Creating the Best Custom Subscription Box

Receiving birthday cards and letters is exciting, but it’s even more fun when a box full of your favorite products shows up on your doorstep. And who doesn’t love getting mail? 

Subscription boxes are a win-win for businesses and customers alike. They offer customers a unique way to shop, with boxes that fit every niche and demographic. The high retention rates and predictable income stream of the subscription box business draw many entrepreneurs as well. 

Putting together all the necessary materials to make a box seems complicated and an overwhelming process. But, it doesn’t have to be. With an idea for your box and a few simple materials, you can design and assemble a custom subscription box that your customers will love.

Read on to learn how to create the best custom subscription box that will impress new customers and keep returning customers coming back for more.

Why Make a Custom Subscription Box

Subscription boxes are packages sent to customers on a recurring basis. They are a great way to build brand recognition and get customer feedback on your products. Customizing the subscription boxes allows you to integrate your company’s branding into the packaging and creates brand recognition. 

You might wonder why the box matters so much. You’re sending the customer a high-quality product inside of it, so why would the customer care about the box? Well, the box is the first thing the customer sees when they receive your product. It is a key element of branding and marketing. 

Designing the box yourself ensures that the box meets your needs and represents your company to the customer. 

Start Creating Your Custom Subscription Box

Before you begin customizing your box, you need to decide what you’ll put inside. This impacts the style and size of the box, as well as the kind of packaging you use. Factors to consider in deciding which and how many products to include are the price point and the frequency of the shipment. 

We’ll talk more about these later.

What To Include in Your Custom Subscription Box

When deciding which items to include in the box, consider your target audience’s motivation for subscribing. The products themselves often aren’t the only reason customers subscribe to a box. 

Maybe your customers want to be surprised by the assortment of items they receive each cycle. Or, maybe it’s the curation of items that is the major draw. Some customers look for the savings that come along with receiving items in bulk. 

Often, customers want the convenience of having items arrive at their doorstep rather than having to go out and shop. Others enjoy getting to try samples before buying the full product.

Be honest with your customers about what they’ll be receiving when they sign up. If they receive something different than what was promised to them, you lose their trust and their business. 

Materials To Use

Once you have decided what products you’ll be sending to your customers, it’s time to select the box. There are a variety of kinds of boxes available, varying in terms of sizes, materials, and prices. Do your research to determine which style is best for you and your company’s needs. 

The first kind of box is a mailer box. This box has dust flaps that keep the contents safe and is sturdier than a paperboard box. Mailer boxes work well for subscription boxes because they allow you to show off your brand’s style. 

If you are more concerned about product protection, consider a shipping box. Shipping boxes are made of corrugated cardboard and are sturdier than mailer boxes. You don’t have to sacrifice style for strength, though. Shipping boxes can also be customized to reflect your company’s brand. If your items need more protection, opt for a shipping box. 

Packing material is also a key element of subscription boxes. Crinkle paper is a common choice for packing material. It works well for subscription boxes because it comes in a wide variety of colors and is aesthetically pleasing for customers to photograph. 

However, make sure that any additional packing materials you use match your brand’s color and style. 

Sizing Your Subscription Box

The next step on your customization journey is to determine what size box you need. The sizing of your subscription box depends primarily on the items that you wish to send in it. You want all items included to fit neatly and securely. Be aware of how much weight you are packing into the box as well. 

Before ordering your custom boxes, try placing the desired items in different sizes of standard cardboard boxes. Make sure to use the same presentation as you would for a box to be sent to a customer. Experiment with how much room you want for packing materials, notes, or extra gifts. 

If you are shipping fragile items, we recommend using an insert or materials inside to overpack your items. This technique helps your fragile products make it to their destination in one piece.

Designing Your Box

Your imagination is the limit when it comes to the possibilities for your box’s design. Integrate logos, patterns, pictures, drawings, or whatever other elements best display your brand image to the customer. 

There are some things to keep in mind when selecting the design for your custom subscription box. For one, use vector graphics for any logo or artwork that you want to be printed on the box. Vector graphics print clearly and send seamlessly to the printer. Using an Adobe Illustrator file or a vector-based PDF saves time in the long run. 

You’ll also want to create a dieline to view your design and ensure it has the desired appearance. A dieline is a two-dimensional template showing a flattened version of your design. This allows you to see all six sides at once. 

While the possibilities for your box are endless, the best strategy is to stick with your brand elements–the colors, logos, and images that your customers recognize as your company. 

However, if you are looking to do something a little different, remember some basic color psychology. Darker colors make your box appear sophisticated and mysterious. 

On the other hand, lighter colors convey simplicity and minimalism. Brighter colors are the best for grabbing attention. 

Custom Box Subscription Costs To Consider

As you assemble your custom subscription box, you may be wondering how much it is going to cost your business. Here are some costs to consider: 

• Product costs
• Box costs
• Packing materials 
• Shipping costs
• Fulfillment costs

Also important to consider is how much you will be charging the customer for your box. Make sure that your box is at the right price point for your customers. Do some research into your target audience and how much they are likely willing to spend on a product like yours. 

Decide what profit margin you want to have. Too low of a margin, and your business will not be sustainable. Too high of a margin, and your customers will not want to pay the price.

Time To Ship

Creating a custom subscription box that impresses new customers and keeps returning customers coming back for more doesn’t have to be difficult. Custom subscription boxes are a great way to reinforce your company’s brand and elevate the customer’s experience. 

By integrating your brand elements and the right kind of box, you can be sure your product will arrive in style. Visit Box Genie and start designing your box today.

Sources:

1. The Challenges of Operating a Subscription Box | Business 2 Community 
2. Pros and Cons Of Starting A Subscription Box Service | Fora Financial
3. Black Color Psychology | Color Psychology