Strong & Sustainable Shipping Solutions
One of our established customers contacted us to ask about alternatives to foam inserts for their packaging and we were happy to recommend sustainable shipping solutions. They send large, weighty equipment to customer across the world, so any solutions offered needed to retain the strength and protective qualities of their packaging. Industrial Boxes & Inserts […]
Packaging Design for Start-ups
At Aylesbury Box Company, we enjoy playing a small role in helping start-up businesses to get off the ground. Our packaging advice and printed boxes are one small step in the journey to getting a product to market. In a recent article, we focused on a food and wine delivery start-up and in this article, […]
Printed Packaging for an Established Brand
Aylesbury Box Company recently supplied printed packaging to Study Bed. This local business has been operating since 2007, but increasing demand for EU exports created the need for a bespoke packaging solution. Space Saving Furniture For many of us, working from home has focused our attention on space-saving ideas. We want multi-functional furniture that optimises […]
Gin Tasting Subscription Boxes
There has been a resurgence in gin production and consumption in the past 5 years. By the end of 2020, over 560 gin distilleries were registered in the UK; that’s double the number in 2016. Many of these are small, independently-owned enterprises, crafting exciting new flavours. When faced with a wide selection of options, the […]
Boxes of Sweet Treats
Your sweet tooth kicks in. You hunt through the cupboards in the hope of uncovering a hidden snack, no joy. You weigh up whether it is worth driving to the shops. If only a box of treats could be delivered to your door… This scenario inspired a new business venture. Pick & Mix London started […]
Metallic Effects for Bespoke Retail Packaging
Looking to make your products stand out on the shelf? A reflective, metallic finish can bring your product packaging to life with eye-grabbing results. Packaging design with metallic touches adds glamour and intrigue, especially when coupled with a pure white or dark, matt tone. It is a style adopted by many cosmetic, hair care and […]
Irk to Perk: Boxes for Innovative Beachwear
The best ideas are those which solve a common frustration. If you love nothing more than a day at the beach, you’ll love the innovative products developed by one of our printed packaging customers. As I write, it is World Ocean Day, so let’s look to the seas. Maybe you were one of the many […]
7 Steps for Launching an E-commerce Business
As packaging suppliers, Aylesbury Box Company are contacted by many individuals who are considering the option of setting up an online business. For these start-up enterprises, we offer small runs of bespoke packaging and advice on branding boxes. Our recommendations help e-commerce businesses to keep the cost of postage and packaging down. Whilst quality packaging […]
Retail in Transition: The Rise of E-commerce
Lockdown could have resulted in the permanent closure of shops, restaurants, gyms and many other businesses. Even with Government support, paying to retain premises, employees and stock without generating an income is crippling. However, many businesses adapted. They explored new ways of serving customers and focused on home deliveries. From small, local retailers to big […]
E-commerce Packaging Questions Answered
“Necessity is the mother of invention” – Plato Dire situations and uncertainty are often the sparks for exploring new opportunities. This is seen in the current emergence of thousands of new e-commerce businesses. Months of furlough, job losses and business closures are igniting entrepreneurial spirits. If you are one of the many who are setting […]
What Happens to All the Cardboard Boxes?
It is likely that in the countdown to Christmas, you received many orders packaged in cardboard boxes. With many retailers forced to close in lockdown, online shopping grew at at accelerated rates through 2020. All those e-commerce deliveries can leave you with quite a collection of cardboard boxes. Some of the boxes may have been […]
Why use Corrugated Cardboard Packaging?
Your products can be packaged in a variety of materials, so why is corrugated cardboard the most widely used packaging material? The quick answer is that corrugated cardboard: Is a practical packaging solution Can be formed into customised boxes Can be transformed by a variety of print and finishes Is a sustainable packaging material Is […]
Don’t Order those Boxes!
Stop! Don’t order those boxes just yet. Before you opt for standard packaging, we have an important question for you to consider; what do you want the packaging to do? Packaging serves many purposes. Understanding exactly what you need is the first step in getting the best packaging solution. Protective Shipping Boxes Damaged goods are […]
Treat Boxes for Loyal Pets
In the last article, we focused on care cartons; gift packaging to show thanks for the support of great friends, family, colleagues and business associates. For many of us, it is our pets who have provided loyal companionship during 2020. The cats that curl up on your lap of an evening, the dogs that give […]
Shopping for Christmas?
The countdown to Christmas offers an annual peak in sales, so retailers start preparations in the spring. We deal with enquiries for Christmas gift packaging throughout the year, but even we were surprised to hear that the John Lewis online Christmas shop has gone live in August. This ‘earlier than ever’ festive launch is apparently […]
Packaging and Presentation: Get ‘Unboxing’ Ready
When an order is received, packed and dispatched, does it matter what the packaging looks like? The customer has already paid and if they are happy with the goods, that’s good enough – or is it? Let’s consider things from the customer perspective. Scenario One – A delivery arrives in a plain, standard cardboard box. […]
From Product to Personalised Packaging – Preparing to Sell Online
With waves of redundancies being announced, there is a surge of people seeking new job opportunities. Some have been rethinking their career path. Entrepreneurial sparks have been lit and they can see an opportunity to set up an online business. Whilst you may have a wonderful product, a clear target market, money in the bank […]
The Highest Levels of Protection
Face masks, hand sanitiser and social bubbles might help to protect our employees and customers, but what does it take to protect your goods in transit? In the majority of cases, corrugated cardboard boxes are the ideal packaging solution. The simple layered design of shipping cartons provides a strong, resilient and practical means of transporting […]
Beauty Boxed
As High Streets across the country began to decline, there was one industry that thrived; beauty. Barbers, hairdressers, nail bars and salons dominated our town centres. The reason was that they offered an experience that was impossible to replicate online. Yes, you can sell lipstick or body lotion online, but beauty purchases are often made […]
Packaging and Perception
Popping the cork on a new branded packaging As consumers, we all make instant decisions about products based on their packaging. It is intuitive. The packaging influences our perception of the product and whether it can meet our requirements. The packaging design, print, graphics and font are signals of the product’s value and that shifts […]
Sow Clever Boxes
Many of us have spent more time than ever in our gardens this spring. Watching new plants emerge, noticing bees buzzing around and hearing the bird song. If this has inspired you to fill pots, hanging baskets and beds, Sow Clever boxes are ideal. Delivered to your door, these gardening boxes are ideal for getting […]
A Sporting Chance
Whilst in lockdown, we are encouraged to exercise every day. Keeping fit and active helps the body to maintain physical and mental health. It has been great to see lots of people out on bike rides, walks and runs on these bright, dry days. With gyms and leisure centres shut, there has also been a […]
Packaging Advice for Start-up Companies
How to Make an Impact with a Limited Budget There is so much to learn when you embark on a new business adventure. Where can you go for advice? When it comes to packaging, Aylesbury Box Company has supported many start-up businesses, including subscription companies. We take time to learn about your products and advise […]
How to Avoid Plastic Bags
When leading toy distributor, John Crane Ltd closed down after 120 years in the industry, one of its former team stepped in. Jonathan Thorpe had a proven track record, having formerly been the MD, then President of Playmobil USA. Jonathan wanted to continue the distribution of several leading toy brands which had been under the […]
Celebrating Companies that Think Outside the Box
Gerard® Roofing Tiles Across the UK, roof tiles have typically been made from terracotta, slate or concrete, but is there another way to crown our homes? Gerard Roofing Systems have proven there is. How did WWII RAF hangers provide the inspiration for a new roofing system? During wartime, RAF hangers were erected across the country […]
Sustainable Packaging in the Supply Chain
We all know that large supermarkets have considerable power. The decisions they make determine what food and products we have access to, and at what prices. For many farmers and factories, being on the supermarket’s supply chain is what keeps them in business. Changing consumer behaviour and global awareness of environmental impact is having a […]
Five Reasons to Switch to Bespoke Cardboard Packaging
Computer Aided Design (CAD) has transformed many industries. Corrugated packaging is no exception. It offers an exceptionally wide scope of cardboard packaging design possibilities without excessive design costs. With cost-effective CAD solutions, there really is no need to stick to a standard packaging box. Easy to Explore Packaging Design Concepts CAD has made it straightforward […]
E-commerce Packaging Connects with Customers
Customer experience has been identified as a primary differentiator, but as more of us chose to shop online, how can brands build connections with their customers? Packaging is the one element that is consistent with all e-commerce deliveries, so packaging design has to play a part. Ecommerce Growth and Customer Experience According to the E-commerce […]
Back to the Future for Packaging Design
Whilst eye-catching, shelf-ready packaging remains a dominant requirement on any design brief, the factors that influence packaging design are constantly shifting. At the halfway point of 2019, what trends have we seen as a box manufacturer? Bold Colour or Subtle Palette in Packaging Design The popular colour palettes for 2019 sit at opposing ends of […]
Cardboard Boxes to the Rescue
When the Chair of the school PTA asks if you can help prepare a game for the upcoming school fete, where do you start? With a cardboard box of course! Armed with a couple of old cardboard boxes, a tube of glue, paint and some coloured paper, work commenced on creating a cake stand game. […]
