If you’re a small business, odds are you’re sending products online. More and more businesses are transitioning to online or hybrid sales, so it’s never been more important to have the right small business packaging. In addition, your custom packaging helps your brand stand out and make an impact on your audience.
Whether you invest in custom stickers, boxes, packaging sleeves, labels, or inserts, this is a way to elevate your customer experience. With a reported 72% of American shoppers saying that packaging influences purchase decisions, you can’t afford to ignore this important detail. In this guide, we’ll share the best tips to elevate your small business packaging.
Why Small Business Packaging Matters
First, why does your small business packaging make such a difference. In this day and age, more and more brands are going online with their sales. If you’re shipping products to customers, you need to make sure it’s a positive, exciting experience each time. This builds a strong relationship, and it’s also a way to stand out. Here’s why your small business packaging is so important:
Branding: Your brand elements are one of the best ways to share your story. From choosing a custom logo to the right colors, each of these small details adds up. You can share your branding through your packaging.
Competition: The e-commerce industry is projected to grow to a 6.5 trillion industry in the US alone by 2022. With a number like that, now is the time to invest in your current small business packaging.
Function: Your packaging also serves a function. It helps your products get from Point A to Point B safely, and it reflects your brand’s values.
Information: Lastly, your packaging helps share key information about your brand. From how to use a product to brand facts, you have an opportunity to communicate to your audience with your packaging.
With this in mind, how do you elevate your small business packaging when it matters the most? Let’s examine some ways to go the extra mile with these details.
1. Customize Your Labels
Because most small businesses are working with a limited print budget, don’t feel pressured to use custom boxes right away. This is a big step, and it’s not something that’s required in most cases. Instead, make an impact with custom packaging labels. A custom label sticker is inexpensive, but it does a world of good when it comes to showing your brand elements.
You can make your label a fun expression of your story, or keep it simple with your logo. These small labels go a long way to transforming a simple box or package into a fun experience for your customer. A large quantity of circle roll labels is affordable, high-quality, and easy to adapt to multiple types of packaging.
2. Design Printed Inserts
An insert is a paper card, postcard, sticker, or informational pamphlet found within a package. This gives you an opportunity to share something new with your audience who’s made a recent purchase, strengthening your bond. You can send anything from product information, ingredients, to social media handles. This is also a great chance to integrate a QR code.
When your customers open a package to find a printed insert, this is a welcome surprise. It’s an opportunity to communicate to your customer in a new, personal way. You can share a discount, referral code, or thank you message. No matter what you choose, take advantage of this precious real estate.
3. Use More Color
Color is a way to evoke emotion, and there’s a complete language to the colors we use. For instance, red evokes passion and action, whereas yellow is calming. If you’re mindful of the meanings behind most colors, you can use this to your advantage with your small business packaging.
Though you might not be able to afford branded boxes, you can likely upgrade to colored materials. Using a colorful box vs. a plain white one truly stands out when it counts. Using something as close to your branding colors is key. From boxes to ribbons, brainstorm ways to add more color to your own packaging materials.
4. Explore Custom Stamps
A common alternative to custom boxes is to create a custom stamp. This is less expensive than custom boxes, but it’s still just as unique. This is a way to give the appearance of custom boxes without the high price tag. However, you’ll need to make your own custom stamp and have the time to individually stamp packaging.
If you don’t think a custom stamp is reasonable, consider using standard stamps. You can get creative with the arrangement of existing stamps, making something entirely new and one-of-a-kind. Creativity pays off when it comes to your packaging.
5. Value Durability
Last but not least, always value durability above all. Your packaging doesn’t mean much if it can’t get to your audience in one piece. If you’re worried it will fall apart of get damaged during travel, it’s not a good fit.
Luckily, the ideas above are easy to use no matter your budget. They won’t compromise the stability of your packaging materials, making them a great choice for small businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Create an Experience
Ultimately, your small business packaging should reflect an outstanding customer experience. It’s part of the sales process. Your customers are looking forward to receiving their product, so why not make this extra special? After all, getting something in the mail is a bit like receiving a gift.
No matter your budget or design taste, take these tips above seriously. You want your packaging to stand out in a big way. This is how you keep your customers coming back again and again.