Custom Mailer Boxes for Subscription-Based E-Commerce Businesses
In a regular purchase, customers select and buy a product and then buy the same product again if necessary. This means that the customer thinks about what to buy and then makes the purchase multiple times. Subscription-based models remove this hassle of repeatedly carrying out the same act for products that the customer regularly needs.
Subscription-based models operate on a model where customers pay a recurring fee to receive the desired products or services regularly. Many times, subscription-based businesses operate to conveniently provide regular orders to customers, such as food supplements and medicines. However, this business model has expanded over the years to include products including food & beverages, beauty & skincare, books & hobbies, and others. Subscription-based businesses have also grown massively with the growth of e-commerce and customized packaging solutions, each of which empowers the business with a digital platform and tailor-made product packaging.
Subscription-based e-commerce businesses operate on three key premises:
- Convenience
- Personalization
- Value
Each box the customer receives is delivered to them as scheduled, reflects evidence that the package has been put together uniquely for him/her, and contains items that were needed at the least financial or practical hassle possible.
Standardized packaging or stock boxes are ill-equipped to fulfill the requirements of a subscription-based business. Subscription boxes not only have to meet the requirements of the supply chain, but they also should be able to convey the brand value and provide a stimulating unboxing experience. Such requirements are best achieved by custom packaging, where the packaging manufacturer operates as a strategic brand partner for the e-commerce company.
There are several types of subscription boxes that an e-commerce business can use for its brand building and operations but considering the goals of convenience, cost efficiency, adaptability, and personalization for their businesses we are going to discuss custom mailer boxes as a particularly fitting option.
But first, let’s delve a bit deeper into why subscription-based e-commerce businesses might need custom packaging.
Why Should Subscription Boxes be customized?
Custom packaging is one of the cornerstones of a successful subscription-based e-commerce business. Because the customers can see a regular deduction from their accounts, the package they receive must prove its worth is much more than just the financial transaction.
This is what customized subscription boxes enable the business to do. Brands can make the right first impression with these custom boxes.
The importance of unboxing experiences is not limited to PR campaigns, social media posts, and engaging with customers. The package is sometimes the only interaction that the customers have with the brand and is also the container that protects and presents the items. Unique and creative branding elements on subscription boxes help a brand stand out in a crowded marketplace.
For example, in the USA, there are several prescription and generic drugs and wellness support subscription services. These include but are not limited to Hims & Hers, Amazon Pharmacy, Ro, and Silk & Sonder. All these brands quite literally provide the same product to their customers, so what they’re essentially competing on is their pricing, the quality of their services, how well the product is presented, and finally, how well the brand is positioned.
Custom mailer boxes can help achieve all these goals. For reference, the subscription boxes for each of these companies are shown below:
Source: Google Images
Each subscription service can be seen to use custom mailer boxes for their packaging despite their different styles – which we will talk about in a minute.
Take a moment to note how each piece of packaging is unique, and you simply have to view it to recognize the brand. That’s the type of awareness brands seek, and it’s achievable with carefully designed custom packaging. From a business perspective, such brand awareness can become a silent and cost-effective marketer (considering that subscription services must pack their products anyway).
Subscription boxes can also be customized to the products’ needs and logistics requirements. For example, for the brand Hims & Hers, boxes with inserts are needed to keep the products snuggly in place. On the other hand, Amazon delivers bottles and/or blister packs from other pharmaceuticals and, therefore, packs everything in a branded corrugated box (hopefully protected by some paperboard air cushions).
Custom packaging can also be used to make subscription deliveries more cost-effective. Firstly, customization enables the subscription company to precisely pick the material, shape, size, printing, closures, and any add-ons for their packaging. This means that companies can get the boxes that fit their budget and requirements most effectively.
This also presents an opportunity for subscription boxes to be more eco-friendly. Because of their scale and regularity, businesses need to reduce their carbon footprint. Such sustainable thinking also appeals to modern consumers who prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness as a key product/brand value.
Most Suitable Custom Boxes for Subscription Services
Custom mailer boxes are made with corrugated cardboard, making them durable yet lightweight. These boxes can be overlayed with bleached, unbleached, or specialty paperboard, creating the desired surface for the selected print design.
Mailer boxes are manufactured and delivered to the subscription businesses flat-packed so they can be readily stocked away and assembled as needed. This saves companies a lot of precious warehouse space. Corrugated mailer boxes benefit from economies of scale, making them one of the cheapest packaging options for e-commerce businesses. A little pre-planning and strategic thinking can allow businesses to save massively on packaging costs per unit.
After the material comes the selection of the box’s features. Custom mailer boxes can be grouped into the following categories:
- Adhesive Tear Strip Mailer Box
If security and evidence of tampering are key concerns for subscription services, then custom mailer boxes with adhesive tear strips are the solution. At the packaging line, these boxes are sealed and can only be opened by tearing through the perforated strip. This feature is very useful for packages containing personal and confidential items and can make the customer depend more on the subscription boxes.
The downside of this box is that the tear strip does not look as aesthetic and renders the box useless once opened.
- Roll End, Tuck Front Mailer Boxes without Dust Flaps
Roll-end, tuck front mailer boxes have side flaps that are tucked into the slits at the front of the box. These boxes provide excellent protection because of their closing mechanism, and the strength of the corrugated sheet can be customized as needed for tailored protection.
Setting up and using these boxes requires no adhesives, making them convenient to open, close, and store.
These mailer boxes are also very well suited for use with custom box inserts. The inserts have ample room to be placed into the box, and the absence of dust flaps allows for an easy closing mechanism.
- Drawer Style Corrugated Boxes
It is stretch to call drawer-style boxes mailer boxes even though they can be easily delivered to the mailbox. But for technical correctness, we will call these boxes drawer-style corrugated boxes. These boxes feature a tray that contains the products in the customized inserts, and the tray is packed with a sleeve. This style can also be made using rigid box material but is more budget-friendly with the corrugated material.
This custom packaging style is marvelous for subscription services, as customers can access the products by simply sliding them in and out.
- Die Cut Window Mailer Boxes
Perfect for artisanal brands including soap, candles, or gourmet foods, mailer boxes with die-cut windows, customers can sneak peek into their fresh delivery before they even open the box. This raises excitement about the products and will likely motivate customers to keep up with the subscription service.
Final Thoughts…
Customized subscription boxes can help subscription-based e-commerce companies stand out from crowded markets. Whether art supplies, prescription medicines, or fashion subscriptions, the correct type of custom packaging can make a huge difference in customer recall, retention, and loyalty.
Mailer boxes present a great option when choosing the types of subscription boxes. These boxes are very cost-effective and can be customized in any shape or form. Just make sure to partner with the right custom packaging manufacturers who are eager to support your brand’s growth.
