There’s the old gag of small children being more interested in the box than the present inside – most of us have told it at one time or another, and it always seems to apply. However, joking aside, festive packaging is a key part of the success of any seasonal e-commerce operation.

It’s even more important now that the clocks have gone back and Black Friday and Christmas are hurtling towards us at speed. So if you’re not already thinking about your seasonal packing supplies, we believe you should be.

Here’s how to start prepping so you’re fully ready come December:

• Be prepared

As with anything else, it’s all in the planning. Order in good time in case there are any shortages of materials. Use data from recent years to make an informed decision on your packaging needs for 2023. When exactly did your requirements spike last year? Which products saw greatest demand at this time of year? What packaging do they need?

Understand exactly when you’re likely to need more packaging – and be ready.

You can also be prepared with your designs for festive packaging and any attention-grabbing seasonal promotions you want to tease.

• Research the competition

What are your competitors doing? Do they launch sales early? What successful promotions do they run and what custom packaging have they used successfully?

• Managing stock levels

You may need to think about how to maximise any warehousing space you use, to fit the extra packaging. Equally, a ‘Just in Time’ service, in which items are ordered to meet precise demand, can also help optimise available room.

• Budgeting

Be sure your business can handle the upfront expenses of a successful trading season, and the costs of all the packaging you need to see you through it. Don’t under or over-purchase.

What to look for in your festive packaging products

As at any other time of year, your packaging supplies need to be strong enough to protect goods well while they are in transit, so that items fit snugly to avoid damage. Don’t over-pack.

Have boxes that are easy to open and recyclable, and think about the ‘unboxing experience’. How can you make this as pleasurable as possible for the person opening the package? (Could you have more printing on the inside of the box, for example?)

Indeed, all of the above may be even more important than usual during the festive season, given the importance and emotions people attach to sending seasonal parcels. Equally, it’s a time when customers may be buying or receiving your goods for the first time.

Talk to us

So there are many things to consider when preparing your orders for Christmas or Black Friday.

At AirPack Systems, we stock a huge range of protective air packaging, plus customised inflatable packaging solutions and bespoke printed cardboard boxes.

Get in touch today to discuss your needs – we have our own factory, so can meet bespoke packaging orders rapidly and at scale, and with low minimum orders.

We can help you be ready for the festive season, with everything you need to package every order so that it reaches its final destination intact and on time.