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Cool Box Design Ideas for your Creative Product Packaging

Do not judge a book by its cover. This thought is very idealistic; however, we always want the first impression to look the best. No matter how effective or superb one’s product is, it won’t sell unless the packaging isn’t great. Now are in 2023. So we need some cool box design ideas for our creative packaging. However, before we delve into some cool box design ideas for packaging, check out this article for more packaging ideas for small businesses.

Few things that should be considered before you decide on the ideal packaging for your boxes:

Basic Box Design Tips

Spacious

Very important, since nobody, especially the customer will appreciate a shabbily kept product. It could damage the product and hence defeat the purpose of selling the product.

Ease of transport

The box, no matter how creative it is, should be able to retain its quality in transit too. So, a good travel plan should also be kept in mind before you create your creative boxes.

Relatable

If the product you are selling is lipstick and the box for it is a gigantic one, then it creates a wrong impression in the customer’s mind. In today’s world where sustainability is one of the key goals of most businesses, the same should be applied to packaging too. Also, the boxes should be recyclable. This would help in recalling value in customers’ minds.

Now, we have figured out a few essential elements to be kept in mind before designing your box.

Brilliant Cool box design ideas

Cool inside-box Design Ideas

Brilliant Cool box design ideas

Sometimes, you want to go with minimal box designs. However, you wish to add a little character of your brand to your box. How do you do that? Use the inside of the box for your creative pursuits. Like this. The outer portion of the cosmetic box is plain, however, once when someone opens the box, the brand lays its message clearly and also provides ample space for product placement.

Another example is this. With a quirky message, this cosmetic kit is spacious enough for the product. They have also used some additional materials to put in their box, to add some extra elements to the box.

Interactive Box Design Ideas

We are in 2023 and typical box designs are a big no-no. So why not create something unique/ different that makes a strong bond with the customer receiving the product? Like this. This one’s too unique and serves as an idealistic gift box. Also, its creativity will create a superb impression in customers’ minds. The only thing that should be ensured is that the process to open the box shouldn’t be too cumbersome for the customers.

Another example is this jeweler box. This does not use too many elements, but harps on the aesthetic value of the product it is holding on to. Hence, it becomes very valuable like the product inside it.

While making your interactive boxes, just ensure you are avoiding these blaring trends. This would spell bad news for your product packaging.

Peek-A-Boo

Not everybody would like superb packaging that doesn’t give a hint at all about the product. A lot of customers would like to see what the product that they are buying looks like, either through images or feeling the product through the box. Most OTC products available today follow this type of packaging. This soap box gives a sneak peek of the product inside. Hence convinces the customer of the product they are buying.

Cool Box Design Ideas

Another example is this swaddle box. This one’s a product that relies on the color and the design. Hence the box gives the customer the satisfaction of the colors and designs as per their choice.

Product Range Packaging

If the brand has a varied product range, why not create a similar kind of packaging for the products with minor changes in color and content? This type of packaging is usually done for regular-use products like beauty products, food products, etc. Like this. In this example, the colors of the ingredient design is different with the remaining packaging design being constant.

Cool Box Design Ideas

Another example is this chocolate brand. The brand changes the design for each product in the range, however, keeping the uniformity of the content intact.

The biggest advantage of packaging like this is that when the products are placed in the stores together, the customers would experience the urge to buy more than 1 box, since there is a huge variety of the brand.

While we are on the packaging, if you are looking to make some merchandise for your business, here are some ideas that you can be inspired from. Trust us, these are some effective ones.

Typography Packaging

The art of lettering is essential to good design and sometimes it becomes a very good design in itself. Using some cute and bold fonts, rearrangement of letters in the box, and coupling it with beautiful colors will make the box design stand out. Like this juice box. The name of the brand is so well displayed in the box that it is difficult to miss out. Also, putting a dash of bright colors in the box as well as the product range, makes it easily identifiable amongst other brands’ juice box designs.

Another example is this dog treats box. The name of the brand is stamped all across the box along with a few images of the end consumer of the product. The colors could have been brighter, but overall a good design for inspiration.

Let’s take a pause and introspect whether can the above designs be made by you. If not and you want help designing for your business, then get a dedicated designer and unlimited graphic designs from Design Shifu. You will most definitely be pleased and happy. We also have some good pricing plans for you.

Now let’s again get back to the topic in the blog. Let’s take a look at some more cool box design ideas.

Illustration-based designs

Illustrations are a visual interpretation of a concept or a text, and in our case, the product is kept in the box. Adding some beautiful illustrations in the packaging box always is a winner, however, the point to note is that the illustration used is relatable to the product and is not plain random.

These delivery boxes are a good example of illustration-based packaging. The illustrations used are boom boxes. The illustration is not very relatable with the product (soda in this case), however, a very intelligent way to create packaging. The colors used are also very attractive and catchy.

Another example is this student kit. Usage of cartoon-based illustrations will find a good audience with kids, this type of packaging is quite relatable and pleasing to the audience’s eyes. The usage of colors, less text, etc. makes it quite child-friendly and will be a winner for the brand.

If you like these types of illustrations and would want to replicate them for your packaging, then refer here for all the details.

Sustainable Box Packaging

It is 2023 and sustainable living is the way to go. With social media and more awareness, brands have to ensure that they are meeting the minimum requirements expected.

That applies automatically to packaging too. Like this box. It is a combination of the sustainable and interactive box design. It also has elements of typography-based design. Overall, a good design example of sustainable box packaging.

Another smart packaging idea is this. How innovatively this packaging has packed the garment. Saves space and also can be transported easily.

Gift Box Packaging

  • Gift boxes are always special and the packaging required for them has to be always unique and occasion-specific for sure. Some beautiful gift box packaging that can be used for inspiration are:

  • Pastry-style packaging: A cute box that can be used to gift something small or valuable.
  • Wind chime packaging: This one’s a good example to gift a wind chime. Wind chimes are usually gifted for good luck, so the packaging used also has to match the gift.

  • Birthday Explosion Box: An explosion box is a very trendy box packaging idea. This one can be used for specialized items for sale too. Even, exhibitioners can use this type of box for their product packaging. It is, however, not very economical and can’t be mass manufactured.

We discussed a lot of ideas for cool box designs for your product packaging. We also discussed the elements to be considered before creating your packaging design. No matter the type of packaging you choose, just ensure that your brand is getting highlighted and your packaging is customer-friendly and also brand-specific. If you have a few ideas in mind, reach out to Design Shifu and we can make beautiful box designs for you.

13 Creative Small Business Packaging Ideas that Fetch You More Sales

“[Packaging] helps to reinforce the perceived value of the product that’s inside, and it really enhances the customer experience.”

 –Barbara Whitney, Marketing Director for Packaging Specialties.

Creative packaging is one way small businesses can gain a competitive edge over other big brands and companies. Especially when they are just starting out with limited resources. 

As a small business, you don’t have the budget to run high-budget advertisements or broadcast on billboards like big companies. You still aspire to make yourself stand out from the crowd and become recognizable. The good news is that it’s possible! Check out how brands like Ethique, Hungryroot and Otherland became the talk of the town by reinventing their packaging.

Now, the question is 

How can YOU do the same? How can you come up with a unique product packaging idea for your small business?

We have curated a list of small business packaging ideas across packaging types and industries to inspire you so you can create a memorable unboxing experience, win your audience, and build a healthy rapport with them fast.

What are some creative small business packaging ideas?

Some creative packaging ideas for small businesses include using eco-friendly materials, incorporating unique shapes or designs, adding personalized touches such as handwritten notes or custom labels, and using packaging that serves a dual purpose, like reusable containers or gift boxes.

Eco-friendly Small Business Packaging Ideas

If sustainability is one of the core values of your business, you must create eco-friendly packaging to reflect your commitment to your values. In addition, more and more consumers are becoming conscious of how they buy and consume products. With green packaging solutions, you can humanize the relationship with your customers and connect on a personal level by showing that you care for people and the environment on the other side of the receipts and invoices.

See how you can replace the materials of your packaging with more sustainable options, such as using containers made from recycled materials, replacing disposable carry bags with reusable/recyclable packaging materials, and wrapping products with biodegradable bubble wraps and tapes.

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Explore creative packaging ideas by considering biodegradable materials to package your products. For example, a supermarket in Thailand uses banana leaves to package groceries. In fact, it’s a traditional packaging material because it is hard, water-resistant, and readily available since the banana is one of the largest crops in the world. 

So, go green!

Cute packaging ideas for small business

Want to ship cute products with cute packaging? Add appealing elements like bow, stickers, colorful printing papers, glitters and cut-outs. Use bright colors and illustrations to evoke cheerful feelings. 

You can also get creative and dive into die-cut packaging to turn your wrapping material into a new shape or design. 

Die-cut packaging is a smart, effective and economical packaging technique that can save you time, effort and money in the long run. Die cut allows you to show a glimpse of your product to the customers, so customers know exactly what they’ll get after the purchase. For offline sellers, it’s a great technique to boost sales as customers usually pick up a product from the shelves, which they can see over something tightly packed. 

Cute Small Business Packaging Ideas

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Be playful while designing your die-cut packaging. For example, think of ways to create a narrative using die cut or what kind of shape would best show your product in a good light. Check out these cute die-cut small business packaging ideas for creative inspiration:

Food packaging ideas for small business

Food packaging is not only about thinking of packaging food designs that reach safely to customers’ doors, but also about enticing them with attractive visuals. From bags, wrappers, and boxes to plastic tubs, glass jars and tin cans, food brands and restaurants have a wide range of packaging styles to select from. If you’re in the industry, there’s a lot of opportunity to get creative, share compelling visuals and advertise your business. 

Screen Print packaging is one popular technique among delivery restaurants. Instead of getting custom stickers, they use dies to print on the boxes themselves. Check out these delivery boxes:

If you run a cloud kitchen and need to pack meals, consider leak-proof containers like plastic tubs, styrofoam pouches etc. Explore different shapes and add a sticker on top of it. 

Food packaging ideas for small business

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If you sell snacks and chocolates, look at these product packaging ideas.

Add little quotes, instructions and social handles in the interiors to make it enjoyable.

Do you offer takeaways? Takeaways don’t have to be boring. Play with paper and card boxes but remember to keep them sturdy to carry.  

Coffee Small Business Packaging Ideas

Brands in the food and beverage industry have been having fun with packaging for a while now because of the plethora of choices. Moreover, coffee lovers appreciate carefully crafted packaging.

Pouches, packs and bags are the most common packaging types for coffee. Most businesses use side fold pouches, quad seal bags, and flat bottom bags because they are foldable and reusable.

If you package your coffee in bags, check out these quirky coffee bag designs to get an idea.

Use the packaging to tell your story, build a narrative and create an experience from first sight. Coffee lovers are very particular about the experience and origins of their coffee. So, telling your story is a successful strategy for retail coffee stores. For example, observe how Manta and The Giving Cup use their packaging to talk to their customers. 

When Alejandro Gavancho was asked to design packaging for Manta Coffee, he dug into its origin and culture to design illustrations and tell its story. Whereas The giving cup advocates its brand mission on the package and uses copy as a means of communication.

Coffee packaging ideas for small business

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Luxury product packaging ideas 

If you’re selling luxury items or products to your customers, think of how you can deliver a premium feel at every point of contact. Of course, you must show extra effort. Many companies offer printing on both sides of the container or boxes, so use it to reflect your brand values in the interior and exterior of the packaging. If you want to make the most of printing then you should be aware of the design mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Most luxury brands and businesses adopt a minimalist approach with their packaging — a solid brand color with their logo placed inside a bag. If you don’t have a logo for your small business yet, you might want to consider that first. Design Shifu can help you with logo design on a flat-rate so there’s no contract to worry about.

Luxury product packing ideas

In addition, you can also design unique custom packaging for topical content and festive material to stand out from your competitors.

DIY Small Business Packaging Ideas

Selling homemade products? What’s better to advocate for your brand than DIY packaging? Even if you’re not selling homemade products, DIY packaging is a great way to cut costs. 

Customers are drawn to packaging that feels personalized—it’s almost as if they’re holding a handmade object. Use custom stickers, stamps, and ribbons for pennies per box. Or you can also wrap the product with kraft papers, wax, and string. 

DIY packaging ideas for small business

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Best creative small business packaging ideas

The list doesn’t end here. So if you didn’t find the style you wanted for your business, mix and match our tips to create an entirely new theme for your business, just as the founders of Flying Goat Coffee found their style.

While most businesses package coffee in bags, Flying Goat Coffee went ahead with a paperboard box made from recycled materials. The labeling system on the boxes is carefully designed such that they can easily introduce new blends and offers throughout the year with minimal changes in packaging.

Your packaging can be engaging, functional or just outright quirky, but it should always be selling and catching eyeballs. Look at these packaging ideas for inspiration. 

creative packaging ideas for small businesses

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Think of how you can add value to your customers’ purchases or put a smile on their faces. Create an immersive experience so they can distinguish your brand from others. With so many chocolate brands around every nook and cranny of the world, these businesses indeed make their place in buyers’ minds with brilliant packaging. 

Serve another purpose.

Create packaging that can be reused for another purpose. For example, Tyto alba designed a wooden case for their product such that we can turn it into a birdhouse. 

Another beautiful example is these bottles by a Korean brand which can be turned into vases. Instead of regular plastic containers, they have designed unique eco-friendly porcelain bottles.

Interact with your packaging

Packaging is a medium to interact with your customers, so use it efficiently and creatively. Use it as an opportunity to make your customers feel special about shopping with you. While packaging always include:

Thank you cards

Appreciate and show gratitude to your customers for buying from you. A hand-written note goes a long way to build a personal connection and show that you took your time to pack and send this order to your customers. However, if you’re tight on time or it does not fit your brand voice, look for customized printed cards.

Check out Design Shifu subscriptions to get custom cards throughout the year at a flat fee.

You can even add your social handles and ask them to follow you for updates.

Freebies

Because who doesn’t love free stuff? 

You can get a little strategic with your freebies. For example, including test products as freebies can be a great way to market your other products to your customers. You can also include stickers, checklists or manuals as freebies.

Coupons

Include special offers or discounts to encourage your customers to shop again from you. Add a reasonable validity to give them enough time to make a purchase. 

You can even have different coupons for your loyal customers.

Small business packaging hacks

Be on-brand

Your branding should be visible and consistent through all extensions of your brand. While designing your packaging, keep it consistent with your brand colors, voice, logo and style. For example, many small businesses dealing in organic products use earthly tones and materials for packaging.

Be mindful of your buyers.

Who are you sending it to? Is it teenagers? Toddlers? Adults? 

Keep it safe for them. For instance, if it’s for children, use non-toxic and non-pointy materials and design for packaging. 

Use a shredder

Instead of buying expensive filler material, collect old newspapers, leftover paper and waste papers and turn them into paper strips with a paper shredder. You can save money and reuse waste material effectively. 

Select the packaging type carefully

Your products determine the kind of packaging you’d need. For example, glassware needs extra protection, whereas food needs leak-proof packaging. If you’re shipping overseas, you’d need to wrap an extra layer of protection to ship without damage.

Check out the U.S. packaging library to learn about packaging types and determine the most suitable packaging for your product.

Tell your story

Let your packaging tell your product’s story to your customers. Use it to build a narrative around your brand and create an immersive experience, just like Manta and The Giving UP. 

Have different sizes

Have 2-3 sizes to package products so that you don’t have to pack each item individually when a customer buys more products.

Happy product packaging for small businesses! 

Packaging is not just about wrapping your products and sending them off. It’s a way to represent your brand, values, and customer service to your audience. You create an experience from the moment they focus on your product. So take some time off to understand how you want your customers to feel and experience, and explore our product packaging ideas. Then, create a story through your packaging.

We have covered the most effective, affordable, innovative small business packaging ideas and techniques to inspire you. However, take it for what it is — inspiration. See how you can use these different techniques and tricks to create your own custom packaging design.

If you need assistance with design and graphics, connect with Design Shifu on chat now and we will create a custom design for a flat fee.