5 Holiday Retail Packaging Ideas To Get Inspired

The holidays – the most wonderful time of the year – are also the busiest for retailers. With so many brands competing for consumer’s attention, there is no doubt that you want to stand out amongst the noise. But how can your brand do that? Custom holiday retail packaging is a great place to start….

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5 Holiday Retail Packaging Ideas To Get Inspired

Custom holiday retail packaging is a great place to start. Since the holidays are quickly approaching, the time to think about your holiday retail packaging is now. Here are some packaging ideas sure to spread holiday cheer.

How To Have Cool Holiday Packaging

Prioritizing the unboxing experience is the key to creating a high-quality, unique holiday experience. There are many different ways you can make your holiday packaging stand out. Here are five ideas from our team of retail packaging experts:

1. Bright Colors

Vibrant, bright colors are often the first thing that captures a consumer’s attention. Choose traditional holiday colors, like deep green and bright red or create a winter-inspired color scheme with cool-toned colors like icy white, light or royal blue, and shades of gray. Use silver and gold metallic glitter or foil as an accent or to add some sparkle. If traditional holiday colors don’t match your brand, take a break and choose eye-catching pops of lavender and hot pink.

2. Festive Illustrations

Catch your consumers’ eyes with unique, intricate designs and patterns on your retail bags and boxes. Take inspiration from all the things of the holiday season to create your own unique design:

Pay homage to Hannukah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa
Incorporate stripes reminiscent of candy canes and peppermints
Draw winter villages or snowy landscapes with winter animals, like penguins and polar bears
Add twinkling lights, ornaments, ribbons, and other classic decorative elements
Use shapes inspired by pine trees, snowflakes, holly, mistletoe, or poinsettias

The holidays are for reminiscing and creating treasured memories. Stir up the warm fuzzies with nostalgic designs – use a vintage, retro aesthetic or take inspiration from beloved holiday movies, songs, or books (think “The Island of the Misfit Toys” or “A Christmas Story” for a couple of classics to get you started).

3. Gift-Like Interior Packaging Components

The inside of your packaging is just as important as the outside. Focusing on the details after the package is opened can elevate the experience, make each purchase feel more like a gift, and create a memorable unboxing experience.

Continue your packaging’s exterior design on the inside with things like printed tissue paper or colorful shredded paper that features your logo or mimics the rest of the packaging’s design. Seal your products with a printed tissue seal or wrap them with a ribbon. If you have an eCommerce business model, packaging inserts help keep the contents of your shipments organized and presentable when it is time for gift opening.

Not only do these components translate the gift-giving aspect of the holiday season, but they are also unexpected, which will delight your consumers even more.

4. Cards and Gift Card Holders

Cards are still a common holiday tradition – and another touchpoint that brands should consider. Use flat cards to thank consumers for their purchase and tell them how much their business means to you. If you know their purchase is for someone else, add a branded folded card with space for them to write a heartfelt message to the recipient.

Protect your gift cards with a gift card holder that shares warm wishes with the recipient. From cards to gift card holders, ensure these components maintain a festive feel but also feature your logo and accurately reflect your branding in tone, voice, and overall visuals.

5. Free Gift with Purchase

The holiday season is all about giving and generosity, and what better way to continue that than with a free gift with a purchase? You can do this in plenty of ways, such as including a gift with a purchase that’s been previously advertised or including free samples of new products.

Are free samples not really your brand’s thing? Reusable packaging is the gift that keeps on giving. Package consumers’ orders in-store with a reusable branded tote or drawstring bag – or wrap your products with them before packing them for shipping. High-quality rigid box gift boxes with drawers or magnetic closures are also great reusable options that people can re-purpose for years to come.

Is Holiday Retail Packaging a Worthwhile Investment?

In a sea of plain white mailer bags, cardboard boxes, and plastic shopping bags, it is no surprise that custom retail packaging stands out. Going the extra mile in your packaging design – especially during the holidays – can create a positive experience that keeps people coming back for more.

As a full-service packaging provider, our experts at Edge2Edge can help you create stylish, on-brand holiday retail packaging. Plus, with a robust supply chain, we can help manage production and shipping deadlines so that you do not miss a beat this holiday season.