Last Updated on April 11, 2025 by Packoi Team
Custom packaging isn’t only about wrapping your products with brand logos. It reflects your brand’s values and your first chance to create a memorable experience for your consumer.
Despite all the benefits, the process of selecting customized packaging for your products can feel overwhelming. In this blog, we’ll give a step-by-step guide on selecting the right custom packaging for small businesses, and we’ll also provide some budget-friendly and sustainable options.
Let’s get started!
Why Custom Packaging is Important for Small Businesses?
Custom packaging is more than just a container for your product; it is the first impression of your brand on the customer. According to research, 72% of Americans believe the packaging design greatly influences their purchase choices.
Here are five reasons why you should consider getting custom packaging for your product as a small business.
1. Stand Out in the Market
Creative packaging can differentiate your brand from competitors and make the user experience memorable, instantly communicating your brand values, professionalism, and attention to detail.
2. Improve customer experience
Custom packaging can add a personal touch to the unboxing experience. Visually appealing packaging adds a wow factor to your product and helps consumers emotionally connect with your brand.
3. Strong Marketing Tool
Packaging can be a powerful marketing tool. Adding your company name prominently can increase brand recognition. Custom packaging also allows you to incorporate logos, taglines, and thoughtful thank-you messages.
These details create a lasting impression in customers’ minds, making them more likely to promote your products on social media.
4. Product Safety and Protection
Beyond aesthetics, custom packaging should also be designed to fit your product properly, ensuring it reaches the customer undamaged.
With custom packaging, you can add extra protection for your delicate and premium products and reduce the risks of damage during shipping. Optimizing your packaging can also streamline your supply chain, reducing shipping costs and material waste.
5. Tell Your Brand Story
Packaging offers a creative opportunity for businesses to share their story with their customers. This can be very helpful for small businesses as they are trying to build a connection with their audience and differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
Steps to Get Custom Packaging for Your Small Business
Creating custom packaging can be overwhelming as it requires balancing multiple elements, like design, cost, safety, material, etc. To help with this, we’ve broken down the custom packaging process into a few actionable steps.
1. Understand Your Product Needs
Start by analyzing the product and identifying its packaging requirements. Consider product category, size, shape, weight, and fragility. Ask yourself:
- What type of product are you packing?
- Does it require a particular packaging style?
- How will the product be stored?
- Does it need extra protection like custom inserts or padding?
Jotting these details down can help you streamline the options for your product packaging.
2. Define Packaging Goals
The next step in selecting custom packaging for your small business is to define the packaging goals. Be clear on the main purpose of packaging: is it aesthetics, product protection, customer experience, brand awareness, or something else?
Once you have prioritized your goals, consider the specifications in that area. For instance, if your main focus is brand awareness, then you should consider details about your brand colors, brand values, and tagline.
However, if your aesthetics is your top priority, you should focus on recent packaging trends and search for clean, visually appealing packaging ideas.
3. Choose the Right Type of Packaging
To choose the right packaging, consider your product needs and goals side by side. Your packaging must align with both the functional requirements and the experience you want to create with your customers.
Whether you choose bags, boxes, or any other custom packaging option, make sure the packaging is practical for storage and shipping as well. You can also research some competitive products in the market and see how they have been packaged.
Alternatively, you can also see unboxing videos of a product similar to yours and identify elements that resonate with the audience. To help you assist in selecting the right material, we’ve divided the custom packaging types into six major categories.
This table will help you select the right type of custom packaging for your small business. We’ve listed the examples, advantages, and limitations of each one.
| Packaging Type | Examples | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard Packaging | Mailer Boxes, Shoe boxes, Non-fragile items |
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| Corrugated Boxes | Shipping boxes, Moving boxes, Fragile items |
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| Paper Packaging | Food wraps, Small retail bags, Bakery boxes |
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| Plastic Packaging | Vacuum-sealed packaging, Shrink wraps, Clear bags |
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| Metal Packaging | Beverage cans, Pills, Medical equipment |
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| Glass Packaging | Food jars, Beverage bottles, Cosmetic containers |
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4. Find Cost-Effective Solutions
With all the needs and goals, your packaging costs should be reasonable and not exceed the product’s value. To get quality packaging with reduced packaging costs, choose suppliers with experience working with small businesses, offering flexible timelines and fair pricing. Reading reviews or asking for recommendations can help gauge reliability.
Finding cost-effective packaging options does not mean sacrificing quality. Be strategic with your choices, consider the long-term value, and invest in durable and professional packaging. You can save money by choosing wholesalers, depending on your budget and required quantities.
5. Research and Select Packaging Suppliers
Choosing the right supplier is crucial to ensure your packaging meets both quality standards and budget. Go for trusted, well-known suppliers with experience working with small businesses. You can also research the suppliers who specialize in the particular type of packaging you desire.
Look for suppliers who offer a variety of materials, customization options, flexible production timelines, and fair price points. Read reviews or ask for recommendations to learn about customer service. You can also opt for local suppliers, which can save you a penny on shipping costs and reduce delivery time.
6. Design Your Packaging
You can either design your custom packaging yourself or collaborate with graphic designers. If you are a small business with budget constraints, you can design your packaging yourself by using tools like Canva and Adobe Spark. These tools offer some free, user-friendly templates that are easy to customize.
However, if you want a refined and professional design for your packaging, work with a designer or branding agency. Professionals can provide expert advice on color matching, material selection, and a design that stands out.
7. Evaluate Packaging for Legal Considerations
An important step that small business owners often overlook is ensuring that the packaging complies with legal standards. Packaging involves several rules for labeling, safety concerns, and industry-specific guidelines. Failing to follow the laws can result in fines, product recalls, market restrictions, or even the loss of your business license.
In the U.S., the FDA governs packaging for food and health products, requiring details like ingredients, warnings, and certifications. Similarly, if you wish to sell your product internationally, you must check if the packaging meets the requirements of organizations like the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) network.
8. Request Samples
Before committing to a large order, always request samples from your packaging supplier. This enables you to access the packaging’s material, quality, durability, and colors. Evaluate the material’s strength, visual appeal, and ability to protect fragile items during shipping.
9. Order Based on Your Volume Needs
Once you are sure of everything, you should be ready to place your order. At this point, you should consider the volume needs. Ordering too little can result in repeated shipping costs, while ordering too much can be risky.
Initially, opt for smaller orders. Choose suppliers that offer low MOQs (Minimum Order Quantities) at fair prices. Once you are able to estimate your product’s sales projection and market demand, you can go for bulk orders from wholesalers.
Top 5 Budget-Friendly Custom Packaging Options For Small Businesses
For small businesses, finding cost-effective packaging solutions without compromising quality can be challenging. To help you with this, we’ve compiled a list of custom packaging suppliers that are reliable and offer budget-friendly options for custom packaging.
1. Packoi
Packoi is a China-based, globally reputed custom packaging and printing solutions provider. It offers high-quality custom boxes, bags, and marketing materials. For custom boxes, the MOQ is 300 units, while for custom print, the MOQ is 500 units, which is great for new startups. The brand also offers discounts for bulk orders.
2. Packlane
Packlane is another great reputable customized packaging manufacturer, trusted by businesses worldwide. The company specializes in custom mailer boxes, product boxes, and shipping boxes. For custom-printed, custom-sized boxes with artwork, the MOQ is 1 unit for corrugated boxes and 25 units for paperboard cartons.
3. Noissue
Noissue is a custom packaging brand with a quirky name and focuses on sustainability that deals with custom packaging solutions for various sectors, including e-commerce, retail, food, etc. The MOQ is 25 units for custom mailer boxes and 250 units for custom tissue papers.
4. UPrinting
Uprinting is a versatile custom printing service that specializes in customizable packaging solutions for businesses of all sizes. The brand offers an extensive range of customizable options, including custom boxes, labels, mailers, and more. It also has free design templates, and there is no minimum order restriction for custom-printed boxes.
Ready to Get Custom Packaging for Your Business?
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5. Sticker Mule
Last but not least, Sticker Mule is a market leader in color printing, particularly known for its high-quality custom labels and stickers, and budget-friendly custom packaging solutions. The products include custom mailers, packaging tapes, and labels. The MOQ for custom sticker samples is 10 units per design.
3 Best Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Packaging Suppliers
The market for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging is growing like never before. In 2022, the global sustainable packaging market was valued at $310 billion. Growing with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.7%, the market is expected to reach around $518 billion by 2030.
For small businesses, adopting eco-friendly packaging options can reduce the environmental impact while attracting environment-conscious consumers. Going green can improve a brand’s reputation, plus it can result in cost savings. Some eco-friendly custom packaging suppliers are mentioned below:
1. Packoi
Packoi offers affordable custom packaging made from high-quality recyclable materials like kraft paper. It provides a wide range of biodegradable and low-cost custom packaging products, especially for small businesses.
2. EcoEnclose
EcoEnclose specializes in recycled and recyclable boxes, mailers, and labels. The brand claims that 100% of its products are made from recycled content and also offers zero-waste options for custom packaging.
3. SustainaPack
SustainaPack is a well-known Australian brand that offers compostable and biodegradable packaging for food and retail products. The customized packaging is made from materials like sugarcane and kraft paper.
Ready to Get Custom Packaging for Your Business?
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5 Tips to Save Money on Custom Packaging
Custom packaging is a great marketing tool, but sometimes it can feel costly. Here are some tips on saving money on custom packaging as a small business.
1. Starting Small
If you are just starting your business and want custom packaging, it is wise to start small. This can give you a chance to check the design and material while saving you from costly mistakes.
2. Bulk Ordering for Discounts
Many suppliers offer discounts on bulk orders, which can reduce the cost per unit significantly. Bulk purchasing is great for items that you’ll consistently use, for example, boxes, mailers, or labels.
3. Simplifying Designs
While intricate designs can be attractive, they often come with higher production costs. Simplifying your design not only saves you money but also provides a clean and professional look. In fact, most big corporations use simple designs.
4. Using Pre-Designed Templates
Many packaging suppliers offer free design templates that can be easily customized with your brand specifications. This can save you from spending on graphic designers or other design professionals.
5. Choosing Cost-Effective Materials
Choose materials that offer durability and longevity while being light on the pocket. Some good packaging options include corrugated cardboard, kraft paper, and small bags.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What’s the minimum order quantity for custom packaging?
The minimum order quantity (MOQ) refers to the smallest number of units a supplier will accept for a custom packaging order. MOQ can vary from supplier to supplier. Typically, it ranges from 100 to 1000 units.
2. How much does custom packaging cost?
The cost of custom packaging starts from $0.50 per unit. The cost varies based on factors such as design, material, order quantity, and size.
3. What are the best materials for small business packaging?
The best materials for small business packaging are paper, paperboard, and corrugated board. The material choices can vary based on the packaging needs.
4. How can I make eco-friendly packaging affordable?
To make eco-friendly packaging affordable, select packaging that features recycled materials and simple designs. Additionally, try bulk ordering to get discounts on sustainable packaging.
Conclusion
In this comprehensive guide, we walked you through the step-by-step process of getting custom packaging for a small business. We also outlined popular custom packaging types and their applications and highlighted some international brands for affordable and sustainable packaging solutions.
Be sure to use the tips we’ve shared to save money when placing your order!
Get the Best Custom Packaging for Your Business at Packoi
Looking for a provider specializing in custom packaging and printing materials? Packoi offers customizable options and expert design services. Contact us today to learn more.
