Some businesses rely on e-commerce for sales, and others on retail services. But there is another way to improve your product sales. That is through subscription services. It involves sending the products at a scheduled time period to the customers. It is not a one-time purchase, but a continuous one. What makes this marketing technique so effective is actually the subscription box packaging. The quality of the unboxing experience increases the customer retention rate.
To learn more about what a subscription box is, its importance, types, and what industries need to opt for this service, you can continue reading this guide. You’ll also find information on how to customize subscription boxes and how to increase customer loyalty through the packaging. In the end, you'll also discover the right manufacturers for packaging. Let's dive in!
What Exactly Is A Subscription Box?
A subscription box consists of a curated collection of products or samples, or even a single recurring product. They are also known as retail subscription kits. These branded and durable boxes are delivered to the customers on a regular scheduled basis, sometimes monthly and otherwise in a week or custom duration. The customer actually signs up to receive such a packaging box.
But it is not just about boxes or products. The subscription box packaging is designed to provide a memorable unboxing experience. It usually comes with the custom inserts, notes, and other elements, which make the product reveal experience very pleasant.
Due to the ease of product delivery and great package opening experience, customers stay signed up to receive such packaging. This improves the customer retention rate. Also, a lot of people share their unboxing moments online through Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms. This acts as a marketing tool for the business. So subscription box packaging, in fact, helps business owners to improve their ROI.
What Makes Subscription Boxes So Special
It is quite a different way of marketing than other methods. Here are some of the reasons why the curated packaging solution stands out for businesses:
Great Unboxing Experience: The pleasant box-opening experience stays with the customer. As it makes them excited, they are likely to order more products.
Increase Product Sales: Unlike retail packaging, the subscription services package guarantees you product sales. Instead of just one product, the boxes carry multiple items inside, mostly.
Guaranteed Revenue: The businesses can track how many people stay subscribed to the services. So this improves the uncertainty in the business model. The owners get to stay confident in their product sales.
Increased ROI: As more products are ordered at a scheduled rate, this improves the return on investment for the business. With less input, they get more profit.
Improved Marketing: Due to remarkable packaging, a lot of people share their experience online on social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and others. So this results in the organic marketing for the brand.
So, packaging subscription boxes not only provides a constant supply of product to consumers. But also proves considerably great for businesses.
Quick History Of Subscription Packaging
Before we dive into the importance of subscription packaging, let’s dive into its history. In fact, way before this modern era, newspapers and books were delivered to customers on a regular basis. In the 19th century, people subscribed to receive them through the mail. But at that time, the packaging was not that durable or eye-catching.
The modern concept of subscription box packaging came into being in 2010. A beauty brand came up with an innovative idea to design beauty boxes and send makeup and other products to customers on a scheduled basis. Later in 2012, a similar idea was adopted by the company that sells razors.
In 2020, COVID-19 gave rise to the concept of subscription packaging boxes. As the people could not go out, they opted to receive products on a regular basis. This convenience and quality unboxing led to the success of subscription packaging. [Credits: ResearchGate]
Market Trends Of Subscription Packaging Boxes
Once consumers order the monthly packages, they get excited and wait to receive their product. When they receive a high-quality product, it makes them feel so excited. It is reported that 51% of people are likely to view your product as high-end if the packaging is of high quality. And 31% of the people are more inclined to buy your products just based on the packaging style.
The market for subscription services is estimated to be 17.1 billion USD in 2024. It is expected to grow to about 31.3 billion USD in 2034. [Credits: TheBusinessResearchCompany]
One of the major brands that actually benefited from this market is HelloFresh SE, which provides meal kits. In fact, it holds a 14% share in the global market for subscription services.
Which Industries Can Benefit From Subscription Boxes
Any industry that sells products that are used on a daily basis by individuals can benefit from subscription box packaging. There are some industries where subscription boxes prove to be considerably good at improving product sales. Such industries are mentioned below:
Cosmetic and Beauty
Makeup is a very important product to own, especially for women. People who care about personal grooming like to invest a lot in product packaging. Products like lipstick, mascara, matte powder, deodorants, hair gel, and other beauty or personal hygiene products can be delivered through subscription services.
Food and Beverage
Everyone likes their kitchen and fridges filled all the time. To make sure of that, subscription boxes play the role. Products like coffee, spices, sauces, meat, fruits & vegetables, and others can be sent in a very aesthetically pleasing way to the customers through subscription boxes.
Pet and Animal
The animal lovers genuinely care about their pets. They are ready to invest in quality subscription packaging for their animal fellows. Packaging for pet food and other products, such as toys, collars, and health-related products, can be delivered on a scheduled basis.
Health and Wellness
To stay healthy is the goal of every individual. As a business, you can contribute to that. Products like vitamins and protein supplements can be delivered to the person. The pharma industry can also benefit through this by sending medicines and other first health products periodically. Other items, like home gym accessories and wellness journals, can also be a great part of subscription packaging.
Publishing & Library
The old method of delivering books and newspapers is no doubt through subscription services. To make your newspaper or book stand out, you can design such great packaging that makes customers come back to your service and not others. The novels, comic books, and related products can be sent to consumers for a specific duration.
Fashion
Some like online shopping, others like to go to malls. But there are some people who would like to receive the apparel at their doorstep with minimal effort. Furthermore, the accessories like shoes, watches, scarves, and hats can also be included in the package.
Creative & Artistic
The artists and other people in creative fields want to have proper access to multiple accessories. This includes markers, pens, canvas, paint brushes, paint trays, a sketchbook, and other related stationery items. Also, you can gain the interest of artists through aesthetically designed subscription packaging boxes.
Music
For some people, music is like the backbone of their daily activities. Some use it to relax, others for relaxing emotions, and some for background noise. The fans of a particular singer or brand like to receive cassettes, posters, and other magazines related to the music industry. The musical instruments, like the gramophone records and player, xylophone, guitar, and others, can also be sent through subscription services.
B2B and Corporate Gifting
Large corporate organizations and even startups like to honour their employees monthly. For this reason, they require a constant supply of gifts. Also, to build strong relationships with other businesses, the brands send each other gifts on a regular basis. So subscription packaging can help a lot in this industry, too.
Digital & Electronics
The subscription boxes also find their role in technology. The products, such as phone accessories, charging cables, a mouse, and other tech gadgets, can be sent periodically. Most particularly, corporate companies are the ones that choose such service, so as a tech brand, you can target them.
Agriculture & Horticulture
Farmers and home gardeners need a constant supply of products like seeds, fertilizer, and plant care tools. This can be made possible through subscription-based services. When consumers and farmers receive a regular supply for agri products, their crops bloom. So, consumers stay subscribed to your service.
Non-profit Organizations
The NGOs can build a strong connection with their supporters by sending a monthly thank-you card or merchandise to show respect. The curated boxes with stationery, notebooks, branded merchandise, and other stuff can be sent to the donors monthly or periodically. This helps the organizations to retain their contributors.
These are not all. Every industry can benefit from subscription box packaging, as long as they send products that are valuable for everyday use.
How Packaging Affects Client Retention Rate
The first thing that matters for consumers is to receive products that are intact and not damaged during delivery. For that, durable and sturdy material is required. The other factor is the appearance of boxes. The themes and stylish or creative elements on the boxes can connect emotionally with the customers. Due to this reason, they are somehow inclined to order your product again.
In addition, the quality unboxing experience with custom inserts, personalized notes, and other elements provides excitement to the customers. On top of that, quality add-on features like embossing, soft touch laminating, and other things make your boxes look high-end. This improves the perceived value of your brand. By the combination of all these factors, people are most likely to stay subscribed to your service. So the retention rate of the consumer is greatly improved, all thanks to subscription box packaging.
Types Of Subscription Box Packaging
Some of the branded shipping boxes that provide great support during delivery and also have a quality appearance are mentioned below:
Regular Slotted Container (RSC)
This is your typical box, which comes with four equal flaps. It uses less material, so it is a cost-effective way of packaging. Such boxes are also light in weight.
Mailer & Shipping Boxes
These boxes have a self-locking mechanism. Their easy management makes them great for e-commerce shipping. There are various types, like roll end front tuck REFT), roll end tuck top RETT, reverse tuck boxes RTE, seal end boxes, and other similar types.
Magnetic Boxes
Such packing comes with a magnetic strip. So the box closes automatically. It makes the packaging look much more premium. It can be great for cosmetics, gifts, and other products.
Folding Boxes
Such boxes initially appear as single layers. Later on, they are assembled to form a box. This type of packaging helps to conserve space in the warehouse. They help to improve SMC operations.
Banker Boxes
For files, newspapers, and documents, the banker boxes suit well. They are designed in a way to be used for storage for long-term use.
Booklet Boxes
The appearance of this box is quite special. It opens just like a book. The stationery items, books, novels, or other such items can be delivered in such books for a weekly or monthly subscription.
Unique Shapes Boxes
The peculiar shapes arouse the curiosity and interest of customers. The shapes, such as long tubes, pyramid shapes, star-shaped, or any geometrical-shaped boxes, can be used for scheduled deliveries.
Seasonal and Limited-Edition Packaging
You can also design your accordion to a particular theme, like Mother's Day or Father's Day, Christmas, and other particular holidays. During the specific event day, you can send limited edition products, which makes your consumers feel so special.
On top of the above subscription box packaging examples, you can opt for any design or type for the packaging subscription boxes. The more unique and sturdy the packaging, the greater the customer retention rate.
How To Design Subscription Box Packaging That Stands Out
Now that you understand the importance of subscription box packaging and its basic factors, let's move to the next step. Let’s discuss how you can design quality subscription box packaging that proves to be of much value for your business:
Choice Of Sustainable Material
The material for your subscription box packaging needs to be sturdy and able to resist moisture and shock during delivery. But that is not all. Since you have to send packages regularly, environmental concerns need to be kept in mind. The reliability of material matters.
So, you can choose eco-friendly materials that are derived from plant-based sources. It is also important to note that people are becoming eco-conscious. They choose brands that show concern for the planet. So the choice of sustainable material also improves your brand image. Here are some of the materials to consider:
Kraft Papers
One of the most budget friendly options for packaging is kraft paper. It is not only economical, but also an eco-friendly material for the environment, as it is biodegradable. It can be used to wrap the already formed packaging or to individually wrap the items in the package.
Corrugated
This material is an environmentally friendly option. It meets the FSC standards for sustainability. It actually comes with multiple layers. The center one is fluted. This design makes the box withstand shocks and vibrations during shipping. Hence, for this reason, it is one of the top choices for subscription box packaging.
Cardstock
If you want something that delivers it all, looks, support, and durability, then the choice is cardstock. It is a little bit more expensive than the previous materials, but still worth it based on its features. It comes with smooth services, which make it easy to print various themes on the box.
Rigid Stock
This is one of the premier options. It provides the maximum strength to the boxes. But it is also quite expensive. If you own a luxury brand, you can invest in this material. It provides a high-quality look that improves your perceived brand value.
So above are some of the economical and eco-friendly choices. Besides that, you can also consider PP, PE, and BOPP for plastic packaging, but they are less eco friendly option than the others.
Get Quality Packaging Appearance With Printing Choices
The look of the box also greatly matters. You can include a great color scheme, theme, and illustration on the boxes. All this is possible through quality print methods like CMYK and PMS.
The CMYK works instantly and provides good colors. On the other hand, PMS is an advanced method that provides highly accurate color matching.
Both prove to be valuable for subscription box packaging. When you add elements to the boxes that connect with customers, it creates an emotional connection. This emotional connection is what can drive the growth of your brand. That is through increased product sales.
Improve Perceived Value Through Add-Ons
You can also opt for further features that improve your subscription box packaging quality. You can consider laminations, which make your boxes more sturdy. What you can do is also apply aqueous coating or varnishing for good quality.
In addition to that, enhancing features like embossing and debossing can make your boxes look aesthetic. The soft-touch laminations can add to the luxurious feel. All these quality features can not just improve appearance, but also make your boxes much more protective. So during shipping, the packaging stays intact. And the unboxing provides an exciting experience to the customer.
Create An Unboxing Experience With Multiple Elements
The custom inserts prove to be so great for placing multiple items in the subscription box package. They provide great organization in the box. This improves the package opening experience for the customers.
The presence of personalized notes also makes people feel so special. If the box comes with the ribbon, it makes them feel like they received a gift and not just the product. This adds to the great moment. You can also include an additional surprise gift. This can make your customers very happy and build a connection with your brand. The cards for special discounts or limited offers can also be provided.
Additionally, you can add stickers on the box and a proper label, which makes the packaging look appealing. The presence of a thank-you card also builds an emotional connection with the consumers, which makes them stay subscribed to your service.
Include Digital and Smart Elements For Social Sharing
The additions of smart elements like NFC tags, chips, and QR codes provide great value to your business. It helps increase the viewer engagement and increase your website reach organically.
The smart chips help to track your product during shipping and delivery, which can improve SCM management. Also, customers can keep track of their orders and determine when they will reach them.
The NFC tags provide the information related to the product. The QR codes are the main ingredient to increase your website reach. People can scan the code and get access to the website. There, they can discover more products.
Also, when people share their experience online, a lot of people can view your custom boxes for subscription with a QR code. So social media shareability and traffic are increased due to smart features, which leads to more sales.
Include CTA Elements and Encourage Online Shareability
To up your marketing level, you can include some further elements. You can include call-to-action elements that improve your sales. You can add a discount code for other products, which can encourage the buyer to order from your business.
What you can also do is add a family discount. This can encourage the customers to share the product details with their friends or family. You can also add a special discount or a promise of additional gifts for social media sharing. When customers know that their video will give them a chance to have more free products, they are likely to share on social media. So your organic reach improves.
These were the major factors that can improve your marketing through direct-to-consumer shipping containers. There are countless ways in which you can make your packing boxes stand out. All you need is imagination and a great budget.
Tips To Reduce Shipping Costs With Subscription Box Packaging
All the things about subscription box packaging sound great, but sadly, it comes with a great price tag. The companies that are just starting may hesitate to try this marketing. But here is good news. By the use of some simple tips, you can actually reduce the input cost for packaging. Here are some of the things that you can keep in mind:
+ Make sure to use the right size. The material and size of the box actually add to the cost. When you use the perfectly sized boxes, it can help you avoid any unnecessary charges.
+ Another important thing regarding the material is to choose lightweight options. The material, like corrugated boards and kraft paper lining, can help in cost savings as it also reduces shipping costs.
+ The wholesale purchase of subscription box packaging can help you save so much amount of money. Instead of ordering again and again, just buy once in bulk. It can help you save 30-50% of the money.
+ Although add-on factors improve your subscription box marketing, if you are just starting out and don’t have the budget, then you can skip this step.
If you follow these easy tips, then no doubt you will be able to save your input investment and still get good marketing results.
The Best Subscription Box Packaging Manufacturers
After all this info, you will probably be wondering where I can get such quality subscription box packaging. Well, the answer is right here. MyBoxPrinting is a subscription box packaging company that has been in the industry for over 25 years. During this time, we have helped over 5000+ clients with quality packing boxes. We not only designed the product, but also helped businesses to improve their ROI, all thanks to sturdy and appealing product carriers.
You can count on us not just for subscription packaging boxes, but also for others such as PR boxes, shipping packaging, and retail carriers. Here is what you can get with us:
+ We offer biodegradable and eco-friendly materials for the production of boxes. This helps you play your part in corporate responsibility.
+ You get free design support and also a sample, before you actually place a wholesale order. So, you get full confidence in our services.
+ There are plenty of add-on opinions to choose from. You can get embossing, debossing, inserts,s and so many other great features to make your packaging standout.
+ Another unique thing that we offer is smart features. You can opt for NFC tags, smart chips, and QR codes on the boxes.
If you want subscription product boxes to outshine your competitors, then you can contact us to design packaging that does the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get the best subscription boxes?
You can get the best packaging for subscription boxes at MyBoxPrinting. The 25 years of experience speak for themselves. Plus, you get to have a chance to customize your packaging. The availability of biodegradable material adds to the positive brand imaging.
What are some subscription container ideas?
The ideas that can improve the packaging are the addition of custom inserts. You can also include branded tissue papers, personalized notes, and visual elements on the packaging. The goal is to make the unboxing experience as memorable as possible.
What are the best subscription packaging solutions?
The mailer boxes are the go-to choices for any business owner for subscription packaging. Most particularly, the roll end front tuck boxes REFT offer great durability during delivery and shipping.
Is it possible to get affordable bulk packing for subscription products?
Absolutely. The subscription packaging does not have to cost a lot if you follow some important tips. All you need to do is choose lightweight material and perfectly sized boxes for products. MyBoxPrinting is here for you to provide an affordable packaging solution for subscription boxes.
What are the relevant laws and regulations for subscription packages?
In the U.S., subscription products need to comply with the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. This requires clear product identity, quantity, and manufacturer details. Also, it is regulated by the FTC and FDA, or the Consumer. Other state-specific laws may also apply.
Can I customize the packaging for my subscription boxes?
In fact, customized packaging is much better than the standard one. The custom feature can allow you to design the box however you want with much more creativity. The more aesthetic the boxes, the more the chance of customer retention.
What is the role of subscription box fillers and inserts?
The fillers and inserts make it easy to place multiple products in a single package. It improves the organization in the box. Due to them, the products stay safe during shipping. Also, they increase the wow factor during the unboxing.
What is a digital subscription box?
The digital subscription box does not include the actual box but soft services. It follows the same subscription service but for products like online courses, digital art, app subscriptions, and software licenses.
How to price my product's subscription box product?
You need to take in multiple factors like product cost, packing cost, shipping price, and also the operational cost. The 40% price should be for the products, and 60% price should go for packaging and other operational and shipping processes.
Final Thought
Subscription box packaging involves sending single or multiple products to customers for a particular duration. Such packaging is of high quality with appealing elements. Industries like cosmetics, health, pets, and more can benefit from such services.
The mailer boxes and folding boxes are among the various other choices for delivery. The boxes can be customized with biodegradable material and other special add-in features. What helps more is the integration of smart elements, that is, NFC tags, QR codes, and others.
If you still have a question or are getting confused about which one is better and which one will increase your sales overnight, do not waste your time. Pick up your phone, call us, or contact us by pressing the button below to get a free consultation. We are always here for you!
