We all love that feeling we get when a package arrives on our doorstep! The anticipation of unwrapping an online purchase is so widespread in the age of eCommerce that it even has a name: Unboxing. This timeless ritual is linked with birthdays, Christmases and other happy milestones involving gift-giving. As a result, it’s universally understood regardless of age, culture or gender.
A great unboxing experience shows that your brand offers a high standard of customer service. When brands put effort into how they display their products, the experience feels special and exclusive. This makes your brand far more memorable, and increases the odds of a customer returning to shop with you again!
Unboxing and branding are two sides of the same coin. For an unboxing to establish brand recognition, it needs to represent the essence of your brand. For this reason, custom-branded packaging plays a central role within any great unboxing experience. It’s a powerful marketing asset which makes your brand the centerpiece of the whole ritual.
By incorporating the following elements into your order fulfillment process, you can deliver a memorable unboxing experience that secures the long-term loyalty of your customers, one order at a time!
The box (or container)
Although we tend to focus on the ‘box’ in the unboxing experience, it’s really a figure of speech. You can still deliver a lasting positive impression on delivery without it! Unboxings are less about what container you use for shipping, and more to do with how you use it to display your products.
If you consider the average unboxing video, the focus isn’t really on the exterior of the box. It’s on how the products are packaged inside!
Investing in custom printed boxes might work for businesses with larger average order sizes. But they often don’t fit the needs of smaller retailers. If you sell smaller goods or usually handle smaller order sizes, boxes might be more of a hindrance than a help. They are a relatively expensive item, and often need to be paired with some kind of packaging filler, which creates another extra expense.
Fashion brand Betty Lane use an alternative method to channel the unboxing trend into their online orders. By combining compostable mailers with branded, colored tissue paper and a thank-you note, they can still deliver a memorable delivery experience without the use of a box!
A compelling gift bag and tissue combo by Sockshop Haight Street
For brick and mortar retailers, boxes are unlikely to factor in at the point of sale. But you can still create a memorable unboxing experience at the checkout! Pairing tasteful gift bags with some customized tissue paper shows great customer service – and your customer still gets the experience of ‘unboxing’ it when they get home!
This brings us to:
Customized tissue paper
Custom printed tissue paper is by far the most versatile packaging element for businesses to invest in for their unboxing experience. It can be used in a variety of different ways, from lining the inside of your box to wrapping your products. Custom tissue paper printing is also a lot more affordable in comparison to larger custom packaging elements like boxes because MOQs are much lower.
Your packaging design is one of the best places to show off your brand’s personality. When designing your custom tissue paper, it’s important to think about what theme you are trying to channel in your unboxing. For example, a brightly colored tissue paper design is great for adding a bold and playful vibe. On the other hand, choosing a translucent or white tissue creates a more delicate and high-end feel.
A cheerful colored tissue paper design by Ragonia Art.
Calligrapher Alya Pena chooses a branded white tissue to wrap her stationery.
Because customized tissue paper has a big surface area, it’s a great place to bring in your larger branding elements. Brand names, motifs, and social media handles can take pride of place to build brand recognition as your customer unboxes their order. This is the one time you are guaranteed to have their full attention – so make the most of the opportunity it offers!
Free samples
We all love getting some value-added extras with our purchase! It’s a simple strategy which is guaranteed to make customers look more favorably upon your brand. It’s also a great way to showcase upcoming collections or products! To really personalize your efforts, check out the order history of your long-time customers. Including samples based on their preferences will really make your brand stand out!
Don’t forget to say thank you!
Unboxings are a great piece of visual storytelling. But adding in a thank you note will really take your unboxing up a notch! By drawing attention to the bespoke nature of an unboxing, you can create a much more personal connection between your brand and your customers. It also shows off the tangible benefits of supporting small businesses – your customers get to receive a labor of love assembled by the person behind the brand, rather than off an assembly line!
Adding some customized tissue paper or a free sample to your packages might seem like small touches. But they speak volumes about your brand. The unboxing experience is more than just attractive packaging; it’s a clever post-purchase marketing strategy. Why? Because it leaves your customers with a lasting impression. This makes your unboxing experience a long-term strategy to drive brand loyalty and awareness.