The Best Packaging Design Tips for Small Businesses

Packaging design for small businesses is a powerful tool to help consumers remember the brand and encourage repeat business. Research has shown that nearly as many consumers (10%) consider a product’s packaging almost as crucial as the brand itself (12%).

The first 7 seconds when customers interact with the product are crucial for a brand. The logo, packaging design, types of packaging and packaging materials all impress the customers. Once the impression is formed, it is then difficult to change. 

Whether you are a small, medium or large business, product packaging design is vital in establishing brand identity. However, it becomes more critical for small businesses as it helps them increase customer awareness and builds brand loyalty. 

In 2021, retail e-commerce sales amounted to approximately 5.2 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide. This figure is expected to grow by 56% over the following years, reaching about 8.1 trillion dollars by 2026.

With this figure in mind, small businesses should make a deliberate effort to improve their packaging. Creative product packaging with functionality gives customers a seamless unboxing experience and keeps the product safe. 

Remaining consistent in your packaging is the key to success. It helps in making a customer aware of your product or service. Moreover, delivering a personalized experience turns customers into brand loyalists as they admire the branded experience. 

Today we have compiled a list of creative product packaging design tips so you can provide an exceptional customer experience. With our tips for impressive packaging solutions, you can increase your customer reach and leave a lasting impression.  

Table of Contents 

1. Why is product packaging important for small businesses?

Builds brand recognition
Helps you create touchpoints
Gives repeat business
Provides protection

2. Effective Packaging Tips for Small Businesses

Know your packaging needs
Relevant packaging
Custom packaging
Right packaging materials
Product safety
Focus on the customers
Creative packaging style

3. 8 Creative Small Businesses Packaging Ideas

Custom corrugated shipper boxes
Layered look
Custom stickers
Gift bags
Thank you notes
Adding how-to cards
Samples and freebies
Wrapping materials

4. Conclusion

5. FAQs

How can small businesses enhance brand identification via custom packaging?
How do you improve your product packaging design?
Why is custom packaging important for small business owners?

Why is product packaging important for small businesses?

Packaging for small business owners is more than just a layer of protection. Product packaging is a great marketing tool that helps startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses promote brand recognition. 

As it supports branding, highlights the product's best features. It also builds customer’s expectations. Moreover, it is a great way to provide a smooth unboxing experience to your customers. 

In a sea of products competing with your brand in the market, creative packaging is a way that sets your business apart. You might have an impressive marketing strategy, but hundreds of brands out there might be maneuvering along the same lines. 

With small business packaging ideas, you can have an edge over your competitors that helps you establish brand identity. Thanks to custom packaging, businesses can use simple kraft papers and cardboard boxes to impress their customers.  

Here is how small business packaging ideas can benefit your business: 

Builds brand recognition 

A product's packaging plays the role of a salesman that does all the talking and tells potential customers more about your brand. On average, online sellers/businesses that pay due attention to their packaging report a 30% increase in consumer interest.

With personal recommendations and referrals, customers can become your brand advocate, which is one of the benefits of impressive design ideas. 

Helps you create touchpoints 

Packaging is significant in the e-commerce industry as it helps establish brand loyalty and increase customer awareness. With creative design ideas, you can catch the attention of your consumers and build loyalty. 

Any elements of product packaging, like product packaging, fonts, label design, brand design, etc., can impress customers. Small business owners are yet to understand the importance of design ideas, but those who do are already acing their packaging game.  

Once your customers find the brand design attractive, they will see you through a different lens. They will go home knowing they found the best product to solve their problem. 

Gives repeat business

Every business wants its customers to return for repeat business. With an impressive product packaging design, you can attract customers. 

How? 

With high-quality packaging materials and impressive packaging design, you can give your customers a memorable experience. They will always return to you to have that experience again. 

Around 52% of online shoppers receiving their order in custom packaging say they are more likely to return to that company for future orders. Packaging design is crucial and sometimes decisive for customers to buy an item. 

So, the packaging is a great way to keep your customers intrigued. 

Provides protection 

A visually appealing box design has more utility than just giving your customers a great experience. With a functional packaging design, businesses can ensure product protection. 

Delivering a product in one piece to your customers is vital as it helps them form an impression of you. Unlike physical stores, online retailers do not have store layouts or humble associates to impress their customers. 

Packaging helps small businesses keep their product safe so it does not annoy customers when it reaches their doorstep. Impressive package design allows you to give your customers a great experience. 

Effective Packaging Tips for Small Businesses

Before we explore creative packaging ideas for small businesses, let us give you some effective packaging tips. With these tips, you can simplify the packaging design process. 

Know your packaging needs

The box design should communicate your brand identity and the value you give your customers. As a small business, if you are undergoing a change or introducing a new product, the design elements and packaging box should reflect it. 

As a small business owner, you should have a direction and a clear marketing strategy to help you determine the types of packaging to use. So, before you finalize a design, understand the product and its specifications. 

Evaluating the costs beforehand helps choose packaging materials like finishes and branded artwork. 

Relevant packaging 

According to Simon Preece, director of effectiveness at Elmwood, a brand design consultancy, the packaging is relevant if it stands out, triggers emotional engagement, passes the five-year-old test, creates visual equities, and is simple.

A combination of functionality and visually appealing packaging design helps you impress customers. Make sure it also contains all the essential information that your customers need. It helps them to stay well-informed. 

Designing a strong package helps small business owners keep the product safe. Ensure your box design fulfills this requirement to win customer appreciation. Stay relevant to the packaging trends so you do not miss anything.  

Custom packaging 

Small businesses investing in custom packaging know it is a way to entice customers and give them a branded experience. The aesthetics of your custom boxes, like logo design, color palette, typography, label design, etc., make a lasting impression. 

Custom packaging sets you apart and engages the customers in a delightful manner. Small business owners can show their creative side and keep the customers engaged. 

Pro tip: too much visual noise might hush your brand message. A minimalist design can increase brand recognition and enhance customer experience. 

Right packaging materials 

Over the past few years, the e-commerce brand has seen a drastic change in the types of packaging. Investing in sourced packaging is no longer a norm but a must-have. It has also transformed consumer behavior, where they prefer eco-friendly packaging. 

The global green packaging market was valued at USD 274.15 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2020 to 2028.

Small business owners can find many sustainable custom packaging options like water and plant-based inks, eco-friendly printing, and compostable material. 

Instead of plastic packaging materials or standard cardboard, they can use kraft papers, cardboard boxes, mailers, subscription boxes etc.

Product safety 

Product safety is a highly desirable feature of a product packaging design. Keeping the product safe from your store to your customer's doorstep is essential. As a business owner, you should not compromise and provide durable packaging solutions.

Small business owners should reevaluate their packaging; if there is anything wrong with the packaging design process, you must improve it. 

Focus on the customers 

As you take up a design project for your brand design packaging, ensure you put your customers first. Your packaging should be able to communicate your brand image.

Good design inspiration comes from studying the demographic and competitors. If you know what your customers need, they can relate to what you create. As a result, it will be easier for them to like the packaging. 

Creative packaging style 

You have great room for experimenting with design ideas. Creativity is crucial to product packaging, so you can make it work in your favor. 

Your customers should be able to differentiate your product from your competitors by looking at your packaging design. Be creative in your design, craft, materials, and inserts to stand out. 

However, as a small business owner, you must determine a budget so you do not spend a large sum. 

8 Creative Small Businesses Packaging Ideas

We have put up a list of some creative packaging design tips for your small business. With these creative tips, you can use the packaging style to help reach more customers and encourage repeat business. 

Custom corrugated shipper boxes

Keep your product safe and have plenty of room for customization with our custom corrugated shipper boxes. These custom boxes are designed to carry heavy, bulky items and are ideal for shipping. 

Since you have a customization option at Arka, small business owners can show off their brand logo and use colors that clearly define their brand. You can also get an option to upload dieline or design the box online. 

Shipper boxes are strong enough to withstand shipping and help you reiterate your brand identity. It also gives a branded experience which improves the unboxing experience. 

Pro tip: you can add a QR code that can take your customers to social media accounts, review pages or your site, where they can learn more about your products. 

Layered look 

You can turn the simple act of opening a box into a great unboxing experience. Creating a layered look where a box within a box creates anticipation for the customer. This technique makes the product even more special for the customers. 

For those who love to share their unboxing experiences, a layered package works great for unboxing videos. Unboxing experience matters in customer fulfilment, so use this packaging design for giving a memorable experience. 

Pro tip: keep the packaging functional and easy to open so your customers do not lose interest midway. 

Custom stickers

The use of custom stickers for small businesses helps establish identity in the market. They are ideal for all types of packaging, like boxes, envelopes, mailers, etc. It is one of the cost-effective ways to add a personal touch to your packaging. 

You can also use customs stickers as inserts for customers. Custom stickers have many benefits for small business owners, and it enhances product packaging. Our editable stickers give you the freedom to design and impress customers. 

Gift bags 

Delivering a product in a gift bag is a great upscale packaging option for small businesses. You just need to have a gift box design and enough space for putting the product in. it can be a great gift idea for special occasions. 

You can add your logo and brand colors the way you want, as they are highly customizable. It adds more to the experience of your customers. 

Thank you notes 

Thank you cards in a shipment express gratitude and give your customers a branded experience. It adds a personal touch and makes your customers feel valued. You can also use them to share any discount offers for future orders. 

A simple thank you note can go a long way and builds a connection with customers. They are perfect for food packaging, skin care products, supplements, cannabis, etc. 

Adding how-to cards

Product usage tips or adding how-to guides is a great way to make the product accessible to customers. You can connect with your audience offline with packaging inserts. It will help customers get directions before they even start using the product. 

Pro-tip: feel free to add any other tutorials, surveys, or FAQs to make it simple for your customers to use the product. 

Samples and freebies 

Giving free samples and freebies is a great small-business packaging idea. You can send samples to your customers. It will encourage them to buy from you again and try your other new products.  

For instance, if you deal in food products, you send other product samples so they can try. 

Giving free samples is a great way to introduce your customers to other new products. Moreover, it also builds a connection with your customers where they feel valued. 

Wrapping materials

The safety of the product is crucial for small business owners. For this reason, you need to insert materials that provide enough cushioning to the product. Adding tissue papers, packaging peanuts, fillers, kraft papers, etc., keeps the product safe. 

You can add custom packaging supplies with your logo and brand colors to reemphasise brand identity. With these branding elements, you can win the appreciation of your customers. 

Conclusion 

The packaging of the world is changing, and small business owners need to keep up with the pace. Packaging allows small businesses to connect with customers and leave a lasting impression. 

Arka provides many custom packaging options to help you make your place in the market. Get inspired with these packaging ideas for your next big project.  

FAQs

How can small businesses enhance brand identification via custom packaging?

Following are the ways small businesses can enhance brand identification via custom packaging:

• Show your brand story in packaging 
• Invest in branded packaging materials
• Insert guides or tips on using the product
• Sustainable packaging
• Add packaging inserts  

How do you improve your product packaging design?

Here is how you can improve your product packaging design: 

• Choose the suitable packaging material 
• Be consistent with branding 
• Choose sustainable packaging options 
• Get professional help with packaging design 

Why is custom packaging important for small business owners?

Custom packaging gives small business owners enhanced protection for their products. It also sets them apart and helps build a personal connection with their customers.