December is only a few short months away, which means the demand for goods will only grow for retailers. This in turn increases the demand for high quality and memorable Christmas packaging, so planning ahead is non-negotiable for businesses that want to remain front-of-mind well into the New Year.
Corrugated packaging solutions vary greatly at this time of the year. From adding a festive flourish to an existing e-commerce product box, to bespoke Christmas gift boxes for food and beverage items, requirements change on a brand-by-brand and product-by-product basis.
Our customers regularly encounter seasonal fluctuations in packaging demand, so we’re experienced at working closely with them on an annual basis to manage those levels and make sure both they, and their customers, never go without at the critical moment.
In this article we’ll be sharing our advice for successfully planning your Christmas packaging to ensure you are thoroughly prepared for the festive season.
From accurately forecasting and safeguarding stock levels, to perfecting your corrugated packaging designs while considering product protection, our 170 years of knowledge is at your disposal to make sure your customers receive their goods on time, in packaging you’re proud of, and to the standard you expect.
You know your business, so you should know the pinch points throughout the year where demand is high and product and packaging levels have the greatest risk of dropping.
With this valuable data at your fingertips, you have the ammunition you need to plan ahead and make sure you’re prepared for an influx of Christmas orders.
As part of our commitment to truly understanding each and every one of our customers, we take the time needed to learn about their supply chains, production capabilities, stock levels and seasonality demands. This allows us to work together to plan packaging production and delivery schedules in advance and make sure stocks never run dry.
Our stock and serve model is a popular option for this very reason. It allows us to store surplus packaging on our customer’s behalf and deliver it on a just-in-time basis. This saves them valuable space to invest in manufacturing and production, with the peace of mind that they will never run out of corrugated packaging. Think of it like Santa delivering the toys on Christmas Eve, we’ll never let you down.
Packaging comes in many forms, from Christmas gift boxes, to postal, transit and product packaging, all with a festive twist. Whatever the purpose, customers increasingly expect the products they receive to be lovingly packaged with the season of giving in mind.
Perfecting the design is the first important step. Corrugated packaging has the advantage over alternative material options because it can be designed bespoke to specific product dimensions.
Our packaging designers bring decades of collective experience so no matter the challenge, we will work with you to design the perfect solution, while making sure your brand and its messaging remain front and centre.
Once the design is agreed, much will depend on the print processes employed, but you can always achieve a magical end result with corrugated packaging.
Flexographic printing is perfect for cost-effective, large production runs with shorter lead times, while digital printing is better suited to short print runs with a focus on quality and customisation. Further options include Lithographic Lamination and High Quality Post Print depending on your needs, and you can find out about the full range of print processes in our dedicated article.
The key to selecting the right print process is to choose a method that brings your vision to life and makes the experience as memorable as possible for the consumer, while achieving a finish that is realistic for your business from a time, budget and expectation perspective.
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for shipping, from Royal Mail and courier deliveries, to the global transportation of goods.
Transporting products comes with the inevitable risk of damage, and at Christmas that risk heightens with added pressure on couriers to make more drops in the same amount of time. We therefore recommend that as part of the packaging design process, you consider how your products can best be protected to reduce breakages.
Protective measures depend entirely on the product. The options are wide ranging, including inserts to separate delicate bottles and fragile goods, air spaces built into the inner wall of a box, and environmentally friendly box fillers such as hex wrap for an additional cushion layer.
Our responsibility to you, is to design the packaging around the product, rather than the other way around. This approach prioritises protection and helps you to minimise costly returns which are frustrating for you and your customers. Returns break trust and put possible future repeat orders at risk
Enhancing the customer experience is at the heart of effective packaging design, and advancements in design and production capabilities have raised expectations.
Consumers expect packaging that feels unique to them and builds a connection to a brand, and businesses now have a wealth of opportunities to make packaging truly bespoke, so there’s no excuse for a design that screams “bah humbug”.
One strategy often employed by brands is to manufacture limited edition packaging for Christmas, whether that’s unique gift boxes or memorable die-cut packaging. With sufficient thought, limited edition corrugated packaging will become a keepsake, something consumers will want to reuse at home for display or storage purposes. This is perfect for the brand because their name remains front-of-mind for potential repeat purchases. It also adds value for the consumer because not only do they receive a product or gift they love, but they also receive a box they love just as much.
Personalisation is another proven method for enhancing the customer experience, and digital print has made the personal approach more accessible without the high price tag. This could be printing a recipient’s name on the box with a special festive message, or including personalised offer codes to use in the New Year sales. Christmas gifting is one of the few opportunities for brands to really go to town and make their customers feel truly special.
It’s not worth suffering in silence and hoping everything comes together. One quick conversation is all it takes to bring clarity to your corrugated packaging needs and make sure your business is prepared for the festive rush.
Whether you need help with inventory management, design, storage, or all of the above, our corrugated packaging specialists are here to help in the run up to Christmas.
Speak to our packaging designers today to discuss your next project.
