This is a collaborative post.
When you have a small business selling physical products, whether that be via eBay, Etsy, or your own website, a big consideration that you’ll have to make is how you package up your items.
You’ll need to ensure that your customers get their purchases in one piece, but as a savvy business owner, you’ll also realise that your packaging is yet another opportunity to wow and delight, and keep your buyers coming back for more.
The right packaging choices can transform a transaction into an experience, and do wonders for your brand, your reputation, and your customer retention figures.
Whether you choose a cardboard envelope or you need something more substantial, there are plenty of ways to go the extra mile. Here are some tips that you’ll want to consider…
1. Do your homework and choose recyclable options
When your customers make a purchase, they want to feel good about it. Making environmentally conscious buying decisions is a bigger priority than ever before, and in fact 61% of millennials say that they’d happily pay more for eco-friendly products.
As such, it makes sense to choose a sustainable packaging provider like Lil Packaging. Decisions like this will ensure that your brand values are in line with your day to day operations, and that you become known as a responsible business owner who’s willing to go the extra mile to do the right thing.
2. Consider adding a personal touch to make it memorable
Many people pride themselves on buying from small and independent businesses as opposed to huge faceless corporations with scrupulous morals. You no doubt pour a great deal of time and love into your business, and your packaging choices present an opportunity to show your customers just how much you value and appreciate them.
A small handwritten thank you note could be a lovely touch to remind your buyers that there’s a real person behind the business, and that their package was shipped with care and attention.
3. Surprise and delight with an unexpected gift
Everyone loves a little freebie, so think about how you could add something extra to your packages. This doesn’t have to be expensive, and it could also be part of your strategy to attract return customers.
Depending on the nature of your business and your brand, your gift could be a packet of sweets, a discount voucher for future purchases, a sample of a soon-to-be-launched product line, or a personalised invite to an upcoming promotional event.
4. Think about the unboxing experience
You’ve likely seen tons of unboxing videos on platforms like Instagram, where influencers and everyday customers share their recent purchases and exactly what they receive in the post. When businesses get their packaging right, these videos can prove to be a wildly effective organic marketing tool.
Consider how shareable your packages are, and what you could do to make them more exciting or aesthetically pleasing. You could even encourage your customers to share their unboxing experience using a specific hashtag, and reward them with a discount code or the chance to win a prize.
5. If your products are likely to be bought as gifts, ship them ready-wrapped
This might be particularly effective around Christmas, though if you sell products that you know are usually bought as gifts, you could incorporate the approach all year round. To cut down on any unnecessary wrapping, you could add a tick-box option at the checkout so your buyers can decide exactly what’s right for them.
It’s a small touch that won’t cost you much in terms of time or money, but can ultimately make life easier for your customers.
Final thoughts on choosing the right packaging
It’s easy for packaging to become a neglected consideration, especially when you’re spinning all the plates of being a small business owner. Remember though that first impressions count, and most of us do judge a book by its cover. Taking a little time to perfect your packaging processes can play a real part in helping your business to grow, and it definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.
If you’re looking for further creative inspiration, be sure to pay attention next time you order something online. Ask yourself how the packaging makes you feel, what it says about the business, and whether it adds to or detracts from the buying experience. Developing a critical eye will give you plenty of ideas, and might just spark the innovative solution that gets everyone talking about your business for the right reasons.
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