotion or a simple thank you can be a powerful statement to reflect your brand’s narrative while improving your customers’ unboxing experience, ensuring your brand remains in the good sentiments of your customers.

Promotional inserts, gives customers the motivation to continue engaging with your products and an opportunity for them to get the most value out of your brand.

Furthermore, customers look to make an authentic connection with brands and this is a great way to work towards aligning your company with your customers.

Read more about custom packaging inserts. 

Considering The Artwork Design 

Here are simple elements you can incorporate into your artwork to resonate with your customers. 

The printed design is, in fact, the first thing they see and interact with when looking for your packaging in their mailrooms.

Personalized Messaging

You don’t need fancy letters or designs to capture the attention of your customers. 

All it takes is having a well thought out brand narrative that shows off the personality and value of your brand.

Furthermore, speaking directly to your customers allows them to feel a sense of connection with your brand. 

Unlimited Brand Color Scheme

What is great about custom printed ecommerce packaging boxes is that you can use unlimited colors for your artwork without any additional charge.

Therefore, make sure to include all of the elements of your brand colors into your artwork to really establish a unified brand narrative. 

If your website, blog contents, and product all use pastel colors, then it would make sense to incorporate that into your packaging as well.

You can also consider color psychology and choose which colors you would like to trigger based on your target market’s needs and desires.

Brand Logo 

This should be visible the moment they receive your box.

This can be achieved through exterior and/or interior printing of your brand logo.

Make sure to allow your brand name to stand out and be memorable to your customers.

Making your brand logo be the star of the show allows customers to remember your brand and in turn repurchase your products with ease. 

Samples and Prototyping

Prototyping is one of the most critical steps in the packaging process.

It is recommended that a prototype is made to confirm the structure and printing of the final output of your packaging.

Imagine receiving hundreds or thousands of boxes with the wrong dimension, or inaccurate fit. 

Unlike in-stock products, custom packaging is made specifically for your products and cannot be returned or refunded. 

An incorrect batch of packaging will need to be written off and recycled, coming out of your costs and causing your company added stress and time to your product launch.

Get a physical CTP proof to check color and printing accuracy and a non-printed sample can help ensure product fitment.

Another great option is a physical prototype of your custom packaging.

A prototype is a one-off make of your packaging in either production or sample grade. 

This provides the closest experience to your actual packaging to look, feel and experience the unboxing your customers would get.

Read more on why box samples are important for your packaging.

The Production and Shipping Process

You will have minimal involvement in the last step of this guide. 

This is when the manufacturer mass produces your packaging based on your final packaging specifications.

Typically you will be the one to take care of this part of the process on your own by finding a freight forwarder to complete the shipment for you, or asking the manufacturer to ship the product to you with their forwarders or by express.

There are four main ways you can ship your products:

• Sea Freight (Coming from overseas and typically the least expensive option for international shipping)

• Air Freight (Overseas or local, quickest and most costly)

• Ground Freight

• Express (Courier)

Logistics can be a daunting process, especially, if you are shipping internationally, requiring several documents for declaration, customs clearance and policy.

The benefit of working with a courier is that they are able to help you through the clearance process, while shipping through freight may require a bond which needs to be purchased and renewed annually.

Et Voila!

Don’t let the process overwhelm you — instead, see it as an opportunity to connect with your target market.

When you understand what your target market is looking for, it will enable you to come up with packaging that will help sell your products and attract new customers!

While it may seem troublesome to start on your own e-commerce packaging project, with proper preparation and support from reputable vendors, any business can achieve a professional e-commerce packaging solution.

The post Ecommerce Packaging: A Beginner’s Guide first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Ecommerce Packaging: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

With so many businesses competing in an ever-growing e-commerce market, it is becoming increasingly important to distinguish your business from the crowd to attract potential consumers.

In e-commerce, customers don’t just look at the product itself but also look for a memorable buying experience, and this starts with the packaging.

Yes, for e-commerce, the product packaging is primarily for protecting a product during transportation, but that is not all.

For businesses to thrive in a saturated e-commerce market, their packaging must also be a tool to advertise their brand and reach out to consumers.

To answer the question if product packaging matters for e-commerce, yes, it definitely does. It plays a very crucial role in the success of new and established e-commerce businesses.

Opening a thoughtfully designed custom package elicits many positive emotions from the customer and gives them a reason to purchase from your business over others.

Building consumer loyalty is how e-commerce businesses successfully thrive, so designing a custom package for your product is a great decision.

But what is the best packaging for e-commerce? How do you package for e-commerce?

There is no one size fits all solution. Each business has its own needs and target audience, so some options might be great for other companies but not yours.

There is a variety of ecommerce packaging that focus on different things. Some are to expand your brand, some for eco-friendliness, some for the customer experience and even some budget-friendly options.

In this article, we will go through 10 creative ways to use custom packaging for e-commerce, and hopefully, you will find a few options that greatly suit the needs and values of your business!

But first, let us examine the difference between e-commerce and retail packaging to understand why packaging is a lot more significant in the e-commerce market.

Retail Ready Packaging vs Ecommerce Ready Packaging

You might think that packaging is the same for products in retail and products offered through e-commerce.

Though retail and e-commerce package share similar functionality in that they are meant to protect the product within, they are still very different.

Retail ready product packaging is designed primarily to attract the consumer’s attention away from the other competitors on the shelf.

With retail ready packaging, delicate details are printed onto the box and designed to be aesthetically pleasing. 

Because retail ready packaging does not need to be heavy-duty, weather resistant, or built for long-distance travel, this delicate attention to design detail is possible.

Ecommerce packaging, on the other hand, does not focus on the detailed design of their packaging.

It is predominantly designed for function over aesthetics.

Product packaging in the e-commerce industry needs to get from your warehouse to the customer in one piece. The main objective of the packaging is to protect the contents inside.

However, just because the main objective of ecommerce packaging is protection doesn’t mean you can’t still customize the unboxing experience!

When the product arrives at your customer’s door, the first thing they see is the packaging, so making an excellent first impression is still important.

Ecommerce packaging thrives on the philosophy of ‘experiential unboxing.’ 

This means that ecommerce packaging taps into everyone’s anticipated excitement of opening a gift they had just received.

Think of opening a gift on your birthday. There is that feeling of excitement of the unknown when finally revealing what is underneath the wrapping.

This feeling of excitement also applies to ecommerce packaging. Unboxing is just as much of an experience as the product itself.

So with that being said, let’s dive into some of the options you have to customize your ecommerce packaging!

Branding-Focused Ecommerce Packaging

Let’s start with some ecommerce packaging ideas that focus on your brand. It is important to separate yourself from the competition, and custom product packaging is a great option to do so.

As mentioned before, the e-commerce market is saturated with competition, and a good product is not enough to distinguish yourself from the crowd of other products that may be equally as good as yours.

Let’s look at some statistics to understand better how important packaging is for e-commerce:

• 72% of Americans say their purchases are influenced by packaging design

• 50% would recommend your product if it comes in gift-like or branded packaging

• And finally, 40% will share an image of your packaging if it is unique or branded.

The above statistics emphasize the importance of distinguishing your ecommerce packaging from your competitors.

With this in mind, let’s look at some branding-focused product packaging ideas!

1. Fully Branded Packaging for Ecommerce

Customizing your packaging to fit your brand image will leave a lasting impression on consumers!

A custom-branded package goes beyond simply placing your logo on a box.

Branded ecommerce packaging is designed to highlight your brand and create recognition through features inside and outside the box.

And though this is a more expensive option, the more beautiful and unique your package is, the more likely consumers will share your box on social media and bring even more awareness and potential customers to your business.

Unboxing videos are just one example of how custom-branded ecommerce packaging can help you reach a wider audience through social media. 

These videos are massively popular on YouTube and other platforms, and studies show that one in five consumers view unboxing videos, so tapping into this audience is a good idea!

In fact, 35% of American consumers report watching unboxing videos. And of that 35%, 55% report that they were convinced to buy a product through said video.

This statistic alone should be enough to consider catering to the unboxing experience for your potential customers.

2. Custom Tape and Labels

Alternatively, custom tapes and labels for your ecommerce packaging are a much cheaper option than fully branded packaging.

Instead of spending a lot on custom boxes, custom tape can do the job well too!

Though they do not have the sheer impact of a branded custom package, tapes and labels are still an effective way to showcase your brand to consumers and stand out from the competition.

As a bonus, custom tapes and labels add extra security and safety to your package during shipment and handling.

Having custom tape ensures your packages are not tampered with before they arrive at their final destination.

Standard packaging tape can be easily cut and resealed, but custom tape will allow customers to tell whether their shipments have been tampered with.

Custom labels also allow special instructions to be printed and notify the carrier transporting your package to handle it with care.

3. Custom Stickers and Tissue Paper

Another branding option is to use custom stickers and tissue paper.

Custom-branded stickers can be placed on the exterior of your package for an added flare of your box’s surface, but there are other uses as well!

Branding your ecommerce packaging doesn’t just have to be outside the box itself.

Another affordable way to distinguish your brand is by including customizations inside of your box as well.

Wrapping your product in custom-printed tissue paper and sealing it with your own sticker logo is a great way to show the professionalism and care you took in packaging the consumer’s product.

People love opening gifts, and wrapping your product in this type of custom-branded tissue paper will elicit a feeling of excitement when unboxing.

Including extra stickers for the customer is also a fun and playful addition to showcase your brand.

People love a good sticker to place on their everyday items like a laptop or water bottle.

Have fun with your branding; the consumers will appreciate it!

Eco-Friendly Packaging for Ecommerce

The next set of creative ways to use custom ecommerce packaging is with sustainability and the environment in mind.

It is becoming a growing trend for businesses to push for sustainable and eco-friendly ways to do business. 

So if your business’ brand identity mainly focuses on sustainability and eco-friendliness, you’ll be glad to know that eco-friendly packaging options exist.

With the growing push for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives in all industries, it is no question that ecommerce packaging trends in this direction too.

So what are the recent innovations in packaging for more sustainable alternatives?

4. Compostable and Biodegradable Packaging Materials

Compostable and biodegradable packaging is currently a big trend for eco-friendly packaging options.

While the most commonly used packaging in the e-commerce industry is poly mailer bags made of plastic, the usage of so much plastic is a detriment to the environment.

It takes hundreds of years for plastic to decompose, and when they do, toxic chemicals are released, which further cause detrimental effects on our environment.

Many consumers are voicing their objections to these harmful packaging methods by choosing where to spend their money.

So as more customers turn to businesses that support an eco-friendly initiative by reducing their environmental footprint, it is also a good idea to follow this trend.

Using eco-friendly packaging is a great way to advocate for your company’s dedication and support for a healthier environment.

Consumers will appreciate your efforts in providing a solution instead of continuing to be a part of the problem.

With biodegradable and compostable mailers, the materials used in the packaging are all natural and commonly made of field corn and wheat straw.

This means that instead of hundreds of years to decompose, they can break down in 90 days at a commercial facility or six months at home, which is a massive improvement to hundreds of years in a landfill or littered in our oceans!

And not only are packages available in a biodegradable or compostable alternative, but shipping labels are also available in a compostable alternative.

Other options to consider can be biodegradable bubble wrap or packing peanuts.

The market is enormous for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging materials, so there is no shortage of alternatives to help protect the planet!

5. Reusable and Repurposable Packaging

Another eco-friendly option to consider when implementing custom packaging for e-commerce is reusable packaging.

A great way to reduce our environmental footprint is to avoid single-use packaging.

Allowing your package to be repurposed or reused can be effective when appropriately implemented to lessen waste, reduce resource consumption and lower carbon emissions.

Reusable options can come in the form of a resealable mailer that the consumer can use again or send back to your business for reuse in another online order.

Alternatively, a fun option to repurpose packaging is to design your package to allow the consumer to repurpose the box.

For example, a British clothing brand called Monday’s Child packages its clothing in a box resembling a dollhouse.

With its target audience of young girls, this dollhouse design effectively allows the package to have a second life as a child’s toy.

6. Usage of Recycled Materials

Alternatively, to further reduce your environmental footprint, using recycled cardboard and paper when creating your packaging is another great and sustainable way to protect the planet.

Combining the above options while recycled resources are also an option to further do your part in reducing waste.

Kraft mailers, for example, use 100% recycled paper.

They are lightweight, affordable and naturally biodegradable, which makes them a solid option when considering eco-friendly alternatives to your ecommerce packaging.

Also worth considering are air pillows made of recycled content or recycled paper tape.

Air pillows are cost-effective and use fewer materials, but they can still fill the void space inside your package.
This cuts down the amount of plastic you use in your packaging, but to make matters better, air pillows can be reused and recycled!

Recycled paper tape is also an option. Since tape is currently always necessary for packaging, why not use an eco-friendlier alternative in recycled paper tape?

Ecommerce Packaging for Customer Experience

The options for ecommerce packaging continue beyond elevating your brand or doing your part to protect the planet.

There are options focused on your customer’s experience as well. Because at the end of the day, a happy customer is a returning customer!

We mentioned earlier that ecommerce packaging heavily utilizes the psychology of ‘experiential unboxing.’

Unboxing a product is as much part of the positive experience as the product itself, so why not consider catering to this experience?

As the previous statistics about unboxing videos can attest, the unboxing experience is deeply connected with social media, so catering to this memorable experience will also help with advertising and marketing your product!

Simple boxes with bubble wrap and no personality won’t cut it in the e-commerce market anymore.

So let’s look at some options your company can choose from to keep pace with the growing e-commerce market.

7. Inserts, Samples or Gifts

A great way to elevate a customer’s unboxing experience of your product is to include small gifts or a card your customer does not expect.

Including small things like a thank you card goes a long way in letting the customer know that you value their business.

You may also include non-promotional trinkets like stickers or keychains.

Inserts do not necessarily have to promote your product; they can simply let your customer know you appreciate them.

But you can consider inserting promotional items too!

Including coupons on the next purchase, suggested items based on the customer’s order or even including product samples does wonders to increase a customer’s perception of your business.

Also, having samples of other products in your online store increases the likelihood a customer will return and purchase that product if they are impressed with what they received!

As an added benefit, including coupons and samples also promote customers sharing these coupons and products with family and friends, further expanding the reach of your business!

Alternatively, you may even include cards asking for consumer feedback.

Showing your consumers that you want their feedback on purchased items shows them you care about quality and their experience with your product.

It tells the customers that you are dedicated to providing a memorable and positive experience for them and are willing to change in areas that require improvement.

Whatever you decide to include, the customer will always appreciate receiving something extra to accompany their order.

8. Seasonal and Limited-Edition Packaging

Another customer experience packaging idea could be to incorporate seasonal or limited-edition packaging.

By changing your ecommerce packaging each season, you can keep your consumers anticipating their next order and wondering what changes you made with your custom packaging.

Many customers collect unique or limited-edition boxes, so applying this to your e-commerce packaging is a smart move.

Consider the specific colors to go with the season, thematic designs, and maybe even include seasonal products to go with the new packaging!

Limited-edition products are always popular with customers because of their exclusivity, so tap into this with your packaging as well.

It makes customers want to have your product and your packaging simply because it won’t be available forever!

However, do keep in mind to maintain neutral language and design. For example, instead of putting “Easter Products,” consider using “Spring Edition” instead. 

Doing this expands your consumer audience and the seasonal package’s life beyond a one-day holiday.

Seasonal and limited-edition packaging is an excellent way to keep your packaging fresh for the consumers and leave them wondering what their next order will look like.

Budget-Friendly Options

Custom e-commerce packaging does not necessarily have to break the bank. Plenty of budget options exist to customize the packaging of new and budding e-commerce businesses.

This brings us to our final set of options we recommend for businesses looking to customize their packaging experience but have a smaller budget to work with.

We’ve already covered some budget-friendly options above, but we will go more in-depth with other options here.

We understand that smaller e-commerce businesses might not be able to afford the more expensive options on this list, but fret not!

Below are some alternatives perfect for a business on a budget.

9. Personalized Notes and Custom Stamp Alternatives

As mentioned above, inserts are a very effective way to reach out and connect with your consumers.

This option is naturally much more budget-friendly than other options, but to help further save you money, you don’t need to include samples or gifts if it is not currently viable!

Stickers are still a budget-friendly option, but a handwritten note adds a personal, homemade touch to your package that intimately connects you with your customers and shows that each of them is valuable to you.

This option is ideal for smaller businesses and helps build customer loyalty without spending too much.

Custom stamps are also a budget-friendly alternative to fully branded packaging or custom tapes and labels.

Stamps are simple, reusable and cheap but still showcase your brand in a positive and unique light.

Like the personalized note, the stamp offers a homemade, personalized feel to your package and product that customers will love.

Stamps are an artful and budget-friendly way to showcase your brand.

10. Shipping Box Alternatives

Budget-friendly options for e-commerce packaging are not just limited to small inserts and personalized notes.

There are also shipping box alternatives to help your growing business save money without compromising quality and appearance.

Rigid boxes are commonly used for luxury brands and are indeed a fancy and high-quality option. 

However, rigid boxes are constructed by hand and may take 20-30 days to produce.

Smaller to medium businesses with a tighter budget than more prominent companies may alternatively opt for a folding carton.

Folding cartons offer an array of affordable structural design choices, printing capabilities and finishing options without compromising quality.

As a bonus, folding cartons tend to be more eco-friendly than rigid boxes, so businesses looking for eco-friendlier options can consider this alternative.

Mix and Match to Fit Your Business

With the plethora of options available to you, it may be overwhelming to decide which of these options are right for you.

But there is no need to worry or fret about this!

Finding the proper packaging for your business does not need to be a daunting task. Packaging is not just a fun experience for your customers but for your business too.

Experiment with different options and test them out to see what works and what doesn’t. Improvement is always possible, and customers will see this growth in a positive light.

You don’t need to focus on one option, either. Choose multiple options and combine them. Use custom inserts along with a branded package made from recycled resources.

The possibilities and combinations are endless.

Whether your focus is on branding, eco-friendliness, customer experience, or budget, there will always be many options and combinations that will fit your business’s needs.

Have fun with your packaging, and your customers will have fun with it too!

The post 10 Creative Ways to Use Custom Packaging for Ecommerce Businesses first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 10 Creative Ways to Use Custom Packaging for Ecommerce Businesses appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

By taking the time to conceptualize and prepare your packaging, you can fully utilize your brand effectiveness and reduce the time spent worrying about meeting deadlines.

With the rise of social media influencers documenting their unboxing experiences, companies must rethink their packaging strategy to make a lasting impression.

Rushing your custom packaging is not an option. In this article, we’ll provide you with five tips to help you begin the process of creating effective and impactful custom packaging.

Identify Your Custom Packaging Needs

When it comes to custom packaging, it’s important to identify your specific needs before selecting the appropriate materials.

First, you need to determine what you need to package. This could be anything from food products to electronics, clothing, or even fragile items.

Once you know what you need to package, you can choose the right packaging material. Consider factors such as the weight, fragility, and durability of the item being packaged, as well as any environmental concerns.

Options for packaging materials include cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and even biodegradable materials.

Finally, you’ll need to determine the size and shape of your packaging. This will depend on the item being packaged, as well as any shipping or storage requirements.

Taking the time to properly identify your packaging needs can help ensure that your products are protected during transit and arrive in good condition.

Here are several essential questions you should ask yourself:

• Does it require a particular packaging style or box style? (More complicated structure means more costly)
• Does it require specific packaging regulations, for example, food packaging?
• How much am I willing to pay per unit?
• What is my overall budget for this project?
• Does the product require extra protection? An insert?

Be clear on all these aspects, and the next few steps will be a lot easier!

Consider Your Design Options

When it comes to custom designs, it’s important to consider a variety of factors to create an eye-catching and effective product presentation. Here are some design options to consider:

Branding and Messaging

When it comes to branding and messaging on your packaging, it’s important to ensure that your design accurately reflects your brand identity and effectively communicates your message to potential customers.

This includes incorporating your logo, which is a visual representation of your brand, and your brand colors, which should be consistent across all of your marketing materials.

In addition to visual elements, consider including key messaging or taglines on your packaging.

These can help communicate the unique value proposition of your product and differentiate it from competitors.

For example, if your brand values sustainability, consider including messaging about sustainable materials or certifications on your packaging.

Overall, the branding and messaging on your packaging should be cohesive with your overall brand identity and effectively communicate the benefits of your product to potential customers.

By doing so, you can establish a strong brand presence and encourage customer loyalty.

Color Scheme

Choosing the right color scheme for your design is crucial because it can influence the emotional response of your customers and impact their purchasing decisions.

Different colors have different meanings and associations, and it’s important to consider the psychology of color when selecting your color scheme.

For example, blue is often associated with trust and reliability, while green is associated with nature and sustainability.

Red is associated with excitement and urgency, while yellow is associated with optimism and happiness.

It’s important to choose colors that align with your brand identity and the message you want to convey to customers.

When selecting your color scheme, consider the context in which your product will be sold.

For example, if your product will be sold in a retail store, you may want to choose colors that stand out on the shelf and grab customers’ attention.

If your product will be sold online, consider how the colors will appear on a screen.

In addition to the psychology of color, it’s important to consider the overall aesthetic of your design.

Choose colors that complement each other and create a cohesive look and feel.

By selecting the right color scheme for your packaging, you can create a visually appealing and effective design that resonates with your customers and enhances your branding.

Graphics and Images

Graphics and images are powerful tools for creating unique packaging designs that can effectively communicate the value of your product to potential customers.

By adding visually appealing elements to your packaging, you can grab the attention of consumers and convey important information about your product, such as its features, benefits, and intended use.

When incorporating graphics and images into your design, it is important to use high-quality visuals that accurately represent your product and align with your branding.

This means selecting images that are relevant to your product, appealing to your target audience, and consistent with your brand’s tone and style.

It is also essential to consider the technical aspects of your graphics and images, such as resolution, color accuracy, and file format.

Using high-resolution images and graphics will ensure that your packaging looks professional and stands out on store shelves.

Additionally, optimizing your images and graphics for print or digital display will ensure that they appear as intended and convey the desired message to consumers.

Overall, incorporating graphics and images into your design can help elevate your brand and attract the attention of potential customers.

By using high-quality visuals that accurately represent your product and brand, you can effectively communicate the value of your product and stand out in a crowded market.

Typography

Typography plays a crucial role in packaging design as it affects both the readability and the overall visual appeal of your product packaging. The right typography can communicate your branding, enhance your product’s message, and create a memorable experience for your consumers.

When choosing typography for your packaging, it’s essential to consider the legibility of the font. Selecting a font that is easy to read is critical as it ensures that your product’s message is communicated effectively to your audience. Avoid using fonts that are too small or too thin, as they may be difficult to read, particularly from a distance. Similarly, avoid using overly decorative fonts that can be difficult to decipher and detract from the overall readability of your packaging.

Another crucial factor to consider when selecting typography for your packaging is the appropriateness of the font for your brand.

Your font choice should align with your brand’s tone and style, conveying a sense of professionalism and trustworthiness.

For instance, if your brand is focused on luxury products, you may want to use a more elegant font, whereas a fun and playful brand may benefit from a more whimsical font.

It is also essential to consider the hierarchy of typography, particularly when conveying information such as product names, descriptions, and other details.

Selecting fonts of varying sizes and weights can help to create a visual hierarchy and guide the viewer’s eye to the most important information on your packaging.

Overall, selecting the right typography for your packaging solutions can significantly impact the success of your product in the market.

By choosing fonts that are easy to read and align with your brand, you can create a memorable packaging experience that effectively communicates the value of your product to your audience.

By considering these design options, you can create a packaging design that effectively represents your brand and product, while also standing out on the shelf and attracting customers.

Work with a Custom Packaging Supplier

Finding the right packaging supplier is critical to ensuring that your product is presented in the best possible way while also meeting your budget and timeline requirements.

There are several factors to consider when selecting a packaging box supplier, including their experience and reputation in the industry.

Look for suppliers who have a proven track record of delivering high-quality packaging solutions to their clients.

It’s also important to consider the range of services that a packaging supplier offers.

Some suppliers may specialize in specific types of packaging, such as rigid boxes or flexible pouches, while others may offer a broader range of options.

You may also want to consider whether the supplier can provide design services or other value-added services that can help you create packaging that truly stands out on store shelves.

Another key consideration when selecting a packaging supplier is their expertise in your industry or product type.

A supplier who has experience working with similar products or within the same industry can provide valuable insights into the packaging requirements and regulations specific to your product type.

This expertise can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure that your packaging meets all necessary standards.

When evaluating potential packaging suppliers, it’s also essential to consider their communication and responsiveness.

A supplier who is easy to work with and responds promptly to your inquiries can help ensure that your project stays on track and meets your deadlines.

Communicating your needs and specifications:

Once you have found a packaging supplier that meets your needs, it’s essential to communicate your requirements and specifications clearly.

This can include factors such as the type of packaging material you need, the size and shape of your product, and any branding or design requirements.

The clearer you are about your needs, the more likely it is that your supplier can provide a packaging solution that meets your requirements.

Receiving A Quotation for your Custom Box

Once the manufacturer receives your packaging dimensions and other specifications, they will be able to give you the most accurate quote.

Depending on your budget, you can make any required adjustments before asking the manufacturer to mass produce your product packaging.

If a quote doesn’t work for you, don’t sweat it. A reliable manufacturer can typically provide excellent recommendations to meet your objective and your budget at the same time.

Finalize Your Design and Production

Finalizing your design and production requires careful attention to detail to ensure that your packaging meets your expectations and is delivered on time.

There are several key steps to this process, including approving the final design, preparing artwork and graphics files, reviewing proofs and prototypes, and finalizing production and delivery.

Approving the final design

The final design approval stage is a crucial part of the packaging production process. At this point, you should have already collaborated with your packaging supplier to create a design that meets your specific needs and requirements.

The design should reflect your brand identity, effectively communicate your product’s features and benefits, and be visually appealing to your target audience.

During the final design approval stage, it’s essential to review all aspects of the design, including the packaging structure, branding, and other design elements.

Ensure that the design is consistent with your brand’s image, and all graphics and artwork are of high quality.

You may also want to ensure that the packaging structure is practical and functional and that it meets your product’s size and weight specifications.

Once you have reviewed the final design and made any necessary changes, you should give your approval to the packaging supplier.

Your supplier will then move forward with preparing the artwork and graphics files, which will be used in the printing and production process.

It’s crucial to provide your approval in a timely manner to avoid any delays in the production process.

Approving the final design is a significant step in the production process as it signals the start of the production phase.

By ensuring that the design is approved and ready for production, you can be confident that your custom box will be manufactured to your exact specifications and delivered to you on time.

Preparing artwork and graphics files

Preparing artwork and graphics files involves ensuring that all design elements are properly formatted and ready for production.

This may involve creating or revising graphics files to ensure that they are print-ready, checking color accuracy, and verifying that all required elements are included.

Your packaging supplier will work with you to ensure that all artwork and graphics files are prepared correctly and meet your specifications.

Reviewing proofs and prototypes

Before production begins, it’s important to review proofs and prototypes to ensure that your packaging meets your expectations.

This may involve reviewing physical samples of your packaging, as well as digital proofs of graphics and other design elements.

Your packaging supplier will work with you to ensure that all proofs and prototypes meet your requirements and that any necessary adjustments are made before production begins.

Finalizing production and delivery

Once all aspects of the design and production process have been finalized, it’s time to move forward with production and delivery.

This involves coordinating with your packaging supplier to ensure that all production timelines and delivery schedules are met, and that the final product meets your specifications.

By carefully managing this process and working closely with your packaging supplier, you can ensure that your packaging meets your needs and enhances your product’s appeal.

In conclusion, a custom box plays a vital role in attracting customers, building brand recognition, and protecting products during shipping and storage.

By investing in a custom box, small businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors, increase customer satisfaction, and enhance their overall brand image.

Finding the right packaging supplier and communicating your needs and specifications clearly are essential steps in this process, as is reviewing and approving the final design and preparing artwork and graphics files.

We encourage businesses to take action and start the process of customizing their packaging to ensure that their products stand out in today’s crowded marketplace.

With the right packaging solution, businesses can achieve their goals and build lasting relationships with customers.

The post How To Make Custom Boxes: A Beginner’s Guide first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How To Make Custom Boxes: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on PakFactory Blog.