Your physical packaging may have a significant impact on customer satisfaction and even churn reduction if done right. As the visual screenplay for your brand, your packaging should both excite your customers and work in your favour, clearly out calls to action for them to do and giving value to the unwrapping experience.
Custom Packaging USA, on the other hand, might be difficult to organise, create and order. Is there a certain type of packaging that is used? In what way does it come to be? Ask yourself, “What’s the best deal?” To what number must I order?
As they prepare for their first purchase, subscription company entrepreneurs should consider all of these issues. For your first custom packaging purchase, we’ve written the answers to these questions (and more!) and will walk you through the process step-by-step.
In addition, we’ve compiled the following quick reference guide to assist you in finishing your purchase:
The following topics will be addressed in this manual:
Types of packaging
Printing using a computerised system
How to pick a shoe size
Developing a concept
Choosing the best printer for your needs
Making a purchase based on a unique specification
There are a wide variety of options for custom packaging.
Begin with the basics: the many forms of packaging that are available. Your subscription business isn’t limited to using a box for packaging, despite the fact that many companies include the term “box” in their name. You may choose from a variety of packing alternatives, such as
Packages made of bubble wrap or another padding material are known as “padded/bubble mailers” because of the way they are constructed. Smaller shipments or subscription boxes that focus on non-fragile items, like apparel, are perfect candidates for this method.
In a gold bubble mailer, Laserbrain Patch Co. sends out their monthly subscriptions. My Subscription Addiction has provided the image used here.
Boxes similar in size and shape to document envelopes, but having square sides, are known as mailer boxes. Smaller products, such as stationery or jewellery, can be shipped using this method.
Images, cards, and posters are sent in a mailer box to keep them safe from damage.
Traditional mailing envelopes without cushioning are called Custom Mailers. Flat objects, such as stationery, are ideal for this.
Pipsticks sends out their stickers and other crafts in a transparent, flexible shipping envelope.
In order to protect the product from harm (such as bending) during delivery, these stiff envelopes employ a paperboard layer as an additional layer of rigidity and durability. Ideal for flat things
Photo Barn’s bespoke rigid mailer. Salazar Packaging provided the image.
You need to consider the contents of your box, the size of each product, and how delicate they are when choosing the packing you’ll choose. The standard box mailer may be the best solution for large, fragile products.
Consider the following:
I’m going to put the biggest things possible in my membership.
In my subscription, what is the most delicate item?
Part 2: Digital Printing Technical Specifics
In the event that you’ve decided on the sort of packaging, you may begin to think about the design of it.
Digital printing is quickly becoming the most popular printing process. The machine mixes the inks and instantly applies your colourful artwork to the box, much like a laserjet printer at home. As a result, your start-up expenses will be reduced because it doesn’t require a tooling fee (for specialised printing plates or dies).
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you may want to start with a simple sticker or stamp. Cratejoy retailers often employ unique labels or stamps before they use bespoke packaging. Find out more in the guide.
Size Selection in the Third Part
When considering the size of a box, it’s usually a good idea to follow the lead of established firms. For this study, we polled over 100 Cratejoy subscribers that run subscription-based businesses. The results may be found in the table below.
Check out our survey results for the average cubic value as well as the median and mode values.
The next stage in the procedure is to determine the ideal box size. Size matters when it comes to packaging your items correctly and figuring out shipping expenses, even if it’s an afterthought. To illustrate this point, if you choose to use USPS Cubic shipping rates, the size of your shipment may drastically influence which pricing tiers your box falls into.
Shipping subscriptions using USPS cubic is the most cost-effective method. Pricing in the Cubic system is based on volume rather than weight. The formula for calculating USPS cubic shipping is as follows:
For each cubic metre of volume, multiply the length, width, and height by 1728.
(Remember that the longest dimension can’t be longer than 18 inches. )
With measurements of 10 inches, 6 inches, and 3.75 inches, you get 0.13. In this case, you’d be in the 0.2 range, since it drops below 0.1 cubic metre rates.
What’s the big deal? Choosing a smaller package means you save money on shipping.
To get to a.09 cubic sizes (below the 0.1 cutoffs), we simply increased the size of the previous example by a few inches, making it 9 inches by 5 inches by 3.5 inches. Using 0.1 prices instead of 0.2 pricing can save you an average of $0.13 for every shipment. You save an average of $2.52 for every shipment compared to the 0.3 cubic foot range.
The difference in shipping costs from 0.1 to 0.2 translates to almost $150 in savings for a 1,000-subscriber list. Because of your reduced pricing, you’re saving $1500 a month on shipping for 10,000 subscribers. That’s over $2500 in savings with just 1,000 members and over $25,000 in savings with 10,000!
Always bear in mind that the size you choose might have a significant influence on your expenses.
Part 4: Designing Your Own Logo
The design process may begin once you’ve decided on your package type and size.
Choosing a printer will most likely be done at the same time as this step.
There are a number of digital printing firms that now allow you to create your box branding online through their website. This can save you time in the long run. Before sending your design to the printer, though, you should check out our suggestions for creating a prototype.
We’ll give you a few broad guidelines because the design process may be so different.
Decide on a television show. Adobe InDesign, part of the Adobe Creative Suite, is most likely what you’ll use to create designs that are print-ready. You may also use Looka’s online logo creator to create a simple “beginning” logo for a low cost and in less time.
Keep an eye on the hues of your clothing. The eye may get confused or irritated by too many colours. To keep things basic, stick to no more than three colours in your logo.
Remember to take action when given a call to action (CTAs). To pique the interest of your target audience, make the most of your design’s potential effect.
Printing a sample box is an option to consider. Free bespoke samples are offered by several digital printers (see the list below) before a purchase is finalised. A rigid paperboard, rather than corrugated cardboard, is employed for these prototypes, which may be used for early product photos. To help you determine whether or not you like your design, you may have a look at the results of the test.
Finding the Right Printer (Part 5)
When looking for a digital printing company, keep these things in mind:
A printer that is close to your location, like product manufacturers, reduces shipping and transportation costs.
Price:
Most digital printing companies allow you to see a price quote while designing your order on their website.. they are digital printing. Make a list of the sizes and quantities you’ll need before you begin.
The time it takes for each firm to print and transport your box order should be contrasted and contrasted. (Our suggested printers’ turnaround times are shown below.) There is a direct correlation between the time it takes your members to get their monthly box and this timetable.
Is Cratejoy going to recommend any digital printers?
There are a lot of subscription box printing firms out there, but we think these three are the best. Check it out!
It’s well-known that Cratejoy has a collaboration with BoxUp, which provides retailers with discounts. Because of the company’s wide variety of packaging options, low order minimums (you may purchase as little as 1!), endless colour possibilities, and short turnaround time, we were convinced of their high quality.
No minimum order quantity or rapid turnaround are only two of Packlane’s many advantages over BoxUp. You can obtain an idea of the cost of packing before placing an order thanks to the company’s website, which provides rapid prices. Although Packlane only provides three basic packaging types, these packages are available in three different (sustainable) materials and may be customised to fit your needs. If you’re interested, they’ll send you a free sample pack.
If you’re looking for the fastest turnaround time and no colour limits, go no further than Brand In Color. You can print photograph-level detail clearly and brightly on four different box types (including pizza-style boxes!).
Printed proof of your design will be sent to you for approval within 24 to 48 hours after placing an order with Arka. If you haven’t approved the final design, they won’t print any of your boxes. In addition, Arka offers three board materials from which you may design your box, as well as the ability to manufacture any bespoke size.
It’s time to get your order in and get a great deal!
Consider the quality of the box and the ink. Packaging and ink that is made from recycled or sustainable materials may be more expensive, but it may be a good fit for your niche.
Don’t forget about different sorts of boards. Some printers will provide a variety of boxboard options, but not all of them will (such as Packlane). Ask your printer the box material they recommend for your subscription box based on the contents (little or large? delicate or perishable?).
Custom Packaging boxes USA should cost no more than $2 per box, especially if you’re purchasing more than 1,000 boxes at a time. Take careful notes as you compare printer prices: box type, material, order volume brackets, and other factors that influence pricing.
Next, we’ll talk about what to do after that.
Immediately after placing your initial buy, begin brainstorming ways to improve your volume and secure better prices for subsequent purchases. Keep track of how many boxes you have left by setting a reminder 30 days before you run out. Having this much time will allow you to ship, pack, and meet your monthly deadline!
Do you still have questions concerning the process of designing your own packaging? Let us know how we can improve this tutorial by leaving a comment in the comments below!
See What Custom Boxes From Cratejoy Can Do for You!
Explore the regular Cratejoy boxes or create your own unique boxes with the Cratejoy box software. Exclusively for Cratejoy merchants, we provide the highest-quality boxes, lightning-fast shipping, and discounted rates
