product packaging Archives - Design Shifu

Tag: product packaging

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.

Box design ideas for the best product packaging 

Why does Coca-cola taste better when served in a can and identical when in a glass? Can the way a product is served affect its taste?

The appearance of a product affects our experience of it. 

When you go to a grocery store or a supermart, do fancy and quirky box packaging make you stop and take a look? Or, has the packaging of a product ever made you want to buy it? Does the face of a product packaging tamper with your decision-making and make your experience surprisingly better? 

When you think about it, product packaging plays a crucial role in buying decisions. 

A whopping 72% of American consumers are influenced by the packaging design while buying. So no wonder why every business should invest in product packaging design. 

If you’re a business owner struggling with refreshing custom box design ideas for your product and don’t know which would work best for your product and industry, read on to find out.

Box packaging design ideas for your products

Scroll down to find a wide array of box design ideas and find the perfect fit for your product. We’ve segregated ideas based on industry and styles. Mix and match different styles and designs to create a custom box design to entice your audience.

Cute box design idea

Businesses can create a pleasing experience for their customers using adorable design shapes, illustrations, icons, and materials.

Beehive Honey Squares would be a perfect example of adding playfulness and cuteness to the product design. Customers would want to keep such boxes after they’ve used the product. It is ideal for food, cosmetics, sweets, and bakery businesses.

Cute box design ideas

Or, you can decorate product boxes with papercrafts. It is an affordable yet enjoyable design for low-cost products. You can design the box into adorable animal faces, add illustrations on top or experiment with origami. 

Cute box design ideas

Creative box design ideas

What do we consider when purchasing any bakery goods? Freshness. 

Look at how these cupcakes deliver their promise in an oven box.

Creative box design ideas

When people can get a view of the product, they are more likely to buy it. Fit Buns went a bit creative with transparent packaging for their bread. The bread is cut out such that it resembles well-built abs. It is both innovative and represents the brand’s promise to deliver healthy items. 

Purposeful box design ideas

Purposeful box designs let your packaging do more than just “packaging.” For example, consider the Pizza Hut Blockbuster Movie Box — a pizza box that converts into a do-it-yourself movie projector for your ideal movie night.

Purposeful box design ideas

Ever struggled with keeping the tea packet from slipping into the cup? Butterfly Tea is a playful and effective solution to this problem.

Purposeful box design ideas

Customers love product packaging with a secondary function because it shows that the brand cares. In addition, it becomes more memorable as the packaging stays with them for a longer time, such as the cardboard box packaging by Hangerpark that transforms into a hanger.

Purposeful box design ideas

Bold box packaging design ideas

We like to look at vibrant patterns and unique designs. Don’t be afraid to inject your own uniqueness and creativity into your packaging. Use the available space to add contrasting patterns and illustrations to make your design stand out. Play with bold typography and bright colors.

For example, we can’t stop adoring Peak’s box designs. With punchy copy and bright colors, it creates a fun unboxing experience for its buyers. 

Bold box packaging design ideas

Handmade gift box design ideas

Handmade gift box designs work best for handcrafted products and items. They are instrumental in tying the brand’s core values with a personal touch to every product component. 

Check out how Origami Beer adds a personal touch with origami on top of the bottles.

Handmade gift box design ideas

If you are into arts & crafts and wouldn’t mind spending extra time on the packaging, you can learn how to craft a box using cardboard and paper on Pinterest.

Handmade gift box design ideas

Corrugated box design ideas

If you’ve settled on corrugated boxes, don’t worry, you can still make them attractive. Instead of keeping it simple, add a pop of color, illustration and typography that complement your brand and elevate the box’s overall look. 

Corrugated box design ideas

Source

Or, you can simply add your brand name on top of the box and its logo to keep it minimal.

Corrugated box design ideas

Cool box design ideas 

Look at the NYC Spaghetti product design, featuring a box that looks like the Empire State Building, signifying the brand’s origin and name.

Cool box design ideas 

Experiment with design elements and copy to hit a chord with your customers. You can even take a step ahead and customize the shape and size ideal for your product box design. Why get stuck with standard cubical boxes?

Cool box design ideas 

Source

Custom box design ideas based on business type

Cake box packaging design

Cakes add sweetness to our lives, joy to our celebrations, and delight to our most special moments. So, let’s create a pleasant, playful, and sweet design that entices similar emotions while unboxing.

How about a cake box that looks like a cake in itself? 

Cake box packaging design

Medicine box design ideas

Medicine box packaging is one of the most mundane packagings. To stand out from other products and be memorable, use the packaging to help patients feel better.

Medicine box design ideas

Source

For example, soft hues like green and yellow induce a calming and soothing effect. Including illustrations can help explain the medicine’s purpose and its benefits. Describe the details in a way that makes them simple to understand.

Medicine box design ideas

Source

Sweet box design ideas

Sweet box design ideas

Source

Sweets come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can be playful, minimal, cute and creative with your designs — it entirely depends on your brand personality.

Sweet box design ideas

Source

The goal is to amplify the sweetness with your design and add a smile. Check out these box design ideas for your sweets business:

Sweet box design ideas

Source

Gift box design ideas 

You can make a simple gift more endearing and memorable with thoughtful product packaging design.

Gift box design ideas 

Add polka dots, ribbon bows, thank you notes, crafts papers and even your business cards. You can even use square origami boxes to wrap packages.

Gift box design ideas 

Source

Gift box design ideas 

Source

Food packaging boxes

The food industry is popular for unique product packaging; from edible and sustainable packaging to multipurpose boxes, you can experiment with anything. For example, bla-bla cookies have playful product designs with colorful illustrations and funny faces that can instantly catch the customers’ attention.

Food packaging boxes

Cosmetic box design ideas

Cosmetic box design ideas

Sometimes, it’s best to be minimalistic such as Ubuna, or monochromatic, like Cremula.

Cosmetic box design ideas

Consider using product packaging as in Leewince or adding the classy and luxurious look of Templespa. You can add illustrations and pictures to stand out, like Luxe, or stay playful, as Kerri does.

Cosmetic box design ideas

Luxury box packaging design ideas

Luxury products exude elegance and excellence. If you run a luxury product store, think of a product design that is simple yet powerful.

Luxury box packaging design ideas

Source

Most luxury brands keep their packaging minimal to express their brand voice. You can add your logo or brand name on top of the box with a solid background.

Luxury box packaging design ideas

Source

Still, looking for more ideas? Check out Creative Small Business Packaging Ideas & Tips.

How to create a good box cover design?

You’ve probably started coming up with packaging ideas for your product already. Nonetheless, box cover design can still be complex. Nevertheless, they are the first impression of your product, whether you sell it online or in-store. 

Use the available space. Add custom illustrations, vectors, icons, and pictures that match the product, and use the entire packaging space.

Select typography that creates visual interest and encompasses the brand’s essence.

How to create a good box cover design?

Source

Use die-cut design to offer a sneak peek of your product or be quirky like Trident Gum.

How to create a good box cover design?

Include stickers and labels to market your brand and make the product design memorable to your customers.

How to create a good box cover design?

Source

How do you make a successful box design?

Effective product packaging keeps your customers coming back to you for a long time and makes you memorable. Your audience instantly recalls your brand whenever they see the package. Each design is unique, yet there are some principles that the best designs follow to be successful. 

Use these tips to fuel your imagination to develop some out-of-the-box ideas.

Consider your audience

Before designing, comes research. Understand your target audience and their preferences — likes and dislikes. If you make products for young children, is your package design kids-friendly and playful? If your audience is environmentally conscious, does your packaging reflect their values? 

Aligning the design with your brand, your target audience, and the product itself is the first step in the design process.

Make it useful

Look around to find the product packaging for something you recently purchased. Now pay close attention to each component and try to understand how it fits together and how each tiny detail works. 

One of the most crucial aspects of any product design is utility. It might seem very obvious, but before you add any elements, consider whether they will be useful. 

Keep it simple & on-brand

Designing is about combining simplicity and sophistication. Create your product in a way that customers can understand when using it for the first time. 

Your design is creative, simple, and effective, but does it align with your brand? Does the box’s design adhere to your brand personality?

Catch their attention

This cannot be overstated. Attract your target audience. Your product could be fantastic, but how will you tell your customers if they don’t even look at it?

Choose eye-catching colors for your designs to make them more appealing. To explain the product, consider adding illustrations, short infographics and photos. 

Let the design speak

Is the box’s design enticing enough for customers to buy it, even if it contains a box full of delicious and crispy cookies? Or, if the package includes natural soaps with pleasing aromas, does the design evoke the clean, calming sensation of taking a bath with them?

Think of design to be a story, a narrative, about your brand. 

Do’s & don’ts checklist.

Even the best of us make mistakes. So here’s a list of dos and don’ts that you can refer to after you create your design. Check it out to perfect your design.

Original

The first and foremost thing is to avoid using stock photos, illustrations and vector images. Stock images strip you from being original. If you need help, consider Design Shifu and get UNLIMITED GRAPHIC DESIGNS for just $399 per month.

Suitable design elements

Do the typography, symbols, and icons reflect the emotions of your brand and elevate the audience’s experience? 

Product-representative design

Does the outside packaging align with the product inside? The purpose of packaging is to complement the product. Therefore, a slight disconnect can hamper the overall experience.

Let the packaging of your products subtly answer the “What’s inside?”

Unique or mundane

The best way to stand out from the competition is to do what no one else is doing without going overboard. Sometimes, looking at your competitors may limit your creativity, and the design may end up with a similar packaging idea in the market. 

Utility

Is it worth designing something incredible if the first thing your customer does is throw it out? The idea is to engage and interact with the outside cover. 

Over-the-top design

A creative design is good, but adding unnecessary elements can dilute the appeal. So be careful with what you add to the box. Additionally, ensure that you stay with the trends.

Simple to use

A good design is hidden, as they say. Sometimes, brands, in hopes of being unique, create packaging buyers spend a long time figuring out and opening. It dampens their experience. So ensure that even a first-time user can figure out how to unbox it.

Size — neither too big nor too small

A good box design is one that fits the product well. Packaging too big or too small may mislead the buyer about the product. Moreover, it may affect the storage and delivery charges if you outsource delivery. So, consider the storage space, delivery charges, and convenience of the customers while deciding the size that perfectly fits the product.

We suggest you create multiple versions and prototypes of your product design and choose the best one. This way, you can undo mistakes and make a product design that will empty the shelves once it’s on the shelves.

Wrapping Up

A small business can be hard to distinguish from 32 million businesses in the United States. So, delivering incredible consumer experiences becomes the key to gaining a competitive edge. The design of your product has a tremendous influence on how consumers feel about your product and whether they wish to buy it. 

Now that we have given you a list of unique and creative box design ideas for your product packaging, we hope you are one step ahead of your competitors to win your audience and build an unforgettable brand experience. Understand your target audience and brand voice, and plan your design accordingly. Take inspiration from the designs we have listed, follow the do’s and avoid the don’ts to create the perfect design. 

Do you want help with custom box design for your product packaging? Get a dedicated designer and unlimited graphic designs for just $399 per month with Design Shifu.

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.

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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

Source

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.