Meet 6 Small Businesses Who Have Stand Out Unboxing Experiences

Image by The Kind Curator

Global ecommerce sales are expected to hit $4.2 trillion in 2021, so it’s no surprise that making a memorable impression on customers ordering online is more important than ever.

What better way is there to leave a lasting memory than providing your customers with an impressive unboxing experience?

There’s no better feeling than when a package arrives at your doorstep, and this feeling is amplified when it arrives looking well designed and stands out from the sea of standard brown boxes and plain mailers. 🎁

📦 Why are unboxings so special?

Receiving a package is a symbol of care and connection, and these feelings are made even stronger when you’ve been patiently waiting for something to arrive.

A study from the Journal of Marketing shows that when a person is pleasantly surprised with a product, their enjoyment of that product increases by up to 25%.

Unboxings are one of the first instances where customers experience a physical interaction with brands, so putting together a great package is an ideal way to have them engage positively with your brand’s identity, purpose and products.

A brand’s unboxing design and the experience that follows it play large roles in customer satisfaction and continued brand loyalty.

✨ Why a stand out unboxing experience keeps customers coming back

The unboxing experience serves as an indicator of how much your business values its customers beyond a transactional relationship.

When you send your products in unique and carefully curated packaging, your customer will become much more emotionally engaged and likely to make repeat purchases from your brand.

These purchases mean they become a part of your community of biggest supporters – so, it’s crucial to show them your appreciation through an expressive unboxing experience.

💡  Inspiration Station

Want to take your business’s unboxing game to the next level? With some creativity, you can provide an experience that’s more than just having customers add products to a cart and checking out!

Below, six small businesses share their packaging design process, how they create amazing unboxing experiences for their customers and more thoughtful unboxing tips that can help you get started on your unboxing journey.

Aenid Studio

Aenid Studio is the manifestation of love, creativity and dedication from creator and owner, Diane, whose paintings inspire comfort and ease. In her studio based in the Philippines, Diane curates a calming unboxing experience with each of her orders, by wrapping her pieces in envelopes that she adorns with her custom noissue Stamp and soy-based ink.

The neutral colors and warm elements in her packaging are an element that Diane intentionally includes in her unboxing experience, so that her customers feel as if they’re receiving a special gift from a close friend. Recently, Diane is finding more ways to make her customers feel even more welcomed and appreciated by including a free mini artwork in her packages.

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

I can only think of one word: a gift. That feeling you get when receiving gifts from a loved one (or from yourself). I love gifts because they make me feel special. And one of the things that I love about receiving gifts is the unboxing part! So I’d like my artwork buyers to feel the same, especially in this new normal where we can sometimes feel isolated. I want them to feel special.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

I package each artwork with care and attention as if it was a gift. I always ask myself how I would feel if I was the customer. I think about my own experiences when receiving packages and take note of the good ones as well as the bad. For example, I really love it when a shop includes a freebie or a thank you note in my package. I don’t know but there’s something so special about getting more than what you expected. So aside from thank you cards, I am now including a free mini artwork to every Aenid Studio package with a handwritten note at the back to add personal touch. Another important thing that comes with my original artworks is a branded envelope that holds the Certificate of Authenticity. Upon unboxing, customers will be greeted with an envelope with the brand logo that was manually stamped with noissue custom stamp. The custom stamp adds a premium feel to a once plain envelope!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Put your feet in the shoes of your customers. Think about how you would feel if you were the one receiving that package. I think the key is to make yourself memorable in a good way. I’ve made tons of online purchases through the years but I can only remember a few stores/brands: the ones who made an effort in packing my package securely and beautifully, the ones who paid attention to detail and the ones who used as little to no plastic as possible. Make your unboxing experience stand out by incorporating your branding into your packaging!

Goodordering

We love how Goodordering, a UK-based independent cycling accessory company, instills happiness with every package they send to their customers. Their range of lively backpacks and commuter bags are only further complemented by the addition of the witty and biodegradable slogan stickers, which get customers excited to represent the brand’s mission.

With their cheeky slogan,  “Eat Fruit, Ride Fast,” on custom noissue Stickers printed with soy-based ink on acid-free paper that gets included into orders, Good Ordering crafts an easygoing and genuinely bright unboxing experience.

(Goodordering has plenty of practical bags, spirited apparel and more than come wrapped in sleek, minimal tissue paper, allowing their slogan stickers to pop upon first glance.)

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

Surprise. Delight. On Brand.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

My aim is to have an unboxing experience which is true to the brand. I like it to be personal, so where I can I put in a personal note or card. We use recycled plastic mailers personalised with a range of stickers. There is an ‘80s vibe about the packaging – it almost feels like you have received a letter from your favourite penpal in the ‘80s.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Work within your budget, it's tempting to go overboard. I got some Goodordering masking tape made which is great for all kinds of packaging and is really versatile. In my experience the customer DOES care about sustainability in packaging so it's important to make your decisions and choices clear. If you are using recycled or compostable packaging, then call it out to the customer and tell them. Surprising elements such as hidden messages go a long way in creating a memorable experience.

Sally Payne Designs

Hailing from the UK, Sally Payne Designs is the brainchild of illustrator Sally. Her prints and stationery style can be described as cheerfully imaginative and purely playful. With a woodland-inspired Kraft mailer, Sally’s customers get a special sneak peek of some fun illustrations before they open their package.

Sally’s whimsical art makes a splash on her noissue custom Kraft mailers, and it’s especially enjoyable to color in the artwork yourself using crayons or paint!

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

Excitement, uplifting, unique.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

My work features lots of animals so I felt it was really important that they featured! I wanted something simple yet striking so chose a strong linear based design for the packaging – this works so well with the kraft cardboard and offers my customers an insight into what is inside the envelope!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Think about how your customers will feel when they receive their package – make sure the design or illustrations reflect your brand. Keep the designs fairly simple, yet eye catching!

KTT Studios

KTT Studios is an American drinkware, decor and accessories business that includes thank you cards with an inspiring quote in every order. Founder Kim likens the custom noissue Cards she uses as a way to genuinely express gratitude for every customer that finds something special within her shop.

Kim aims for her products to spark some joy, serve a function and celebrate achievements of all sizes, which are aspects that are represented in the thank you cards accompanying each order.

The uplifting quote from designer Marc Jacobs adds a stylish touch to her unboxing experience, and customers receive an extra keepsake in this way as well.

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

Simple, functional, reusable.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

When designing my unboxing experience for customers, I strive to remove all unnecessary frills and eliminate waste. I try to think of what my customers may want to see in a package, for example, a unique and handwritten thank you note that they can reuse or repurpose. I like to base all other elements off of a similar color scheme or design, and on its functionality, leaving out the things I feel are unnecessary.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Advice I’d give to someone looking to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience is to use designs and ideas that are not only distinctive to your business, but also act as a physical representation of your work/product. Basing your unboxing experience on your actual product, you can then seek out sustainable items that help positively add to and support your business/products (and reduce your carbon footprint).

The Butcher’s Daughter Cakes

The Butcher’s Daughter Cakes is an Australian bakery that founder Hannah describes as the physical manifestation of her love for all things sweet. Using custom noissue Foodsafe paper to carefully protect and package her delicious (read: utterly irresistible!) pastries, cakes and treats, Hannah always hopes to bring an unboxing experience meant to delightfully surprise her customers.

With easy hospitality and a passion for the sweeter things in life all represented in each product’s packaging design, The Butcher’s Daughter Cakes gives their customers an unboxing experience that keeps them wanting to come back for more!

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

Surprise, delight, delicious.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

In designing our unboxing experience we wanted our desserts to be seen. Encased in our branded TBDC tissue paper to help protect the delicate sweets. We decorate with Lolly fill, so the entire box is FULL of deliciousness.

And to wrap it all up with our TBDC tape and ribbon. It’s pretty, but not over complicated so customers can get straight to the good stuff.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Less is more. Customers want to get straight to the delectable treats they’ve ordered and tell us they don’t want mountains of filler paper to have to dispose of afterwards. When choosing packaging, we've selected box sizes that can be reused for other purposes around the house.

Jedidiah Coffee

Jedidiah Coffee is a specialty coffee company located in sunny Laguna Canyon, California, that crafts an unboxing experience centered around packaging their products in no-fuss, low waste designs. The small business’s ethos is all about putting the fine art of craft coffee and a love for the beaches of Laguna forward.

A great unboxing experience doesn’t actually have to come in a box – their awesome coffee subscription service embodies this by coming in noissue Recycled Mailers, which gives plastics already in circulation a second life.

Jedidiah Coffee represents founders Embry and Steve’s devotion to exemplary coffee and to cultivating an authentic community. Their unboxing experience shines a light on their mission, by being minimal yet mindful of producing as little excess waste as possible.

What are three words that describe the unboxing experience you aim to provide customers with?

Exciting. Recognizable. Friendly.

Talk us through the creative process of designing your unboxing experience. How did you decide what packaging elements to include and what to leave out?

When our customers open their coffee mail from us we want them to immediately feel a sense of support and community. We aim for our products to portray the high quality that they are, while also remaining true to our value of being as sustainable as possible. We were drawn to the recyclable mailers because we’re using recycled materials ourselves and then making it easy to help our customers do the same with the second adhesive strip. The teal color of the mailer was a major appeal as it is our main branding color and it stands out when we deliver around town!

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to create a unique and sustainable unboxing experience?

Our advice to other brands is to take your time, research and sample products until you find something that aligns with your value as a company. Then help your customers in the process by explaining your reasoning and how they can be a part of the process! Since day one of our company we have stayed true to choosing small quantities of eco friendly products versus cheap bulk products just to keep costs low. There is a balance, it just takes time and commitment!

🎀 Wrapping it up

So there you have it! These six small businesses knock it out of the park with their attention to their packaging design, thoughtful ways of branding, and extras for a memorable unboxing experience that also doesn’t harm the environment.

Be sure to follow their tips and insights on how to get started with a great unboxing experience, and don’t forget that noissue is right there with you to bring your dream packaging designs to life.

Want to level up your business’s unboxing experience and amp up your packaging design? Take a look through our products, from custom Kraft Mailers, Tape, Stickers and Stamps to Stock Mailers, to surprise and delight your customers!