Why Shipping Boxes Are The New Retail

Sure, stores might be reopening in some parts of the country, but there’s still an awful lot of folks who are more than content to sit the mall experience out because of COVID-19. And if that’s the case, should every brand and retailer just throw in the towel and give Amazon all their money?

Well, of course not.

Consumers still want the retail experience, even if they’re not exactly comfortable with shopping in stores, and that makes unboxing even more significant. Brands will spend plenty of money on premium, retail packaging, but they often don’t pay enough attention to e-commerce, and if you can’t create a wow moment in the store, then you’ll need to bring that to their front door. Because if a fashion house can bring the runway to your home during lockdown, then you’re going to need to invest in creating an experience for consumers.

That’s why shipping boxes and mailers are the new retail.

E-commerce was already growing, but now, with some parts of the world still mired in lockdown, we could see an explosion of activity. So, if you’re a brand that now needs to scale up its e-commerce presence and deliver a singular unboxing experience, you’ll want to take a look at Packwire. This company allows you to create custom boxes with your brand messaging front-and-center, and you can easily create your own concept and bring it to life. Whether you're a start-up or a global retailer, they give brands the ability to create something memorable and eye-catching for consumers starved for the days of Target browsing with your Starbucks of choice.

To get a closer look at how Packwire helps brands create an unforgettable unboxing, here are three brands that recently used them so they could bring the retail experience right to their customers’ front door.

Jonas Paul Eyewear

Jonas Paul Eyewear started back in 2013 when the founders learned that their son was born with a rare eye condition that left him blind. After several surgeries, eye doctors were able to give him back some of that vision, but he was still going to need glasses. When their search for children’s spectacles proved fruitless, they decided to launch Jonas Paul Eyewear.

The brand ships seven frames to both kids and teens so they can try them on at home. Once they’ve selected the ideal pair, they order the glasses they want online and send the kit back. The sample frames come housed in a snazzy box with playful copy about how parents no longer have to deal with a tantrum at the eye doctor because they can’t find the right glasses. Once you open the mailer, the spectacles are neatly arranged and easily accessible for your child to try them on.

Best of all, you get to stay home.

Dollar Cocktail Club

For some of us, a return to normalcy will take the shape of going to our favorite watering hole and ordering our favorite cocktail (spoiler alert, its rhymes with Burley Hemple). Dollar Cocktail Club, however, ships specially curated cocktail kits directly to your home. Inside, you’ll find the same ingredients and gear—including stirring sticks and measuring cups—that your preferred mixologist utilizes to make your favorite drinks. The kit doesn’t come with booze, but that’s OK; in a post-coronavirus world, our bar carts doth runneth over.

Not only do the recipes come from some of the best bartenders in the world, but the package features instructions on how to construct the perfect margarita or Moscow Mule. Packwire’s customizable boxes are an added bonus as they bring the thrill of a mixology class right into your home. It’s Blue Apron for the cocktail set, and not only does each kit emphasize the convenience and fun of it all, but you can do it at a fraction of the cost. Because, sure, you might miss the bar, but your wallet probably doesn’t.

beam

beam is a CBD brand directed at the wellness community and those that want to feel a little less anxious, sleep better, or maybe even take some of the edge off of those nagging, painful ailments. The brand was started by two former professional athletes that wanted to manage the aches and stresses that come with athletics and competition in general.

The brand’s minimal aesthetic, in addition to the mailer from Packwire, is by design. Part of what sets beam apart is the rigorous testing their products go through, and they dutifully ensure that each of their offerings come free of THC and pesticides, and other additives. That same transparency extends to the branding and packaging, and the unboxing experience gives consumers a calming, muted blue when they flip open the box, a clear signal that they’re getting what beam promised from the start; "no THC, just TLC."

While retail will never go away entirely, the coronavirus pandemic has raised the profile of e-commerce and DTC goods, broadening and enriching how consumers interact with brands. There’s no telling what the future of shopping will look like in the coming months and years, but customizable packaging will become critical for brands that need to bring the retail experience to consumers, even if that means meeting them where they are at home.

Go here to learn more about Packwire.