Every company wants to create a memorable experience for their customers so that their brand is vividly remembered. This provides return customers, which in turn, provides higher revenues. A balance needs to be created between providing utilitarian packages and spending too much of the budget on the box. Considering some of the following attributes can help make the decision a little easier.
Materials
First, what material is desired to package the product? Is it heavy? Is it potentially toxic? Is there a need for theft-deterrence? All of these questions will help decide which material is most suitable. Cardboard is the most common material used because it is relatively inexpensive, withstands stress in the form of dropping or mishandling, and is usually manufactured from recycled paper so is relatively environmentally friendly which can be a selling point for many people. If there is a danger of leakage, plastic containers may be more suitable. If part of the experience is the unveiling of the product, wooden or metal boxes may be the correct choice. If the product is jewelry, small, hinged, velvet covered boxes are the most suitable.
Logo
Ascertain the size and location that the company logo should be placed on the box. It should be large enough to be memorable and easily visible. The logo should be something that is readily recognizable, even if a person cannot read and write. Think of famous company logos that children recognize. The human eye instinctively seeks out patterns like faces or curves, so keep that in mind when creating a logo.
Size
What size is the product? It should be large enough to completely enclose the product, but not so large that the product is likely to break in transit.
Shape
What is the shape of the product? Should the box be round, like a cheesebox or hatbox? Should it be a cube? Should it be pyramidal? Rectangular and flat, like a pizza box? A vacuum cleaner, for instance, should be packaged in a rectangular, tall, narrow cardboard box to provide a maximum amount of protection while giving enough room for the odd shape of the vacuum. What shape do the outer dimensions of the product create?
Will it be used as a component of a larger display or simply shipped in the box?
Will it be a gift? Some companies have a monthly mail order service, in which the container reflects what items may be in it. For example, a wine of the month club will usually have a wooden crate, filled with cushioning for the bottles, with a logo of the company and perhaps something to elicit thoughts of the country from which the wine originates. Another company packages a mystery gift every month, and the packaging is a clue to what the gift may be. Using creativity and imagination, one can see that the sky is the limit for a company’s custom boxing needs and requirements.
The above are just a sample of the variables to consider, but most companies that provide custom boxes have special advisors to assist companies in choosing the correct boxes for their unique needs. They will work with companies so that each product is uniquely and appropriately packaged.
