The Unboxing Experience and Holiday Packaging: How To Make It Memorable

Packaging Trends

The Unboxing Experience and Holiday Packaging: How To Make It Memorable

The holidays are the busiest time of year for retailers. As a popular time for gift-giving, your retail packaging is important – it is a great opportunity to get your brand in front of many more people.  When a shopper buys a product, they have to interact with the interior and exterior retail packaging –…

The Unboxing Experience and Holiday Packaging: How To Make It Memorable

The holidays are the busiest time of year for retailers. As a popular time for gift-giving, your retail packaging is important – it is a great opportunity to get your brand in front of many more people

When a shopper buys a product, they have to interact with the interior and exterior retail packaging – this is your unboxing experience. Rather than approaching your packaging as a means to an end, you want to have an emotional appeal and impact. Viewing your packaging as an experience can help you achieve this, hence the term, unboxing experience.

Discover how your brand can benefit from such an experience and how to make yours memorable.

Holiday Packaging and the Unboxing Experience: Where They Intersect

red holiday boxes

A gift-like unboxing experience effectively brings forth the warm, fuzzy feelings you would get opening a gift from a loved one. Because of this, many people take videos or photos of this process to share on social media – and many more enjoy watching them. When done right, your unboxing experience can entice both new and existing shoppers to buy more. 

Gift-ready packaging can be an especially appealing choice for consumers during the holidays. Some people may not be skilled at gift-wrapping or simply do not have (or want to spend) the time and gift-ready packaging can help them make a good impression with minimal effort. Plus, gift-ready packaging saves them the trouble of buying additional wrapping materials. Others love getting into the holiday spirit and festive packaging helps them do just that. 

With so many more opportunities to get your brand in front of people over the holidays, now is a great time to think about (or rethink) your unboxing experience

Create a Strong Unboxing Experience With These Holiday Packaging Ideas

red holiday packaging

Gift-wrapping services at an additional cost are not a bad idea. However, creating components that look gift-ready on their own can set you apart from the competition.

Unboxing Experiences for Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Provide a rigid box that looks amazing on its own – without the bells and whistles of gift wrapping – with vibrant designs, magnetic closures, or a box with a lid or drawers. Or, opt for a gift that keeps on giving with a reusable shopping tote, which can be made from sustainable materials like cotton.

Change your packaging’s design with metallic and glitter accents. Add pops of red and green or keep it cool-toned with blue hues. You should also add extra finishing touches, such as tissue paper, a thank you card, or custom gift card carriers that feature festive designs.

Unboxing Experiences for eCommerce Stores

Getting your products through shipping unharmed is important, which is why printed, corrugated shipping boxes should be your eCommerce packaging component of choice this holiday season. While you cannot change too much in terms of form and function, you can always customize the visual design. Incorporate festive pops of red and green or icy colors that mimic a winter wonderland along with holiday-inspired illustrations and patterns. 

Your eCommerce orders’ interior packaging offers additional opportunities to impart unique  finishing touches and upgrade to luxurious interior packaging components: 

  • Choose printed void fill over plain packing peanuts 
  • Opt for branded tissue paper instead of plastic wrapping
  • Switch plastic pouches for reusable fabric ones

How To Market Your Holiday Unboxing Experience

Packaging is just one element of your holiday marketing strategy. There are plenty of things you can – and should – do to get consumers excited to purchase more this holiday season.

  • Leverage influencer connections. Influencer marketing is a great way to spread the word about your products, brand, and any holiday promotions you are running. Choose influencers who have a following that closely matches your target audience. Then, send them a free PR package or discount if they post an unboxing video and talk about your products.
  • Spread the word. Keep consumers updated on holiday promotions across your digital presence; through social media, online advertisements, and your website. To show consumers that they will benefit from gift-ready packaging, be sure to use visuals like pictures, animations, and even unboxing videos in your digital marketing efforts.
  • Use in-store displays. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, incorporate your holiday packaging into your storefront displays and throughout your store’s décor. Not only does it inspire holiday cheer, but it also entices consumers to buy more.

How Can You Achieve Gift-Ready Retail Packaging?

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and now is the perfect time to rethink your holiday packaging approach. With the right packaging partner on your side, your holiday retail packaging can keep consumers coming back for more next year.

As an end-to-end packaging service provider, our team at Edge2Edge is here to help you create holiday packaging that “wow’s!” Contact us today to get started.