What are the Benefits of Letterbox Packaging?
Your customers love the convenience of ordering from your online shop. The excitement mounts as they await delivery, but having popped out, they return to find they’ve missed the postie. They now face the inconvenience of collecting their parcel or arranging re-delivery.
It doesn’t have to be like this. With a design rethink, it’s possible to create letterbox packaging that can be safely delivered, whether the customer is in or out.
What is Letterbox Packaging?
Letterbox packaging is simply a slimline box, that can be posted through the standard 260mmx45mm slot in your front door. The box has to be sufficiently robust to withstand handling and protect the goods inside. This includes the drop to the doormat when delivered.
The most common letterbox packaging is a slimline Fefco 0427 self-locking box style.
Many brands have adopted letterbox packaging to optimise customer convenience. These include SMOL, Bloom & Wild, The Drinks Creators, Nourished and Garçon Wines. So, it’s possible to receive cleaning products, bouquets, vitamins and even a bottle of wine through the post! Now, are you wondering if letterbox packaging be used for your products?
The Benefits of Letterbox-friendly Boxes
Enhancing the customer experience is a big win. Let’s picture the positive association with your brand when their order is delivered rather than a ‘Sorry we missed you’ card! However, this isn’t the only benefit to your e-commerce business.
In the year to April 2022, 8 million parcels were lost or stolen* and mail theft from doorsteps is a growing problem. If your boxes are too big for the letterbox and the recipient isn’t in, then the delivery driver may leave them on the doorstep. As a result, it becomes a temptation for opportunist thieves.
Your customer is likely to contact you if their package is missing. That can be time-consuming and, if you send out replacements, costly. It’s an issue you could do without.
In addition, some delivery companies, including Royal Mail charge on the dimensions of the parcel. A letterbox-friendly box will cost less to send than alternatively shaped packaging. If you are sending out thousands of parcels, this could add up to a significant cost-saving.
Finally, those slimline boxes are simple to recycle. The customer can slot them into their recycling bin with ease, ready for the next collection. Made from corrugated cardboard, they are widely recycled and can be made into new boxes in as little as a fortnight.
Branded Letterbox Packaging
As with all other cardboard boxes, letterbox packaging comes in standard brown or white. They can be printed with your choice of finishes, to create branded boxes.
A low-cost option is a flexographic print, where the design is added to the inside or outside of the boxes as part of the manufacturing process. The colour palette is limited in this budget-friendly option, however, it is amazing what can be achieved with a single-colour or two-colour design!
We supply the boxes flat-packed to ensure they take up less storage space. The 0427 box style is easy to assemble with tabs that keep the box closed. You may wish to position a printed sticker over the lid join for added security and an extra touch of branding.
Packaging Design Advice
Not all products can be packaged for letterbox delivery, however, with a bit of innovative thinking, it might offer a viable option for some of your deliveries.
If you would like to discuss the options and request a sample, get in touch with our team on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk. If a slimline design isn’t the answer, we can advise on other small postal box solutions.
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