Your business needs packaging that is as attractive as your product. Whether it's for shipping out online orders, wrapping up in-store purchases, or even just for display, packaging is a way to impress customers, build your brand's identity, and drive repeat business. There are many small business packaging ideas to choose from, and it's easy for you to match your packaging to your brand. Follow this guide to help you find the right options and create the perfect suite of packaging that is both protective and eye-catching.

Evaluate Your Packaging Requirements and Objectives

Each choice regarding packaging has two functions: to protect and to promote. Before you decide what to purchase, consider the following factors:

- Size & Measure: Measure all objects (weight included) to determine if they can be stored together, thereby simplifying your inventory and costs.

- Type of Fulfillment: Think about what you need for an in-store purchase versus an online order. Lightweight poly mailers may be all that's needed when shipping clothing, while gifts that contain breakable materials could be better served in hard shipping boxes that are padded (such as with branded crinkle paper); the extra materials help with not only product safety but also branding.

- Budget & Quantity: Purchasing in bulk can save you money. Having standardized sizes of packaging for similar types of products can also save you money, whereas smaller amounts may prove to be a larger cost to you based on their amounts.

- Brand Identity: How will you enhance your brand through your packaging? Customize it with your logo, colors, and fonts. This can be done with printed boxes, branded stickers, or printed labels—whatever you choose, be sure that it fits and strengthens the personality of your brand.

Inspiring Packaging Concepts to Represent Your Brand

After you've determined what you need, consider these trending ideas for customizable packaging:

- Branded Paper Bags

They're versatile, eco-friendly, lightweight, and you can get them in various weights and colors. Have your business name and logo printed onto them in high contrast to give it high visibility so that it is eye-catching. Customers might use them to tote lunches or store things, thereby marketing your brand without realizing it.

- Full-Color Mailer Boxes

Make an impression that is unforgettable by using custom-made mailer boxes with 4-printed edges. Use them for high-end products that call for eye-catching branding. They add fun to the unboxing process and can make your product memorable from the time the package arrives.

- Flexible Pouches (flat or stand-up)

- Flat Pouches: These are great for products such as cosmetics or snacks. The designs are vast and the heft is lightweight.

- Stand-Up Pouches: For powders or pantry food, these pouches are sturdy but take up less space than jars or cans. They might save you in shipping, and their shapes can be eye-catching versus boxes.

- Poly Mailers

This option offers low shipping costs and is great for shipping clothing, linens, or other flexible items. They aren't tearable, and they can be customized in hundreds of ways. Their designs add life and energy to your packing slips, and shipping isn't heavy.

- Branded Shipping Envelopes

These are a great method for shipping flat items such as art prints or gift cards. They are a sleek, lightweight option that adds to or maintains your brand's image. Their minimal design helps the customer pay more attention to its contents.

Enhance with Strategic Extras

Make the unboxing experience an exciting one, even on a budget:

- Branded Stickers

They're an attractive finishing touch for your boxes, envelopes, and bags, and you can add them at no extra cost as a freebie. Your customer's belongings, such as a laptop or cell phone, are places they might stick your stickers on, and that adds to your brand promotion without the consumer realizing it.

- Custom Labels & Tape

Use them to convey shipping info such as addresses, return info, and postage. They convey information about the product, and they add a splash of color to plain packaging such as brown boxes and paper bags. Use them to package your product, to ship it, or also as marketing (with fun designs or colors).

- Postcards

These are useful items that can serve many purposes. You can include a discount code on it for returning customers, a QR code (such as to follow you on social media), or even an invite to an event. Any of these items adds an extra touch that will make a customer remember you.

Final Suggestions for More Success

- Start ago

Work with different packaging items to test your options for a short time before making any bulk orders. This provides a way to collect feedback and see what works best for your customer and your product.

- Nurture Consistency

Every item that you send must contain your branding, so make sure that your boxes match your stickers, and the stickers match your labels. Consistency keeps your brand in the consumers' minds, which is a great way to get returning customers.

- Quality Over Quantity

When your products are of high quality, they must be packaged just as well. Durable packaging will reduce returns on broken items and establish trust with the customer. Eco-friendly packaging is attractive to consumers, so consider using recycled paper boxes or biodegradable pouches. These are attractive to consumers who are viewing your environmentally conscious efforts.

With these suggestions and ideas, you should feel prepared enough to create packaging for your products that is both protective and functional. Consider just a few of these suggestions to add extra sparkle to your packaging. Whatever options, be sure your product shines and delivery is more exciting no matter the distance it has traveled.

Remember, good packaging turns that first-time customer into a regular customer!

By Joe Lamagna

Joe Lamagna has over 20 years of experience in the packaging industry and is currently the Vice President of Sales at Packola, an online platform for customizing and ordering packaging. Lamagna has extensive experience in brand management, business development, and marketing strategy. He leverages his expertise to empower businesses to strengthen their brand identity and improve their customer experience through customized packaging solutions.

Source

Culpepper, V., & Mancini, G. (2019). Creative Packaging: 40, inspiring examples you can use! North Adams, MA: Becanary Press.