Key Points:
- 72% percent of American consumers say that custom packaging influences their purchase decisions
- The cost of box personalization depends on the materials, printing, and quantity you buy
- A personalized box should highlight your brand identity and conjure positive feelings
In the competitive world of eCommerce, experience is how customers pick their favorite brands. This means that personalizing your shipping boxes can help to distinguish your brand from competitors in all the right ways. Plus, the more excited buyers are about unboxing, the more likely they are to share their excitement with friends, repurchase, and become lifelong customers.
Before you start customizing, you’ll want to know what it costs, and where to find the right boxes. Truth is, customized boxes aren’t the cheapest option. That’s why this blog helps you identify the best ways to personalize your shipping experience on a budget.
The Easyship Brand Suite can help you personalize the shipping experience. You’ll be able to add your logo to packing slips, tracking emails – even redirect buyers to a branded tracking page – to really dazzle your customers.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Personalize Shipping Boxes?
Shipping experiences are top of mind with today’s shoppers, and you only have one chance to make a good first impression. After all, everyone likes to feel like they’re part of something special. Eighty percent of shoppers say they are more likely to purchase from a company that offers a personalized shipping experience.
For merchants, distinctive packaging helps to reinforce brand identity, improve recall, and drive loyalty. Before you buy, though, you’ll need to weigh the costs against the gains. Personalized boxes start at around 65¢ and can cost up to a few bucks if you want to really dazzle.
But, 72% percent of American consumers say that custom packaging influences their purchase decisions. So it’s worth exploring.
How Much Do Personalized Shipping Boxes Cost?
You can spend a lot on the frills of custom packaging. The cost of box personalization depends on the materials, printing, and quantity you buy. Here are some customization possibilities you can choose from:
- Corrugated material: standard white cardboard, premium white cardboard (or with glossy ink), and corrugated cardboard
- Printed sides: full color on outside & inside, full-color outside or inside, and no printing (blank)
You’ll pay anywhere from $2.65 to $5.00 per 9 x 6 x 3 mailer box, depending on the level of customization. On the other hand, you’ll pay anywhere from $3.24 to $6.30 for a 8 x 8 x 8 shipping box.
Say you want to start small, with a simple personalized box with your logo on the side. We’ll use Packola to calculate the costs for creating a customized package. Packola is a custom box retailer that helps eCommerce businesses to create custom, eco-friendly boxing experiences.
It costs $1.11 for 100 corrugated cardboard boxes with a logo on the box exterior. You can add more logos and designs for no extra cost.
Now, let’s say you want to add all the frills and thrills to your packaging, like premium white cardboard and full color on the inside and outside. Again, we’ll use Packola to calculate the costs.
It costs $210.00, or $2.10 each, for 100 custom boxes made with premium white corrugated cardboard and full color on the inside and outside.
You’ll pay double for all the fancy add-ons like premium white corrugated cardboard compared to a standard brown cardboard box with no design or color. So instead, consider the corrugated boxes with a simple logo on the side if you’re on a tighter budget.
How to Choose the Right Boxes
There’s a wide range of packaging solutions available in the market. Unfortunately, this can make it hard to choose the correct box to fit your eCommerce needs. Here are a few popular choices for personalizing your shipping boxes.
Packola
Packola is a reliable option for personalized shipping boxes trusted by businesses like Nordstrom, Nestle, Rag & Bone, and more. You’ll pay $1.10 each for 100 standard mailer boxes. Plus, you can enjoy the following perks:
- No minimum order
- Sustainable packaging available
- A 3D design tool to create your personalized box
- Custom dimensions
Fantastapack
Fantastapack is another great option for personalizing boxes trusted by big-name brands like Google, Netflix, Snapchat, Toyota, and more. Plus, it’s cheaper than other competitors. You’ll pay $0.91 each for 100 standard mailer boxes. Here are some other main features of using Fantastapack:
- Sustainable packaging
- Custom dimensions
- A 3D design tool to create your personalized box
- Instant quotes and no minimum quantity
Uprinting
Uprinting is a popular choice amongst eCommerce merchants. Over a million business professionals use Uprinting to help create a meaningful unboxing experience. Though the company is pricier than the above options, you can guarantee high-quality work. You’ll pay $120.00, or $1.20 each, for 100 standard mailer boxes.
Here are some of the other benefits you enjoy when choosing Uprinting:
- Custom sizes
- 3D design tool
- Sustainable packaging to create your personalized box
- No minimum quantity
Best Practices for Personalizing Boxes
Personalizing boxes can be pricey if you don’t calculate carefully. But, even though budgets can be tight, personalizing boxes can be as simple as adding your company’s logo to the side of your packaging.
Prioritize the experience
Fostering an excellent customer experience will inevitably increase your revenue. For best results, be meaningful with your box design. A personalized box should highlight your brand identity and conjure positive feelings.
For instance, Apple’s unboxing experience ranks high amongst many. The minimalist design with the classic apple logo is nothing short of iconic.
Adding something as simple as your logo on the side of your shipping boxes can be a small yet effective way to get your brand noticed. Use a personalizing shipping box company to add a custom logo, though this comes at an additional cost.
Use Eco-friendly packaging
Using eco-friendly boxes is a smart choice these days. With customers increasingly eco-friendly, you can score points with shoppers with green packaging options. Seventy-four percent of consumers say they would pay more for products with sustainable packaging.
Eco-friendly packaging has some very marketing characteristics that can boost your brand appeal, including:
- Create less environmental waste
- Made from biodegradable packaging materials
- Saves money in comparison to regular packaging materials
Enjoy cost savings by using recycled packaging while still maintaining a trendy, attractive look. It can also be cheaper than other custom boxes. For example, EcoEnclose offers 100% recycled shipping boxes for as little as $0.80 per box.
Related source: Sustainable Packaging: 5 Ideas Companies Should Embrace
Choose the right box
Boxes come in all shapes and sizes, and the customization possibilities are endless. Though the custom package design is essential, choosing the right box type is vital for your item’s safety. Merchants can choose from two different types of custom packaging for shipping, including:
- Mailer boxes: paperboard packaging with interlocking flaps and wings
- Shipping boxes: packaging made of corrugated cardboard with a simple open-flap top
Companies like UPrinting or Packola give you complete customization control with their online 3D design tool. Here’s how you can create your own unique unboxing experience with the correct box.
Mailer boxes
Custom mailer boxes are a great way to ship small items safely. Plus, companies like UPrinting or Packola give you complete customization control with their online 3D design tool.
Say you want to ship skincare products using a 3 x 3 x 1 custom mailer box. It’ll cost $0.88 each for custom mailer boxes with standard white corrugated cardboard and a printed design on the outside.
Alternatively, you can choose to ship the same mailer box with premium white corrugated cardboard, glossy ink, and a printed design on the inside and outside of the box for $1.67 each.
Shipping boxes
Customized shipping boxes are an affordable way to send items in bulk. Plus, the heavy-duty material can withstand impact during the shipping process.
Say you want to ship a 4 x 4 x 4 shipping box using Print Place. It’ll cost $1.16 per box using standard white corrugated cardboard with a printed design on the outside. Alternatively, it’ll cost $2.25 each for a shipping box with premium white corrugated cardboard and printed designs on the inside and outside.
How Easyship Can Help
The bottom line is that you will need to add some personalization to stand out amongst eCommerce competitors. However, spending the time and effort on adding a little personal touch will go a long way for customers.
Easyship takes personalization to the next level by creating a delivery experience consistent with your brand. Add your logo to packing slips, tracking emails, and everything in between in just a few clicks. Plus, you’ll save up to 89% off on discounted shipping rates with 250+ couriers.
Ready to start shipping? Sign up today to transform your delivery experience.
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