With the 2024 holiday season approaching, brands across the globe are invested in leveraging it as an impactful tool for branding. A festive revamp of seasonal packaging is one of the most powerful tactics to gain relevance in the holiday season and stand out amongst the high competition.
That being said, small businesses often believe festive packaging to be expensive and inaccessible. However, that is merely a misconception and misinformation about custom holiday gifts. Whether you opt for low MOQs or a bulk order, plenty of options help you create aesthetic and impactful holiday packaging.
So, what is the secret to easy-on-pocket festive packaging, why is it important, and how to leverage it for your small business? Keep reading to learn
Why Leverage the Holiday Season?
Because our customers are heavily invested in the festive season. According to a recent study, the holiday season 2023 in the United States grew up to 3.8% with a record-breaking revenue of $964.4 billion. Now imagine your business missing the opportunity to tap into this goldmine known as the “Holiday Season”.
During this time of the year, families, friends, and loved ones are seeking appropriate gifts. And what is the most stand-out thing about gifts? The packaging. Packaging creates an intense, emotional, and exciting feeling that leaves a lasting impression on people, which is a great drawcard for businesses to benefit from.
For small businesses, personalized holiday gifts are a great opportunity to create more loyalty and increase awareness about your products.
Pocket-Friendly Ways to Win the Festive Season
Before sharing any tips for cost-effective holiday gifts, there is a practical tip that will help small businesses like you streamline the process and craft an impactful product: Finalize and lock and aesthetic, and move forward with the same. One of the biggest reasons why brands suffer the brunt of expensive packaging is that they get carried away with shimmery ribbons and glamorous materials. When it comes to custom packaging, there are endless options to choose from. But does that mean you have to choose everything? No!
Work with your creative team or that of your manufacturers like The Mailer Box to come up with an aesthetic that reflects your brand’s philosophy and character. Are you an environmentally conscious brand? Then approach sustainable packaging. Are you a fun and quirky brand? Play with colors and tailored messages. The point is, to reflect who you are with the material, finishing, and overall aesthetic you choose. Once that is decided, creating cost-effective packaging will become a piece of cake.
- Branded Mailer Boxes
Custom mailer boxes are one of the most cost-effective options for festive gift boxes. They offer the flexibility to get creative with different details and create a memorable unboxing experience. Because of the customization, you can design the boxes to be in any size and shape that suits your product the best. This customization also allows you to minimize cost and waste, as well as choose from affordable materials such as corrugated cardboard or recycled Kraft. You can enhance custom mailer gift boxes with enticing printing, and custom inserts. Accessorize with personalized layers of tissue paper, stickers, or finishing’s like foil stamping, embossing, or UV lamination.
Custom mailer boxes are ideal for shipping smaller products. They are easy to store, transport, and assemble.
- Tailored to Customer’s Gifting Needs
Holiday packaging is to be designed keeping in mind that it is intended to be a gift. It has to evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Your customers will be looking for personalized packaging that is not merely a container of your product, but something that reflects their intention and love during the holiday season. 78% of customers choose products that are personalized for the holiday season and up to 50% of the same return if their experience is satisfactory.
Create festive packaging that is personalized for gifting. You can add custom inserts, personalized messages, and luxury finishing to add a touch of festivity and customization.
- Custom Sleeves
Oftentimes, one of the simplest additions in packaging can have the biggest impact. Custom sleeves are one such addition that enhances your packaging and adds a unique touch to it. It is affordable, simple, and easy to achieve with any product or packaging.
For instance, a slider sleeve with foil or custom printing immediately catches the eye of the customer and has a measurable impact. You can even further reduce the cost by option for a simple recycled paper box with a personalized drawer or slider sleeve with custom finishes.
You can even get creative and use sleeves as a personalized card that can be removed and reused rather than thrown away.
- Stickers and Labels
Festive season packaging is all about little details that can enhance the customer experience. Stickers are a versatile option that can carry personalized notes for customers. Brands can choose to make them custom-centric or brand-centric by adding their logos, brand messages, or patterns to the stickers.
In terms of customer experience, why these little stickers have so much impact because they are the first visual reference and element of packaging for the customer. When designed aesthetically, they can increase both remembrance and loyalty to the brand.
Apart from that, stickers can be printed in larger quantities at minimal cost. They are a budget-friendly, yet impactful addition to your packaging design for gift boxes.
- Foil Stamping
A classic yet timeless enhancement to print and packaging, foil stamping is a great way to add a festive and luxurious touch to your packaging. You might remember foil stamping to be a labor-intensive, and expensive process in packaging, but thanks to the advancements in technology, it now comes at varying price points that make it a budget-friendly option for your custom packaging.
Sustainable Packaging During Festive Season
Using eco-friendly materials (like recycled paper or biodegradable packaging) not only reduces costs but also appeals to environmentally-conscious consumers. Encourage reusability by designing packaging that can be repurposed. For example, sturdy boxes can double as storage containers or cloth bags can be reused as gift bags. Reusable packaging adds value for the customer, making your brand more memorable. This adds value to your brand by demonstrating responsibility, which can resonate particularly well during the holiday season.
Consider compostable options like mushroom or cornstarch-based packaging. Alternatively, plan table seed paper can be used for inserts or tags, allowing recipients to plant the packaging and grow something—a perfect blend of sustainability and holiday cheer.
Does your Business need to cater all Holidays?
Absolutely not. One of the most important things brands need to understand in this competitive marketing landscape is relevance. When it comes to seasonal packaging, choose the holiday that resonates with your product offerings the most. For example, if you are a luxury clothing brand, Christmas or Valentine’s might be more suitable for you to leverage than Halloween. Be selective and relevant.
