Articles: unboxing

Unboxing sounds like a subject for large brands, yet in a small business it works even harder. Someone ordering from a small seller notices details more often and is more likely to show the parcel to friends.

Order matters

Opening a parcel is a short story with a beginning and an end. It pays to plan what the customer sees first and what appears only after a layer of paper is moved aside:

• The top layer - tissue, a sleeve or a thank you card that holds attention for a moment.
• The product in the middle, held so it does not slide about in transit.
• Extras beside it - a leaflet, a sample, a small gift, but in sensible numbers.
• Information at the end - how to use it, how to return it, where to find more.

This is not about piling things up. Two layers and one element of surprise are usually enough. Too many extras only distract from the reason the customer placed the order in the first place.

Good impressions without an elaborate box

You do not need a printed box of your own. A plain carton, a logo sticker, paper in your brand colour and a short card with a handwritten signature do more than a large box filled with air. What counts is that the inside looks prepared rather than packed in a hurry.

The practical side

The packaging also has to arrive intact and open without scissors going into the product. Before ordering a larger batch, pack one parcel exactly as you plan to and ask someone else to open it. You will see straight away what works and what only stands between the customer and the product.