Last Updated on July 24, 2023 by Packoi Team
This isn’t just for product boxes. It’s also applicable to shipping boxes. If you want to maximize the benefits of your packaging investments, you have to pay attention to the design of your shipping box as well.
In this article, you’ll learn the reasons why you should include your custom packaging in your brand strategy. You’ll also get ideas on how to be creative with your shipping box design.
7 Reasons Why Your Brand Needs a Creative Custom Packaging
Your shipping box isn’t just there to make sure your product gets to the customer’s front door in one piece. It’s also there to promote your business and create a great first impression. This is something that can benefit small business owners.
Just like mailer boxes, this is the first thing that customers will see. Even before the customer sees the product packaging, they’ll see the shipping box on their doorway. If you put the right design on it, that box can form the right impression about your business.
There are other reasons why you should invest in creative and innovative designs for your shipping box.
To Reinforce Your Brand Identity
Your custom packaging is a powerful tool that represents your brand’s identity. While a product box can reinforce your brand image, it’s the shipping box that’ll give customers a first impression of you.
If your box uses elements that show your brand identity, that can help increase brand recognition. The moment your package arrives, your customer will immediately know what it is. Even if it’s just a simple print of your brand name, it already impresses something on the customer.
Make sure that impression will lead to a mind-blowing experience. Choose a design that communicates your brand message correctly. Whether it’s about being a sustainable brand or an innovative one – you want customers to form the right idea about your business at first glance.
To Promote Your Expertise
Imagine seeing a very creative and innovative shipping box on your door. What would you think about the business that sent it?
You’ll be impressed by their ability to amaze you even before you get to the product! This is the same reaction that you want your customers to have of your business.
You want them to have a taste of how good you are through your packaging. People will think that if you can impress them with your branded packaging design, what more can you do with your expertise?
This is a great tool for small business owners to use.
To Leave a Lasting-Impression
Your custom packaging design isn’t just there to help customers form a positive first impression. For best results, you want your shipping box to make a lasting impression.
This can be reinforced by the product packaging boxes inside. Together, they can turn first-timers into repeat customers. Even if the next purchase doesn’t happen immediately, you want your packaging to be able to leave a lasting mark in the minds of your customers.
That way, when they need your product, they’ll remember how much you impressed them the first time they bought from you. This will encourage them to buy from you again.
To Maximize the Unboxing Experience
How will you know if your branded packaging will leave a lasting impression? If you can give them a memorable unboxing experience.
That means your shipping box should do more than just impress people with the design. You have to put the whole thing together so it becomes an incredible unboxing journey for your customers.
From the time the customer sees the shipping box, the excitement they feel, and the anticipation of opening the box and removing the tissue paper and other fillers – all these are part of the whole experience.
Every single part of the experience matters if you want to get completely satisfied customers.
To Create New Marketing Opportunities
When a product is being delivered, only the shipping box can be seen by everyone that it encounters. If you are creative with your design and you use quality materials, people will notice this. If you put your brand name on the surface, people will remember you.
This is how your custom packaging creates marketing opportunities by simply being visible. If your box gains enough attention, people will take an interest and their curiosity can lead them to research your brand. That on its own is already a huge win from a marketing perspective. It’s the beginning of brand awareness that could lead to higher sales for the business.
To Encourage Free Advertising
When customers see that your shipping box is creatively done and designed, there’s a higher chance that they’d whip out their phones and take a photo or video of the unboxing experience. According to a survey, 4 out of 10 customers share interesting product packaging designs or unboxing experiences on social media.
This is a great way to get free advertising for your brand. Your packaging design can increase brand awareness and attract new customers. This is even better because people usually want to hear reviews from actual customers. If your current customers start spreading the news about how amazing your shipping boxes are, it’ll give your brand a stronger image.
To Introduce Eco-Friendly Advocacies
Shipping boxes have to meet several standards. They have to pass the strict standards of the shipping company, the destination, etc. Some would insist on UN-approved boxes or FSC-certified packaging.
This is something that you can highlight as you design your custom packaging. You can bring awareness to eco-friendly advocacies by including relevant logos like the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle text. Or the marking that proves your box is UN-approved or FSC-certified.
You can also highlight the fact that you used sustainable packaging or 100% recycled materials. Be creative about this so you can incorporate it flawlessly in your design.
10 Ideas to Design Custom Boxes for Shipping Products
Being creative with your shipping box design doesn’t require you to be an art major. While hiring a professional designer for all your product packaging needs would be easier, it’s not always necessary – especially if you’re a small business with a limited budget.
There are many creative shipping box designs online. You can do your research and find inspiration there. To help you get started, here are 10 ideas that you can use.
Branded Stack Boxes
Sometimes, creativity comes through a simple and minimalistic design. Simply printing your brand name or logo in a strategic place can be enough to impress your customers with your custom packaging design.
Not only that, your branded packaging boxes will give you free advertising as your shipping box travels from the logistics hub to your customer’s front door. When people see it, they’ll know that your brand is involved.
If you deviate from the typical brown color of shipping boxes, you can make your brand stand out while it’s being delivered. Incorporate brand elements like your color, a tagline, etc.
Product Representation
This idea will depend on what product is in your shipping box or what you want your brand to be known for.
For instance, your brand sells clothing. You can design your product packaging to pay homage to that. Choose a print that’ll make your box look like a suitcase. It’ll be like you’re delivering your products in a suitcase. You can also make it look like a trunk or wooden chest so customers will be encouraged to reuse the box for storage purposes.
Being creative with your box will reveal a lot about your brand personality. It can show customers what you’re capable of and how you’re willing to go against the norm to please them. That’s a powerful statement.
Unique Structures
You need to think outside the box for this one. Instead of settling for the typical square or rectangle shape, you can use a different structure. Among the custom packaging ideas you can try includes hexagon or cylindrical shapes. The more unconventional it is, the more eye-catching the shipping box is.
When you choose the design, make sure it represents your brand and the product you’re delivering. The unique shape would also encourage your customers to reuse the box. They would want to keep something rare after all.
Interactive Elements
Adding interactive elements to your shipping box can be tricky. But it can be fun for your customer if you pull it off.
Think about the person who will enjoy the product packaging the most. How can you design the box to have a different function?
If your product is a toy, maybe you can design the box so the customer can use it to enhance their experience while playing with it. Maybe feature a map of a fictional town. Or do you know how kids like to get inside boxes and pretend they’re vehicles? Make the box look like a vehicle.
Again, this would encourage reusability which will also make your box eco-friendly.
Personal Messages
Your custom packaging design can also feature a personal message for the customer. This can make them feel special – especially if it’s a handwritten note. Stick it on the box or write on the box itself. Just make sure it won’t get in the way of any standard markings that the shipping company will require.
These may seem like a trivial thing but you might be surprised by the impact it can bring to some of your customers. That note would show that you value having a connection with them. This can help foster loyalty and improve their impression of your brand.
Sustainable Packaging
Another way to be creative with your shipping box is by choosing sustainable product packaging materials. There are several innovative ways to package your product without harming the environment. From seaweed to mushroom-based materials – these are all specially designed and developed to be good for the environment.
Learning how to use these materials will challenge your innovative side. How can you transform your box into something that’s 100% environmentally friendly?
It’s not just about the box itself but everything that you put in it. The fillers, tape, tissue paper, and even the ink you use. Do your research to make your box sustainable.
This may not directly affect the visual design of your box, but it’ll strengthen your customer’s perception of your brand.
Themed Designs
Here’s a fun idea for your custom packaging design. Think of a theme that you can use. Ideally, it should be something that compliments your product and your brand. But if there’s a special occasion like Christmas or Valentine’s Day – this can be a great theme for your box.
Even the seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) are great themes to follow. You can use the boxes to mark the different seasons or collections in your product line.
Art Collaborations
If you know of local or upcoming artists, you can collaborate with them and have them create a product packaging design for you. Create a limited edition line with that artist and include the shipping box in the design. This will give you a unique design for your brand.
This isn’t just about being creative with your packaging. You’re also supporting the local artists in the community. This will elevate and advertise them as well.
It could be a great way to open doors for future collaborations. It’ll also give you a great reputation in your local community for partnering with artists.
Interactive QR Codes
You can integrate QR codes to make your custom packaging interactive. Provide instructions so your customers won’t ignore the QR code printed on the box. They might think it’s just part of the design elements.
Be clear with the reason for the QR code. You can use it to create a scavenger hunt activity on the shipping box. Or it can be used to unlock valuable content or a chance to win discounts or freebies from your brand.
You can even use Augmented Reality to immerse customers in an unforgettable experience.
Windows and Cutouts
This may seem like an unusual design for a shipping box. Some might think that this can compromise the protection that the custom box can provide the product.
But when done properly, this can look very creative. It can give customers a glimpse of the product packaging inside. It can also make your box look unique and eye-catching.
When you design the cut-out, just make sure you’re not compromising the integrity of the box. You don’t want it to collapse and destroy the product before it reaches the customer.
5 Creative Ideas for The Inside of Your Shipping Boxes
When you’re designing your custom packaging, don’t forget the inside of the box. That’s part of the whole unboxing experience. The outer part of the box may be impressive but if the inside looks terrible, that’ll affect the customer’s perception of your brand.
So make sure that even the packaging materials and design elements inside will blow away the mind of your customers.
Here are some ideas you can use.
Create a Surprising Inner Design
Do you know how some mailer boxes are made to be simple outside but with intricate or colorful designs inside?
That could also work for your shipping box. Let the outside look simple and minimalistic then go all out when inside. It’ll be a great surprise for your customers when they open the box.
It’s not just about the print inside the box. You can choose bold colors instead of following the shades used on the external side of the box. Or it could be in the way you arranged the items inside. Make it look like a treasure chest of products in there.
Add a Thank You Card
When you add a thank you note or card, this can elevate the personal experience that your custom packaging will bring to your customer.
This is one of the packaging ideas you can implement even if there’s no occasion. The signing of a personal note will send a strong message that you care about your customers. You want them to enjoy the product that they bought from you.
This is a very effective way of making them feel loyal to your brand. The great thing about this is it won’t cost a lot of money to do. It also won’t take a few minutes to complete. But the results will leave a lasting impact on your customers.
Customize Your Fillers
Your shipping box fillers are another thing that you have to consider. What type of tissue paper will you use? You can have it custom-made so it has your branding on it. If you don’t use tissue paper, make sure your cushioning materials are sustainable.
Use bio-based bubble wrap. Or you can have special inserts made for your custom boxes. Include your logo so all the branded packaging materials will be identified to you.
This will make everything in your box feel exclusive to your brand.
Include Small Gifts
Free stuff is always a good way to make your customers happy. Choose a gift that you know your customers will appreciate. Once they open your custom packaging, they’ll see more than the product they bought.
It could be something as simple as a small coin purse. Or a bag tag. Whatever item you think will complement the product they bought from you or something that fits the customer’s lifestyle – share it with them.
Make sure the small gifts have your branding on them so the customer will be reminded of your generosity every time they use it.
Put Product Samples
If you don’t want to spend more on small gifts, that’s okay. You can put product samples instead. This is a great way to encourage repeat purchases – but this time, the customer might think about buying another product from your line.
It’s a different way of upselling. It’s also a great way to launch a new product. The customer can try it out and decide for themselves if they want to include it in their next purchase.
You can also include discount vouchers here – anything that’ll encourage them to buy from you within the near future.
It’s Time to Level Up Your Shipping Boxes. Packoi Printing Can Help Design Creative Product Packaging in All Forms.
Don’t underestimate what a shipping box can do to strengthen your brand’s position in the market. With the right design and materials, you can use it to create a powerful image and send a message that’ll make a lasting impact on your target market.
If you’re looking for a custom small business packaging supplier, Packoi Printing is here to help. We also have a design team who can provide their services separately. Let’s work on creating a unique design for your shipping box.
Give us a call to know more about this. We’ll get back to you with a fair quotation for your product packaging specifications.
