Tag: Packaging
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!
Please forward a link to the person responsible for meeting your Sales targets this month.
We’re recommending that you ask your top clients to tell you what you stand for.
By conducting a simple survey with our clients, we discovered that many of them didn’t know what else we did… (This was finding Number 1)
So we started including an abbreviated list at the foot of our monthly marketing idea-mails, below we’ll talk you through it visually*.
We also discovered that it is Sales Teams that LOVE us! (Finding Number 2)
Is that surprising, when we’re here to help Marketing teams, to stay loved by Sales; Win more and Get Results? (This then benefits both the Marketing and Sales teams.) In short, we do their job for them.
In short, we do the Sales job for them.
*What we offer to ensure you Win more…
Bespoke Promotional
Branded Presentation of Goods for Promotion Sample Presentation, Product Launches
Packaging that works Magic for your Brand
PR and product launch. A selection of the new Nars range was presented in this luxury presentation pack and distributed to the magazine writers for editorial.
New Client Welcome Packs so Sales teams can step out with confidence, making a great first impression
Onboarding packs, on-brand, perfect PR for HR
Unique sample presentation for the ultimate promotion of your brand
Send samples of your product straight to the Decision maker
Original and Creative promotional items never seen before
Products to talk about – say “Hello” and “Thank You” and generally Shout about you
Winning client confidence with outstanding quote presentation
Products that Win Projects
Disruptive Marketing Communications
Innovative & unforgettable Helping our clients to get their point across, through innovative direct mail, an effective way to communicate your all-important Unique selling propositions
Time-critical and Time sensitive Promotions
We oversee fulfilment in-house ensuring that Mail reaches destination on the date designed
Physical Mail-Merge – We oversee fulfilment in-house
See how we could turn your properties into London’s most popular attractions… Effective direct mail, a capacity envelope enclosing advertising vouchers for Rightmove.
We work with you to ensure that your message is carried through
Get your message to the End User / Consumer
Ideas that Work & Win
Unique Product Packaging
Designed with the brand in mind we produce product packaging, for industrial, retail and OEM
Bringing your whole idea together in one box
Out-of-the-box Product Packaging ideas that Promise Off-the-shelf Sales
Regal Tags, Durable Tagging Solutions, Product packaging in full colour process, litho-laminated e-flute corrugated, supplied flat to the Production line, easy to make up
Not-so-standard Presentation Packaging
As unique as your brand
A retail pack for two bottles of Yalumba Wine, printed on 1 sided Kraft pack in black and 3 spot metallics, with an all over gloss varnish.
Not just shelf-packaging! But purpose built and designed to slide into the sock drawer
A clear view plastic sleeve to view the product, this retail packaging for three pairs of socks was inspired by the “sock drawer” with a pull tab at the front.
Point of Sale & Display, Bespoke solutions
Make a big hit with Counter top displays and display cubes in a range of sizes, along with coin collecting boxes and leaflet dispensers
Keep Your Brand out there
We offer to make a bespoke size of collection box, nothing run-of-the-mill…this way you can think about where it’s going and the people you want to attract…
Stay in control of your products – Keep things tidy when they are on display at your Distributors
Leaflet Dispensers
Please take one
Leaflet dispensers, available in a range of popular sizes, from our standard forms or we can create custom backboards and pocket capacities to suit your campaign.
Product Packaging that becomes Display Packaging – Branding all the way
Selling Radiators and Heated Towel rails, Chatsworth Heating needed a box to send out leaflets to the Showrooms of distributors, which could double-up as a dispenser
Table-Talkers!
Raising awareness of forth coming events & offers
Retail display cubes as seen in Carphone Warehouse. The easiest form of visual merchandising, available in a range of sizes from 60x60mm to 240x240mm.
Retail Presentation Materials for Instore & Online
Easy off the stock options or branded for the Ultimate Customer Experience
Packaging to enhance the Unboxing Experience
Custom-made Stationery Products
We are the manufacturers of the Polysmart collection, the Overboard range and the Alusmart system.
With a range of regular and unique styles available for personalisation to improve your presentation, including ring binders, document wallets, portfolios and bespoke solutions to enable your business efficiency.
Document wallets – Sign Up takeaways
Branded Presentation Folders & Files
Ring Binders
Going Global? Take your brand with you
Document Wallets
Training tomorrow’s World with your Corporate Image
Polysmart Wallets, produced in hard wearing long life PVC, with simple clip lock closure. The ideal product for schools, colleges, or outdoor use.
Bringing everything together for you & your client – We call it a Win-Win situation
A Polysmart Project closure file, with tabbed dividers, and a large document pocket for associated project plans and paperwork.
To discuss your brand needs, call us on 020 3011 0211
Is your packaging aligned to core values, conceivable for the consumer?
As we enter 2020, Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of brands: Luxury, earthy or otherwise; with scrutiny of packaging being high on the agenda. First impressions count has never been truer.
They’re balancing their own values with sustainability, asking questions like: Will this product, service or luxury be available to generations to come? What is the long-term prognosis? Can this packaging be recycled or reused rather than wasted on rubbish heaps that we’re seeing in the news; or worst still, the scam of joining rubbish dumped off-shore.
Undoubtedly packaging still has it’s place: for Protection in delivery (delivering without damage), Presentation of the brand (for enhanced value, gaining an emotional connection and communicating with the consumer) and Security (so it reaches the consumer without being tampered with).
Balancing the protective packaging side of delivering products with over-protection and increased waste is an all-time belly ache for Packaging designers. Too much protection is seen as over-gilding and wastefully filling up our bins.
Presentation of the brand is all about making the core-values of the company align to the delivery of the product. Earthy products can’t come in plastic.
Security is going to depend very much on what, the weight, and how you’re delivering.
Team survival kit, including Doritos and Pepsi Max to put some real fizz back into the team.
Environmental Product packaging created in Kraft e-flute corrugated and screen printed in dark brown, with the product packed in wood wool.
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 consumer.
In brief, it is possible to produce Sustainable Presentation Packaging solutions for companies who promote and believe in a sustainable earth.
Are you looking to be more aligned for 2020? Reach out and Contact us
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.
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.
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.
Does your brand feel good?
We believe that a quality double-faced Satin Printed Ribbon offers a fascinating finish for your brand gift packaging – whether it’s for your Exhibition giveaways, or that critical touch to get past post-opening gatekeepers. If the bow looks good, even the nosiest won’t peek any further. Some of images of past projects are here for your perusal.
Want to talk Ribbon, why not get in touch? Tel 020 3011 0211
The internet has unquestionably changed how we shop but it hasn’t changed the importance of a great retail experience…
Good quality and memorable retail experiences are excellent for building a repeat customer base and fueling recommendations, either face to face or on social media.
So what’s that got to do with printed tissue paper?
Your retail gift packaging is an important part of the customer experience, and one item that can add real value without a huge investment is printed tissue paper.
Top four reasons to use quality printed tissue paper
1) It’s Your Brand
All your communications, at any customer touchpoint, say something about your brand. If you want to continue your appeal and promote your brand long after the shopping experience, the tissue paper you use is an opportunity to subtly create more brand awareness. Make the most of your brand, but be sure that all your retail packaging items work in sympathy with each other.
2) Subtle association
When you receive a gift, or when the shop assistant wraps your purchases, it’s an experience that you want to share. Often a gift is opened in front of family or friends; it’s a moment you haven’t experienced before; it’s something new, a talking point. This is where printed tissue paper becomes especially important because it promotes your brand without saying a word. It answers the silent question of “where did they get that from?” but it is never considered advertising because that’s what all the luxury brands do.
3) It’s all in the rustle!
If you already use plain tissue paper, be sure you’re using the best quality you can get so that it gives the crisp rustle associated with luxury brands. It’s not necessarily expensive to get a luxury feel tissue paper so check out what you are using and make some changes for the better if your current material is flimsy and lifeless. If you look at the likes of Burberry and Chanel, for example, you will experience quality tissue paper.
KUDOS TIP Due to the printing process for printed tissue paper the material is almost always better quality than plain – it has to be to get through the process. This superior quality offers a much more rewarding rustle. We have found that luxury retailers place importance on the feel and crispness of their tissue paper to provide an even more rewarding customer experience.
4) Cost effective
When you buy printed tissue you can order it to be supplied in sizes to suit your operation which will reduce wastage. Due to the minimum order quantities for printed tissue paper the unit cost is very low, often similar to plain paper, although there is a first order investment in origination. Keep in mind that printed tissue is about brand promotion, not merely cheap protection. The benefits of printed tissue versus plain are difficult to measure in financial terms, but the improved experience is invaluable.
Tips for designing and ordering your printed tissue
1) Take care with the size, layout and pitch of your logo on the printed tissue. It should be related to the products that you will be regularly packing and your overall brand image.
2) Printing in 1 colour such as gold, white, or black on a high quality acid free tissue paper will give the best, most luxury and most cost effective result. You don’t need to print 2 colours which tends to look like advertising rather than subtle brand association.
3) Finally ensure that you have seen a sample of the material; you want a quality acid free tissue paper in 17-19gsm range.
4) Speak to your chosen giftwrapping or packaging partner and ensure that your tissue paper is being produced in the most cost effective way. The design can be the deciding factor between two printing methods, either Flexography or Rotary Gravure.
In summary, good quality printed tissue paper is a cost effective and easy way to promote your brand and create memorable and rewarding customer experiences which will help build your brand and stimulate repeat business.
Help prospects connect with your brand
In your market, who’s creating an experience that you only dream of.
What are they doing well? What is their brand doing for your key prospects, that your brand doesn’t do (yet)? We help brands to Win more by building presentation material that elevates the brand, whether we’re building Sample Presentation, Retail presentation, or launching your brand at a key event. (It’s all about where your brand is going next.)
What we offer to ensure you Win more…
- Sample Presentation Packaging
- Unique Product Packaging for High End Luxury Products
- Point of Sale & Display, Bespoke Solutions
- Retail Presentation Materials for Instore & Online
- Bespoke Promotional Products: New Client Welcome Packs
- Onboard packs, on-brand, perfect PR for HR
- Innovative Disruptive Marketing Communications
- Complete Fulfilment in-house with Account Manager to oversee
- Storage and despatch facility
- Custom-made Stationery Products including Presentation Binders
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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