Simple Ways to Personalise Mailing Boxes

As a small e-commerce business, there may be little scope in the budget for elaborate packaging design. Is it possible to add character and interest to your mailing boxes in cost-effective ways?

Simple Packaging Design

With e-commerce packaging, you don’t need top-quality photographic print and elaborate detailing. A little twist can turn a regular piece of cardboard into a bespoke box.

Here are some low-cost ways to enhance your packaging design.

Die-cut elements

When the shapes of your boxes are being cut in the manufacturing process, additional elements can also be removed. Examples of this include cut out handles that make it easier to lift heavy boxes or a circle cut out of a tissue box, so you can pull out the contents. Some companies get a little more inventive, cutting out lettering or, as illustrated, a musical note.

Flexographic Printing

Single colour flexographic print can be used to great effect on delivery boxes. Add your company name or get creative with a unique illustration like the bike box in this photo. When the initial tooling has been set up, the print design can be incorporated into the box manufacturing process. This keeps the cost to a minimum.

Even lower cost is the option of flood printing; a solid, single colour application on one side of the box. Flood printing is usually recommended on the inside of the mailer, where it adds impact to the unboxing experience.

Printed Stickers & Wraps

If you offer the same product in several varieties, it can be costly to get separate boxes printed. A cheaper alternative is to opt for plain boxes or those with a standard flexographic print. Then have stickers printed to differentiate the colour, scent, design, material options in your range. It is easy to get new stickers printed if you add to your range or want to add a seasonal twist. Another bonus of stickers is they can help to seal your boxes.

An Alternative to stickers is a printed paper wrap, which forms an outer layer on a plain box. This offers a professional finish but does add to the packing time. It is therefore favoured by smaller volume retailers.

Packaging Advice

These simple packaging ideas add a personal twist to your e-commerce boxes, yet they are easy to implement and keep the cost of packaging low. Speak to your local packaging company for further advice and quotes.