What Defines "Retail" Packaging

Retail packaging differs from shipping packaging before we make any recommendations.

The primary function of retail packaging is presentation. The retail box needs to instantly communicate the client`s branding. It needs to endure constant handling during browsing of the shelf. It typically needs to look great from all angles that will be visible. It may sit on the counter. It may be part of a point-of-sale display. It may be part of boutique shelving where the item is picked up before purchase. While shipping boxes are meant to endure transit and protect against impact. They get opened only once by the client who ordered it. Purely custom packaging tend to look out of place on retail shelves. Purely presentable retail boxes aren`t sturdy enough for shipping.

The majority of our retail boxes are designed specifically for one of these environments: open retail shelving or checkout counters or point-of-sale display cases or boutique specialty stores.

Selecting a Retail Packaging Format

It depends upon weight and fragility, price point and shelf behavior of the product whether we have to select a folding carton or rigid box or window box. Folding cartons is our most asked format. 

Folding Cartons 

They ship in flat form. They remain light and cost-effective in mass production. These are recommended for lighter products such as cosmetics, supplements, food items, and electronics accessories. Flat panel format offers our printing team ample space to print full-color designs.

Rigid Boxes

We manufacture it whenever there is a requirement to give the premium feeling at the time of picking up the product. Fragrances, Jewelry, gift tier electronics require premium rigid boxes. We use them whenever we want to create extra production cost because weight and structure become a part of the unboxing experience. We see these most in gifting or luxury retail.

Window Boxes 

The window in die-cut or acetate form is created in the front or top panel of the box in the window box. The product becomes visible from the box without opening. We recommend them when a product is eye-catching and sells on sight basis. Bakeries items, toys, colored or textured

Gable Boxes use a handle made using the construction of the box itself. These boxes are manufactured for items meant to be taken away by customers from stores without being put into bags.

Sleeve Boxes use two-piece exterior sleeve construction combined with an interior tray. There is a natural reveal when these boxes are opened. These boxes are used for items intended to be presented as gifts or positioned in premium packaging.

Die-Cut Boxes use custom cavity or panel construction to position the product within the box. Die-cut boxes are suitable for irregularly shaped products or products that require visual organization within the box. Multi-piece tool sets would fit here.

Display Boxes including counter and shelf ready Retail displays boxes contain multiple units and serve as a retail fixture as well. The shipping box becomes the retail item after the removal of packing.

Mailer Boxes can be used if our client offers the same item in both retail outlets and through direct-to-consumer channels. These boxes withstand transportation well and look good even if a consumer gets a box delivered to his address.

Material Selection: Matching Board to Product

Kraft :  This conveys an artistic sense. This conveys an ecological sensibility. It is a common choice when working with food and cosmetic products that wish to project an eco-friendly message. It prints well with spot colors and one-tone logos. This would not be our choice for an artwork that relies on full-color photography.

cardboard and paperboard: Our folding cartons are made with cardboard and paperboard. This creates a smooth surface. It provides a highly accurate print finish. It can be folded and glued into accurate shapes. This is the most common choice of board for our brand retail cartons where print accuracy takes precedence over sturdiness.

corrugated box: The corrugated box also uses an extra fluted middle layer that will add more rigidity and padding. This is why the corrugated box becomes standard when it comes to shipping. When it comes to retail, the rigid board will be used primarily for display boxes or larger and heavier items.

 rigid board : The rigid board remains rigid and non-foldable and it will have printed paper wrapping around it. The rigid board will be used in cases when the box itself will become part of the perceived value of the product. Jewelry, perfume, and premium electronics will get a lot of benefits from this material.

The core question our clients will face is whether the particular product needs to have a premium feel to it or whether it should be clean and branded. Corrugated and rigid boards tend to favor the former, while paperboard and kraft the latter.

Print & Finish as Design Choices

Print & Finish is viewed as a design choice that is related to product positioning rather than an additional component which we apply just because it is possible to do so.

The use of CMYK/Full-Color Printing serves as a base for our branded packaging products. The images of a product as well as the gradient and multi-color designs all go through this print option.

The Pantone/spot printing gives you the exact brand color. It is used when the logo color should match precisely among all SKUs of a product line instead of using an approximate CMYK printing.

Spot UV provides a glossy raised coating of particular design components such as logo or pattern and creates contrast on matte surface. It is used in order to create visual attention to the detail of the box without affecting its overall finish.

Foil Stamping places a metallic foil on the board and is associated with the luxurious/gift tier packaging where gold, silver and copper foils are the most popular options.

The embossing and debossing techniques involve pressing design elements into the board. The techniques offer a tactile effect that works best on stiff or thick paperboard. There has been an increased demand for this finishing technique when designing high-end cosmetic products and gift packages.

The matte lamination technique results in a non-shiny and non-glossy finish. This technique works best for minimalistic and natural branding.

The gloss lamination technique involves the reflection of light. The technique results in a bright effect that can be achieved through color. We mostly use the technique when designing products that require shelf appeal due to their colors.

The soft-touch lamination technique provides a velvety touch. We mostly use the technique when dealing with personal care products and gift boxes.

Retail Packaging of Various Products

Different combinations of structure and finish are created by us based on the product categories that our clients offer.

• Cosmetics use either folding cartons or rigid cartons with logo printing using spot UV or foil effects. These products also complement our Custom Tissue Boxes very well when packaged within a set of multiple products.

• Clothing brands usually go for either rigid or sleeve boxes for expensive products while folding cartons are used for their accessories. They prefer to use interior printing rather than exterior decorations on these products.

• Structural features such as being child-resistant or tamper-proof will always be required for CBD packaging products along with regular branding and compliance label design as part of the packaging design.

• Food manufacturers tend to rely more on kraft or coated paperboards with safe finishes for food contact and windows to showcase the products. The gable or tuck structures work perfectly well for convenient takeaway. Our Custom Retail Tuck Boxes are suitable for them.

• For electronics retailers, die-cut inserts will help keep the product components in place together with an exterior print that is minimalist.

• Personal care packaging uses a combination of folding cartons with soft touch finishes that convey luxury while still being practical.

• Specialty retail products will make more use of sleeve box packaging styles and rigid packaging along with our Retail Display Boxes because image and experience matter more than unit price.

Custom Packaging provides coverage across the larger packaging style requirements for those customers dealing with more than one style.

What We Can Really Customize

Customization isn`t just about putting your logo on the box. We customize:

• Dimensions of the box and its shape to match the product and avoid extra space inside

• Type of closure, tuck-end, magnetic, sleeve or gable handle

• Interior design options such as inserts, dividers and compartments for multi-part products

• Cutouts to show the product inside

• Printing both interior and exterior of the box because branding is not limited to the exterior

• Color customization of the entire product line

• Information panels with the product data and barcode

Each of those choices impacts costs per unit and production time. We advise our clients on which customizations will make the difference and which should remain optional.

Shelf Presence and Customer Experience

There are downstream consequences in packaging decisions for retail situations. Having consistent sizes and branding on SKUs makes it easy for customers to identify brands on the shelves. Making sure that different variants of the product can be easily differentiated by using a color scheme and label reduces the risk of picking the wrong product. A window or a die cut helps answer the question, “What is this,” without making a customer open the box. That is especially true in high traffic retail situations. Where the box itself is reused after the unboxing, the process becomes a part of the product experience.

None of these take the place of product quality. They do influence how fast a product will be noticed and picked up.

Wholesale Orders and Ordering for Multi-SKU Lines

Clients ordering at a large scale address a distinct challenge from the client placing an order for a single product. Our company assists clients in coordinating their packaging across multiple SKUs as part of repeatable production cycles and storing their finished boxes.

Some things to consider when ordering custom retail packaging wholesale:

• Consistency between SKUs: it is recommended to use the same design and material for the whole product line, despite the variation in the print design of each SKU.

• Planning of quantity:  a larger run decreases the cost per unit but takes more storage upfront. Multiple runs decrease the cost per unit but increase inventory carrying costs.

• Selection of materials at scale: sometimes the material that would work for one product is not the most convenient solution for the whole product line because of the specific requirements of some SKUs.

• Production planning: wholesale runs require more time to be ordered in advance due to the fact that press runs are scheduled on the full quantity of boxes.

It turned out that custom retail packaging works best if our team selects the structure and the material at the product

What Determines Pricing

The pricing of custom retail packaging is dependent on several parameters for each order individually.

• Size of the box and its structural complexity since a die-cut window or multiple panels of folding would increase production processes that cannot be found in the case of an average box

• Material used since rigid board and corrugated material are more expensive than paperboard

• Number of items in an order since the price of each individual unit usually reduces with increase of the total order quantity because of fixed costs which are allocated among many units

• Printing process and color scheme since printing in full panels and full colors is more expensive than spot colors

• Finishing operations since foil stamping, embossing, and spot UV each require their own production process

• Window and inserts since they require extra die-cuts and assembling

The more details provided by our team at the very beginning of the conversation, the more precise quotes can be generated.

The Process of Placing Order With Us

• Provide product specifications:  measurements, weight, and product presentation

• Choose a structure and material: according to product characteristics and fragility

• Artwork and branding: provide logo files and the color scheme as well as print needs for inside and outside

• Check the design proof: we review the design, die lines, and colors before manufacturing process starts

• Approve for manufacture: once you approve it, we lock specifications and quantity

• Manufacturing:  our team produces and assembles the box according to the approved specification

• Delivery: we deliver the final packaging to your destination

All subsequent stages depend on the previous ones. This is why we ask clients to provide us with product specifications and artwork at an earlier stage.

Reasons To Work With Flick pack

We collaborate directly with retail buyers to align the structure and material of the box to the physical item, instead of forcing one standard package onto all orders. We begin by having a discussion regarding the dimensions of the product and its display needs along with the requirements that the brand may have for the packaging before even suggesting a particular type of structure or material. For any concerns with regard to capabilities or certifications or sourcing, we can take you through the details related to your particular order.

Ready to receive a quote? Make sure to have dimensions of the product and box style preference along with material preference ready before contacting us. This will help us provide an order-specific quote.