All You Need To Know About Tailor-Made Packaging Solutions
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Your product packaging can be a lot more than a cardboard box with a simple imprint. From drawer boxes to foil-laminated textures, there is an entire range of possibilities for you - this article helps discover them.
Most of the packaging solutions are designed only to deliver a product from point A to point B. In such a case, all of the features, including the packaging appearance, are dictated by “a safe delivery”.
While safety is of utmost importance, don’t forget that your packaging is also a part of your product - an essential element of it that complements your offer.
There are companies, which seek the most cost-effective solutions, as well as brands willing to invest a bit more, and elevate its packaging as a “customer lock-in” tool.
How do you design packaging that brings your customer back?
What’s the range of available printing variants and how can you order them for your brand?
This article will provide these answers. You will learn:
- what are tailor-made packaging solutions
- the types of special add-ons and non-standard solutions
- why unique packaging helps to bond with your customer better
- where to get such extraordinary solutions for your product packaging
What are the tailor-made packaging solutions (and why are they available in wholesale quantities only)?
If you’re in charge of your business, you probably wish to have a unique packaging solution. A box or a bag that would surprise your customer and make a killer first impression.
You have done your research, verified the choices of your competitors etc. And given a certain budget, you want a solution that will fit your product best. In order to make things easy, Packhelp offers you two separate ways to approach your packaging issues.
One is to choose a solution from a standard offer - you will be able to browse through many sizes, finishing and print options. You can design the products in an online editor, on your own, hassle-free.
Why do you need to order wholesale quantities?
The reason is fairly simple. Each special finishing option, add-on or construction change requires a special set of production tools. As a consequence, a finish called hot-stamping performed on 30 boxes would be very costly and as a business owner, you’re looking for the most cost-effective solutions.
In the following parts of this article, you’ll see the add-ons and solutions that are available within Packhelp Pro, as well as find out about the benefits of using them.
Special add-ons to spruce up your packaging
If you are thinking about special add-ons or features of your new packaging design, it’s good to define the key part you’d like to focus on.
In other words, do you need your packaging to:
- attract the attention of your customer in a shop?
- secure your fragile product in a long process of delivery?
- create an unexpected unboxing experience?
- emphasize the premium character of your brand?
Once you know what’s the most important objective, it is easier to choose solutions that will help you achieve it.
Take a look below at some of the most popular finishing options, widely used in packaging design.
Hot-stamping
Do you recall the type of glowy finish that’s often seen on luxury product packaging? If not, take a look at the example below.
The photo above (or the logo “ZOLA” in particular), represents the idea of hot-stamping in practice.
According to Wikipedia, Hot stamping or foil stamping is a printing method of relief printing in which pre-dried ink or foils are transferred to a surface at high temperatures.
In other words, it is a method of adding a layer of coloured foil onto your packaging. Such foil is usually gold, silver or copper.
How can you benefit from adding hot-stamping?
Hot-stamping is the best way to create a classy look for your packaging. It’s a printing method that doesn’t require any changes to the construction of your box, and is one of the cheaper extras too.
It can be successfully used to attract your customer’s attention to details, like:
- your company’s logo
- a short catchphrase or company statement
- part of an image printed on the surface
Tip: hot-stamping addresses the sense of touch, therefore creating an enriched experience with your packaging.
Embossing & debossing
Hot-stamping is often used along with embossing or debossing - another popular printing option.
Embossing and debossing are two alternate versions of the same technique.
A part of your packaging’s surface - let’s say a logo - is printed in a convex or concave way. As a result, this particular element is an immediate eye-catcher, thanks to a “3D impression”.
As mentioned earlier, your embossed (or debossed) element will look much more unique with the addition of glowy foil. You can also think of powerful colour contrast - try the combination of a black surface with silver or gold shine.
Tip: the packaging of Stumptown below is also an example of UV varnish - the golden logo stamped on the paper bag next to the box.
Foil lamination
A touch of elegance can be achieved with foil lamination too.
The process of foil lamination starts with the choice of glossy or matt foil. Once you decide on one of the two, the foil coating is added to the entire surface of the packaging.
There are several cool things about foil-laminated packaging:
- the additional layer strengthens its construction and stability
- the glossy foil causes the print to look more vivid and saturated
- the matt foil, on the other hand, adds a subtle, toned finish
Tip: Matt foil will immediately create an upscale impression. Use it in darker colours - black or deep, navy blue. You can click here to see some examples.
Self-sealing tape & tear-apart stripe
Adding a self-sealing stripe is a simple tool to increase the protection of your package. Before sending your box, you just unwrap the stripe and press it on the flap of your box. Your customer will simply tear it apart when opening the box.
Various constructions
One of the things that mark a premium packaging solution is its shape and a concept of construction.
There are several ways of enhancing the construction of your packaging, tweaking it just a bit or even changing entirely. The most popular solutions are:
- drawer box
- foldable box
- magnetic box
- rigid setup
A drawer box means a type of packaging made of two parts. An external part is slightly bigger and works as a sleeve for the internal bottom that can be slid in and out.
This type of box looks great with other printing finishes - foil lamination, embossing or hot-stamping, but also UV varnish and ornaments like ribbons.
Where does it fit best?
A retail store with premium lingerie, clothing accessories, glasses or jewellery products to name a few. So they need their premium packaging to be perfected.
Foldable boxes are perfect for cosmetics products, candles, socks etc. This type of packaging is usually made from coated paper and can be easily enhanced with all sorts of add-ons, varying from foil lamination to glued bottom, drawer-like construction and more.
An example of a foldable box can be found below.
In the photo below, you'll see a magnetic box, also called a box with magnetic flaps.
The flap that closes it is made with a magnetic element inside the surface. As a result, the unboxing experience is much more extravagant.
A magnetic box is a perfect way to adhere to customers, who plan to re-use the box often. Furthermore, the construction of magnetic boxes is stronger in comparison with ordinary cardboard packaging.
A rigid setup box combines a solid construction (made from strengthened cardboard) and an uncompromising presentation of your product.
In the picture below, you can see the characteristic texture of cardboard, painted in dark colour and finished with a touch of golden ho-stamping.
It’s an ideal choice for a jewellery store - just add an inside compartment to stabilize your piece of art and impress your customers!
These construction ideas are only here to give you a hint of what you can do. With Packhelp Pro, you can design packaging in many more ways.
Benefits of unique packaging designs
All of these products above look cool, but you’re probably wondering,
“Okay, this all sounds very cool and fancy, but why would I invest in something more expensive?”
The special packaging solutions serve more functions in comparison with simple boxes. They are usually made with a more premium character in mind, but also:
- It’s an indirect investment in your product development
- A way to create your additional value (and raise your price)
- Unique packaging can enhance a particular function of your packaging, the one most important to you
These bullet points lead to two crucial concepts - an extended product and added value of your product.
When you think about your product, you can approach it from a micro or macro perspective. The latter one means an extended product.
What does that mean? A bigger package for your product? An app that accompanies your service?
In general, an extended product is a broader concept of what you’re selling. If you’re a retailer and sell cosmetic goods, you sell something more than bath, skincare and perfume products.
What do you sell then?
Your company’s values, your expertise, your special features like free shipping and a packaging solution of your choice.
This graph suggests a crucial issue concerning your packaging too - your box actually is an integral element of your product as a whole.
Your customer might love your brand's vibe, but if you use plastic boxes to ship an organically produced product, you’re going to lose customers.
Non-standard packaging creates additional value
Added value is a concept that is widely known in economics. It is an answer to the following question:
What’s your winning strategy that guarantees your sales?
It could be the precision of production, a cutting-edge technology that speeds up your production, or an eco-friendly policy widely disregarded in your industry.
However, your packaging is also a way of creating additional value. A stronger construction provides better protection, an embossed surface addresses the sense of touch and so on.
Emphasizing the most crucial feature
Finally, your packaging’s design should be focused on emphasizing its most important feature from your customer’s perspective.
The point is that your packaging design should have a clearly stated purpose, with every additional feature justified. If you want to create value with an organic character, choose a fully recyclable box with an elegant finish like hot-stamping. If you ship something heavy, don’t invest in a fragile construction, etc.
Once you know what’s your value added (along with an extended concept of your product), you are ready to create and order your customized packaging.
Where to buy non-standard packaging in wholesale quantities?
You know the possibilities, you know the benefits - the last thing to conclude is the best provider of these solutions.
Packhelp PRO is a premium solution offered by Packhelp. Going pro means:
- a production assistant, who guides you throughout the whole process
- solutions made from highest-quality materials
- a vast range of solutions that can be further tailored to your needs
With the expertise offered within Packhelp, there is no limit to what you can create. If you feel that this is how packaging design should be, click below.
