Author: boxcouk
For best impact: What to give and who to?
The Christmas gift story begins with the desire to give to people who’ve helped you along the way this year. For smaller businesses this can be quickly seen to with a few crates of beer or chocolates off the supermarket shelf, but for businesses growing a brand, it’s time to sit down and think about your clients and how they will feel receiving a gift from you. The warm fuzzy feeling going on around giving has got to fit with your brand.
To make it simple, you shouldn’t pick gifts that conflict with your brand and what it stands for.
To make it simple, you shouldn’t pick gifts that conflict with your brand. If your brand is all about Health and Well-being, you probably wouldn’t select Chocolates and Wine. Why ever not? Because these foods are, sadly, associated with indulgence and excessive eating.
Selecting who to give to… We always recommend including your team members (whether they know about the Christmas gift idea or not, it will still be a surprise that they’re included in receiving it) along with your Top Customers and Top Suppliers. These 3 stakeholders, or whatever you like to call them, are supremely responsible for keeping your business up & running. Remember them, at least once a year.
And on this point, it doesn’t have to be at Christmas, some companies are now jogging the gift into January, to keep it separate from the overdose of gifting that comes at Christmas. That said you don’t want the gift to look as though it’s a last minute idea, or purchased only in the sale, and potentially lose impact.
Really your gift should epitomise your brand.
Are you known to be generous, crazy, funny, fast, innovative? Is your brand smart/sleek/chic and brilliantly mod or a steady/seclusive/mature/luxurious commodity?
Really your gift should epitomise your brand. For this you need to think about how others see your brand. Are you known to be generous, crazy, funny, fast, innovative? Is your brand smart/sleek/chic and brilliantly mod or a steady/seclusive/mature/luxurious commodity?
Then think about your customers, what gift is fitting for them personally (consider – would they actually use this?) and are there any gifts that would get turned away. Some companies do have strong gifting policies in place, preventing potential bribery in the form of “gifts” in exchange for contracts, even enforcing staff to return gifts or request that they are collected (making for an embarrassing phone call, instead of a pleasant thanks).
This is where the Mince pie pack has proved popular because it’s a fun and non-offensive office sharer, sits by the coffee machine and everyone gets one. (We firmly believe it beats most of the list below for originality and share-ability!)
Another thing, where we use the term “Top” Customer – this refers to people who have placed bigger orders with you. The gift should really be proportionate to orders placed. In the case of Customers or Suppliers, you need to be thinking about the contacts and companies where you want to strengthen the relationship for longevity. Which companies are core to your business, and which companies do you want to keep your brand front of mind into the future.
Back to the topic of “What to give”… Anyone can use Google, but we believe the Top favourites list is covered off well with the list below.
Top Christmas Giveaways for Corporate companies
- Chocolates
- Wine
- Hampers
- Plants
- Notebooks
- Calendars
- Phone charger
- Pens
- Mugs
- Bobble hats
For more advice on promoting your brand through on-brand gifting (What to gift and What not to gift!), reach out to our team of expert advisers on 020 3011 0211, or via our Contact us page.
Merry Xmassive!
The Sweetie Cubes that tickle taste buds
You can’t beat sweet-treats for a branded giveaway, and the Sweetie Cube is no exception.
A quirky invention for maximising your marketing, these Sweetie Cubes appeal to kids & adults alike. The box relaxes to become like a tray when the lid is taken off, with all over space for branding.
The box becomes a tray when the lid is taken off
Boxes supplied made up and sweet wrappers can be brand-matched.
Reach out and discuss your brand-building giveaways
Phone 020 3011 0211
Email business@boxcouk.com
A peak at the PEK
The PEK is an ingenious presentation pack created from card folded around a foam centre. Very quick and easy to produce and very effective and modern in impact. An entry level presentation pack, with custom cut foam inlay, tuck in lock, and all-round branded card wrap.
Welcome New Club members, or to make new staff welcome.
An unforgettable presentation for house builders and property developers.
Good for events, and financial companies.
Are you unlocking the potential with a bespoke and branded Welcome pack?
Call today to discuss your requirements 02030110211
Why choose BoxcoUK?
If you’re not that great at reading, the short answer to the question is “for creating 3-dimensional marketing pieces”.
At this point some people will think “Ok, cool. We don’t do anything 3-dimensional, only digital.” The same people use brown boxes to send stuff out. We’ll it’s not marketing is it? Enough said.
Our sweet spot comprises of Print, Packaging and Marketing experience.
This is at the grass routes of everything we do here, playing a smaller but still vital role.
Excellent quality print for all applications means we’ll advise you on what’s best for your brand and your project – from Litho to laminate, Digi-print to dogtooth, Flood-coat to flexo.
Maybe you’ve seen an effect you’d like?
Packaging
When we say Packaging, we don’t just mean a warehouse full of brown boxes and bubble wrap.
We mean mostly Creative and mostly Cardboard solutions that promote.
(We’ve been using cardboard to create all sorts of things, including Presentation Packaging, since as far back as the early 1990s.)
Marketing
It’s what we eat, drink, and breathe here. It’s probably the top reason why we don’t sell boring boxes, because everyone who works here has a role in Marketing.
Part of this sweet spot, is that we’re as concerned as your CFO that there’s a return on the marketing you do. Believe us, good marketing is great for organisations. Without it, they don’t survive.
We’ll try to promote your marketing message in everything we produce for your brand.
Where else can you find advice on print, packaging and marketing in one place?
To talk more, simply schedule an appointment
So what has that got to do with the question “Why choose BoxcoUK?”
Because this is our little sweet spot, and we’re real people you can talk to.
If you’re not that great at reading, the short answer to the question is “for creating 3-dimensional marketing pieces”. At this point some people will think – “Ok, cool. We don’t do anything 3-dimensional, only digital.” The same people use brown boxes to send stuff out. Well, this isn’t marketing is it?
Digital doesn’t delight customers all on its own.
We are nearly the first to back digital, but digital doesn’t delight customers all on its own. People come recommended, by word of mouth from friends or trusted advisors (“everyone else is doing this stuff”), they’ve either seen, heard, smelt, tasted or touched it. Yes, for sure digital is big, but it’s not everything. Even MailChimp now offer postcards, supermarkets give out tasters, dentists’ give out sample packs.
Are you taping into your clients 6th sense?
We believe in a mix of digital and tangible marketing – too much digital in the mix and customers switch off through lack of experience with your brand.
Do you want to create something tangible?
Where else can you find advice on print, packaging and marketing in one place? To talk more, simply schedule an appointment
From concept to completion, we’re here to help you
Tick off a redesign on packaging early in the year. Well maybe not a complete redesign, but we’re happy to help with your packaging problems, however big or small they seem.
You can phone us on 020 3011 0211 (if you’d like help right this minute – a little like dialling 999), or simply set up a time that suits you.
Opening hours
Even the elves are having a holiday! Check below opening hours for the next two weeks.
Christmas week
Monday 24th December – Open till 12
Tuesday 25th December – Closed
Wednesday 26th December – Closed
Thursday 27th December – Closed
Friday 28th December – Closed
New year
Monday 31st December – Closed
Tuesday 1st January – Closed
Wednesday 2nd January – Open
Thursday 3rd January – Open
Friday 4th January – Open
From an exhibition last month…
Ronnie & Elspeth visited All4pack Paris exhibition last month, and found a bunch of new creations for our clients. We hope you enjoy them too.
A new round box packaging from as few as 1000, available in a range of sizes, colours and branding. Option to include clear windows and castellated tops.
Perfect retail packaging for gifts, candles, and other items.
A Kraft brown disposable rucksack – you could call it a solution looking for a problem! With MOQs in the region of 3000, and produced from part recycled material this could make heads turn at a University or student event.
If you know of any brown paper backpackers send them this way! – Not suitable for liquids!
A stand made entirely from pallets, with a table and chairs built in!
There’s more to do with pallets than just creating kindling wood… If you ever wondered what you could do with old pallets, see the link below:
15 Creative uses for Wood Pallets https://www.simplemost.com/15-creative-uses-wood-pallets/
Making a box that feels like a piece of furniture…
Paper over board has been superseded by paper over MDF. This makes a very rigid box with more weight and very smooth corners. Unfortunately these are not produced yet in the UK so lead time will be extended for development and production, but this creates a box that feels like a piece of furniture. They can be made to size and branded as required. MOQ 1000 pieces.
Whoever thought of incorporating the bag handles into the design for this upmarket Optician? Very creative on the High street, to make shoppers look twice.
Helpful tip on visiting exhibitions
Take pictures of the stands that you found interesting. Then on return to the office, store the pictures, and when you want to go back to the suppliers, just run through the files, and it all comes back to mind. Then simply Google the Company details. So if you’re wondering what to do with that bag of brochures under your desk from the last exhibition – recycle them!
Ronnie Devine
Introducing our sister company, Kudos Giftwrap
Are you being disappointed by long delivery times?
Don’t be!
We’re happy to introduce our sister company, Kudos Giftwrap. Kudos has a stock range of Giftwrap & accessories available for all your gift packaging needs.
It’s an out of the box solution, to deliver your gifts to clients this Christmas.
We know that long lead times at this time of year (end November) means that some companies can’t have their corporate gifts wrapped and delivered in the way in which Marketing teams have designed them.
For a lastminute.com fix, try Kudos Giftwrap who have a range of giftwrapping solutions that look great, with short leadtimes on stock ranges.
Quick, easy, earthy and kind: tick
Yes it is possible to produce Sustainable Presentation Packaging solutions for companies who promote and believe in a sustainable earth. That’s why we’ve produced giftwrap under our Kudos brand, so that companies can giftwrap without guilt this Christmas, using giftwrap aligned to core values. Whilst the large part of what we do is produced on paper that is FSC approved, we realise that for companies who promote sustainability and recycling as part of a strong core ethical belief, it is increasingly important for this to be crystal clear in all communication, not least in delivery to the customer.
Reach out to discuss your core values and how best to present your message for success now and into 2019. Best number for us is 020 3011 0211.
Welcome Daniel and Jim
Jim Nash joined us in February on Sales, and Daniel Halms joined us in July running Warehouse Operations. Both have been invaluable team players. Jim has been round visiting a number of new and existing clients and Daniel has cleaned up our warehouse – now it shines (quite literally!).
Order your own, bespoke, branded, corporate and personalised…
Typically we find October is the month when bespoke orders are placed; when push-comes-to-shove and the decision-making happens. If the year is going to finish well, this is when you’ve got to make some final adjusts and press the button on new projects, sign off proofs, and make things happen, all in good time for roll-out in January. So, the flip side for Sales teams selling bespoke and branded products – if you’ve lined ducks up earlier in the year… this is the month when rubber hits the road, wheels turn, and orders get placed (finally) and with you (hopefully)!
All the best for your October – and if you’d like to kick off your own, bespoke branded, corporate and personalised project, feel free to contact our sales team 020 3011 0211 and we’ll be pleased to talk it through; these things take time!…
The Ultimate Office Sharer, and a gifting solution for Small-to-Medium-size Enterprizes!
Enter the 12-pack Mince Pie Promo… NEW PDF DOWNLOAD WITH ORDER INFO
To join our already popular 24-pack, you can now choose which size best suits your clientele.
Along with this change, we also have new dates for 2018 which bring delivery sooner (now 3rd week of November), giving you longer to deliver your Christmas gifts to your top clients and friends.
Why choose the 12-pack?
- Less is more, some of your best clients may now be operating within a smaller team
- Smaller budget, which you can spread further to impact on more clients
- Watch Accounts grow by rewarding customers who have spent less with you, but have the potential to spend a lot more
- Enables sending 1 pack per breakout area
- Keep the weight down – Some of your clients will thank you!
Why choose the 24-pack?
- Ultimate thud-factor
- Super generous
- Great for bigger teams / site offices / clubs
- Bigger area to brand
Online packaging, for protection and promotion
If you’re currently despatching products not only do you want the actual product to look great, but you also want it to arrive looking great. Transit packaging needs to protect your product and promote your brand.
Consider first how you would like your recipient to feel? Expectations vary depending on what the product is, and where it is received (B2B or B2C). Think about what else your customer will be receiving in their day to day, alongside of your products and consider: How will you wow?
Is the packaging recyclable – the big R is becoming more and more important – Is the packaging actually compostable? Then what will you use to take up any excess space inside, that will protect goods in transit. Can this be recycled? As our image suggests, tissue paper is one option. It’s unlikely that tissue paper alone will protect goods, but it’s good for brand building, and recyclable. There are other paper based box filler options, and for companies sending out large quantities of the same size product, then a smaller, more fitting box, can save the need of using extra packaging to protect goods.
Printed packaging – Yes or No? Do you want it to stand out during Transit – by adding a repeating logo or slogan, or with a design that means it will be recognisable along the way – there’s pros and cons to weigh up: Consider the likelihood of it being tampered with vs. Customers recognising it a glance, and finding your goods in a busy warehouse (different in a B2C situation). Remember branding inside the box, adds to the unboxing experience, particularly the use of colour, for extra wow.
How will you close your transit packaging? If it’s tape you’re using, this could be bespoke. What about branded labels? This has to be a cost effective option, especially for start-ups.
A peel and re-seal strip? This is making it very easy for customers to make returns, particularly in the B2C environment.
Alot of what we recognise is brown boxes, and grey plastic post bags. Breaking with the trend, MORI – the organically and ethically produced baby clothes company – ship in leading edge Brown Paper bags (bespoke of course), and they actively encourage recycling. Protectively delivering goods – conscientiously onbrand.
How will you pack your product for a memorable unboxing on-brand experience? Our team is onhand to discuss your brand requirements, or send us a message via contact us page
What style of box do I need?
That’s a good question.
Firstly ask yourself: Why do I want to put this product in a box, or better still why do I want to improve the presentation of my product? Why isn’t everything served in brown bags or simply shrink-wrapped and distributed??
Is it going to do what you want it to do? Improve your brand, sales volume, perceived value, recognition, longevity. If it were boxed better can you charge more for it, or is your product the same as any alternatives. Are you looking to enhance your product value, and promote your brand?
If your product is “me too”, what will the packaging add to it? Is your product good enough to be put into a box?
We all know the products we love unpacking and, we may never have thought about it before but, it’s probably because the packaging is so nice, it’s an experience to open it…
“Boxes” vary in quality, feel, and style, and suit very different purposes. What’s good for the iPhone, probably won’t suit a mail order Dog worming product.
At BoxcoUK we are a team of consumers and box designers and ideas people that enjoy listening and sharing ways to enhance products through presentation. And if we don’t think a box is the best option we’ll tell you why, we only make boxes to improve your business.
We only make boxes to improve your business.
Take a look at the other packaging in your market, our gallery is a great place to start and will no doubt give you many ideas.
Now you’ve decided that a box is a must, we want to talk through some ideas around your products and the styles of box that could work – please call us on 020 3011 0211.
In upcoming blogs, we will be going through various different types of box, the pros & cons of using each style, and the options for print and finishing.
Phone 01923 220055 | Email business@boxcouk.com
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BoxcoUK Limited - Company Number 09914284. Registered Office Address: 59 Turbine Way, Swaffham, England, PE37 7XD.
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