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Welcome to the ultimate guide to packaging for small businesses. If you own a small business, or work for a small business, you have come to the perfect place to learn all about how you can make the most out of your packaging.
This guide covers it all, from getting started and learning the basics of packaging, to designing custom packaging your customers will love.
But why is it the ultimate packaging guide? We have been producing, designing and supplying small businesses with packaging for over X amount of years. The expertise and experience the Belmont team have is extremely vital for businesses looking to purchase packaging. Our aim is to help you get the most out of your packaging, address any paint points you may have before you have recognised them and be the packaging supplier you can trust. Therefore, it makes sense to share the knowledge we have attained over the years and create the ultimate guide for small businesses.
No matter what type of product you sell or business you run, it is important
that all businesses focus on product packaging to create a great first impression and keep customers coming back for more.
We know that some small business owners do not understand the power of the right packaging, and dismiss the marketing and business advantages it holds. The right packaging for your business can become iconic, helping you stand out from competitors, build brand awareness and attract new customers.
Here are just some of the reasons why having the right packaging can help your small business…
It is important to consider the journey your packaging will be taking as this determines the type of packaging you will need. For example if your goods are being transported to another location, you will need transit packaging which is designed to be sturdy and last any journey no matter how bumpy it may be.
However, if you are an ecommerce business that posts your goods through the consumer's letterbox, the best packaging for you will be subscription and postal packaging. As this will be the perfect size to fit through your customers letterbox and also opens up opportunities for a great unboxing experience.
This is one of the most important factors when it comes to packaging for small businesses. Your packaging is like your business card, it needs to tell your brand story and wow your customers just as your business intends to. It needs to be recognisable, on-brand and unique to stand out from the competition.
How your packaging looks will also add to the overall consumer experience and can influence customers to share your designs online increasing your social engagement and online presence.
Investing in a good packaging supplier is the first step. This decision can have a tremendously positive effect on your sales as well as revenue. But making this selection can be a daunting task as various factors come into play here.
We have made this job easier for you by answering 5 important factors to consider when selecting the right packaging supplier for your business.
What is their customer service like?
Customer service should go beyond just meeting your needs today; look for a package design and production company that’s committed to exceeding your expectations now and planning for your success in the future.
Do they offer custom packaging?
Custom packaging is a leading industry trend and it is here to stay. By incorporating custom packaging, you are enhancing your brand’s value by multifold. Through customised packaging, you can build an everlasting connection with your customers by ensuring that they have an unforgettable unboxing experience.
Custom packaging strengthens your company’s branding. When your product’s package has your company’s trademark colour, design, and logo, your brand creates a stronger identity, and customers develop a great brand affinity. This can ultimately increase sales and revenue for your company.
For example, the team at Belmont Packaging were recently approached by Farro Bakery, an independent Bristol Bakery business. We provided Farro Bakery with custom packaging that can be used as a subscription box and to hold their tasty pastries. Find out more about Farro Bakery’s custom packaging and how custom packaging helped their small business.
Do they use sustainable and ethically sourced materials?
The sustainability of your packaging is just as important as what is inside the package. According to a recent survey on sustainable products and packaging, 80% of participants said they felt it was “important or extremely important” for companies to design environmentally conscious products. As consumers are getting conscious about their carbon footprint, they are more likely to support brands that share their values.
Are they forward-thinking?
Do they have fresh new ideas, industry expert knowledge to share and think of opportunities to make your packaging even better before you do. It is important that your packaging supplier keeps up with industry trends, challenges the status quo and likes to do things a bit differently to help you stand out.
The price of producing product packaging is a concern no matter the size of the brand - including companies that have been around for 100 years. Everyone is trying to get on the shelf for the least amount of money.
However, the question of how much you should pay for custom packaging is not the simplest one to answer, as it depends on your company and product needs. The cost of custom packaging will inevitably vary a lot depending on your needs, which is why asking how much you should pay for custom cardboard boxes is not a simple question to answer.
But to work out how much your packaging may cost, here are the different elements you need to consider.
Size and function of the box
Artwork and printing
Origination Costs
These costs occur the first time you order custom boxes, these are the tools required to produce your bespoke packaging.
What are the most cost-effective packaging options?
Depending on your box design, you may not need both pieces. These items are a one-off expense and charged at cost, then stored for future orders.
It is important to see your packaging as a long term investment, cheap packaging for small businesses can cause more harm than good for your business.
Although it is tempting to just look and factor in cost per unit for custom packaging, there are a lot of other elements to consider.
High quality custom cardboard packaging is cost-effective in a number of ways outside of unit cost:
Packaging experts have suggested when carefully considered, that high quality custom packaging can minimise packaging related costs by up to 30%.
There are a variety of different types of packaging options for small businesses. Depending on the industry or product the business is selling can determine the packaging solution fit for them.
Here is a list of types of packaging we supply to small businesses regularly...
We also offer sector specific packaging suitable for small businesses;
The world is becoming more eco-conscious each day, it now matters to consumers and business owners how items are stored, transported, and sold. That’s why sustainable packaging is one of the most talked-about topics and one of the most in-demand products.
By offering suitable packaging you are enabling your company to improve its carbon footprint and appeal to a large number of environmentally aware consumers.
For a small business, it is important to consider how other businesses are changing the way they operate to stay ahead of the curve and not be left behind.
Consumers are now actively avoiding harmful packaging and the search for businesses that offer eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives is well underway. So, no matter how in-demand your product may be, your packaging could be turning away customers.
Recent studies have shown that consumers are focusing on sustainable living now more than ever. 74% of those surveyed stated they were willing to pay more for sustainable packaging. Also, nearly one-fourth of the participants were willing to pay an increased cost of 10% or more for the packaging. Which, for a small business offering sustainable packaging, can be a very profitable result.
What makes Belmont’s packaging eco-friendly?
We’ve helped and continue to help a large number of businesses across all industries provide their consumers with eco-friendly, vegan, sustainable, and cruelty-free corrugated packaging which is cost-effective and profitable for their business.
We manufacture cardboard that is made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials and all our boxes are 100% recyclable. That’s not all we are also FSC certified and source our raw materials from sustainable forests. We operate a number of environmentally friendly initiatives to ensure our manufacturing process has a low carbon footprint.
Here is a list of eco-friendly packaging materials that can be used…
As the name suggests, custom packaging is essentially designing packaging around your products needs from scratch. This means creating a brand-new box specifically for each and every one of your packaging contents and presentation.
What are the advantages of custom packaging for small businesses?
Custom packaging is now a lot more cost-effective for small businesses, this means that the small businesses that use custom packaging are seeing a huge advantage for business growth. Many business owners underestimate the marketing and business potential which custom packaging has to offer. For small businesses in particular, custom packaging can be a powerful marketing tool which enables you to stand out in a crowded market, increase your brand awareness and maximise your customers' experience and first impressions.
By investing in custom packaging, small businesses are reassured that their products will arrive with their customers exactly how they should and undamaged. Receiving negative feedback, reviews or social media posts about damaged products or packaging can be detrimental to a small businesses reputation. Therefore, by purchasing custom packaging you are not only protecting your products, but protecting your business reputation and working towards gaining a loyal customer base.
What challenges are there with custom packaging?
Poor packaging choices can lead to lower sales, reduced product quality and higher costs. It is important to consider how your supplier is addressing these top challenges of product packaging.
How do we address this?
Operating sustainably and providing environmental-friendly packaging has always been something we’ve felt passionate about. We’ve always been dedicated to ensuring we operate under the utmost ethical principles when it comes to the environment and providing sustainable solutions to packaging.
Make the change your customers are looking for today and get custom, eco-friendly packaging you can be proud of. All of our corrugated cardboard packaging solutions can be custom-made to your specific needs. We are also FSC certified.
How do we address this?
Many of our customers continue to trust us to deliver quality custom cardboard packaging solutions for their brands. Our experienced team will work with you from concept to completion, delivering the perfect custom packaging designed just for your product.
Whatever your custom packaging needs, the team at Belmont will offer the ideal solution… and if you’re not sure exactly what you need, just have a chat with us. We make custom packaging that stands out for all the right reasons.
What makes a great small business packaging design?
For example, we helped Nummy a Vegan Brownie postal service design custom packaging which upgraded their company as a premium brand.
There was a desire for more premium packaging that was going to complement the amazing baked doughnuts, tarts, and other delicious vegan treats on offer.
Nummy were very happy with the finished product. To begin with, the company placed an order for 3,000 boxes. They were delighted with the customer service they received, as well as the finished product. In fact, Nummy was so happy with the design that they have returned for more!
View the finished packaging design
What are the main considerations when designing packaging for a small business?
When designing packaging for your small business it is important to consider some of the following…
Where to find small business packaging ideas
Just a simple search on the internet will provide you with a vast amount of creative packaging ideas for small businesses. Here are just some of the sources we would suggest for small business packaging ideas.
You need packaging that captures the imagination and resonates with your brand and its values.
Our experienced team of designers will consider all your requirements from concept to completion. Using our state of the art equipment and software, we can work with you to create an innovative and functional subscription box, shelf-ready, retail-ready or transit packaging solution for your product.
We provide corrugated packaging solutions for many different sectors, including but not limited to, footwear and fashion, food and drink and health and beauty.
How it works
Next Steps
We hope you enjoyed this guide and it helps you turn your product packaging ideas from a dream into a reality. If you need help getting your packaging designed and manufactured, why not get in touch with us and we’ll be more than happy to help.
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