A Few Packaging Design Ideas for Creating Successful Subscription Boxes

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Subscription services that help reduce the hassle of having to think and choose every time are becoming the norm across many areas. A few years ago, it was still an unfamiliar concept in Korea, but now it’s hard to find someone who isn’t subscribed to at least one service. For product subscriptions, delivery by courier is essential, and the role of regularly delivered subscription boxes on a set schedule is just as important. Today, we’ll look at the importance of attractive subscription boxes and how to produce subscription boxes most effectively.

What Is a Subscription Box?

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Subscription services for a wide range of products and offerings are booming. A subscription service means paying a set amount regularly over a fixed period, such as weekly or monthly, and receiving products or using a service in return. The biggest advantage of a product subscription service is that once you choose one trusted brand, you no longer have to think about what to buy each time. For sellers, it is also a sales model that makes it even more important to emphasize the brand’s own competitiveness. Since delivery arrives regularly on a set date or day of the week, the role of the box holding the product is important, and because these packages usually contain two or more items together, corrugated packaging boxes that let you see the contents at a glance are commonly used.

The Rapid Growth of Subscription Services

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From OTT services like Netflix to online shopping membership services such as Coupang and Market Kurly, subscription services have become part of everyday life. According to a Forbes survey, subscription services grew by more than 890% as of 2014. It has truly been explosive growth. The expansion of the e-commerce market itself has also been a major factor, and the impact of the recent pandemic played a particularly large role. Among the many subscription services, especially popular was “curation subscription,” a model in which products are selected from among various options and provided as a package according to consumer tastes and preferences.

Why Subscription Box Packaging Matters

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This rapid growth in subscription services also means that competition in the market is just as fierce. Unlike traditional sales methods, subscription services place greater emphasis on the relationship between brand and consumer, as well as the consumer’s purchasing experience. Therefore, the box used to package subscription products must effectively connect the brand and the customer. Consumers who use subscription services see themselves as “special customers” who have committed not simply to buying one product once, but to building an ongoing, regular relationship with the brand. Sellers must meet those expectations. Through subscription box designs that are luxurious, stylish, and reflect the brand identity well, they should be able to deliver a “pleasant experience” to consumers.

A Few Ideas to Make Your Subscription Box Stand Out

1. Cost-Effective Subscription Box Packaging Tips

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Investing in subscription box package design is essential for branding and marketing purposes, but it should not lead to a price increase that burdens consumers. One of the most cost-effective ways to produce packaging is to buy materials in bulk. To differentiate the design, you can instead custom-make items such as tape, stickers, labels, and cushioning materials and use them as needed. Ideally, the package itself would be fully custom-made from the start, but depending on the situation, a similar effect can be achieved with a few more affordable items.

2. Align with Eco-Friendly Packaging Trends

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As various conditions have changed recently, consumers have become much more sensitive to environmental issues when purchasing products. According to surveys, about 61% of consumers said they would be willing to switch to a more eco-friendly brand if the brand they currently use does not consider the environment. Therefore, using sustainable packaging materials is not only helpful for real environmental conservation, but also a favorable choice from a marketing perspective. Create eco-friendly subscription boxes with packaging materials that can be recycled or reused. In subscription services, where boxes are consumed repeatedly, this will be even more effective.

3. Protect Products Safely

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Safety is the foundation of packaging. This is even more true for subscription services, where brand image and trust are especially important. To transport products safely to customers without damage or deformation, it is a good idea to use cushioning materials. However, using plastic cushioning materials that are difficult to recycle may instead damage customer trust. We recommend eco-friendly cushioning materials made from biodegradable plastic, paper, mushrooms, and other materials that are now being produced in a variety of forms.

What Packaging Methods Can Be Used for Subscription Boxes?

1. Custom Boxes

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What matters about subscription services is that they are services consumers can experience only from that brand. To emphasize that and appeal to consumers, the packaging design must be special. For a package design that carries this brand’s unique identity and cannot be seen anywhere else, it is best to create a custom box rather than choose a standard design. Deliver an attractive encounter with the product and the brand to subscribers who want personalization in their purchases and an engaging experience.

2. Mailer Box

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Mailer boxes, also called postal boxes in English, are the most commonly used boxes for subscription services. Because they are made primarily from corrugated board, they protect contents safely, and they are often used overseas as delivery boxes. They can be designed in many different ways depending on the concept, and their top-flap opening structure makes it easy to see the product arrangement inside at a glance. For that reason, they are great for giving the recipient the feeling of receiving a gift.

3. Custom Kraft Tape

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To protect products securely, boxes often require tape by default. In this case, using kraft tape instead of ordinary box tape can achieve both sustainability and design appeal. In particular, using custom kraft tape printed with the brand name or logo gives the impression that even the smallest details have been carefully considered. Keeping every small element connected to the brand greatly helps communication with consumers.

For Creating a Unique Custom Subscription Box for Your Brand

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At Packative, you can order subscription boxes with custom designs freely according to your needs, from small quantities to large-scale production. You can choose eco-friendly materials for everything from the box material to the tape. Start creating your custom subscription box with Packative today!