The holidays are a time to go all out and have fun with design. But many people are strapped for cash and time. If you’re a business owner, you can’t afford to splurge on every detail. Yet you probably want your packaging design to show you care (not show that you were too busy to pull off something nice).
You might be debating holiday packaging ideas for employee gifts, or sprucing up your normal packages that go out to customers. Regardless of what you’re boxing up, giving it a holiday twist will make the recipient feel extra special when they open it.
1. Stamps
Custom stamps are a beautiful way to take your holiday packaging up a notch. Whether you’re creating tags, package inserts, or anything else, professional writing & imagery adds that finishing touch to your holiday packages. If your handwriting is awful, a stamp can do the job. Stamps take just a second to apply, but you can also get fancy and create your own paper design like this company did.
2. Printed Tape
It doesn’t get much simpler than switching up your packing tape. This alone will elevate the look of your holiday packages. You can buy generic holiday tape or customize it to your needs. Thicker packing tape provides ample space for words, so think about what message you want to add.
3. Kraft Paper
Kraft paper has become massively popular in the world of gift-giving. Especially around the holidays, rolls of kraft paper are flying off the shelves. This paper provides the perfect clean slate for decorating your packages. Add ribbons, bows, stickers, stamps, or twine for a polished look. You can get kraft paper in bulk, and it’s much cheaper than luxury wrapping papers.
4. Printed Tissue Paper
Shipping out boxes around the holidays? Printed recyclable tissue paper is an easy way to jazz up your holiday packaging. These sheets are custom-made, so anything goes. You can opt for cute Santas, simple snowflakes, or even create a holiday version of your logo. Get creative and pick a design that matches your brand’s style. Research shows more and more consumers prefer sustainable brands, and it’s a no-brainer to jump on that bandwagon. Using materials that are easy to recycle like paper and cardboard beats single-use plastic any day.
5. Go Minimalist
Minimalist designs are trending right now. Consumers are realizing that more isn’t always better. Sometimes simplicity makes the holidays more meaningful and relaxing. Minimalist packaging is clean, elegant, and straight-to-the-point. No need to overwhelm recipients with excess packaging and waste.
6. Embossed Cards
Holiday cards can be seen as a cheap marketing gimmick or a heartfelt gesture – It all depends on your execution. Embossed cards have a professional and classy feel. Paired with a thoughtful message, an embossed card communicates that you care about presentation and give quality gifts.
7. Stickers
Stickers are a great last-minute addition to gifts or shipments. They’re easy to apply and they won’t break the bank. Stickers are another holiday packaging idea that lets you get creative without upping you/your employees’ workload too much.
8. Festive Food
So you’re headed to a holiday party and you still don’t have gifts for anyone? Don’t panic. This packaging design idea is classic and affordable. Pick up some holiday-themed snacks and add them to mini gift bags. Nice tags with a handwritten note and some ribbon finish off this festive look. This is perfect for awkward situations where you don’t want to overdo it or show up empty-handed.
9. Custom Tags
Everyone on your team probably has a spirit animal, right? If not, these beautiful cutout tags will have them wishing they did. Custom tags show you’ve gone the extra mile with the little details, and that’s what makes a business memorable. There are plenty of places around the web to find custom tags so you don’t have to DIY this project.
10. Custom Boxes
These are perfect for subscription businesses. If you’re shipping out custom boxes anyway, switching up the product packaging design probably won’t break the bank. Bonus points if you get the recipient’s name printed on the box – It doesn’t get more personalized than that.
Packaging is an extension of your brand identity, and it has even been linked to increased revenue in some studies. 70% of consumers form an opinion about a brand strictly based on packaging. Another 55% of consumers report becoming repeat customers when brands use custom packaging. So whatever effort you’re thinking about putting in, it’s probably well worth it.
