As the holiday season and its associated sales rolls in, small e-commerce brands face the exciting challenge of creating custom holiday packaging that resonates with customers. Think of packaging as more than just a box or a wrapper; it’s the first offline, tangible experience every customer has with a brand. This moment of unboxing can spark joy, foster customer loyalty, and showcase any brand’s creativity through festive designs and eye-catching gift packaging. Not having an in-house graphic designer should no longer instill fear. This guide sets out five innovative ways to design stunning custom holiday packaging, even without professional design skills, delighting customers and setting brands apart.
Empowering Small E-commerce Brands with DIY Packaging Design
With Christmas on the way, and Black Friday now behind us, e-commerce businesses confront the challenge of continuing to create engaging custom holiday packaging that is distinct to its competitors as well as its previous designs. Empowering small e-commerce brands, particularly during the festive holiday season, is about more than just selling products; it’s about creating an unforgettable unboxing experience. Here, elements like festive colors, branded tissue paper, and custom stickers play a significant role in elevating your packaging design.
1. Leverage Online Design Tools like Canva
Tools like Canva, an intuitive online design platform, are a goldmine for DIY designers, especially when it comes to crafting custom holiday packaging for the festive season. With its vast collection of holiday-themed templates, patterns, and an array of festive colors, Canva simplifies the design of everything from custom stickers to business cards, ensuring packaging stands out during the busy holiday season. Whether designing for Christmas packaging, looking further ahead to Easter, or general holiday cheer, Canva’s user-friendly interface allows the infusion of an e-commerce brand’s personality into every aspect of product packaging, from the wrapping paper to the gift tags.
2. Utilize Photographs with Arka’s Design Tool
The Arka Design Online tool offers another excellent avenue for e-commerce brands to personalize their holiday packaging. This user-friendly tool allows the integration of specific photographs, creating unique and memorable packaging designs. Whether depicting a Christmas scene, a representation of holiday spirit, or any festive design, Arka makes it easy to bring the vision to life. This approach not only enhances the unboxing experience but also adds a personal touch to any custom boxes and mailer boxes, making every package a special part of the customer’s holiday celebrations.
3. Explore Freelance Talent on Fiverr or Upwork
Exploring freelance talent on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork can be a game-changer for e-commerce brands looking to enhance their holiday packaging design. These platforms are bustling with skilled freelancers who can create custom packaging, including eye-catching box designs and festive inserts. These freelancers offer an array of services, from designing hang tags to creating custom holiday packaging, specified for any holiday season theme. This approach is not only cost-effective, but also provides a high degree of customization, ensuring product packaging stands out in the busy holiday market.
4. Network with Agency Designers for Freelance Work
Networking with graphic designers from agencies who are open to freelance opportunities can also be a valuable strategy for small businesses. These professionals can offer a fresh perspective on holiday packaging design; their expertise can be particularly useful for special holiday projects, like seasonal winter packaging or designing subscription boxes for the festive season. Offering incentives like free products or showcasing their work on social media can be an appealing proposition for these designers, helping to secure top-notch design services at reasonable rates.
5. Get Creative with DIY Elements
Finally, embracing DIY elements in holiday packaging can add a unique, personal touch that resonates with customers. Incorporating handmade aspects like custom gift tags, greeting cards, or even festive pouches can significantly enhance the joy delivered to each and every doorstep. Using materials like tissue paper or cardstock, small businesses can create distinctive, high-quality holiday gift boxes or even stand up pouches. This approach showcases a brand’s creativity as well as emphasizes a commitment to providing a memorable holiday packaging order, full of holiday cheer and festive designs.
Wrapping It Up
By paying attention to these details, you’re not just sending out a product; you’re delivering an experience, a piece of holiday cheer, and a lasting impression of your brand. So go ahead, infuse your holiday spirit into every package, and watch as your customers share their joy and excitement on social media, further amplifying your brand’s presence. Remember, a timely turnaround time, sustainable materials like kraft and corrugated cardboard, and the use of festive colors and patterns in your box design, tissue paper, and inserts can make all the difference in creating a memorable holiday packaging design that stands out during the bustling days of the holiday season.
Phillip Akhzar is the Founder and CEO of Arka, with 16 years of experience in packaging and supply chain logistics.
From Boeing Aerospace to Silicon Valley startups like iCracked, Phillip has brought his core competency at the biggest companies to businesses just getting their start.
You’ve done everything by the book. Your Kickstarter campaign is almost ready to launch.
You made a great product. Built an audience. Set up a campaign page.
But how do you ship it?
We put this checklist together to help you get started. It's free.
