A Guide to Custom Box Materials

Custom box printing has a lot of advantages for business owners. Not only are they great packaging solutions, but they’re also amazing promotional materials. 

The whole process gets even easier when you know the differences between each box and understand all the printing options available.

In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about custom box materials and what type to order for your business.

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Why Customize Boxes?

There are several reasons why you’ll want to print custom boxes for your business.

Size Options

Customizing boxes will allow you to create packaging that fits your product perfectly. Doing so will keep your items secure because there’s less room for them to move around. Also, it’ll make your business look more professional.

Branding

You can add your business name, logo, colors, and other branding elements that help shoppers tell your products apart from competing brands. Constant exposure to your branding will get potential customers to trust your brand.

Product Information

Printing boxes lets you include information that customers might need like product ingredients, manufacture date, and usage instructions. Having these will help shoppers make informed purchase decisions which could lead to improved sales for your business.

Target Audience

When you customize boxes, you can design them in such a way that they would appeal to your target audience. You could add the appropriate visual elements and copy. 

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What Are Boxes Made From?

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Most box designs get printed on corrugated boards — also known as cardboard. These are the industry standard. They’re tough enough to handle product transport. And they’re recyclable too, making them an eco-friendly packaging option.

Corrugated boards are lightweight. So this material lets businesses lower their shipping costs. And they’re highly customizable. Printers can use cardboard to produce different types of boxes.

It helps that designs turn out great when printed on cardboard boxes.

When you shop for custom boxes, you’ll find different material options. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones.

• Kraft — Kraft is what most people think of when they think of cardboard boxes. It looks natural and organic, making it a great material for environmentally conscious companies. But because kraft boxes are brown, printed colors will look slightly different. 
• Standard White — As its name suggests, the exterior of a standard white box has white liners. This makes it a better option for designs that require colors to be more accurate. The interior of the box is kraft. 
• Premium White — Premium white boxes are more premium than standard white boxes. The interior and the exterior are both white. 
• Premium White (Gloss) — This is the same as premium white. However, this option leaves a gloss finish on all boxes to make designs stand out. 

Different Types of Boxes

Every business is different. Some box packaging is more suited to its needs than others. Here are some of the most commonly used boxes by online sellers and those with physical store locations.

Product Boxes

Product boxes are the simplest form of protection you could use to keep your merchandise safe from physical damage. Some use them to prevent contaminants that would affect the quality of their products.

They come in different forms and sizes. Product boxes can also serve as an outer shell for other types of packaging like bottles or jars. Use these boxes to relay product information like ingredients (if applicable), usage instructions, and safety details.

These are often placed on store counters, display cabinets, and other spots that shoppers can easily see and access. 

Mailer Boxes

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Mailer boxes are a cross between shipping and product boxes. You can use these to mail products to customers or house items that wouldn’t fit in smaller containers. 

These boxes have a self-locking mechanism that secures products in place, especially when you seal them with a tape or label. They have a unique look as well which is why they make great subscription boxes.

You can use mailer boxes to store multiple products. You can print their interior to add special messages, promote other products, or leave instructions.

Shipping Boxes

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Shipping boxes are ideal for mailing bulk orders to customers. These are tough so they can handle regular shipping conditions. This also means you can stack them on top of one another.

They are available in multiple sizes. You shouldn’t have any trouble ordering boxes that fit your products perfectly.

If you’re selling large items, shipping boxes can double as product boxes. This will help keep your products in spectacular condition. It’ll keep dirt away as well.

Pizza Boxes, Shoe Boxes, and Wine Boxes

Some boxes have specific use cases. Pizza boxes are one of them. But these aren’t just good for pizzas. You can also use these to deliver products with the same measurements. Cookie cakes are one example. Some use pizza boxes to store wall clocks.

A shoe box will keep sneakers, boots, sandals, and other footwear looking amazing until purchase. But they’re just as good for DIY kits and products sold in sets.

You also have wine boxes that you can use to store two or more bottles. This makes it convenient for customers to carry bottles around. Other businesses use wine bottles for olive oils and other bottled products.

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How Are Custom Boxes Shipped?

Custom boxes are shipped flat to customers. They can store them in drawers or stack them on a shelf until they’re ready to be used. These assemble quickly. Some boxes come pre-glued, which means all you need to do is unfold them.

You should keep in mind that there are box printing companies that’ll let you order sample boxes. This should give you a better idea of what the boxes are like in person and let you see if the quality is up to your standards.

If you’d like to learn more about custom boxes, give us a call or chat with one of our representatives. We’ll help you find the right boxes for your business.

Related Posts

• Choosing Packaging Materials
• How to Design Custom Packaging for Your Small Business
• How to Package Your Ecommerce Product
• Turning Heads With PR Boxes
• What Is Food Packaging?

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