Small businesses face their fair share of unique challenges. After all, how do you compete with large companies, bigger budgets, and greater brand presences? The answer is simple: You look for creative ways to attract and delight customers.
Enter custom packaging.
If you’re a small business owner or manager, you may feel that custom mailers and shipping boxes are out of reach due to large minimum order quantities, which can be costly and potentially leave you with stacks of unused mailers. But custom packaging is much more than an expense—it’s an investment in building your brand presence, which is an essential factor in growing your business and boosting your bottom line (and with DIYPack, you can order in quantities as low as one box!).
Read on for a roundup of five ways custom packaging can help your small business stand out in today’s competitive business landscape.
1. Differentiate Your Packages From Standard Mailers
When we say custom packaging will help your small business stand out, we don’t just mean figuratively. When you upgrade to custom packaging, you’re ensuring that your mailers will literally stand out in a crowd.
This isn't just a one-time payoff, either. Your custom packaging may come into contact with people at various touchpoints on its journey. Whether spotted on the street or used again later, the brand exposure associated with custom packages is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
2. Create an Upscale Feel
Your brand is your promise to your customers, and the products and services you offer are just one part of the equation. Many other elements go into creating an appealing brand experience for your customers, including packaging. Elegant customized packaging is a visible demonstration of your brand. If you want to make an upscale and unforgettable impression, custom packaging is the way to go.
But upscale is far from the only adjective you can promote with custom packaging. From charming and whimsical to elegant and refined, there are near endless ways to design custom packaging that is an expression of your business and brand.
3. Create a Personalized Touch
In our customer-centric world, the power of personalization cannot be overstated, as evidenced by the following statistics:
• 90 percent of consumers say marketing personalization is “very or somewhat” appealing to them
• 80 percent of consumers say they’re more likely to buy from brands that use personalization
• 80 percent of shoppers say they ONLY support brands that use personalization
• 71 percent of consumers are frustrated by impersonal shopping experiences
• 63 percent of consumers will stop buying from brands with poor personalization strategies
• 36 percent of consumers think retailers should be doing more to personalize the shopping experience
Given this data, it’s hardly surprising that a staggering 98 percent of marketers say personalization enhances customer relationships.
The takeaway? If you want to create or strengthen your relationships with your customers, custom, personalized packaging can help.
4. Facilitate Brand Recognition
When customers are choosing between two brands, they’re much more likely to choose the one that they’re familiar with. Building brand awareness and recognition familiarizes consumers with your brand.
This is especially important in eCommerce for small businesses because it’s one of the best ways to build brand value—the value that comes not just from your products and services but from the consumer perception of your brand.
When it comes to leveling the playing field for small businesses taking on behemoths, brand equity is the key—and custom packaging for subscription boxes and more can be an invaluable secret weapon.
5. Get More Shares on Social
Receiving a branded package is a special experience. We can all recognize the extra-special feeling of anticipation and excitement that comes with opening a beautifully packaged gift. It’s this same feeling that makes recipients snap a photo to post on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. Unboxing experiences are having a major moment, especially with the rise of TikTok, and custom packaging is an excellent way to amplify their impact.
You can also use your own social media pages to generate excitement for your products and packaging. This is another way your packaging does double-duty as a marketing tool.
6. Custom Boxes Are Available in Lower Quantities
Every penny counts in your small business and the idea of custom packaging can sound like a major investment in materials and printing and a designer—but designing custom packaging can even be done by teams of one with the right partner.
With DIYPack, you can design a box in our online studio and run small print orders—including just one box! You don’t have to invest in thousands of boxes to meet a minimum order quantity if you’re worried about unused boxes sitting around in your office. Order in quantities from one to one thousand to get just what you need, reducing waste.
No worries if you’re not a designer: check out our design resources or start with a customizable template to create a professional-looking and beautiful box.
Get started with our simple 3-step process and invest in the brand experience your customers come back for over and over.
