Packaging Fit for Export Opportunities
Planned or not, 2020 has been a year of change. Every industry has been affected by the impact of Covid-19. For some, the pandemic has fast-tracked the implementation of future plans. Others, including our box manufacturing company, have adapted to benefit from a surge in demand. There is no time to sit still; the need […]
Packaging Hacks to Aid the Visually Impaired
Retail packaging has visual appeal in mind. Colour, imagery and fonts are carefully selected and positioned to attract attention. Detailed information and icons are printed in small text to ensure they don’t distract from the main design. With purchasing decisions so dependent on what we see, shopping must be a challenge for those with a […]
Inspiring Cardboard Packaging Designs
Ready to be inspired? Pro Carton organises an annual competition for young designers. This year, cardboard designs have been submitted from students in 25 countries. The judges shortlist has been made and the public vote for the best cardboard design concept is open until 30 September. The entries include practical and beautiful creations including a […]
Retail Packaging Update: Boxes and Bags
This has been a year when retailers have needed to adapt at speed. The demand for deliveries accelerated as soon as lockdown came into force in March. In the packaging industry, orders for cardboard shipping cartons took a sudden leap and the surge in orders has not stopped. Boxes Delivered to your Door Being forced […]
When Packaging is Part of the Product
Retail packaging is often an afterthought in product development. The goods are designed and manufactured and then shelf appeal is considered. Bespoke packaging is created around the product to offer protection and anti-tampering. Shape, style, font, colour and imagery is used to attract the attention of the target customer. With the drive to reduce packaging, […]
Restricted Travel for Packaging Waste
Many of us have had to cancel holidays, business trips and family visits. Plans have changed with immediate effect and we’ve had to adapt. We need to rethink how we undertake everyday activities. This sudden change also occurred in the waste management industry. For several decades, much of Europe’s recyclable waste was sent to China. […]
Shipping in Pizza Style Boxes
One of the most popular cardboard box designs is 0426; only surpassed by a close alternative, the 0427. Both are regularly referred to as a pizza box. Whilst one of the nation’s favourite take-aways have made these a familiar carton design, very few of our orders come from pizza companies. They are more often used for […]
All Boxes Great and Small
There is a perception that a packaging company like ours is only interested in bulk orders for large, established brands. There is a fear that minimum orders, design and printing costs takes bespoke packaging out of the reach of small, start-up companies. Aylesbury Box Company would like to dispel that myth. Whilst we do have […]
Is Sustainable Packaging Important to Customers?
As a manufacturer, brand or retailer, you will be keen to positively influence buying decisions. Packaging design plays an important role in this process, but does it matter which packaging materials are used? According to a Coleman Parks survey, which was commissioned by Pro Carton, 68% of UK shoppers have been swayed by the environmental […]
The Joy of Personalised Retail Packaging
Whether online or in-store, retail forecasts suggest that those brands which offer personalised services and products will thrive in the coming year. Could stylised printed retail packaging enable your brand to remain relevant and exciting in 2019? Printed Packaging – Adding a Touch of Design Leading brands often work in collaboration with guest designers for […]
Should I Select Printed Packaging with a Matt or Gloss Finish?
In the early days, the majority of orders received by Aylesbury Box Company were for large, industrial cardboard containers. This packaging was practical and robust, but there was little concern for aesthetics. Typical printing requirements were ‘This Way Up’ or ‘Fragile’ printed in black. The aim was simply to provide instructions for the delivery company. […]
What do you want from a Cardboard Packaging Company?
As customer service week is in full swing, we’re turning the tables for this blog. In our usual packaging articles, we aim to provide valuable advice. We want to break down the barriers, explain how packaging solutions can be achieved and provide information that allows you to make informed decisions. Now we are seeking your […]
Winning Designs in the Luxury Packaging Awards
If you are aiming to sell premium goods at the top end of the market, you might take inspiration from the 2018 Luxury Packaging Award winners. Announced at a prestigious ceremony, which was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel earlier this week, both winners and runners up showcase the possibilities when you invest in retail […]
Focus on Teens to Revive the High Street
For the majority of teenagers, shopping is a social, fun and interactive experience. For this reason, they are more likely to head to the High Street and shopping centres than buy online. This presents a great opportunity for businesses with goods on the shelf, but to be attractive, your retail packaging has to deliver what […]
Box Clever with Retail Packaging
The phrase ‘box clever’ means to ‘behave in a careful and cunning way’. In many ways, this reflects the role of packaging as a marketing tool. The design of retail packaging has to be carefully thought through, with the aim of influencing a potential buyer in a range of cunning ways. A standard cardboard box […]
Packaging Advice for Start-Up Businesses – Part 1
When you have a budding business venture, budgets can be tight, however, if you have goods to sell, retail packaging is a must. It can be understandably tempting to bulk buy off-the-shelf retail packaging for your goods. In terms of up-front costs, this is the cheapest option, but we’d like to explain why it may […]
Iconic Packaging Design
On a packed supermarket shelf, how do shoppers decide what to buy? There are certain branded products that have been supermarket staples for years. As consumers, we’re so familiar with the packaging design that it takes little more than a glance to know what we’re placing into our trolley. Packaging Shape We recognise some brands […]
The Craft of Luxury Packaging
If you are aiming for the luxury market, it’s not just your products that have to shine. Every detail needs to exude quality. Many brands focus on creating the next trend, or exploit a growing trend. The luxury market is different. With an emphasis on lasting, luxury products are beyond trends. Instead, the aim is […]
Hold On!
When it comes to lifting, a handle really can make all the difference. If you are looking for boxes with handles, what are the options? Hand Holds The lowest cost option is to have hand holds cut out of the side of your cardboard box. This is a common feature, especially on larger delivery boxes […]
Give Customers What they Wish For
Entertain and Engage with Retail Packaging Packaging has long played a vital role in influencing buyer’s decisions and gaining the competitive edge. As shopping habits change, product packaging has to keep pace with consumer expectations in order to remain relevant and appealing. According to Mintel’s 2017 Global Packaging Trends Report, ‘consumers are increasingly looking for […]
The Finishing Touches
We are often asked about print finish options, so we thought we’d summarise a few points in this article. When you think of a cardboard packaging, does a plain brown corrugated box spring to mind? It doesn’t have to be like that! An extensive range of print finishes can be used to transform the humble cardboard […]
What’s in your Trolley?
How Retail Packaging Influences Buying Decisions Have you seen the ‘Eat Well for Less’ series on television that encourages families to reduce their food shopping bill? As part of this programme, favourite food items are placed into plain, non-branded packaging. The twist is that certain items are the same, whilst others are swapped for a cheaper […]
Printed Packaging
Research has shown that as consumers we make around 70% of our purchasing decisions at the point of sale. We may know what we want to purchase, but we can be enticed towards a specific brand by the packaging. Printed packaging provides us with a vast array of information in an instant. Based on the […]
Packaging Design for Clothing
At this time of year, many of us are packing for holidays. As we anxiously weigh our case to check if it is still within the weight restriction, or sit on our bag in a bid to do it up, we may ponder the best way to pack clothes. A common discussion evolves around the […]
A Lightbulb Moment in Cardboard Packaging
The best ideas are often the simplest ones and the R16 lamp is an excellent example. Created by Waarmakers, a Dutch firm that focuses on ‘translating design ideas, brand strategies and concepts into circular and future proof designs’ the design is sure to have many people wondering why they didn’t come up with that idea! […]
Point of Sale Packaging
Quality packaging is a highly influential factor in attracting the attention of shoppers and convincing them to buy. With visually attractive, structurally sound point of sale packaging, it is possible to communicate with customers in innovative ways. Online competition has prioritised the need for retailers and brands to invest in an engaging shopper experience. A […]
