The holiday season is approaching, and most stores are now decorated in festive colors. For businesses, the holiday season presents a unique chance to connect with customers by aligning their brands and products with current needs and interests. This is where holiday packaging comes into play.
Holiday packaging is a valuable investment that will pay off, helping you generate more sales during the holiday season. How to design successful holiday packaging for your business? Let’s get started!
What Are the Benefits of Holiday Packaging for Businesses?
Holiday shopping accounts for a significant portion of annual retail sales, with figures often cited at 20%-30%, particularly in November and December. The main factor affecting the number is holiday packaging. Yes, this packaging adds a special flair to any product. But that’s not the only benefit of holiday packaging for businesses.
Below are the key benefits of holiday packaging that your business can achieve.
It Makes Your Product More Visually Appealing
Products in holiday-themed packaging are attention-grabbing. Festive packaging easily stands out on a shelf, especially if your design is aesthetically appealing.
It Builds Brand Recognition
Packaging with holiday-themed designs offers an opportunity to highlight your product’s unique value.
Moreover, holiday packaging has a domino effect on customers. When they hand over your products as gifts to others, post about them on social media, and promote your brand, they create meaningful visual content.
It Helps You Connect Deeper with Customers
Holidays can be a significant part of anyone’s life, including your customers’ lives. By making your products appealing during holidays, you can build deeper connections.
Know the Basics of Holiday Packaging
Now that you know the benefits of holiday packaging, let’s get into the basics. Designing successful packaging means creating customized packaging that reflects the holiday season.
To help you out, here are key features of holiday packaging to note:
- Festive seasonal designs with traditional colors and motifs.
- Personalized touches to make gifts feel special.
- High-quality materials that protect the products.
- Sustainable and eco-friendly options
All the elements above work together to help your products stand out, build brand loyalty, and connect with holiday shoppers.
How to Design the Right Holiday Packaging
Successful holiday packaging depends on your product, customers, goals, and design. How to create the right one that will help your business? Follow the steps below!
Choose Custom Boxes
What better way to showcase your branding than with custom boxes with your brand logo? Custom packaging boxes let you get creative with your design, which is especially beneficial for holiday packaging.
You can choose boxes with thinner walls for retail shelves, or thicker-walled mailer boxes for e-commerce shipping. They are a brilliant way to create a strong first impression from the very start.
Create Holiday Packaging for Specific Industries
Make sure your holiday packaging is tailored to your industry. This means using festive colors, patterns, and designs to make products more appealing for the holiday season.
Here are some tips for creating the right holiday product packaging according to your industry.
Beauty Industry
- Consider placing multiple beauty products in a beautiful gift box.
- Apply holiday-themed colors like gold, silver, or deep reds and greens.
- Include a small card or a personalized message for your customers.
Food Industry
- Use decorative tins for cookies, chocolates, or other treats, and use glass jars for jams and sauces.
- Create food boxes with clear windows so customers can see the contents.
- Use a festive paper band or belly band around a box or container to add a festive touch.
Clothing Industry
- Opt for high-quality wrapping paper with a holiday design for a luxurious feel.
- Tie your package with a festive ribbon and a nice bow, and even a personalized tag.
- Use sturdy and visually appealing custom apparel boxes.
Gifts
- Present your gifts in high-quality rigid boxes with a satin lining or a velvet finish.
- Choose from unique box shapes, like a hexagon or an octagon, to make the gift stand out.
- Add a unique holiday scent.
Candles
- Use candle boxes with a clear window to display your candle’s design or color.
- Choose cardboard or other recyclable materials to protect candles during shipping.
- Pair the candle with a decorative box of matches for a complete gift set.
Go Minimalist
The holiday theme is all about colorful designs, right?
Well, how about making your packaging minimalist? Sometimes, less is more. People are feeling overwhelmed by the crowded presence of colorful holiday themes everywhere. Thus, designing your holiday packaging in a minimalist style can better highlight your products.
Take Advantage of Social Media
We’ve seen a boom in unboxing videos on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. How about taking advantage of it?
You can send a PR package to influencers that includes a curated set of products and branded materials. Alternatively, consider adding your social media handles and holiday hashtags to the packaging, allowing customers to share their unboxing experience and showcase your products. This word-of-mouth marketing can boost your sales quickly.
Include Sustainability Requirements for the Holiday Season
Sustainability is a priority in the packaging industry, and holiday packaging is not an exception. Customers today love buying products packaged sustainably. Hence, choosing sustainable packaging is a smart way to appeal to them. To attract eco-conscious customers, opt for eco-friendly packaging materials, such as kraft, paperboard, or cardboard.
Factors to Consider for Holiday Packaging
Before we start designing the right holiday packaging for your business, there are some essential factors to consider. Let’s break it down.
Holiday Color Psychology for Packaging
Using holiday color psychology for packaging can influence consumer behavior during the holidays.
For example, you can include traditional festive red and green, as well as elegant gold and silver. Alternatively, you can choose more modern options, such as sophisticated black-and-white. Remember, choose colors that align with your brand message and holiday vibe.
Holiday Packaging Materials and Their Impact
Yes, the material you choose for holiday packaging has its own impact.
Here are the material recommendations you can choose from:
- Cardboard, paper bags, and tissue paper: They are all recyclable, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources.
- Kraft: A popular, more sustainable option for e-commerce.
- Other alternatives: Alternatives to cardboard, such as corrugated bubble wrap or mushroom packaging, are also a great option.
Seasonal Packaging Add-Ons
To create a seasonal unboxing experience, consider holiday add-ons such as ribbons, cards, and sleeves. After all, your packaging shape influences whether customers will purchase your products.
Printing Guidelines for Holiday Packaging
Holiday packaging requires a balance between brand identity with festive themes, keeping designs simple yet on-brand, and using sustainable materials. To achieve this, consider using appropriate printing methods, such as digital and offset printing. Then, apply CMYK or Pantone colors to ensure consistency across all your seasonal materials.
Budget Consideration
Your budget consideration is the first thing you need to figure out. So, how much is your budget, what are you willing to invest in, and what options give you the best value?
Once you have estimated the budget you need, you can decide whether to go with a customized option.
Market Competition
Consider checking out what competitors in your market are doing with their holiday packaging. Most brands will go all out to boost their sales during the holidays. Although you may not reach the same level, you can still get valuable inspiration from their packaging.
Additional Tips for Holiday Packaging
Well-designed holiday packaging can improve brand recognition and visibility, but to drive sales quickly, your products must stand out.
Below are additional tips for designing holiday packaging for your business.
Holiday-Themed Designs Are a MUST
What’s holiday packaging without a holiday theme? Of course, you should design your packaging with a festive, holiday theme.
As Christmas approaches, consider a design that captures the spirit of joy, such as snowflakes, Christmas trees, reindeer, and Christmas ornaments.
Then make your design look even more vibrant by adding a finishing touch, such as Spot UV or an aqueous coating. For a final touch, consider embossing or debossing to showcase your logo and design.
Keep Your Packaging On-Brand
When designing holiday packaging, keep it on-brand. This means you shouldn’t stray from your existing brand’s colors and voice.
For example, consider combining Christmas colors (red, green, and white) with a gold foiling accent if your brand identity emphasizes luxury.
Consider Easy-to-Use & Functional Packaging
Customer convenience should also be your main consideration. This means that your holiday packaging should be easy to use. Also, make the packaging more functional by combining protective materials with festive design elements, such as ribbons and seasonal stickers. The result? Customers will associate a positive experience with your brand.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, holiday packaging is a valuable investment that will pay off, helping you generate more sales during the holiday season. Holiday-themed packaging offers promising benefits for your business, including making your product more visually appealing, building brand recognition, and helping you connect deeper with customers.
Need assistance to design holiday packaging for your business? Feel free to contact our experts today!
FAQs
What are the benefits of using holiday packaging?
Holiday-themed packaging offers promising benefits for your business, including making your product more visually appealing, building brand recognition, and helping you connect deeper with customers.
Why should we choose custom boxes for holiday packaging?
Custom boxes let you get creative with your design, which is especially beneficial for holiday packaging.
What are the sustainable material options for holiday packaging?
To attract eco-conscious customers, opt for eco-friendly packaging materials, such as kraft, paperboard, or cardboard.
What are the key features of holiday packaging?
Key features of holiday packaging include festive seasonal designs, personalized touches, high-quality materials, and sustainable options.

