Finding and producing quality products to sell could be daunting, especially if your budget is tight or if you’re in the early stages of building your business.

That is why it’s a great idea to utilize DIY packaging! Apart from the myriad of things you must carefully plan and consider, you must also find a way to set your business and products apart from competitors.

As a business owner, your priority is to ensure that your products solve your buyers’ problems and meet their needs without ripping them off. But equally important, you must also provide a satisfactory customer experience. How do you make people remember your brand, and how can you give that ‘wow factor’ every time they unbox your products? Remember, your package is the first impression for potential customers.

With just the right amount of creativity and determination, you can develop customized packaging designs that will make people want to return to your shop and purchase more products. So to do that, here is a list of excellent and affordable DIY packaging!

Why DIY Packaging?

Source: PakFactory

DIY or homemade packaging is a perfect option for businesses looking to add a personal touch to their products while keeping costs low. By making your own packaging, you have the freedom to design something unique that truly reflects your brand and the nature of your product.

Additionally, DIY packaging allows for greater customization and personalization, which can help you stand out from competitors and create a memorable customer experience. It is a great way to add value to your product and create a strong brand identity without breaking the bank.

So what are some custom DIY packaging ideas your small business can benefit from? Let’s dive in and find out!

Using Glitter on Plain Boxes

Source: Unsplash

Glitter is a great way to make ordinary boxes shiny and beautiful. This is especially effective for products such as earrings, necklaces and other accessories, as matching the bright colors of glitter with the jewelry inside the box is a great way to make your packaging pop.

On top of that, you can easily purchase ordinary boxes and glitters from department stores and begin the design process immediately. And because the materials for this packaging are accessible and cheap, you don’t need to worry too much about your budget.

Custom Stamps For All Occasions

Source: Rebecca Lee

Another excellent DIY idea is to invest in a custom stamp for less than $50. If you’re a seller of handcrafted products, boxes with custom-stamped prints of your logo can save you a lot of money, and it’s also an excellent type of packaging for brands with a minimalistic approach.

What’s even better about custom stamps is that they can be reused many times for any kind of packaging, be it a plain box for things like jewelry, paper bags for cookies and smaller items or canvas bags.

Simple Canvas Bags With a DIY Flare

Source: PakFactory

Speaking of canvas bags, these are also excellent and affordable diy packaging for small businesses. They have a minimal environmental impact, are lightweight and are not chemically treated. Commonly used for packaging favors for events such as weddings, birthdays, and baby showers, canvas bags are great for small products like jewelry, handcrafted products, cosmetics, soaps, and tea.

To make canvas bags stand out even more, adding custom stamps onto the material with your brand’s logo can also create an even more custom experience for your customers. But what’s truly remarkable about this option is that your customers can reuse the bags!

Custom Stickers and Tapes

Source: Dear Scrub

Aside from the design, customized stickers and tapes can be placed strategically to seal and tamper-proof boxes.

Stickers are easy to customize and can provide an extraordinary unboxing experience if designed and used correctly. Stickers are practical for inside and outside your package, making them a versatile DIY customization option that you can make at home or via a professional sticker manufacturer for an affordable price.

Custom tapes are a little more expensive, but if you have one with your logo printed across it, it can apply to any sized box you want and has a more significant ‘wow factor’ than stickers.

A great way to use custom stickers and tapes is alongside simple, plain boxes or food-safe treat bags for baked goods like cookies or candies. Dressing your bags with stickers and tapes is an excellent way to add customization without spending too much.

Custom Cards

Source: Unsplash

If you’re feeling artsy, this option is one for you. Designing custom cards with unique illustrations or your brand logo is a stylish and flashy way to present your product. Especially for earrings, necklaces and other accessories, this affordable DIY option is for small businesses looking to stretch their creative muscles.

Colorful Bubble Mailers

Source: PakFactory

Bubble mailers are a perfect option for businesses looking to ship larger or bulkier products. They are lightweight, easy to use, and offer a cost-effective solution for shipping products. Bubble mailers are designed with a layer of bubble wrap on the inside, providing a cushioning effect that helps protect your products from damage during transit.

Moreover, bubble mailers are easy to customize, making them an excellent option for businesses looking to add a personal touch to their packaging. You can easily add stickers, labels, tapes, or even print directly onto the mailer to showcase your brand’s logo, message, or design.

One of the best things about using bubble mailers is their versatility. They can be used to ship a wide range of products, including notebooks, shirts, books, gym clothes, and even automotive parts. The added protection the bubble wrap provides makes them an ideal choice for fragile or valuable items.

Additionally, using personalized or well-designed stickers and labels can enhance the overall look of your packaging. Even if you’re using ordinary bubble mailers, adding these touches can elevate the unboxing experience for customers and help create a memorable brand experience.

Kraft Paper, Twine & Botanicals

Source: Madeleine Steinbach

But if you want to make the entire package for your product yourself, a good and stylish option is to use renewable, natural resources like kraft paper, twine and adding dried botanicals for a more cutesy look. As a recurring theme in this article, you can even combine other DIY packaging ideas, like adding custom stickers and stamps to make your package pop out more from the competition.

Wrapping your product in kraft paper and twine lends itself well to handcrafted products, clothing, and smaller items.

Custom Fabrics

Source: Unsplash

Alternatively, if you don’t wish to use kraft paper, beautiful fabrics that can be in a modern or vintage style are a good choice. Wrapping your products with a stylish velvety fabric gives them a unique, delicate look that is perfect for items ranging from clothing to handcrafted products.

DIY Ideas for the Interior of Your Box

We’ve covered many DIY packaging options for the exterior of your packaging, but what about the box’s interior? There are also many affordable options, some of which we have already mentioned above. Stickers, stamps, dried botanicals, glitter, all of these options can doubly serve as interior customization for your box!

But if you are looking for other ideas, we’ve got you covered. Crinkle paper is an excellent homemade packaging filler that can add another dimension to the unboxing experience. You only need a paper crinkle machine and a shredder to shred the paper into strips.

Source: BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific

Using the paper of your choice — we recommend a colored paper that compliments your package or product — you can fill your container with paper that adds texture and dimension to the interior of your box.

Source: Unsplash

Other DIY packaging ideas for your interior box include hand-written thank you notes to add a degree of personalization and connection with your consumers, postcards for a stylish flare, or even free samples to entice your customers to purchase more are all viable customization options for your package!

Tips for Successful DIY Packaging

Creating effective and attractive DIY packaging is crucial in making your product stand out in a sea of competitors. Homemade packaging can be a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your product. But, to ensure that your packaging is successful, you should consider the following tips:

Source: PakFactory

1. Choose materials that align with your brand
   The materials you use for your packaging should reflect your brand’s identity and the nature of your product. For example, using recycled or biodegradable materials for your packaging would be a great choice if you sell eco products. 
   
2. Create a consistent look across all packaging
   Consistency is critical. Ensure all your packaging has a cohesive look and feel to create a strong brand identity. This could include using the same colors, fonts, and design elements across all your packaging. A consistent look across all your packaging will make your product more recognizable, memorable, and professional.
   
3. Make sure the packaging is practical and protective
   While it’s essential to make your packaging look attractive, it’s also crucial that it serves its practical purpose. Ensure your packaging is sturdy enough to protect your product during transit and that it’s easy for customers to open and use. You should also consider the weight and size of your product when choosing the packaging material to ensure that it’s practical and cost-effective for you and your customers.
   
4. Personalize packaging with custom touches.
   Adding personalized touches to your packaging can help make your product feel more special to customers and builds a stronger connection with them. These small gestures of personalization can create a positive and memorable customer experience, encouraging repeat business and loyalty.

Source: PakFactory

In summary, DIY packaging is not only a cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your product but also a way to build a stronger connection with your customer base, provide endless customization and flexibility, and support brand values like sustainability.

Utilizing these tips and ideas in your DIY packaging can create a memorable and effective packaging solution for your small business. So if you are ready to start, don’t hesitate to contact us!

The post Affordable DIY Packaging Ideas For Your Small Business first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Affordable DIY Packaging Ideas For Your Small Business appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Packaging is not just a means to protect your product, but it is also a valuable opportunity to connect customers to your brand. The trendiest and most social media shareable packaging has become a focal point in today’s advertising and marketing strategy.

Organizations are integrating unique and creative packaging into impactful digital marketing campaigns to exponentially increase brand recognition and exposure.

But though designing and manufacturing unique packaging can improve your business, custom packaging can quickly become a costly investment. Finding the balance between communicating your brand through packaging and managing your budget can be difficult – especially if you don’t know your options on the cost of packaging.

However, you don’t have to worry! Plenty of inexpensive packaging design options are available and still creative and unique! In this article, we will look at a few of these options that will impress your customers and maintain your budget!

Go Digital

Source: Semaine Health – PakFactory

In the past digital printing typically costs less than offset printing, but image quality is less than offset printing. However, even though offset might give a better quality print now, advancing digital printing technologies are quickly closing this gap to the point where we may no longer require the long process of lithographic printing in the future.

Source: Akula Kreative

To save cost on your corrugated/e-commerce packaging, opting for digital is the way to go! You’ll save tons of money when developing your creative packaging designs while receiving a faster turnaround time, as digital printing is much quicker than offset lithography.

Learn more about the difference between digital and offset printing.

Alternatively, Go Vintage

Vintage designs are currently in fashion and don’t cost a fortune!  Theme your packaging design in vintage styles using ribbons from vintage material off-cuts, reprinted newspapers, or even use custom-designed vintage labels or stickers — more on this later — to add a unique flare to your packaging.

Source: PakFactory

Using vintage fabrics for your package can also serve as a cute packaging idea that doubles as a free item in the eyes of your customers. These fabrics can be reused to wrap another gift or upcycled into a quilt, handkerchief or scarf!

And though the vintage style is ideal for retro and vintage products, you can still add some vintage flourishes to any type of product for a unique design bound to attract customers’ attention.

Try Interior Prints

Source: PakFactory

You can include a custom printed box design to your package’s interior for only an additional 5 – 10% of your production cost. With the growing popularity of online shopping, personalized interiors are an inexpensive packaging strategy that leaves a lasting impression.

That said, we recommend an interior printed pattern to showcase a sleek and minimal brand design. And though this gives your package a luxurious and expensive-looking appearance, achieving a printed pattern with Offset or Digital printing with Full-Color CMYK requires no additional cost!

Source: PakFactory

You don’t need PMS Color nor any special paper & ink to achieve this look. All you need is to ensure your artwork executes well with your brand to make the patterns look impressionable.

Custom Sleeves

Introducing a custom printed packaging sleeve is a creative and unique way to present your product to customers. This affordable packaging design works with any product and can be further personalized to facilitate the brand experience.

Source: PakFactory

For example, a drawer or slider sleeve can highlight branding with a unique packaging design that heightens the unboxing experience for a fraction of the price a fully custom box would cost. It costs less but will enable you to be as creative as possible.

Source: The After Company – PakFactory

Additionally, if your company is doubly keen on being cost-efficient and eco-friendly, then going with box sleeves is one way to hit two birds with one stone.

Because sleeves don’t compromise a box’s structural integrity, customers can also reuse this packaging instead of throwing it away.

Foil Stamping

Not long ago, (hot) foil stamping was more expensive because of the labor-intensive process. Today, most packaging and printing companies offer various foil stamping options at different price points, making this a viable packaging design option for companies on a budget.

Source: Sonhab Chocolate – PakFactory

Typically for high-quantity orders, if you add additional options, such as foil stamping, spot UV, and embossing, the cost would only increase by about 10-15% of your total production cost.

Source: PakFactory

Therefore, you can create extra embellishments to your brand packaging to increase its value without paying an exorbitantly higher price.

Choices for foil stamping range from contemporary, modern, luxurious, striking, or patterned designs – whatever you deem fit for your product and brand, foil stamping is one cool packaging option that doesn’t require you to empty your pockets!

Tissue Paper and Box Inserts

Whether you’ve chosen a fully customized box or something more standard with a printed logo design, adding customized interior elements is a great and inexpensive packaging idea to create a fully branded experience for your customers.

Source: PakFactory

Since tissue paper is made with thinner material, you can benefit tremendously from the low material cost and a positive branding experience for your customers.

However, tissue paper is one of many things you can include in your box. Adding an insert like a personalized note or card is another creative way to extend the unboxing experience, leave a lasting impression on customers, and influence future buying habits with your brand.

Source: PakFactory

In addition, these cards can also be a great way to remind customers of your social media channels and encourage sharing of your product and creative packaging designs on social media, which further adds to your brand’s potential reach.

Stickers and Labels

Stickers are another versatile way to put customized finishing touches on packaged goods. We briefly mentioned these with vintage design, but stickers and labels are not limited to just that! If you’ve added tissue to your package, combine that with custom logo stickers to make your logo the first thing customers see when they open your box.

Source: PakFactory

Like many other packaging items, sticker prices drop with higher print quantities, so the cost depends on sheet or roll printing and size or shape. But overall, stickers are a budget-friendly option to add a little customization to your packaging design.

Add stickers to the packaging interior or exterior to create a custom look for less money but still give customers a unique brand experience.

Browse our full catalog of stickers and labels here!

The Wrap Up

With the emergence of e-commerce, packaging has become a vital part of the product and your brand, so always remember how powerful creative packaging design can be.

In today’s competitive market, custom packaging is a tool to shape how customers think, see and talk about your product. However, this doesn’t mean you must break the bank to achieve this! Use our affordable and cool packaging design tips to uniquely package your products and create striking impressions that leave lasting brand experiences.

The post 7 Cool Packaging Ideas That Are Surprisingly Inexpensive first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 7 Cool Packaging Ideas That Are Surprisingly Inexpensive appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Due to the pandemic and consumers moving to the more convenient e-commerce market, subscription boxes boomed in popularity by helping to make shopping even more accessible and frictionless.

But if you need proof of how profitable a subscription service is, the following statistics will prove this without a doubt.

In 2011, the subscription box industry was valued at around $57 million. This number jumped to $2.6 billion in 2016 before further ballooning to a whopping $22.7 billion industry in 2021 and is set to reach $1.5 trillion by 2025.

This rapid growth of subscription boxes shows the shift in consumer priorities to more convenient and personalized ways to get their products, and the subscription box is the perfect way to cater to this.

So if your business is thinking of starting a subscription service of your own, now is the perfect time to tap into this rapidly growing industry!

And to help get you started, we have curated a list of innovative custom subscription boxes and design ideas bound to attract customers.

After all, personalized experiences aren’t just limited to the products offered but also the box itself. In an e-commerce-centric industry, the box is the first impression and is just as important as the product.

However, before we get into that, let us first cover the basics. What exactly is a subscription box?

The Subscription Box Model

Subscription boxes is a recurring service where businesses ship specific products to the consumer, usually on a monthly basis.

But what goes inside of a subscription box?

This model type is very effective in many industries, such as wine, food, books, toys, coffee, pets and beauty products. The options are limitless!

However, keep in mind that subscription services need to offer consumers something that traditional retailers cannot.

The main factors contributing to the preference and success of subscription boxes over traditional retailers are either for personalized experiences from trusted brands or for creating value by saving time and money.

To that extent, there are three types of subscription boxes available on the market:

Replenishment subscription – These subscription boxes automatically replenish the goods purchased so customers can pay once and receive their products without worrying about running out.

This subscription type saves the consumer time and tends to have the longest retention rate. 

The products offered typically need constant replenishment, like hygiene, food, or health products. 

An example of this type of subscription is the Dollar Shave Club which delivers shaving razors to its customers monthly.

Curation subscription – This type of subscription is the most popular and shows the consumers’ preference for personalized experiences.

Curated boxes cater to the consumers’ specific interests and save the consumer time and money. An example of this type of subscription is Birchbox, which offers its consumers a curated selection of beauty products.

However, despite being the most popular option, a business should take caution as curation subscriptions exhibit a higher bounce rate if the service is deemed poor value for money.

Access subscription – The final subscription type is the access subscription. This service type focuses on giving consumers extra perks or access to lower prices than those available anywhere else.

The subscription is not for a monthly box but for VIP access to an online shop that offers additional perks like discounts.

Access subscription is the least common of the other types of subscription boxes, but it is suitable for products that are infrequently used or have a high price point, like wine, apparel and cosmetics.

And while this type of subscription has the lowest retention rate, consumer satisfaction is high due to the perceived value they receive.

But now that you know the three types of subscription models, it’s time to dive into the meat of this article, packaging ideas for your subscription box design!

Subscription Box Ideas to Make Your Box Stand Out

We briefly mentioned earlier how the subscription boxes are packaged is just as important as the product itself.

In the e-commerce industry, the unboxing experience plays a significant role in customer satisfaction and retention. The package should elicit excitement and anticipation for what’s inside, and subscription boxes are no different.

Consumers will be opening your packaging each month, so having a good box plays a significant role in retaining subscriptions from satisfied customers.

Premium packaging also helps your brand distinguish itself from competitors and allows you to make a positive first impression on new customers as well.

So to point you in the right direction, we’ve curated several effective options for you to consider!

Cost-Effective Subscription Box Packaging Ideas

Let us first consider some cost-effective ideas for your subscription box packaging. 

We mentioned premium packaging helps create a lasting first impression and can distinguish your brand from competitors, but that only works if you don’t exceed your budget!

As discussed earlier, one of the main points of success for subscription services is to add a sense of value.

Consumers utilize subscription boxes for the perceived value they get by saving money and time.

If your business cannot absorb the cost of packaging, it will ultimately be passed onto the customer and can turn them off your service.

It is essential to know your budget before designing any packaging for your subscription boxes and stick within those limits.

For a small business with a limited budget, it is alright to start with simple packaging designs and revisit them once your orders increase!

So to begin, let’s look at some small custom subscription boxes, design ideas and tips to decrease the cost of your packaging while retaining that personalized feeling for your customers.

The first thing to always consider to reduce the cost of your packaging is to buy your packaging materials in bulk.

Buying your packaging materials and boxes in bulk is more cost effective than purchasing in small batches.

The machines that produce your boxes require setup each time an order is made, which costs money. So doing one large order is more efficient than multiple small orders.

In addition, many manufacturers sell boxes by the square foot and price breaks from one square foot to the next can be as significant as a 20% reduction, so always consult your supplier for a quote! 

But though buying in bulk saves you money, it’s not really a design idea for your subscription box.

How do you make your subscription box packaging stand out on a budget?

Well, you will be glad to know that there are several cost-effective subscription box packaging design ideas for you to consider!

Custom tape and labels are an excellent alternative to the significantly more expensive fully custom box.

Though they are less impactful than a custom box, custom tapes and labels are still a professional and affordable way to distinguish yourself from the competition and add value to the unboxing experience for your customers.

To that same degree, custom stickers and tissue paper are also a low-cost way to showcase your subscription box packaging while enhancing the unboxing experience and creating a more luxurious feel for your package without breaking the bank.

Follow the Eco-Friendly Packaging Trend

The next thing to consider for your subscription box packaging design is the environment. 

Like all industries, eco-friendly packaging has become a significant concern and focal point for consumers when considering which companies to do business with.

Issues such as plastic pollution, ethically sourced sustainable resources, and energy consumption during manufacturing have been spotlighted in recent years.

Currently, 61% of consumers say they are likely to switch brands if the current brand they purchase from is not environmentally conscious, so following this eco-trend benefits the environment and your business.

Taking steps like utilizing sustainable resources, ensuring less energy consumption during package manufacturing and sourcing eco-friendly packaging materials for your boxes will shine a positive light on your brand.

Blue Apron, for example, features packaging over 85% recyclable by weight and aims to increase this percentage to 100% by 2025.

Other eco-friendly options to consider when planning your subscription box packaging designs are to consider a reusable or multi-purpose design.

Resealable mailers are an option which allows the customer to reuse the packaging after receiving it, or if you are feeling extra creative, consider designing your subscription box packaging in a way that can serve as something else after its primary purpose is fulfilled.

Getting creative with your packaging and designing it to be repurposed after its initial use is a great way to extend your package’s life cycle and reduce the environmental footprint of your business.

For example, FabFitFun got creative with its reusable their subscription box business by designing it to be repurposed into various things.

FabFitFun’s box can be repurposed as a desk organizer, a picture frame for your photos or even a clipboard!

The creative ways to repurpose your box after usage is endless, and FabFitFun is an excellent example of how this can be done!

But moving on to the final eco-friendly idea: using recycled materials in your packaging.

Recycled cardboard, air pillows, kraft paper and recycled packing tape are great eco-friendly options.

But regardless of the environmentally friendly options you choose, customers will always appreciate a company doing their part in reducing their environmental footprint.

Being eco-conscious applies to subscription boxes and all other packaging methods, so never hesitate to choose eco-friendly alternatives; they benefit the planet and your business!

Functional Subscription Boxes for Your Packaging

But now that we have covered the budget-friendly and eco-friendly options, it’s time to dive into more functional and innovative options available for you to consider.

Customizable packaging inserts are an excellent choice to include in your custom boxes and design plan.

These packaging inserts can come in the form of samples, promotions or even non-promotional gift items and tokens like keychains or stickers.

Small gifts like keychains and stickers are a great way to show appreciation for your customers without them feeling like you are constantly trying to advertise products.

However, suppose you do decide to include promotional inserts like coupons or samples in your subscription box. In that case, it can still encourage your customer to share these items with friends and family, which is excellent for expanding the reach of your business!

Regardless of the inserts you decide to include in your subscription box, adding something extra and unexpected for the customer will significantly enhance the unboxing experience and increase the perceived value of your custom boxes with the customers.

Another functional subscription box idea to consider is the current innovative technology known as smart packaging.

What is smart packaging? 

Put simply, smart packaging combines a package with technology to provide enhanced functionality and improved customer experience.

With smart packaging, your business can create an enhanced personal experience with your customer, improve communication channels, and improve your box’s overall experience.

Smart packaging comes in many different forms that can extend a product’s shelf life and prevent contaminants from entering susceptible food items, but for subscription boxes, we will be focusing on enhancing a customer’s unboxing experience.

Consider utilizing QR Codes or RFID Tags to enhance customers’ experience when opening your box.

QR codes are scannable barcodes that customers can interact with. 

By using their phone and scanning the image with their camera, they are taken to a designated website, further enhancing your box’s interactability and experience.

The website can be anything from a customer feedback survey, a promotional page or anything your business wishes.

QR codes are an excellent smart packaging option to connect with your customer and improve their unboxing experience.

Alternatively, including RFID tags on your subscription box design is also a good idea.

RFID tags offer real-time tracking for your packaging and allow the customer to always know where their package is.

This is an invaluable asset for subscription box services that need to send a package every month to their customer without fail.

If you want to know more about smart packaging, please visit this link.

But for now, let’s get back to subscription boxes.

Get Fun and Creative With Custom Subscription Box Packaging

The last set of subscription box design ideas we will cover are fun and creative!

With a box being mailed to your customer every month, it leaves you with a lot of room to get creative throughout the year.

In a similar vein to limited-edition packaging, themed boxes are another excellent idea for your subscription box service.

In limited-edition packaging, box designs can change based on seasons, holidays or other special occasions, and this can be applied to the subscription box model too!

The scarcity mentality is the idea that items that appear scarce or only available for a limited time generate more interest and value.

Changing your box to match the changing seasons, or if your budget allows, changing it every month can significantly increase customer anticipation by keeping things fresh and unique while also tapping into this scarcity mentality.

By theming your boxes based on the month, season, or coming holiday, it will also create a similar effect as limited-edition packaging does, further increasing the value and interest of your subscription box!

As an added benefit to changing the packaging design regularly, it also encourages social media posts.

Having one box design throughout the year can get boring and stale. If you do this, customers may only post about your subscription box the first time they receive it and then refrain from posting again.

However, when you change the design of your box and theme it accordingly, it encourages more interaction and promotes regular social media posts!

And continuing off social media posting, the next fun and creative idea to consider for your subscription box design is creating a memorable unboxing experience.

We’ve already covered the importance of the unboxing experience, and themed boxes are a great start to improving this by keeping things fresh every month.

However, there are many other factors to improve a customer’s experience when unboxing your package.

Think about your box from the perspective of the customer. How does it feel to open your box? How do you want it to feel?

Compose your brand’s story. Keep your packaging cohesive and have a consistent brand image so customers get a smooth experience from beginning to end.

Consistency doesn’t mean making each of your boxes the same, but setting a solid foundation before branching off and experimenting is a great way to start building this consistency.

Experiment with different color palettes and find one that suits your brand and the emotions you want to elicit.

An example of great utilization of colors, brand consistency, and themed boxes is Birchbox with its consistently eye-catching exterior packaging.

Birchbox creates different, themed monthly boxes for both men’s and women’s packaging. Each package has different colors that cater to its audience but maintain consistency throughout the designs.

Each package displays Birchbox’s logo clearly and near the center of the box, but the color palette is different based on the intended audience.

For example, one of Birchbox’s grooming kits for men features a solid blue color and a simple white accented design. In contrast, another package targeted toward women features lighter colors and floral designs.

Birchbox is the perfect example of how businesses can innovatively utilize themed boxes and various colors while maintaining a consistent brand image.

Subscribe to Innovative Box Designs for Success

Now with all the innovative ideas and successful subscription boxes fresh in your mind, it’s time to get designing!

Subscription box services are on a meteoric ride, and if you are looking to hop onto this trend, now is a great time to begin.

With new technology and innovations being created for the packaging industry, subscription box services are also on a fast track of growth.

Subscription boxes and packaging are inseparable, so if you are looking for a successful business, you must invest as much time and effort in the packaging as the products you offer.

Thoroughly consider the unboxing experience when you design your subscription box and create something memorable for consumers to cherish.

If you manage to do this, you are already on track for a successful subscription box service!

The post Innovative Packaging Ideas for Subscription Boxes first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Innovative Packaging Ideas for Subscription Boxes appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Whenever we open a box, deep down we understand that the experience is sometimes more important than the product itself

If there is an overload of packaging materials to cover an insignificant object, what would that say about the company?

In our generation, climate change is the hottest topic to discuss from the political scene to even at the dinner table.

Industries are investing more in sustainable practices and environmentally friendly products.

The packaging of a product has become so important that it can determine your bottom line.

According to Recycling Magazine 74 percent of consumers said they would pay more for sustainable packaging, and nearly one-fourth are willing to pay for an increased cost of 10 percent or more!

Some companies need unique eco friendly packaging ideas. While others continue to use the everyday cardboard box.

Either way, companies have now become even more aware of how they pack their products.

The following eco-friendly packaging materials apply to a wide array of industries. These include;

• rigid
• corrugated boxes
• displays
• inserts
• labels

These trends are a testament to the consumer’s increasing need for eco friendly packaging materials and manufacturing processes.

Furthermore, they communicate a strong signal that the balance between consuming and waste is completely in our hands and well within our reach.

Gift Wrapping

You thought you had time, but it’s arrived sooner than you thought.

A very short deadline for gift wrapping. One that involves meticulously and flawlessly cutting, folding, plastering, and tying a piece of paper around a highly complex surface: the box.

Being the reverse engineering enthusiasts that we are, let’s start with some garnish and present you with the tree sprig:

There’s no better way to let your enviro-conscious loved ones know that you support their lifestyle than grabbing a few broken branches from your local tree store or on your walk of the day, to spruce up your gift.

It’s easy on your strained pockets, prolongs the usefulness of the cut tree, and allows you to stand out amongst a sea of ribbon bows.

Furoshiki

Furoshiki, the Japanese art of gift wrapping, illustrates the concept of reusability in masterful fashion by favoring cloth fabric in place of traditional wrapping paper.

Although you have the option of purchasing more elegant designs, you can construct your own Furoshiki cloth with leftovers from previous projects or simply a blouse you don’t fit into anymore.

Either way, the gifted cloth can be passed on and re-wrapped indefinitely, eliminating waste and serving as eco-friendly packaging options.

Furoshiki lifts the burden of having to measure and cut your wrapping paper so that it covers your gift completely.

The cloth simply assumes the form of its resident, whether it’s an article of clothing or something more rigid.

Also, the Furoshiki method can turn cloth into a handbag or a scarf.

In essence, it is more of a school of thought; it teaches us humbleness, the importance of tradition, courtesy, and consideration for our eco friendly packaging.

Marie Kondo, the sweetheart of de-cluttering, provides us with a useful how-to guide on Furoshiki:

Remember the milkman who used to deliver fresh farm milk to your beloved grandmother’s door when you were little?

No one dared to throw away the glass bottle container once the milk had been consumed, for there was a sizable refund upon returning the jug.

Today, companies such as TerraCycle’s Loop are revolutionizing this traditional process by operating as a re-usability platform open to consumer goods companies that are eager to contribute to sustainability initiatives

Loop offers its B2B clients, which include the likes of Haagen-Daz and Tide, the opportunity to sell its products to consumers in a container that could be easily returned upon use, sanitized, and automatically refilled.

The tote bags in which the orders arrive are also reusable.

An Economically Attractive Arrangement

The business model benefits everyone involved. Businesses reduce their packaging material costs, gain positive community exposure, re-brand themselves as environmentally mindful, and reap actionable data on an emerging subset of their target demographic.

Furthermore, the platform itself receives partner fees and invaluable consumer and vendor data analytics, amounting to substantial, massively scalable revenue.

The monetization of sustainability propagates further sustainability efforts by incentivizing the participation of the most powerful players in the community and industry.

Additionally, we can see that there are no sacrifices made to aesthetics when custom boxes and containers are made sustainably.

This sustainable wine carton boasts half the carbon footprint of your conventional glass wine bottle.

Unocups, seen below, is another product of sustainable thinking, breathtaking because of it’s sheer simplicity.

They’ve managed to cut out the coffee lid altogether by designing the cup so that it folds into a lid, as seen below.

Given the millions of cups of coffee and tea consumed every year, it’s easy to see the phenomenal reduction in the total carbon footprint this innovation could bring in the next few years.

Upcycling

Many have become this person; taking up DIY projects, upcycling home decor, creating art pieces.

Our generation seems to have become much more creative with the amount of extra time on their hands.

If you’re still a bit unsure on the distinction between recycling and its artsy cousin, upcycling e-commerce store hipcycle provides us with two useful infographics that provide clarity:

Upcycling using custom eco friendly packaging is a trendy, idea and doesn’t leave you scrambling for last-minute gifts on Amazon.

Minimalist Eco Friendly Packaging Ideas

Minimalist eco friendly packaging designs save on storage space and material costs.

The potential reductions in emissions are evident, but it’s not easy. Simplicity requires great thought.

Eco friendly packaging needs to offer certain protective elements and the supply chain may sometimes be inflexible in accommodating logistics for contemporary, eco-friendly designs.

Furthermore, minimalist packages may sometimes need to be pleasing to the eye, especially if the package is just as crucial of a feature as its contents.

With a lower surface area to work with, minimalist packages need to thrive within the limited space they have, and that requires talent and a forward-thinking mindset.

There’s nothing to hide behind with minimalism. There are no decorative elements that can mask and compensate for flaws.

Everything is laid bare, which poses both a challenge and an opportunity to flourish.

There’s a Bottom Line to Minimalism

There’s a pay-off with minimalist packaging strategies; increasing skepticism and shortening attention spans have created a consumer demographic that hates confusing inundations of information

The modern need for clarity and transparency rewards minimalist packaging solutions through increased loyalty and trust.

To top it off, minimalist packaging can become a part of a highly successful differentiation strategy in a world where brands and SKUs abound in retail stores.

Furthermore, with e-commerce becoming the main means for shopping, there is no need to embellish and plaster your eco friendly packaging if it’s going to be sitting in someone’s shared mail room rather than on the shelves of a retail store.

It’s the unboxing experience that counts!

The abundant white space of minimalist package design works to accentuate the message (sustainability) and branding, emboldening the product’s visibility.

Marian Obando knows how to work with white space and – no space.

With her revamped custom egg carton design show below, she craftily employs the sustainability principles of re-usability, minimalism, and post-consumer recycling.

Minimalist Eco Friendly Packaging Materials

Minimalism can also imply the minimal use of materials.

Have you heard of the circular economy?

It aims to minimize plastic waste by continuously circulating resources through the entire product life cycle as it pertains to the environment: use, reuse, recycle, process, design, and produce.

The goal is to prolong the use of a product by transforming it into a resource input for another product.

Hence, the circular cycle increases the productivity and efficiency of goods, which delays or eliminates the polluting disposal process.

Mono-Materials

Mono-materials are a positive contributor to the circular economy because they facilitate recyclability and reusability.

Mono-material or single material sustainable packaging makes recycling easier for both the buyer and the facility.

The recycling plant reduces emissions by eliminating the material separation process.

An example of a mono-material solution is Ecolam, a 100% polyethylene-based set of laminated eco friendly packaging products that signal a greater alignment between the Indian production sector and new government sustainability regulations.

Packsize, a high-tech custom packaging solutions company, reduces the size of its boxes to its minimum using sophisticated measurement technology that assesses the dimensions of the product.

Suppliers who use Packsize save on shipment and logistics costs, and that inevitably translates to what the vendor pays.

Also, minimal box sizes reduce the inventory costs of the vendor.

Packsize eliminates the need for custom box fillers, allowing for further reductions in carbon footprint.

Bioplastics

Bioplastics feel like plastic but are based on naturally available and replenishable biomass sources such as milk, wheat, and meat protein.

However, not all bioplastics are biodegradable.

This design studio in Iceland was able to manufacture meat packaging from animal skin.

The eco friendly packaging is minimalist and reflects sustainable consumption practices that use the whole animal, reducing plastic waste.

The boiling process used to produce the eco friendly packaging skin minimizes air pollution. Most importantly, the absence of synthetic plastics alleviates the heavy burden caused by rising greenhouse emissions.

Saving Ink

Despite what you may think about soy, it does wonders for the environment when used as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based ink.

Soy and vegetable-based inks don’t release harmful organic compounds that can have negative environmental and human health effects.

It makes recycling easier too, as soy ink is easier to de-ink.

The environmental benefits don’t stop there: soy ink is also four times more biodegradable. Last but not least, soy ink spreads further, reducing ink costs and waste.

Edible Eco Packaging

The best form of recycling is the one that happens in your gut.

No recycling plants are involved.

Complete biodegradability that starts and ends with you. If you’ve ever had aspirations of being able to eat your way through house cleaning, now’s your chance with edible eco friendly packaging.

For example, you can now drink your favorite eggnog by the mistletoe in a Loliware cup, makers of multi-flavored cups you can eat.

The seaweed-based technology is now being emulated by several brands, including Evoware, which manufactures sandwich wrappers from edible seaweed.

Cupffee, the name behind the scrumptiously edible coffee cup, has recently won the hearts of millions of java aficionados with its grain-based, non-GMO, heat resistant, and non-leaking product.

The potential impact of their technology is effectively summarized by their website headline: Recyclable at 7 billion stations around the world. Including you!

Rosa Janusz produces sustainable packaging from the slimy product responsible for kombucha’s crispy taste known as SCOBY.

No, we aren’t talking about Scooby.

SCOBY is a mix of yeast and bacteria that allows the kombucha to ferment.

You can cook the package along with its contents, make a new brew of kombucha, or simply compost it.

In any case, it’s a great talking point and will surely fuel your plant-based interactions.

Besides, consumers love and reward organizations that push boundaries across several verticals.

Plantable Packaging

Bloom Chocolate pioneered the first plantable chocolate wrapper that could grow into orange and mint, among other flavors.

Similarly, Botanical Paperworks strives to honor the legacy of the paper tree by offering plantable seed paper that can grow into all kinds of wildflowers, herbs, and vegetables.

Specifically, they offer plantable wedding cards, gift cards, confetti, and plantable packaging components such as coffee sleeves and candle covers.

With so much extra time on our hands nowadays this is a great way to make a step towards sustainability from the comfort of our own backyards!

The designs are endless with plantable packaging.

The structure of seed paper is sturdy by essence and can allow for anything from kraft paper to custom gift boxes in a variety of box dimensions.

With regards to plantable and eco friendly packaging solutions, I would personally suggest following the edibles market as competitors in that industry are still rather fragmented and few.

This leaves room for healthy market penetration with plantable chocolate boxes or tea boxes that can re-grow the matcha that powers your 6 AM spin class.

Getting Everyone Involved

Engagement is a highly contagious sustainability promotion strategy.

Plantable packaging provides the receiver of the gift with a strong imperative to recycle the package.

Friends and family generally tend to offer their help in the planting process, thus strengthening the participatory result of plantable gifting.

Now with few being able to do so in person, it’s still a great activity to do with your loved ones over facetime!

Moreover, the fact that you get to see your efforts sprout into something organic and living is powerfully motivating.

Multinational companies invest millions of dollars per year into research and development efforts in hopes of creating the ultimate connection between the brand and the customer.

Plantable custom packaging can accomplish what name brands take years to establish by offering the user an involved, cerebral, multi-sensory experience.

There is no better opportunity than now to have yourself and others become a part of the plantable packaging trend.

Sustainability: An Expectation

Soap. It smells great and we love the creative custom boxes in which they’re displayed at your local farmers market or your nearest Whole Foods.

However, in this day and age, a great product doesn’t absolve the manufacturer of environmental responsibility.

The vast majority of specialty product customers have transitioned from the product demand stage to an expectation that their product boxes and containers possess some degree of sustainability.

This push has driven one of the highest organizational consumers of aluminum, Coca-Cola, to completely change their plastic-based shrink wrap into paperboard packaging by this coming year!

The new technology, KeelClip, is due to reduce plastic waste by 2000 tonnes and CO2 emissions by 3000 tonnes every year.

InBev’s name-brand beer giants – Bud Light, Budweiser, and Stella Artois – are also due to follow suit by the end of 2022.

KeelClip sets a strong example to aspirants, especially when we consider the fact that 1.9 billion Coca-Cola drinks are consumed each day.

Although the sustainable packaging market is becoming progressively crowded with disruptive incumbents, there’s still great potential to wildly scale with reduced material solutions that may potentially generate astronomical revenue figures.

Considering statistics that show consumers are willing to pay more for increased sustainability, eco-friendly packaging is a great way to reduce material costs and increase sales revenue.

That additional profit margin can be re-invested into continued eco-friendly endeavors.

Compostable Packaging

Compostable bags epitomize sustainability.

The addition of the term to any product gives the potential buyer the assurance that what he or she consumes will become one with Earth upon disposal.

Biodegradability really is the end game, the pinnacle of sustainability success. We really wish everything could be biodegradable.

That includes that old beater car that’s been faithful to you since college but now requires a carburetor repair that costs more than its current market value.

Regardless, compostability isn’t a trend that’s bound to disappear anytime soon.

British beauty retailer Boots acknowledges its widespread importance and also aims to remove all its plastic pharmacy bags, replacing them with a completely compostable solution by mid 2024.

One of the last places to come to one’s mind when thinking of compostable packaging is your bathroom cupboard.

Seed Phytonutrients uses recycled plastics and materials to create a fully paper-based recyclable and compostable bottle.

And if you’re the type who loves holiday Kinder Eggs, the plantable lining of seeds nudged into the bottle exterior should also give you a pleasant surprise.

Fascinatingly, the parts of the outer shell have been connected through corrugated locks, rather than glue as was the case with the previous version.

This highlights parent company L’Oreal’s commitment to continuous and sustainable improvement.

Corrugated Packaging

Corrugated boxes and eco friendly packaging components hold an environmental advantage over other constructions.

They’re mostly made from recycled paper, are reusable, and can be recycled again. The re-usability stems from the strength of corrugation.

The end-user can sleep in peace knowing that orders arriving in corrugated boxes can be used as document holders and insulation.

The strength of corrugated boxes also protects sensitive package contents, such as produce and healthcare products.

Corrugated boxes are also a dream come true for packaging providers because of their versatility.

They can be molded into any shape and size, reducing material costs and increasing economies of scale.

One can see why corrugated product packaging is such an outstanding contributor to sustainability.

As if its aforementioned benefits weren’t enough, corrugated boxing also keeps fruit fresh for three days longer due to its antimicrobial properties.

If you’ve been keeping these eco friendly packaging options on the back burner, now is the time to bring it into the spotlight.

Corrugated box’s flexibility can allow suppliers to meet high and erratic demand in December.

Be wary, many suppliers tend to offer corrugated boxes through a rather transactional process.

However, PakFactory’s Freedom Corrugated proprietary packaging solution gives its customers the comfort and assurance they seek in knowing that they’ll achieve the corrugated custom sustainable packaging of their dreams through one-on-one consultations.

Commitment

Actions speak louder than words.

Customers want to see packaging companies that commit to sustainability efforts in the long term.

Commitment can take the form of continuously actionable goals, and signal a form of authenticity that millennials love.

PakFactory embeds sustainable practice into the materials it sources for its custom;

• cardboard boxes
• labels
• bags
• inserts
• displays

Furthermore, PakFactory is proud to be part of the One Order One Tree initiative, where one tree is planted for every order received.

If you’re a business looking to communicate your dedication to environmental sourcing and production, make sure you position that content at the forefront of your master pages and social media platforms, highly visible and adjacent to your calls to action.

Forbes lists over 101 companies – many of them part of major Fortune lists – that commit to sustainable practices and packaging.

Some of the names may surprise you, but this just shows how pervasive and vital this trend is to your company’s bottom line.

If you’re determined to make a difference but might not possess the capabilities of a Fortune 500 giant, you can still effectively commit to sustainability efforts.

James Feistner, the owner of the chic Mercury Espresso Bar in downtown Toronto, absorbed a few cents per cup in additional costs to provide his customers with completely biodegradable cups.

This was 10 years ago.

Although the initiative failed due to the municipal mishandling of compostable goods, Mr. Feistner demonstrates an unwavering commitment to sustainability by continuing his search for more scalable methods.

Other independent small businesses such as bakeries and clothing stores can reduce their footprint by pushing for sleeker packages.

Manufacturers can follow the path of Dark Horse and offer significant packaging discounts if the customer opts for a small container or box.

As a result, the supplier saves on material expenses while the vendor lowers their distribution costs.

Who said sustainability wasn’t a win-win situation?

Anti-Microbial Packaging

The perishable nature of food has sparked numerous discussions as to how we can extend the shelf life of this basic human necessity, especially in the developed world where the amount of food waste is at significant odds with the hunger crises experienced in developing nations.

The global harms of food waste amplify in severity due to greater consumption behaviors. Hence, the need for anti-microbial ‘active’ packaging reaches an all-time high towards the New Year.

Current research suggests that essential oils and polymeric structures manufactured from shellfish have demonstrated high efficacy in the eradication of degrading organisms.

British grocer Morrisons utilizes technology that prevents bacterial growth in the linings of their reusable bags.

Additionally, with the rise of supermarkets willing to deliver your grocery right to your door, the need for customized anti-perish packaging has never been greater.

In fact, the antimicrobial packaging market is forecasted to grow by approximately half a billion US dollars per year until 2024, to reach a whopping 11.88 billion dollars.

Communicating Sustainability

Sustainability is considerably more difficult to convey when the consumer is unable to touch and feel the product off the store shelf, which has become a norm of the 2020s.

Custom packaging suppliers, designers, and manufacturers have the heavy responsibility of convincing their vendor that the product will feel and look a certain way even before a sample is sent.

Remember, your goal as a supplier is to persuade the retailer, brand, or distributor at the very first touchpoint, which is usually the website landing page.

Without a proper visually immersive depiction of your packaging solution, your sustainable sourcing and design mantra will fall on deaf ears.

Interactivity is Everything

With cost considerations kept in mind, the key is to immediately and prominently offer an interface through which the potential buyer can scroll through all physical attributes of the package, including its sustainable facets.

A great example of a packaging company that achieves this goal is Packlane, a global powerhouse in the custom design packaging sector.

By offering customers with 3D visualizations of their customizations, Packlane empowers the customer with a real sense of control over the ‘product in progress’.

On a similar note, Pakfactory takes the customer’s initial request and turns it into an intimate conversation with the sales, design, and procurement team in order to provide that customer with exactly what it wants.

During this thorough collaborative process, the team at Pakfactory shares insights and recommendations that leave the customer delighted with a product that exceeds their expectations at every fold.

We’re highly transparent with our clients.

As an example, if we discover that a requested custom box prototype may cause the end-user to face folding or opening issues, we always make sure that is known.

At PakFactory we’re just as much of a partner as we are a supplier. If we’ve captured your curiosity, you can delve into the ‘why’ that lies behind PakFactory’s 1000+ client base here. Or check our customer stories here.

The fundamental reason why interactivity is crucial in e-commerce can be explained through our general discontentment with the physical shopping experience.

Although we may miss this now, historically we hate the logistics, the traffic, the crowd, the change rooms, missing price labels, and being hot and cold at the same time.

If we could we would eliminate these negatives, whilst retaining the ability to feel and assess our personal compatibility with the product.

We would keep the interactive elements of a regular brick and mortar shop and digitize it to eliminate the elements that we dread.

Cappasity, the technology that powers the interactive 3D visualizations of numerous large retail chains across the globe, takes your product and digitizes it so that it becomes completely interactive.

Eastern European luxury goods retailer TSUM reports that it increased its conversions by 40% on products that were digitized through the Cappasity platform.

Take into consideration the fact that over 80% of users that land on a 3D view interacts with it, and virtually 100% prefer 3D over video, one can easily visualize how profitable enhanced interactivity could be.

If there’s one product that really fits the bill for 3D-view digitization, it’s custom packaging.

Distributors, transporters, delivery firms, and even Uncle Jim who lives in that cute red house down the street would love to see how their customized boxes will appear in their respective contexts.

Think of the wide array of possibilities. With animated views and augmented reality, you could morph your packaging site into a full-fledged retail experience.

The benefits don’t end there.

As the end-user fiddles with the product’s visuals, they spend a considerably greater amount of time on your website.

The 3D experience trickles down and across to your e-commerce platform’s other pages, thereby enhancing their visibility and conversions.

The resultant increase in session duration and decrease in bounce rates sends a strong signal to Google that your site should appear more often when a user searches for what you offer.

QR Codes

Enabling your packaging with technology is almost always a win-win scenario.

QR codes can tell a story that needs a little bit more space than the surface area of your regular package.

QR codes can communicate the source of the product, its ingredients, and whether it’s been sourced from a sustainable location.

Unfortunately, QR codes have been facing a decline in usage by consumers over the last half-decade, mainly due to poor positioning.

However, QR codes have been well received in 2019, and are expected to see a full revival in 2022.

Pepsi recently partnered up with Cardi B to launch its Gift it Forward campaign, which features a QR code directing the user to cash awards that can be payed forward.

The campaign brilliantly wraps societal values, Christmas narratives, and packaging tech into a powerful incentive to consume.

The renewed increase in QR code usage can be attributed to a concurrent incline in the frequency of climate change and sustainability centered dialogue.

Nevertheless, QR codes should be implemented with desirable incentives. If the consumer perceives that their use of the QR code could either win them an award or have the brand contribute a certain donation to an eco-friendly initiative, then they would be more willing to read the sustainability story behind the product.

Smart Packaging

If you think QR codes are game-changing, feel free to check out the freshness indicating smart label video below.

These prevent food poisoning and waste by displaying the level of freshness of a packaged food item.

Freshness is determined through the intricate measurement of temperature, acidity, and the level of bacterial growth.

The custom labels can also be applied to cosmetics boxes and pharmaceutical items.

The applications are universal, making smart packaging a hot market for entrepreneurial packaging companies.

Heres 10 things you should know about smart packaging

Cultural Transformation

The 2020s have been a time of drastic change. Marginalized voices are being loudened like they never have been before from the comfort of our own homes.

Talk of cultural change can be heard audibly on social media, digital media, and through traditional mediums.

As a result, heading into 2022, the talk of change surrounding product packaging will inevitably be under the proverbial magnifying glass.

All suppliers and vendors will need to adhere to the trend of sustainable solutions in custom box design and manufacturing.

Value propositions and corporate manifestos will need to reflect the principles of sustainable thinking. Sustainable execution will require absolute consistency, as there is little room in today’s digitally connected world for failures in adherence.

Top-down and bottom-up corporate education campaigns will need to be deployed across all functions.

Operations managers and public relations will need to unite to assure that printed cardboard boxes contain messaging that aligns with the rigid ecological standards of today.

With consistent execution, your organization will garner the buy-in of the greater community.

Whether you’re a supplier, a vendor, or a customer, our top eco friendly packaging trends should leave you with actionable insights that will propel your ventures to greener pastures and bluer horizons despite the drastic changes all industries have had to face this year.

The post 18 Sustainable Packaging Ideas of 2023 first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 18 Sustainable Packaging Ideas of 2023 appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

a great product, memorable marketing, and a striking brand.

But one aspect that’s often neglected is packaging.

Your packaging is the very first thing your customers see after purchasing your products making it extremely important to make a good first impression.

If you want to up your packaging game, but you’re struggling for inspiration, it’s worth looking for expert advice from packaging design professionals.

Read on to discover 5 e-commerce brands with really great packaging that you can learn from today.

Birchbox

Subscription boxes are a popular niche that a variety of businesses are jumping on.

From shaving products to pet treats, customers can get their hands on virtually anything they desire in an excellent monthly package.

Birchbox is one such business that has nailed its niche.

Specializing in beauty and makeup, it offers a personalized selection of cosmetic products that are tailored to the customer’s tastes.

But what sets Birchbox apart from its competitors is its unique packaging.

Each box of goodies is covered in a gorgeous design, featuring everything from floral patterns to Aztec prints.

Each month, the brand offers a specific theme for their designs, helping tie them all together and making the arrival of each box an exciting experience in itself.

And as if that wasn’t enough, every box is unique to your order — you won’t find any duplicates anywhere.

Proper packaging is about making an impression before your customers have even opened the box.

Indeed, it’s an integral part of the unboxing experience, especially for subscription boxes.

Strive for beautiful packaging wherever possible — it all goes towards a memorable experience that your customers will love.

And it’s not just nice to look at either.

Attractive packaging can become viral and encourage your customers to show some love to your brand on social media.

Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is an online cleaning product brand with a unique competitive edge.

It’s making waves in the industry by providing 100% ethical and sustainable soaps, detergents, and other cleaning products.

Seventh Generation’s products are entirely free from toxic chemicals, which helps both the environment and keeps us safe when we clean too — it’s a double win!

But Seventh Generation’s eco-commitments don’t end with its products.

Even its packaging is good for the planet.

The brand uses entirely recycled and plant-based materials in its packaging, refraining from adding any unnecessary chemicals in the process.

Add to that the fact that Seventh Generation’s packaging is also completely biodegradable or recyclable, and you’ve got some packaging that talks the talk and walks the walk. Nice!

We’re living in the age of climate change, and every brand has a responsibility to do their part for the planet.

Packaging generates enormous amounts of waste, but with so many eco-friendly options available today, it’s easy to do for your brand.

Remember to look beyond your actual packaging.

Inks have a significant impact on the planet, but there are plenty of organic inks available to use — you can even buy algae-based inks!

Joolz

If you’re a style-conscious parent (or a baby with a taste for the finer things in life), then you’ve probably heard of Joolz.

Joolz specializes in baby strollers and accessories that are a far cry from the usual generic products on the market.

Its strollers are high-quality and multipurpose, offering storage and all-terrain transportation.

They can even convert into high chairs!

Like Seventh Generation, Joolz is also eco-conscious and sustainability-centric.

But it takes a slightly different tactic with its packaging by letting its customers create something useful out of it.

All of Joolz’s packaging can be unpacked and transformed into an interactive toy.

With a little bit of cardboard origami, you can create animals, puppet theaters, hot air balloons, and even real birdhouses.

Not only does it get a second life out of what would otherwise be trash, but it’s also a great project for parents to do with their children.

And if you get tired of your cardboard snail? No problem — pop it in the recycling.

Joolz gives sustainable packaging a new meaning — and we like it.

Making your packaging recyclable is a great idea — it’s good for the planet, and your brand image.

Letting your customers have a little fun with your packaging takes its value to the next level.

While not all brands have the technological ability to create cardboard origami, you can add this sense of playfulness to your packaging too.

Packaging that you can color in or turn into a dollhouse with a few snips is achievable and will bring a smile to your customers’ faces.

Happy Socks

Socks are a common thing to sell.

Exactly how excited can you get your customers about the arrival of a new pair of socks?

For Happy Socks, that’s a challenge they’re willing to accept — and they succeeded.

Happy Socks sells colorful, patterned socks that, while they admittedly do look good, aren’t unique.

Sure, they’re lively and eye-catching, but socks are an increasingly popular fashion item that many brands now offer in a variety of styles.

But what sets Happy Socks apart is (you guessed it) its packaging.

The socks arrive in a packaging that is often brightly-colored and features unique designs, such as this multicolored camouflage print.

As well as injecting a little liveliness into what could easily be dull packaging, Happy Socks also diversifies its packaging.

Some are cardboard boxes like the example above, while others are delicate paper-made constructions.

But Happy Socks don’t prioritize aesthetics over function.

The boxes’ shape and size make them perfect for storage — some even have a clear window to display the socks in your drawer.

It’s a perfect blend of aesthetic and functionality.

And as a bonus, every time the customer goes to get their socks, they’re reminded of the brand, which boosts the chances of returning customers.

When it comes to socks packaging, Happy Socks is a clear winner.

In an age in which unnecessary waste is increasingly under the spotlight, functional packaging is almost a necessity.

While Joolz opts for more entertaining packaging, Happy Socks shows that even the most basic function has merit.

Look at your packaging and consider how it could be re-used in your customer’s home.

Beyond storage, you might consider using biodegradable packaging to be used in a compost bin.

Alternatively, you could even use fabric packaging that has a second life as gift wrapping — the ideas are virtually limitless.

John’s Crazy Socks

Another sock brand, but with a twist, John’s Crazy Socks has one mission: “We want to spread happiness”.

John’s Crazy Socks is a genuine bootstrapped business.

Created using the accessible Shopify store builder and launched by father-and-son duo Mark and John Cronin, it sells a range of cute, quirky, and crazy socks that, as promised, bring a smile to anyone’s face.

While John’s socks are undoubtedly unique, that’s not what earned John’s Crazy Socks, its place on this list.

It’s not even technically the packaging that got them here either.

It’s what’s inside the packaging that earns John’s Crazy Socks its accolade.

Each package is accompanied by a handwritten note from John thanking the customer for their purchase.

And as if that wasn’t enough, John and Mark also throw a bag of candy in there too.

John’s Crazy Socks’ customers love it, often sharing snaps of their package on social media — as a result, it’s great for the brand too.

You might not have the time or resources to put a handwritten note in every package

But it doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve the same customer love with your products (although admittedly not on that scale).

Select a few packages at random each month and write a thank-you note to place in each.

This shows them the care for the community and boosts your brand image.

Ramp this up by picking customers who are active on social media to increase your chances of them re-sharing your thank-you note — it’s a quick tip but increases engagement levels with your customers.

Your packaging is integral to your brand. It speaks depths about what you are like as a business.

Follow the tips above, and you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, memorable packaging that delights your customers time and again.

The post 5 Ecommerce Brands With Really Great Packaging first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 5 Ecommerce Brands With Really Great Packaging appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

The logo, the colors, the placement, and a plethora of other characteristics can influence our choices.

But what about their impact on the environment?

That too is beginning to guide our consumer preferences.

Many consumers critically point to the over packaging of goods, and the use of inorganic materials, as a key contributor to our global waste problem.

In recent years, however, the private sector has conjured up a whole host of eco-friendly packaging ideas to ensure that their carbon footprint is as minimal as possible.

From eating the packaging to repurposing it, there are plenty of concepts being tested in real-time.

Here are seven of the top eco-friendly packaging concepts for 2023:

Leveling Up Reusable Packaging

You heard it repeatedly in the 1980s and 1990s: recycle, reduce, reuse – and close the loop.

That jingle probably still rings in your head anytime someone mentions the 3Rs of conscious waste management.

Suffice it to say, both consumers and manufacturers have made incredible strides in recycling over the years, shifting to packaging that can be collected and re-molded into new packaging.

Think kraft packaging, molded pulp, foams, and recycled plastic.

More consumers are also making the conscious choice to buy in bulk and use reusable packaging and utensils where possible, helping to reduce the amount of waste generated.

Some companies are making a serious commitment to the 3Rs through the introduction of reusable packaging programs.

These trailblazers are using reuse and refill business models, in which customers can return the original packaging for a re-fill at a discounted price.

Adding Another ‘R’ to the Three R’s

This leads to another R that is gaining prominence in the world of consumer goods: returnability.

Many companies are going out of their way to encourage customers to return their items that can be recycled (or upcycled).

Some entities will incentivize returning some products in exchange for others.

One return-able item that is capturing attention in 2022 and will likely continue to in 2023? Black plastics.

Black plastic gets a bad rep by being a challenging product to recycle.

Because municipal recycling facilities use an optical scanner to identify all types of plastics, these facilities are unable to scan black plastics since they are unable to reflect light.

This damages your recycling endeavors.

Recognizing this, companies and local supermarkets are encouraging consumers to return their black plastics, offering incentives for compliance.

For example, skincare company, Lush, encourages customers to return their signature black pots to be recycled.

Five returned pots will earn you a free fresh face mask!

A big win-win.

This allows these forms of plastic to be properly recycled or upcycled, rather than crowding a landfill.

The Rise of Bioplastics

Bioplastics sound futuristic, but they are already becoming the future of retail packaging.

Bioplastics are plastic materials manufactured from renewed biomass sources, like corn starch, sawdust, recycled food waste, and vegetable fats and oils.

Bioplastics do feel like plastic, but they are repurposed with the intention of reducing biowaste.

This innovation may be more expensive for businesses right now, but it is great for the planet.

Written in Vegetable Ink

Did you know that you can get your hands on vegetable-based inks?

Indeed! Since their creation, inks have been traditionally made from petroleum, which ensures a negative carbon footprint.

In recent years, companies and consumers have turned to things like soy-based inks for their packaging because they do not generate harmful emissions since they are biodegradable.

Plus, when it comes to cost and waste, vegetable-based inks are far more efficient on certain materials.

Eating Packaging

Imagine polishing off the takeout from your favorite local diner by munching on the container.

Before you scrunch your nose in disgust, you should know that edible packaging is on the rise, and it is one of the most eco-friendly retail packaging solutions available today. 

Edible straws, wraps, films, and other packaging supplies are already hitting the market, and are projected to become the new norm.

For example, some brands are selling sandwich wrappers manufactured from seaweed.

So now you can have your cake and eat the wrapper too! 

Just because you may not want to eat you packaging, doesn’t mean someone (or something) else won’t!

Mexican company E6PR manufactures six-pack rings for beer, in fact made from the wheat and barley remains from beer brewing.

These rings are not only decomposable but can also be a tasty treat for an animal.

Anti-Bacterial Packaging

In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, we may have created a generation petrified of germs.

It won’t be easy to reverse, so perhaps society can take advantage of it by integrating eco-friendly with anti-microbial packaging.

A number of brands are incorporating technology that prevents bacterial growth in the linings of their reusable bags to encourage eco-friendly packaging options, while guaranteeing the safety of your food inside.

This has been a smart move on the part of packaging manufacturers and could very well be the start of a huge industry.

It is estimated that the anti-bacterial packaging industry could blossom to $11.88 billion by 2024.

This forecast was released before the COVID-19 public health crisis, so it is safe to assume this figure could be at least $3 billion higher now.

Studies have found that two-thirds of shoppers find paper and cardboard-based packaging makes a product more attractive than other materials.

This is good news, because paper and cardboard can be recycled and reused (and even creatively repurposed).

As the packaging trends of 2022 have shown, companies are ready to push the boundaries, using materials and processes that will perhaps one day change how all of our goods and products are sold and purchased, especially going into 2023.

At a time when society is trying to reduce its waste, over-packaging or the use of unsustainable packaging materials is frowned upon by conscious consumers.

Altering our packaging habits is one step in the right direction towards being a little kinder to our already stressed-out Mother Nature.

The post Top Eco Friendly Packaging Trends for 2023 first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Top Eco Friendly Packaging Trends for 2023 appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

With the holiday season comes an influx of new customers that you need to impress. 

While it may seem too late to start thinking about your seasonal packaging, you can still gather inspiration for 2023! 

Brands around the world have to plan for the holiday rush in advance as manufacturing and shipping of your final product packaging needs to be factored in to ensure consumers are getting seasonal products and packaging at the right time. 

Read more about how to meet the deadlines for this holiday season rush! 

The unboxing experience becomes the main contributor to your sales as customers look for striking and ready-to-give gifts for their friends and family. 

Here we’ve laid out our top 19 design ideas for you to use as inspiration for your product packaging in the coming year.

Expanding on Festive Colors

1. Black and White

Take a modern twist on holiday packaging. 

Black and white are classic, and are typically used year-round for brands to showcase minimalism and luxury.  

Why not switch it up and use black and white for your holiday packaging designs this year? 

While it may seem counterintuitive to pick colors that aren’t on the traditional holiday color scheme, black and white packaging is timeless, and for good reason. 

In a sea of red and green packaging, black and white may just be the competitive edge your brand needs to stand out this year. 

2. Frosted

Rather than go full-blown Christmas, why not celebrate the winter season instead? 

Frosted packaging is a subtle and unique way to pay homage to frosty winter mornings. 

This packaging design idea is ideal if you’re looking to make minimal changes to your design for the holiday season. 

Many brands focus on Christmas-themed packaging designs, with little paying attention to the winter season. 

Focusing a little more on the season rather than the holiday could be what sets your brand apart from the rest on the shelf. 

Especially with so many different holidays on the horizon like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, there is a demographic of consumers who are looking for gift options that aren’t specific to Christmas festivities. 

Frosted packaging is the perfect option for brands who are looking to be more inclusive during the holiday season and offer designs that fit in with a range of different holidays this season. 

3. A Touch of Christmas

We all know that the primary colors for the Christmas season are red, green, and gold. 

While many brands will choose to plaster these colors across their packaging designs, we recommend a more modest approach to these colors. 

Rather than opting for busy designs that feature all the Christmas colors at once, why not sprinkle one color throughout your design for a more subtle and sophisticated holiday feel? 

Adding festive colored ribbons, tissue paper, or minimalist designs, make customers feel less overwhelmed by the noisy shelves. 

Designs that feature empty space but still feature a holiday feel will allow customers to spot your product on shelves that feature busy and over-the-top holiday designs. 

It’s like taking a breath of fresh air in a crowded mall, be that breath of fresh air! 

4. Metallics

As briefly touched on, golds and silvers also fall under the festive color scheme. 

Foil stamping is a wonderful way to add a little shimmer to any packaging design this holiday season. 

The great thing about foil stamping is that you don’t necessarily have to opt for classic holiday designs for it to exude a high end, festive feel. 

Foil stamping is typically used to enhance brand logos, text and aspects of designs. However, for the holiday season, many brands decide to go all out and embellish their packaging with metallic designs using foil stamping. 

It takes half a step away from your cliché holiday packaging designs and elevates them to create sophisticated designs on shelves that feature reindeer, snowmen, and santa. 

Design Styles

5. Rustic designs

Rustic designs have played an integral role in holiday packaging designs over the years. 

Especially in the wake of eco-conscious consumers, brands around the world are tailoring their packaging designs to not only spark a festive spirit but still enhance sustainable initiatives. 

Kraft paper packaging does a wonderful job at creating an organic warmth in the wake of the holiday festivities. 

Natural earthy brown tones, while not in the traditional holiday design scheme, create a cozy feel that is perfect for the winter season. 

The great thing about rustic designs is that you can really make them your own. 

Kraft paper works flawlessly with monochromatic colors, adding a pop of green, red or gold really brings the holiday season to the forefront. 

The rustic style is incredibly versatile and almost any product type can benefit from this style for the holiday season! 

6. The Ugly Christmas Sweater

While the ugly christmas sweater is out of fashion, packaging designs this year can still benefit from these classic patterns. 

Simply put, it’s the most straightforward way to announce your exclusive holiday packaging. It’s extremely recognizable and appeals to the holiday feel consumers are looking for.

Opt for classic holiday patterns like pine trees, reindeer and snowflakes to really play into the ugly christmas sweater feel.  

To further play into the cozy warm feel of the ugly Christmas sweater, brands have been emphasizing texture in their designs, making it look like the packaging is wrapped in your favorite material for the holidays. 

The sweater texture creates depth and enhances this classic design even further this year. 

7. Minimalism

Minimalism has long been the safest way to go, anytime of the year. 

But this holiday season, minimalism is a necessity for many brands. 

It’s predictable that most brands will opt for classic christmas patterns, tones and images. 

So, why not set yourself apart with minimalist designs featuring elegant fonts and prints.

The holiday season is stressful for both consumers and businesses.

Consumers are looking for the perfect gift in stores while brands compete to catch consumers’ wandering eyes. 

Minimalist designs may just be the breath of fresh air your customer needs on the busy and often suffocating shelves of retail stores.  

Packaging Styles

8. Tubes

Packaging tubes are often overlooked by brands during the holiday season. 

However, tubes can be a unique way to package your products for the holidays. 

Ideal for stocking stuffers, tube packaging can hold a wide variety of product types. 

Anything from apparel, fashion, candy and jewelry, tube packaging is a unique way to offer your customers a gift-like unboxing experience without any additional wrapping paper or ribbons! 

It’s convenient, beautiful and unique which gives any brand a competitive edge this holiday season. 

9. Magnetic Rigid Boxes

Magnetic rigid boxes have long been the superior choice for gift packaging, and rightly so. 

Magnetic rigid boxes create a luxurious unboxing experience from the get go, making them ideal for gift giving during the holiday season. 

Popular for packaging exclusive holiday gifts in the cosmetics and skincare industries, rigid magnetic boxes are a convenient way to showcase the quality of your brand during the holidays. 

Overall, rigid boxes of all types feature a gift-like unboxing experience, making them ideal for the holiday season. 

However, the magnetic rigid box sets itself apart as they are easily resealable allowing customers or gift receivers to enjoy the packaging time and time again with many keeping this type of box for home decor or storage. 

While a little pricier than your average packaging options, rigid boxes pay for themselves during the holiday season with many brands season an increase of sales of up to 80% during the winter months. 

Additional Materials

10. Gift tags

Adding a gift tag to packaging of any type, is cost effective as well as personal and consistently creates holiday packaging that your customers will appreciate time and time again. 

It’s a classic way to give your holiday packaging a purpose. 

Similar to promotional inserts, gift tags can be used to offer discounts, gift cards and greetings that make your packaging feel more personalized and ready for the gift giving occasion. 

Your gift tag doesn’t necessarily have to pertain to your brand persay. 

Adding “To:” and “From:” or a simple “Happy Holidays” can also significantly add to the holiday cheer of your product packaging. 

It also further plays into the purpose of your packaging, it essentially maked it a ready-to-give gift on it’s own! 

11. Printed Packing Tape

As we’ve seen, e-commerce businesses have taken the retail world by storm, especially during the pandemic. 

Making the holiday season that much more important for online retailers. 

Custom packing tape is the subtle touch that sets e-commerce packaging apart from a mail room of brown boxes. 

While the unboxing experience lied within the packaging itself, the initial interaction with should spark anticipation and excitement for the holiday season. 

Packing tape is something you’ll most likely have to use to secure your packaging efficiently for shipping anyway, so why not add a little cheer to even the simplest of things. 

Not only is it cost effective, but it also communicates the purpose of your packaging should customers mail them out to friends and family for the holidays! 

Themed packing tape adds extra branding elements to your packaging that can enhance the overall customer experience, especially during the holiday season. 

12. Stickers

Probably the easiest way to spice up any packaging design is to opt for some custom stickers! 

This is an incredibly convenient way for small businesses who can’t necessarily afford a whole redesign for the season. 

Bought in bulk, custom stickers are extremely cost effective and communicate a whole lot. 

You can use stickers to showcase holiday designs, patterns or messages that help your customers get in the holiday spirit. 

Gold detailing on stickers do exceptionally well for the holidays as it adds that glimmer of holiday cheer in a subtle yet elegant way. 

Stickers can also be used to seal packaging and wrapping paper. 

Functional and beautiful! 

13. Printed Tissue Paper

Printed tissue paper or wrapping paper was quite literally made for the holidays. 

Many brands choose to gift wrap their products for the holiday season, once again playing into the ready-to-give gift aspect of any packaging design for the holidays. 

Use tissue paper or wrapping paper to wrap apparel, cosmetics or electronics for an ultimate gifting experience. 

Wrapping paper is probably the most common way people like to receive gifts. 

While this may not necessarily be the most efficient way for brands to package their products, tissue paper and wrapping paper is popularly used within product packaging to enhance the unboxing experience. 

Commonly paired with rigid boxes or corrugated boxes, both e-commerce and retail packaging can benefit from tissue and wrapping paper to create a festive unboxing experience. 

14. Ribbons

Another classic holiday gift accessory: ribbons. 

Ribbons are the ultimate indicator that “this box contains a gift”. 

Brands have been using ribbons in unique ways for the holidays to complement and showcase their branding and product during the holiday season. 

Make sure you strategically place your ribbons to compliment rather than cover the design of your product packaging, even if it isn’t necessarily the most festive!

15. Box Inserts

While custom box inserts may seem like a useless component to customize, they actually add a lot of value to your overall unboxing experience. 

Afterall, it’s the inside that counts! 

While it’s not common to print text on box inserts, you can still create a festive interior to your packaging using color and pattern. 

Bring the exterior into the interior by replicating any patterns or designs you feature on the exterior of your packaging to create an overall festive unboxing experience. 

Box inserts carry a real ‘wow factor’, although subtle, it elevates and adds value to the quality of your products and brand. 

Read more about product packaging inserts

16. Wood Wool Paper Shred

Wood wool paper shred is a great way to showcase your sustainability efforts, but also add a little fun to the unboxing experience of your products. 

Wood wool paper is a cost effective alternative to custom inserts, as they still offer cushioning and protection to products but doesn’t necessarily need to be custom fit. 

The best part? You can get them in all different types of colors to match both your branding and festive occasion! 

Ideal for creating sharable packaging, using gold, red or green wood wool paper shred creates an instagrammable moment from every angle. 

Specialty Printing and Finishing

17. Inside-the-Box 

E-commerce businesses heavily rely on the unboxing experience to create impactful first impressions on customers. 

That’s why printing personalized messages or designs on the interior of your product packaging can create a festive experience for any e-commerce brand. 

Ideally you’ll want to spark excitement for your products, offer a personalized experience and enhance the experience of your products. 

Many brands create sharable packaging this way using quirky quotes or sayings on the interior of the box that appeals to the holiday feel. 

Adding something as simple as “happy holidays!” adds an element of personalization that customers will appreciate regardless of how cheesy or generic it is. 

The holidays is all about getting close and personal! 

18. Window Patching

Is your product already holiday themed? 

Showcase them with custom window patching and let your products create holiday cheer! 

Window patching is a popular way to showcase products. The packaging is die cut and overlaid with a plastic sheet to create a window for your products to peep out of. 

Customers love to know exactly what they are shopping for. Window patching is the most straightforward way to show your customers exactly what they’ll be getting. 

Ideal for food, cosmetics and apparel, custom window patching is the ultimate way to showcase your products clearly amongst the christmas clutter on shelves. 

19. Embossing

Possibly the most subtle way to create holiday packaging, embossing creates raised  designs on the surface of cards and paperboard packaging. 

Ideal for monochrome themed packaging, embossing brings the holiday cheer to life without shoving it in your face. 

Embossing is elegant, subtle and quite impactful as it gives your product packaging a 3D element customers can interact with before opening it for the holidays! 

Inviting customers in to interact with the packaging allows your product to stand out on shelves with more customers looking to shop in stores now. 

Embossing can enhance visual aspects of your branding like logos and artwork designs, but most of all it can create some pretty spectacular designs that customers will feel drawn to! 

There are many more ways to design and create some spicy holiday packaging designs. 

With so many options and capabilities at our disposal it can feel quite overwhelming to create packaging designs that will stand out in the most competitive season of the year. 

Lucky for you, we’re here to help!

The post 19 Inspiring Holiday Packaging Design Ideas in 2022 first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 19 Inspiring Holiday Packaging Design Ideas in 2022 appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

However, consumers have a growing appetite for food packaging that stands out and has a unique value proposition in a world that has become so monotone.

This year there is a wide range of trends that are dominating the market for brands to sink their teeth into.

Satisfy consumer appetites by investing in packaging — with a wow-factor.

Maintain your competitive advantage by aligning your food packaging with your brand values, pushing the envelope of innovation, and creating a truly memorable customer experience that adds a little excitement into your customers’ everyday lives.

Packaging is part of the first impression your customers have with your food product – make it a good one.

Stay on top of these food packaging trends for 2022.

Sustainable Packaging

Increasing knowledge and awareness of the climate change issue has catalyzed the green movement around the world.

As a result, sustainable packaging continues to be important in 2022.

How brands choose to package their food products should be a high priority for supporting the green agenda despite global struggles.

Brands need to consider the types of packaging their food products are in and how to reduce their carbon footprint.

When working with a packaging supplier they should ask: how were these packaging materials sourced? Was the process sustainable?

Eco-conscious consumers want to support brands that align with their own values and are willing to pay a premium to do so.

Therefore, marketers must consider how they can use plastic-free packaging and biodegradable packaging options to attract their target customers, all while ensuring the packaging continues to be functional and ensure the customer experience is intact.

These eco-friendly food packaging options can include products packaged in cardboard catering boxes, cardboard food sleeves, and custom food service paper.

The push towards sustainability and zero waste may even see the introduction of edible food packaging in the future.

These edible packaging options may be made of rice paper, seaweed or even cornstarch.

Smart Packaging

In the age of smart devices – the intersection of technology and packaging is on the rise. 

“Smart packaging” gives consumers the opportunity to interact with their packaging beyond simply opening it to access their food. 

Technological elements on packaging such as QR codes, social media interaction, online games, etc. can excite consumers and improve their experience with your brand.

Especially in a time where it seems our only real interactions are through a phone or computer screen, the use of smart packaging is very appealing to the market right now.

These elements can be powerful tools for educating customers about your products through a simple click or scan on a smartphone.

Imagine allowing customers to simply scan the code on packaging that sends them to a landing page with more information about your food product.

Another use for smart packaging is helping brands track metrics such as Ph, temperature, etc. especially during a time where we need to be cautious of interacting with products in store.

This helps to ensure freshness, quality, and extended shelf life of food products.

For instance, sensors on food packaging can monitor quality with the label changing colors depending on if the food is spoiled or fresh enough to consume.

Customer expectations for technology integration will continue to increase as technology continues to take over.

Brands will need to keep up with trends to maintain a competitive advantage and meet consumer demand.

Personalized Packaging

Consumers are attracted to products that are personalized in various ways.

Personal touches such as names or messages on packaging can make your customers feel special and improve their experience with your brand.

Customers thrive to make authentic connections with brands.

So, what better way to do that than addressing your customers personally.

High-profile food and beverage brands have tried personalized packaging and have found success.

Especially in the middle of economic struggles that limit our interactions, customers feel drawn to communication, even if it’s through your packaging.

This growing trend is becoming an industry-standard as consumers desire more customizations and interactions with brands.

When Coca-Cola introduced their “Share a Coke” campaign, it created buzz and boosted sales.

Customers could personalize their coke bottles by adding a name to the coke bottle or can.

The packaging spoke to a consumer with that specific name, providing them with a truly personalized experience.

Research shows that personalization in marketing can boost revenue by up to 15%.

Beyond standard branding on your packaging such as colors, typography, and other branding elements, customers will be looking for more in saturated industries.

Consumers want to connect with the brands they purchase products from on a deeper level.

Brand storytelling is becoming more vital to draw consumers in and drive brand loyalty.

Packaging that is able to evoke emotions and positive sentiment from consumers will be appealing and tend to get more recognition depending on your industry.

Consumers are particularly attracted to food product packaging that reflects their lifestyle and dietary choices.

Customize your food packaging design to tell a unique story that matches the values of your targeted customers.

This gives you the opportunity to share your brand’s vision and philosophy when a customer interacts with your product and gives them a chance to align themselves with your products.

This is especially important if your food product is sold through e-commerce platforms where your customers cannot experience the packaging in-person before buying.

A strong brand story can provide an interactive experience for your customers without them having to touch or feel the packaging.

Determining ways to communicate the brand story on your packaging will be an important part of attracting customers whether you sell your food product offline or online.

Transparent Packaging

Another trend this year is food packaging made of transparent materials.

As consumers become concerned with the ingredients being used in food products and the process by which they’re made, the desire for more transparency from companies has increased.

This means allowing customers to eat with their eyes by seeing the food they are purchasing as well as informing your customers of ingredients and benefits.

Revealing what’s inside the packaging allows your brand to lead with honesty.

Misleading customers or misrepresenting your product with food images on the packaging can harm your relationship with those who purchase your product.

Remove the guesswork for customers by showing them exactly what they will receive with transparent and forthcoming information that communicates your product’s value versus opaque packaging.

Labeling is another facet of transparent packaging that consumers are drawn to.

Consumers often feel the need to read the fine print to ensure companies aren’t hiding information such as harmful ingredients.

Instead, opt for clear and concise labeling to build more trust between your brand and consumers.

That’s a Wrap on Food Packaging Trends 2022!

Taking these trends into consideration can help your brand stand out to consumers in a world that has become so monotone.

Experiment with different food packaging designs to determine what is the right match for your product and you’ll soon see your food product “fly off the shelves.”

The post Top 4 Food Packaging Trends in 2022 first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post Top 4 Food Packaging Trends in 2022 appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

Top tips for increasing your packaging ROI

• How to Calculate your ROI for Packaging
• Establish a Connection with your Customers
• Protect your Products at all Costs
• Consider the Customer Experience

Packaging design is about making a long-term investment. 

The way a product is packaged can impact how customers perceive the product and ultimately determines the brand and product success. 

For companies looking to get serious returns on their product, making packaging a focal point can be incredibly beneficial in a marketing strategy. 

So, what are some things you can ensure through your branding and packaging strategy  to ensure the maximum ROI? 

How to Calculate your Packaging ROI

Your ROI will highly depend on your industry and packaging goals. 

ROI can take form in many different ways. 

In simple terms, your ROI calculation will look something like this: 

(Return – Investment) / Investment x 100% 

This formula can provide a simple bottom-line ROI on any capital purchase. 

However, let’s take a look at some of the factors that may contribute to your packaging ROI. 

Sales Results

For many businesses the main contributor to investing into custom packaging is boosting their sales results. 

Therefore, tracking your sales after launching a new packaging design for your products will give you a pretty clear indication of what your ROI actually is. 

You’ll want to take your investment and subtract it from your sales results (or vice versa) to figure out how much profit was made with your new investment. 

Reducing Damage

Packaging is designed to protect products from any potential damage. 

For businesses who have had prior issues with damaged products, this will be one of the main contributors to calculating your packaging ROI. 

How much money did your business save on recalled products due to damage since your new packaging design release? 

The best way to calculate this is to take a closer look at your business expenses in the past that have contributed to product recalls, refunds or replacements. 

Establish a Connection with your Customers

Well-executed packaging design can do a lot for your brand. 

The unboxing experience itself can help establish a connection with your consumer and show off what your brand is all about. 

The first to an impactful unboxing experience?

Thoughtful visual design. 

The better your packaging looks, the more likely it is to appeal to customers in a meaningful way. 

Color, imagery, font, shape – all of these different elements can come together to create something that customers resonate with and want to keep coming back for. 

Of course, the strategy is highly dependent on the industry your product is serving. 

For example; food packaging benefits from clear and concise designs as the product is already very visual. A cosmetics brand, on the other hand, will want to embellish their packaging to match their products. 

Understanding your target audience, what they like, and what they don’t like will help tailor a design that actually works to create brand equity. 

Balancing form and function is also crucial as the packaging not only needs to look good but also perform well. 

The best way to increase ROI is to take a deeper look at competitors and industry giants to see what packaging types, designs and materials worked best for them. 

That can help you establish a baseline for what your packaging design needs to accomplish and what kind of sales results are possible. 

Powerful branding can have immense benefits for a brand if executed well. 

Think of it as another salesperson, and use that approach in your design. 

How can your packaging design showcase your brand effectively? 

The right answer will highly depend on your product, industry, missions and target market. 

But one rule applies throughout…

Be genuine and thoughtful! 

Consumers are looking to make more authentic connections with brands, so let your packaging tell your brand story for an increased ROI. 

Working with a packaging expert can be incredibly beneficial to ensure you’re investing resources in the right elements for your custom packaging design. 

Protect your Products at all Costs

No matter how good your packaging looks, it needs to perform well too. 

Packaging design that gets you the most ROI blends performance and aesthetic appeal together to create the right fit. 

So, once you have an idea of what branding elements you’d want to incorporate, it’s time to think about safety.

One of the top priorities for packaging design is reducing the chance of damage to your products for a consistently effective unboxing experience. 

Your product will likely travel far and wide to reach customers, and the goal is to keep it intact throughout the journey. 

Investing in the protection of your products will be saving you an immense amount of costs on damaged product recalls in turn increasing your overall packaging ROI. 

The structural design and material of your packaging will be the main contributor to your products safety. 

Minimizing the dimensions and avoiding excessive materials will not only save you on costs, but will keep your products much safer. 

In other words, strip your design down to only what you need. 

Not only will your product be adequately supported, but you’ll also be saving a ton on shipping costs for your custom design. 

Think of your structural designs on a long term basis as well. 

Easy-to-assemble packaging structures like collapsible boxes and auto bottom boxes will save you on time during the packaging process of your products making it more efficient and ultimately increase your ROI. 

Consider what materials are being used, the product journey from packing to shipping to customers, and what you can do to optimize design’s safety and performance.

An optimized supply chain with consolidated vendors can also help reduce costs and positively influence sales results.

From producing the custom box to packaging your products, maintaining a healthy supply chain will play a critical role in increasing your ROI.  

Consider the Customer Experience

Lastly, and perhaps, most importantly, increasing ROI goes hand in hand with improving the customer experience. 

The feeling customers get from your packaging and your brand can significantly influence how they feel about the product itself. 

Customers value convenience, clarity and authenticity. 

Really, it’s simple to incorporate these pain points into your packaging design to create the ultimate customer experience. 

Going for lightweight packaging that is efficient and compact helps since it drops fees for you and customers, which ultimately adds more value to your brand. 

Furthermore, using thoughtful packaging elements like promotional inserts,  tissue paper or stickers also elevates the overall packaging experience. 

It shows that you have put care and thought into how the packaging looks and feels, which resonates more with customers looking to build connections with the brands they purchase from. 

Especially in the wake of the eco-conscious shopper, using sustainable materials and shipping methods can also help increase ROI given that your brand has created a clear brand narrative and mission that customers resonate with. 

Not only is your brand doing something for the greater good, but it’s also adding value and a bigger brand story attached to your product. 

Customers are also just more willing to spend a little extra for products that are sustainably produced and sourced. Therefore, sustainable packaging solutions may just be the thing your brand needs to increase your packaging ROI. 

You can also work with packaging experts to ensure your design has all the right components to really connect with customers and that you are spending your resources on suitable materials and structures. 

Finally, having metrics set up to evaluate packaging performance and success can help you further improve the design and create the best custom packaging for your brand. T

The more you measure and improve, the better results you’ll see when it comes to ROI!

The post How To Increase Your ROI For Custom Packaging first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post How To Increase Your ROI For Custom Packaging appeared first on PakFactory Blog.

With the right design and shape, brands can create a memorable experience and a great first impression for customers before seeing the product! 

Custom packaging design can accomplish so much in such a short time frame, and it’s clear that customers really appreciate the effort that goes into it. 

There are a lot of ways that customers benefit from packaging design, and here are just a few of those:

1. Creating Demand

The design makes a huge difference in how your product is perceived, even before someone looks at the actual product. 

You can create demand just through your packaging design and entice customers to pick up the product and learn more about your brand and business. 

Custom packaging design is a way to hook customers in and encourage them to pick your product off the shelf versus someone else. 

With more and more emphasis on visual displays, packaging design is one of the best ways to create demand and sell more products.

Furthermore, building a strong brand reputation heavily plays into this concept too. 

Think of it this way; you may have a beautiful artwork design, but does it speak for your product and brand? Or does the artwork design have nothing to do with your branding?

Making sure your packaging design falls in line with your branding initiatives and narratives also pushes for more demand.

It sets your brand apart from the rest and allows for distinctive elements of your brand to be recognized, which helps with the launch of any new product lines. 

Create demand for your brand as a whole, not a single product

2. Creating an Experience

Customers value experience just as much as the product itself. 

Packaging design allows you to curate the experience with more control and ensure that customers are surprised and delighted each time they open your product. 

Custom packaging allows your brand to express itself and create a connection with the customer from the very start. 

Consumers look to make authentic connections with brands, especially in the wake of the eco-conscious shopper. 

Creating more than just a product, but rather a full spectrum experience, allows your brand to make authentic connections with your target market. 

Furthermore, creating an unboxing experience that is unmatched by your competitors encourages your customers to share your brand and products on their social media channels!

Think about what you want customers to feel when they see your packaging and when they are opening the product. 

Use that as part of the packaging design process to create something extraordinary and unique to your brand. 

You can also incorporate your brand story, initiatives and why customers should care. This will help you craft a more meaningful experience tailored to not only your brand but to your target market too! 

3. Enhancing Brand Association

Customers have started to pay increasing attention to a brand and what it stands for. 

Customers want to purchase from a brand they are familiar with, whose values they understand and share, and want to be associated with. 

Custom packaging design allows you to express more of these values and connect with customers in the best way possible.

 You can use your packaging to add to your narrative, give customers a reason to care about your product and add visual appeals with the brand guidelines.

As mentioned previously, make your brand memorable.

Brand association is the key to building a loyal customer base and communicating an array of brand initiatives with your customers.

It also allows your customers to spot any new product launches from a mile away!

The packaging gives you a chance to communicate with customers and create stronger brand associations, so take advantage of the opportunity!

4. Highlighting Brand Initiatives

Your packaging is not just about looks but also about what it stands for. 

Using your custom packaging, you can communicate the values your brand is passionate about and what it does for others. 

For example, brand packaging that is made with the intention of pursuing sustainable initiatives can be highlighted and brought to the forefront of your packaging design to fall in line with eco-conscious shoppers.

You can use different materials, inks, and other elements to create packaging that is good for the environment and for your customers. 

Communicating this on the messaging of your packaging, will allow customers to identify more with your brand and support your initiatives as a business.

It delivers a great impression while also establishing a deeper connection with customers

Maintaining a very transparent and clear brand narrative helps customers understand and stay informed on your business on a more personal level. 

Furthermore, customers just really appreciate honesty when it comes to products and brands, so keep it real! 

5. Enhancing Seasonal Promotions

Packaging design can also be a fantastic way to communicate seasonal promotions, special deals, and other enticing offers. 

Think of the design as two elements that work together: visual design that attracts customers and informative design that keeps them hooked. 

Adding in how your product provides value can be incredibly beneficial in the overall packaging design.

Seasonal packaging can include unique designs, limited edition looks and products as well as information about the promotion so that customers are excited to purchase the product and support your brand! 

While every brand takes advantage of seasonal promotions, not every brand creates an experience for customers that sets their products apart for said promotions. 

Creating an experience, as you can tell, is a recurring theme in packaging design.

Creating interactive and engaging experience for customers is ultimately what will make your brand shine brighter than the rest! 

6. Adding Value to a Product

Lastly, packaging design is part of the overall brand value.

The better the design, the more high-end and it looks, the more value customers will derive from it. 

You can make an impression right from the very start, by simply putting thought into your packaging design that will give it a serious edge! 

Look at competitors, what they do, and how you can stand out. 

Each time customers buy your product; they should feel confident about their purchase and the value it has for them. 

Premium packaging and design can contribute towards this value of your products and help you stand out from the rest of the market every time. 

There are so many ways that customers benefit from packaging design that it is hard to pick just six! 

Packaging your product can do wonders for your brand and customer loyalty, so it’s crucial to give the design process your full time and attention. 

Think about what your brand stands for, what resonates with your customers, and what value you’re hoping to bring to customers. 

Using these different elements, you can work with packaging experts to create great packaging for products that customers will love and keep coming back for. 

The post 6 Ways Packaging Design Benefit Customers and Brands first appeared on PakFactory Blog.

The post 6 Ways Packaging Design Benefit Customers and Brands appeared first on PakFactory Blog.