![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Custom-Packaging-300x214.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGetting into the subscription box business can be an exciting, rewarding, but quite a confusing journey. Many challenges can appear, such as choosing the right packaging that will make the subscribers jump, scream or faint (or preferably all three) from joy when they lay their eyes on the box. That\u2019s how the experience of getting one\u2019s favorite products straight to the doorstep should look or at least, feel like. And a well-branded, customer-friendly packaging can surely make this happen.<\/p>\n
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Now, fire up your entrepreneurial engines and dive into this ultimate guide to custom packaging, and learn how to make your subscription boxes as beautiful, practical and economic as they could be!<\/span><\/p>\n So, you’ve got a nice website, perfect business strategy, a heart full of love for your subscribers and your business up and running. Also, you have a pile of dull-looking, plain and boring boxes with only necessary information printed on the surface, waiting to be shipped to your eager customers. You\u2019ll agree that it isn\u2019t the best way to present a subscription company. Seems like going out for a date in your pajamas (no judging).<\/span> To start, adding something as simple as a particular company\u2019s information or a call to action (such as hashtags for subscribers to use on their social media channels or a place for them to visit) could significantly elevate your marketing game and position your brand in a more effective way. Custom packaging makes this possible, as it goes beyond the plain, boring appearance and adds an extra value to your business. The box becomes an extra tool for marketing and not just the carrier of the great products inside. <\/span><\/p>\n Now, the type of packaging you are going to use depends on various factors, such as the size, the material of your product(s) and how fragile it is. There are different kinds of <\/span>custom packaging<\/span> available, that could push your presentation from \u2018blah\u2019 to \u2018wow\u2019:<\/span> When it comes to custom packaging, some questions are common in subscription business newbies – <\/span>What is the best way to choose, organise and order the custom boxes? Do I really need custom packaging or could work a while without them – how will I know? What is the meaning of life? <\/span><\/i>Let\u2019s tackle them one by one, except that last one (sorry), until you become a real custom packaging pro.<\/span><\/p>\n The usual advice for new business owners get is \u2018start smaller and then build from that.\u2019 And yes, it is important indeed to start with whatever you have and invest bigger when there are enough subscribers and revenue. It does make sense, right?<\/span><\/p>\n Custom packaging is a significant investment, not only financially, but you\u2019ll need to invest your time in developing it too. Time is money, but money can\u2019t buy time (yet). So, put on your thinking cap now and ask yourself as a wise entrepreneur walking this planet: We don\u2019t wish to discourage you, just to remind you that you can easily get attracted and carried away by the loveliness of custom printing and packaging and how important (and consequential) these decisions are. Hence, in order to avoid costly errors, try to keep things simple until you reach 300, 400 subscribers per month. Use that time given to gain complete clarity of your brand, perfect the overall design and the messaging\/unique voice for your company.<\/span> Good provisional solutions<\/a> might include stickers (or custom stickers), labels, stamps or pre-designed colored boxes. These are not the fully professional-looking options for your branding, true, but they can serve as a temporary solution before you\u2019re completely ready for printing. Who knows, with a little bit of creativity, maybe you could find your visual identity through them, with a distinctive stamp or color. But in any case, custom packaging gives you the ultimate freedom to present and advertise your company, so keep that in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n Congrats if your business is ready for custom packaging! It is a field of fun, creativity, and innovation and we\u2019ll do our best to clarify all stages of the process, so you could enjoy it from the beginning until the shipping. <\/span><\/p>\n First, every package is made out of a certain material and it\u2019s important to determine which one you need. We\u2019ll cover the types of boxes here, because for all the other packaging options, such as mailers and envelopes, there is not much space for experimenting there.<\/span><\/p>\n So, the most common material for boxes is cardboard. No, sorry, silk or cashmere is not on this list, no matter how much we wanted it. There are three most common types of subscription boxes – Kraft, White and Kemi white boxes. <\/span><\/p>\n As you can see, the particular type of box can satisfy some of your needs, but it comes with a price (as everything in life, actually). The first type, common brown Kraft, is the cheapest, but if you\u2019re a visual perfectionist, it probably won\u2019t satisfy your vision. The second, white kind, looks nicer when printed, but it costs more. And the latter, Kemi white is the prom queen of subscription boxes, also with a significant price attached to it. <\/span> We’ve got the materials covered, now let\u2019s see how you can choose the right size for your subscription boxes. This step can significantly impact your budget, as you might spend more on a larger box size without the real need. Size matters here as well, that\u2019s a cruel reality.<\/span> The size of your package can save you 100s or even 1000s of dollars, especially as the number of your subscribers rise (what we warmly wish for you). <\/span><\/p>\n The size of your box directly influences the shipping costs, remember that. By the way, the <\/span>most effective option<\/span> for shipping is USPS cubic shipping – it is not based on the weight of your package, but its volume (less valuable for you if your products are lightweight, though). <\/span> The subscription box industry is on the rise, with more and more competition appearing every day. From books and games, food and cosmetics and even pet accessories, people are embracing the possibilities of consistent deliveries of goodies at their door. After all, it\u2019s an easy, fun and affordable way to enjoy the products they love or try out new products every month.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, with the growing subbox offer out there, how can a newbie distinguish themselves in the market? Is there a way to stand out from this sea of subscription businesses? Without the pictures of naked ladies on the packages, no matter how tempting it might sound.<\/span><\/p>\n The answer might be hiding in the individuality of your company – <\/span>making your brand unique<\/span><\/a>, memorable, something that people can connect with and eagerly expect to see at their doorstep regularly. You can start by asking which \u2018style of voice\u2019 is best aligned with the products you\u2019re offering – personal, funny, influential or all three?<\/span><\/p>\n This is why you should rethink your branding before spending a dime on design – the best branding practices rely on the adjustment of the entire visual and communication experience. Once your story, message or a core idea is <\/span>integrated into your packaging<\/span><\/a> (aka the opportunity for you to connect with the subscribers and keep them on your list), it will make the marketing easy and the entire experience more enjoyable for everyone involved. This step is not easy, I know, but it\u2019s important. Maybe not as important as cat gifs or chocolate, but it is important.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you’ve determined what kind of box you need, starting from the budget, material and size and how your branding looks like, it\u2019s time to create some eye-catching, mouth-watering designs.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep the dimensions of your box in mind when creating the design, and try to adjust them accordingly. Also, the material you have chosen should be tuned with the design. The interesting part is that the base color of your box is also a color (brown, white or something else if you\u2019re using the pre-colored boxes), so adding just an another color or two to complement it could look nice enough. You don\u2019t need to use the entire rainbow, unless your products are Nyan Cat related, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to actual designing and editing, you can either tackle this challenge yourself or hire a designer on platforms like <\/span>Freelancer<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>DesignCrowd<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Upwork<\/span><\/a> t<\/span>o work their magic. When choosing the right person for this job, aim for professionals with proven experience in similar tasks, as designing subscription boxes takes a specific set of skills. <\/span> Some general guidelines for custom packaging design are:<\/span><\/p>\n Your <\/span>target audience<\/span><\/a> is the crucial element that should point you in the right designing direction. If your perfect customer is a child (parents, to be exact), then focus on a brightly colored, cheerful and educational style for your subscription boxes. If you\u2019re shipping male-oriented products, probably it would be good to focus on darker, more masculine and testosterone-driven design. Whatever you do, you do it for your subscribers and their enjoyment – make a small note with this quote and carry it around with you all the time. You\u2019re welcome.<\/span> Your design is ready, it looks so wonderful that your heart is racing and you can\u2019t wait to make your subscribers sigh in awe when they see it! But wait, what is the best way to transfer that goodness onto the box itself? What kind of printing methods there are? Do you need to draw the design on each and every box (hopefully not)?<\/span><\/p>\n There are three main printing methods you can use for custom packaging:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>So, we went above and beyond to discover the best ways practices for custom packaging, covering topics such as: <\/span>
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\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n1. Basics of custom packaging<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span>This is where the custom packaging comes to save the day (maybe not for your pajama date, but for your business!) It turns the dull, boring and plain into intriguing, fun and most importantly, promotional. Also, <\/span>custom packaging with your particular design<\/span><\/a> and messaging printed on it instils confidence in a company\u2019s brand and gives it a more professional look. Luckily, there are different ways in which you could improve the entire experience of your excited subscribers.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Salt](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/clem-onojeghuo-97640-300x200.jpg\")
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![\"Mail](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/package-1850785_640-200x300.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>As you can see, there are many different options available for you. Be creative and explore various shapes, colors and visual messages for your boxes, but remember to keep it smart and invest wisely (we\u2019ll cover this segment onwards, as it is crucial for your subscription business).<\/span><\/p>\n2. When should you invest in custom packaging<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span>Is this the good moment for me to invest in custom design or should I do it later on? Do I have enough money, time and resources to do it right<\/span><\/i>?<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Indecisive\"](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/giphy-1-2.jpg\" "\\"Indecisive\\"")
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\n<\/span>But, how can you keep the things simple and still avoid sending out the monotonous, plain boxes?<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/play-1144348_640-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Different types of colors\/materials for your box design<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"Multiple](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/samuel-zeller-118195-300x200.jpg\")
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![\"Blue](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/gift-548290_640-300x200.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>In the following chapters, we will also cover some hacks and tricks on pricing and saving, so stay tuned and maybe you\u2019ll find the way to make your boxes irresistibly pretty without emptying the pockets.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Choosing the right box size<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span>The common advice is to choose <\/span>the smallest possible package<\/span><\/a> for your products – if you know the exact quantity, weight and dimensions of the products, of course. This way, you are improving the preservation of your packed wonders (less tumbling, bumping and damage), but also, saving the precious $\u2019s on the packaging material and shipping. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"Dog-In-The-Box\"](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/dog-660505_640-300x213.jpg\")
\n<\/span>To make it easier, there are a few questions for you to ask before deciding on the size of the box:<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"Box](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/shawnee-wilborn-54431-300x200.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>If your package weighs less than 16 ounces, it could classify at First Class mail, and keep in mind that this leads to better shipping rates. Remember, just a few inches can make a difference in the cubic size, which can dramatically influence the final shipping bill. Play it smart, Pedro – and if that is not your name, either way, play it smart.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n5. Creating a distinctive brand<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Packaging](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/danbo-2050788_640-300x133.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Applause\"](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/giphy-10.jpg\" "\\"Applause\\"")
<\/p>\n6. Design for subscription boxes<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/danbo-1206480_640-300x225.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>As an example, one should avoid small fonts, take into account that the choice of colors and call to action placement is extremely important and always remember to consult with your manufacturer along the way, as the design may change when the actual boxes are produced.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Organized](\"https:\/\/www.subbly.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/arts-and-crafts-1846308_640-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Printing options – pros and cons<\/span>
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