Improve the Unboxing Experience with Custom Packaging

In  eCommerce, creating a memorable customer experience is crucial for building brand loyalty and driving sales. One critically important aspect of the customer journey is the unboxing experience—the moment when a customer first opens and interacts with your product. By focusing on custom packaging and creating a superior unboxing experience, businesses can enhance their brand image and leave a lasting impression on their customers.

What is Unboxing?

In recent years, unboxing has become a popular trend on social media platforms, with customers and influencers sharing videos of themselves opening and exploring products. These videos showcase the packaging, branding, and overall presentation of the product, giving potential customers a glimpse into what they can expect when they receive their own package.

Why Is the Unboxing Experience Important?

The unboxing experience is a crucial touchpoint in the customer journey, as it sets the tone for how a customer perceives your brand and product. Take a look at these impressive stats on the positive effects of branded packaging:

• 30% of ecommerce businesses realize an increase in revenues when they improve their product packaging.
• 55% of customers will buy again from a brand if their purchase arrives in custom packaging.
• 63% of buyers say a product’s packaging is almost as important as the brand itself.
• 52% of consumers are willing to pay a little more for a product if they love its packaging.
• 70% of buyers form an opinion about a brand based on packaging alone.

A well-designed unboxing experience can:

Create a Positive First Impression

First impressions are crucial. Custom packaging and thoughtful presentation demonstrate your brand values quality and attention to detail. When a customer opens a custom and carefully assembled package, it becomes a branded experience designed to surprise and delight. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction, positive reviews, and increased brand loyalty.

Enhance Brand Recognition

Consistent branding across all packaging elements reinforces your brand identity and makes your company more memorable. Incorporating your logo, brand colors, and messaging throughout the unboxing experience creates multiple touchpoints for customers to engage with your brand. This repetition helps to build brand recognition and recall, making it easier for customers to remember your company and products in the future.

Encourage Social Media Sharing

An impressive unboxing experience can be a powerful marketing tool – one that encourages every customer to become an influencer for your brand. When customers are delighted by the presentation and packaging of their purchase, they are more likely to share photos or videos of the unboxing on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. This user-generated content serves as free advertising for your brand, exposing your products to a broader audience and providing authentic, trustworthy recommendations from genuine customers.

Increase Perceived Value

Superior packaging and an unforgettable unboxing experience can make your product feel more premium. When a product is presented as a luxury experience, it can make customers feel like they are getting more for their money. The results? Happier customers and a greater willingness to repurchase or recommend your products to others.

Boost Customer Loyalty

By going above and beyond in the unboxing experience, you show customers that you are committed to providing an exceptional end-to-end experience. Small touches like personalized notes, free samples, or a surprise gift can make customers feel appreciated and encourage them to return for future purchases. When customers feel connected to your brand, they are more likely to become loyal advocates who consistently choose your products over competitors.

In today’s competitive market, creating a memorable unboxing experience is the key to differentiating your brand and building lasting customer relationships .

Tips for Creating a Superior Unboxing Experience

Okay, you want to create a better experience for your customers. Now what? We’ve got you covered. Try these tips.

Invest in Custom Packaging

Custom packaging is the foundation of a great unboxing experience. By working with a packaging designer or 3PL provider, you can create boxes, mailers, or containers that perfectly fit your products and reflect your brand identity. Custom packaging allows you to control every aspect of the unboxing experience, from the size and shape of the box to the colors and branding elements used. Plus, you can consider factors like durability, ease of opening, and the potential for reuse or recycling.

Use High-Quality Materials

The quality of your packaging materials can significantly impact the perceived value of your products. Choosing sturdy, visually appealing materials that align with your brand helps to create a premium unboxing experience. For example, using high quality materials like thick, textured paper or embossed logos can elevate the tactile experience of unboxing while protecting your products during shipping. Ensuring your products arrive in perfect condition is essential for reducing the risk of returns or negative reviews.

Pay Attention to Presentation

The arrangement and presentation of your products within the packaging can significantly influence the unboxing experience. Take the time to carefully plan how your products will be displayed, using tissue paper, custom inserts, or other elements to create an attractive and organized layout. Consider the order in which products will be revealed as the customer unpacks the box, and use this to build anticipation and excitement.

Elevate your unboxing experience with WSI’s value added assembly, custom packaging and kitting services.

Perfect presentation is easier said than done. But, we have good news. Ecommerce brands can scale their unboxing experience by working with a 3PL who has a proven record of implementing value-added services for their customers like:

• Custom Packaging
• Kitting and assembly
• Bundling
• Fulfillment marketing like promotional inserts

Include Branded Elements

Incorporating your branding throughout the unboxing experience goes beyond just using your logo on the outer box. Consider adding branded elements like custom tissue paper, stickers, or product inserts that feature your brand colors and messaging. These touches help to reinforce your brand identity and make the unboxing feel more personalized.

Add a Personal Touch

Small gestures can go a long way in making customers feel valued and appreciated. To surprise and delight customers, consider adding a thank-you note, a small gift, or a discount code for a future purchase. Personalization can also help to foster a stronger emotional connection between the customer and your brand.

Consider Sustainability

Sustainability has become an increasingly important factor for many consumers. Younger buyers are 27% more likely to purchase when they believe a brand cares about its effect on the planet.

By using eco-friendly packaging materials and minimizing waste, you can appeal to environmentally conscious customers and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. Options like biodegradable or recycled materials, minimal packaging, and reusable containers can help to reduce your environmental impact while still providing a high-quality unboxing experience.

Examples of Terrific Unboxing Experiences

Here’s how some companies give customers a superior unboxing experience:

Apple

Known for its sleek, minimalist packaging, Apple creates an unboxing experience that reflects the premium nature of its products. Their boxes feature clean lines, high-quality materials, and a carefully arranged presentation that showcases the product as the centerpiece.

Glossier

This beauty brand uses pink, bubble wrap-lined boxes that create a fun, interactive unboxing experience. Products are nestled in custom inserts, and the packaging often includes stickers and a personalized note, making customers feel valued.

Warby Parker

This eyewear brand’s unboxing experience for purchased glasses includes a sturdy custom box with a magnetic closure, a cleaning cloth, and a protective case for the glasses. The packaging, which includes sweet messages like “Nice to See You,” reflects the company’s commitment to quality and customer service.

FabFitFun

This subscription box service creates a quarterly unboxing experience that feels like opening a gift. The box features colorful, seasonal designs and includes a magazine-style insert showcasing the products and their retail values, adding to the excitement of discovery.

Kate McLeod

Unboxing an order from skincare brand Kate McLeod is a seamless experience. With sustainability a company priority, their recyclable packing materials are understated, befitting their commitment to a healthy planet. Much of their product packaging, such as pure cotton wraps and wood-covered canisters, can easily be repurposed instead of discarded.

The Citizenry:

This luxury home goods brand delivers a sophisticated unboxing experience that showcases their dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and fair trade practices. Each piece is thoughtfully packaged in a branded box with custom inserts, including a personal note from the founders, while delicate items are carefully placed in a premium cloth bag for added protection. See an example of WSI’s custom kitting and assembly services that contributes to making The Citizenry’s unboxing experience so special.

FAQs about Unboxing

How can I create a custom unboxing experience on a budget?

Start by focusing on small, affordable elements like custom tissue paper, stickers, or a branded postcard. As your budget allows, gradually invest in more substantial packaging components.

How do I choose the right packaging materials for my products?

When selecting packaging materials, consider your product’s size, weight, and fragility. Work with a packaging specialist or 3PL with advanced cartonization technology to ensure optimal box-sizing, appropriate dunnage selection, and cost effectiveness.

Should I use the same packaging for all my products?

Consistency is key for building brand recognition, but you may need to adapt your packaging to accommodate different product sizes or types. Aim for a cohesive look and feel across your packaging elements, even if the specific box or mailer varies.

How can I encourage customers to share their unboxing experiences on social media?

Include a call-to-action in your packaging, such as a hashtag or a request to tag your brand in unboxing photos or videos. You can also incentivize sharing by running social media contests or offering discounts for user-generated content.

What role can a 3PL play in creating a custom unboxing experience?

A 3PL (third-party logistics) provider can handle all aspects of your packaging and fulfillment process, from designing custom boxes to storing, packing, and shipping your products. By partnering with a 3PL, you ensure a consistent, high-quality unboxing experience for your customers without the need to manage the process in-house.

Some 3PLs go even further, offering additional value-added services. WSI helped a home furnishings client boost their brand and create a spectacular unboxing experience with the addition of some impressive branded packaging.  Our product assembly, package assembly, kitting, and custom kitting teams ensured the project went smoothly and customers were delighted.

Partner with WSI for a Custom Unboxing Experience That Delights Your Customers

Are you ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level? Partnering with WSI for your custom packaging and fulfillment needs can help you create an unboxing experience that will leave a lasting impression on your customers.

As a leading 3PL provider, WSI offers a full range of services to support your business, from designing custom packaging to storing, packing, and shipping your products. Our experienced team and innovative facilities ensure that your products are handled with care and delivered to your customers in perfect condition.

Contact WSI now to learn more about our custom packaging, assembly, kitting, and fulfillment services and how to create an unboxing experience your customers will never forget.