An Ultimate Guide for Seasonal Packaging in the US
There are two main categories that business entities have to remain mindful of when opting for seasonal packaging. These categories include summer stock and winter stock. Yes, pre-fall and spring are equally essential, but they are brief periods. Other than these seasons, Americans celebrate different events, holidays, and festivals; when gifts are exchanged, people seek products that can reflect their feelings. These occasions provide the key to successful packaging. Brands try to sell their products by associating and highlighting them according to seasons and events. This article will explore the best options for popular products that trend during various events. It will also discuss the approach business entities can implement to tap into new shoppers, improve sales and sustain the existing customers.
Seasonal packaging makes a strong impact by adding logic to the product, its usage, and packaging concept. This packaging promotes and advertises the product without an endorser and lures the shoppers to check out what’s inside.
Seasonal Packaging Usage
Brands must conduct proper research to figure out the timeline when the sale of a particular product swells. Information based on data is collected and evaluated to understand the buying behavior and pattern of the customers around holidays, festivals, and switch of seasons. They must ask important questions like;
- Do the customers opt for gift wrapping?
- Are customers okay with paying more for pre-packed items?
- Do customers prefer to make their gift baskets?
- Are customers looking for multiple items in one retail box?
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These questions will help the companies find clues to what might work for them. Once that is determined, various events from the timeline get identified that mark the launch of seasonal packaging accordingly. For example, a business company might choose the top-three selling items for their Christmas edition, and other companies might promote individual items for Mother’s Day. Lastly, know when your products work the best. After all, glow-in-the-dark throws will work for fall events and not summer.
Devising Strategy for Occasions
In this phase, the business companies list their needs in terms of packaging and the goals they tend to achieve. The sooner this list is concluded, the better it is for businesses to start searching for seasoned packaging companies that can help them. These companies must communicate all packaging needs with goals and budget restrictions. It is the responsibility of the packaging companies to offer optimized and budget-friendly options to their clients to ensure their success. Companies must realize that process will take a few months and do not start at the last hour. Planning for the fall season and its events must begin in early spring to have at least six months to conclude with the best results after testing the samples. When ordering, the clients must also remember that delays can occur because of shipping during peak season.
Even if the orders reach the business entities in time, they will still need another one to two months to package their items and stock the brick and mortar retail. All timelines are concluded after considering the time required for;
- Finalizing the custom packaging material, layout, and design details
- Approve prototypes and samples
- Conclusion of actual box crafting and printing
- Shipping
- Packaging products
- Shipping and stocking products to selling platforms
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Tips for Seasonal Packaging of Products
1. Opting for a Long-Lasting Copy
One thing that can extend the product’s shelf life is the language printed on these boxes. Innovative companies use inclusive language and refrain from using event-based copy. Instead of the Christmas edition, opt for the special edition. Instead of making themes around dry skin, focus the theme around ‘hydration’ so that it can be used around the year by people who feel the need to moisturize their skin.
2. Select Easy Layouts
It is essential to realize that the customers want to access the products they have bought at the end of the day. Selecting complicated layouts just for the sake of attraction never provides successful packaging. Attractive but difficult opening and closing mechanisms will not help them lure customers. Instead, compact packaging that is easy to carry around will be preferred. Adding handles or selecting layouts like gable boxes will make the packaging portable. The correct size of the packaging boxes will also spare the companies from spending on void fillers bringing down the cost in multiple ways.
3. Niche Packaging
Event-based luxurious packaging is offered on premium products but with limited stock. Such an approach will help strengthen customer loyalty and act as a reminder for the recipients for a long time.
4. Reinventing Products
Seasonal packaging offers a platform for business entities to relaunch or reinvent their variants. Clients can develop entire campaigns around the theme of the products. The existing packaging can also be made more secure using options like a custom printed sleeve or selecting different cardboard. A simple addition of ribbon can uplift the look of retail boxes easily.
Let us read about trending seasonal packaging options round most celebrated in the US.
Trendy Seasonal Cardboard Packaging Ideas for Gifts
1. Christmas
There is much excitement about Christmas day in America. It is the day when people exchange gifts with their loved ones, friends, and acquaintances. Other than traditional gift items, people exchange gifts which include;
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a) Toys
Every household with kids knows the drill of getting toys for Christmas. Children wait impatiently for Santa to deliver their wish list, and smart toy companies often focus their retail packaging around this concept. The Christmas special edition toy packaging includes festive colors like; red, blue, silver and gold, etc. Most cardboard packaging consists of a full-color image of Santa with his reindeers on the custom toy boxes placed on the shelves, which are at kids’ eye level.
b) Pillow Boxes for Apparel
Adults often exchange apparel items like; scarves, mufflers, sweaters, etc., which brands can order in pillow boxes customized according to the size of the apparel items. Even if composed from Kraft material, the embossed and foil-stamped branding elements with Christmas themes give them a festive look that customers find irresistible.
c) Sleeve and Tray Boxes for Noise-Canceling Headphones
Items like these are given a festive and luxurious look by opting for the sleeve and tray boxes. The tray or the base of the box include specially engineered trays according to the product dimensions to keep it safe in between use. A Christmas theme-related element is added to the design using spot colors that makes the packaging event appropriate.
2. Valentine’s Day
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a) Two-Piece Cardboard Boxes for Chocolates
Trendy shapes like heart, oval, round, envelope (rectangle) with wings, etc., are available for the customers today. These boxes require intricate detailing and superior printing services to bring to life retail boxes for chocolates that customers find irresistible.
b) Full-Color Tuck End Boxes for Reed Diffusers
Products that help add romance to the environment are widespread around this time, including reed diffusers to add fragrance to rooms. The Valentine edition of this product can include images of roses or doddles of hearts and cupid to make them memorable.
c) Custom Printed Sleeve and Tray Boxes for Macarons
There is no better option for macron packaging than sleeve and tray boxes to line them up elegantly. Add to this packaging a personalized note according to the event and see how popular it becomes. The brands can even add a removable custom print sleeve with a heart-shaped locking mechanism for a romantic appeal.
d) Heart-Shaped Kraft Boxes for Bath Bombs
Most bath bombs are handmade and organic; therefore, using heart-shaped boxes made from Kraft cardboard seems a good idea. Separators and fences from recyclable material are added to the box bottom to restrict the movement of these bath bombs that look divine in their window-patched lids.
e) Magnetic Closure Boxes for Men’s Shaving Kits
Grooming kits are fast becoming a popular choice as Valentine's gifts. Opt for dark and rich tones like navy blue and Black to package that high-end shaving kit. Use extravagant add-ons like hot stamping to highlight the brand name to muted UV-coated boxes that look mesmerizing.
3. Halloween
a) Window Patching Cardboard Packaging for Board Games
Toys with spooky themes are popular among adults and kids as they allow them to sit together and spend quality time. The window patching on puzzle boxes lets the customers glance at the colorful themes and storyboard inside. Clients can also pack other toys like Halloween-themed Jenga the same way.
b) Printed Corrugated Boxes for Glow in the Dark Throws
The retail boxes for these fun blankets can be customized with the branding elements in full color and images with product details so that customers don’t miss anything. All instructions regarding storage and washing can easily be printed on them using various printing technologies.
c) Custom Neck Boxes for Halloween-Shaped Candles
Americans love using candles with their Halloween themes for home décor. Candles are designed as skulls, ghosts, spiders, and countless other shapes representing the event. The special candles for the occasion, which are high-end, can be packaged in printed neck boxes with appropriate internal inserts to store for later use.
d) Tuck Boxes for Pumpkin-Spiced Tea
Brands providing flavored tea can highlight their flavor variants that go with the Halloween themes and customize their packaging accordingly. Flavors like pumpkin spice, hibiscus (because of its red color), and many more experience a surge during this event.
4. Easter
a) Drawer Boxes for Bunny-Themed Jewelry
Girls love wearing cute bunny earrings and necklaces around this time. The jewelry brands can emphasize their related products by opting for full-color Easter-themed designs and themes. These printed themes will highlight the products on the shelves of retailers. The product window patching option can also be used in the layout for a secure product display and storage.
b) Magnetic Flap Boxes for Easter Ties
Ties with Easter bunnies or other symbols representing the occasion have become popular and ideal for gifting colleagues, friends, and family members. Brands offering high-quality ties in Easter themes opt for magnetic flap boxes with custom-shaped windows where the tie’s pattern is visible.
5. Mother’s Day
a) Gable Boxes for Candles
Mother’s Day is a one-day event, and therefore, many companies do not have the budget to invest in expensive luxury packaging. But it does mean they cannot opt for mesmerizing retail packaging that is at par with the renowned brands. Using the cardboard gable boxes for hand-carved and other premium candles, brands can still offer exciting gift products for their customers on this day.
b) Inside Printed Cardboard Boxes for Night Regime Beauty Care Kit
Use the brand name in gold foil stamping on the cardboard boxes and keep all the printed drama inside. Add attractive themes in dark printing mode on the inner box with instructions about using each product in the care kit. We promise your customers will be blown away with this creative styling in retail packaging.
c) Tray Sleeves with Window Patching for Salt and Pepper Shakers
Order tray and sleeve boxes for kitchen utensils and other items prone to breakage as their double-wall protection will keep them safe. The space on the boxes is enough to print image-based themes and provide additional product information. Moreover, clients will get extra flaps and areas for branding these boxes better.
6. Father’s Day
a) Collapsible Magnetic Boxes for Filter Computer Glasses
Let individuals select thoughtful gifts for their fathers, which they will love and benefit from. Wrap your blue light filter glasses are meticulously crafted magnetic boxes that are easy to open and close. They also provide an ideal storing tool when these glasses are not used. Make sure to add a personalized note card according to the event.
b) Lid-off Boxes for Perfumes
Clients can customize these two-piece boxes in several ways to make them perfect for perfume packaging. Customize this packaging according to the event with custom printed sleeves in contrasting colors. It will highlight the product and add more security to the lid-off box.
There are various other festivals and events celebrated in the US. The readers can draw inspiration from this article to package their products using cardboard custom boxes and offer exciting packages for their target demographic. Do not forget to go through the tips and planning section to learn cohesive approaches.
