A subscription brand in the middle of the festive season is currently in the middle of a very odd packaging situation. The normal subscriber base will be expecting their monthly deliveries as normal. The festive shopper base on the other hand will be placing hundreds of gift orders at that very moment. You need packaging for both of those groups, just that the requirements are very different.
Ordering too many boxes ends up with you having unused inventory come the holidays. Ordering too few risks you not having enough to meet demand during the peak selling period.
The answer isn’t just to use recyclable materials. Sustainable custom boxes work best when the volumes you’re packaging are in line with actual demand and you have designs that are flexible enough to deal with both your regular subscription orders and your seasonal gift orders.
Why Subscription Renewals and Holiday Orders Need Separate Forecasts
Subscription renewals are a good barometer of packaging demand. Holiday gift sales are a completely different proposition in terms of predictability as the volume can vary massively due to promotions, the corporate orders and the very nature of holiday buying.
Combining both into one positive forecast creates an unwarranted inventory risk.
Wellness subscription brand looking at 1,100 active subs next month. 70 pauses/cancellations, 170 new subs and 260 holiday gift orders to expect.
Its estimated packaging requirement becomes:
1,100 − 70 + 170 + 260 = 1,460 boxes
You can then add in a carefully calculated allowance for replacements and for the odd, unforeseen order.
However, track gift demand separately. If holiday sales are down then the brand needs to know whether the rest of the packaging can support future subscription deliveries.
That’s where the reusable packaging specifications come in.
Design One Box Structure for Two Different Sales Cycles
One way of reducing the amount of packaging overstock would be to keep the outer box the same and just change the presentation.
For instance a skincare subscription company could use the same corrugated mailer for their regular monthly deliveries and for their Christmas gift sets. The regular subscriptions would be sent with the standard printed card whereas the Christmas gift sets would be sent with seasonal sleeves/inserts.
This approach eliminates the need to buy a completely separate printed box inventory.
Keep Permanent Branding Separate From Seasonal Details
The outer structure can contain the stable brand elements such as the company logo, the company colours and the website.
Seasonal messaging can appear on replaceable components:
- Printed paper sleeves for holiday collections
- Interchangeable inserts for changing product assortments
- Gift cards carrying occasion-specific messages
- Removable paper labels identifying limited editions
These should be ordered in accordance with campaign demand rather than based on annual subscription volume.
For brands looking at customized gift boxes wholesale, shared structural designs can make seasonal packaging a lot easier to manage without having to sacrifice the look.
How Packaging Dimensions Affect Shipping Costs and Waste
Subscription content is very much a case of it changing month on month. One month you might get two skincare bottles; the following month you could be looking at a holiday set which might well contain candles, some little bits and pieces and a whole range of other promotional goods.
Using the largest box you can for every shipment creates all sorts of wasted space.
However having a different box size for every combination would lead to a massive increase in packaging inventory complexity.
A practical solution would be to pick out two or three product configurations that occur regularly and then compare their dimensions, weight and the level of protection they require.
The shipping implications are important. UPS will look at dimensional weight and that could impact the charge if the package is quite large in dimensions relative to its actual weight. UPS shipping dimensions guidance.
Right sizing will help to control the amount of material used and the cost of shipping, though fragile goods will still require appropriate protection.
Choose Sustainable Custom Boxes Materials Without Compromising Product Protection
Material selection should be in line with the product being shipped rather than just the look of the packaging.
Corrugated board is ideal for a lot of subscription mailers as the fluting gives it both cushioning and structural strength. Kraft paperboard will do the job for a lot of lighter gift packaging and you can use moulded pulp or die-cut paperboard inserts to separate the product.
The key issue is whether the finished package performs reliably in transit.
A damaged glass skincare bottle for instance creates product waste and would require new packaging and another shipment.
The US EPA identify source reduction and reuse as the preferred approaches to waste management. EPA materials management guidance.
US EPA
So sustainable custom boxes and packaging decisions need to take into account material consumption, protective performance and avoidable stock.
Low MOQ Printing Helps Brands Handle Uncertain Holiday Demand
Large packaging orders will invariably have a lower per unit printing cost. The problem is that the cost saving disappears very quickly when you’ve got seasonal cartons sitting around after the promotion has finished.
Low MOQ printing enables brands to run smaller packaging runs for limited edition products and for where the demand is uncertain. Suppose the company is expecting 500 holiday gift orders but only has 250 purchases confirmed.
Rather than go straight in and order 500 fully printed seasonal boxes, it could look at using the existing branded mailers and a smaller number of the holiday sleeves. If demand increases they can order further components (subject to production capacity and lead times).
This works very well in the situation where your subscription box packaging solution is going to be used across several different campaigns and all of those campaigns are going to have the same box dimensions and same box structure.
Low MOQ isn’t necessarily the cheapest way to buy. You need to look at the unit cost, the set up cost, the reorder cost and the risk of having stock that you can’t sell.
Prevent Leftover Customized Gift Boxes Wholesale From Becoming Obsolete Stock
Seasonal printing means the packaging becomes less flexible once the campaign is over.
A box with a particular festive message on it can become very difficult to use in January even if the box itself is still perfectly functional.
Businesses can mitigate that risk by separating the permanent packaging from the temporary promotional artwork.
Before you go ahead and approve production ask whether the box can take another product range, whether the seasonal items can be stripped out and whether the existing stock could be used to support future orders.
Review your packaging inventories after each campaign.
| Packaging component | Recommended inventory approach |
| Standard branded mailers | Forecast against recurring subscription demand |
| Holiday sleeves | Order against seasonal sales expectations |
| Protective inserts | Match quantities to actual product combinations |
| Printed gift cards | Use smaller runs for changing messages |
This enables the purchasing team to work out which items are suitable for bulk pricing and which are better off with more flexible reordering.
Keep Environmental Claims Accurate
A kraft box isn’t automatically recyclable or in any way environmentally preferable.
Coatings, plastic windows, adhesives and mixed materials (e.g. plastic on paper) can all have an effect on the post-consumer handling of the packaging.
The FTC’s Green Guides tell companies to steer clear of vague, unsubstantiated environmental claims and to be specific about the benefits they’re offering.
Brands should check the material specs and verify the recycling claims before they go ahead and print any environmental messages.
Plan Subscription Box Packaging Solutions Around Real Demand
Successful packaging procurement requires a degree of coordination between Marketing, Purchasing and Fulfilment.
Marketing should be the one to communicate the campaigns that are coming up, purchasing should be the one to track the packaging inventory and the fulfillment teams should be the ones to confirm which of the structures actually work with the product.
Multiple Packages offer eco-friendly packaging and custom gift packaging for US businesses in a range of industries.
Brands comparing sustainable custom boxes to customized gift boxes wholesale can look at the materials, sizes, printing and quantities before they go ahead and produce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the minimum order quantity for the subscription box packaging solutions and customized gift boxes wholesale?
MOQ is dependent on the materials, the box size and the degree of customisation. There will be low MOQ options which will be suitable for smaller seasonal orders.
How long does sustainable custom box production take?
Production time is dependent on quantity, printing, materials and finishing.
Can I get a sample prior to placing an order for sustainable custom boxes in bulk?
Sample availability is dependent on the packaging specification you select. Get in touch with Multiple Packages to confirm what’s available.
Make Every Packaging Order Count
Subscription renewals and the holiday gift season shouldn’t be the reason you’re buying packaging that you didn’t need to buy in the first place.
With better demand forecasting, shared structural designs and flexible print runs brands can reduce the amount of obsolescence whilst still having their products protected and professionally presented.
Look at the range of packages available from Multiple Packages for brand focused subscription box packaging that you can then plan your packaging around your product requirements, your seasonal campaigns and your expected order volumes.