Designing with boxes with lids

[Glendadrumnc]

Ok, I’ll start. I’m full of questions! I would like to start a thread about designing with boxes with lids. That’s always been a “bugaboo” for me to even consider. I flat don’t know how or why to do this! I think it’s been discussed on the FB group before, but I’ve really never gotten my questions answered. So let’s share. To start with, WHO buys these? 2- Are these for corporate or individual? 3- Why would a customer prefer these to a traditional gift basket in a gift basket box or basket? 4- Are they more economical for both the customer and us?

[creativegifts]

Great questions, Glenda. For those of you who do a lot of these, jump in and give your opinions and answers. I’ll begin: I do a few of these. 1. Many people buy these. If you search for gifts, including gourmet gift baskets, on Etsy, you’ll get an idea of how many more people are selling these than the traditional gift baskets. 2, They sell for both coporate and individal use. 3. The sellers prefer them because they require little skill to produce. Just put a themed group of products into a box and call it good. This is allowing a lot of people enter the “gift basket industry” who have never made a gift basket and probably couldn’t make one that has that WOW appearance. But another reason that both buyers and sellers prefer them is that they are usually cheaper to ship because they are more condensed in size. 4. They are more economical to ship which is beneficial to both buyer and seller. As far as being more economical for use to produce, boxes are usually cheaper than baskets although, unless the lidded gift box is sturdy enough to ship without being put into a shipping box, you have to pay for two boxes. The contents cost would be the same. It’s just how they are arranged. It takes longer and requires more skill to create a beautiful gift basket than to place products in a box so time can be a factor.

But, to me, the primary difference is appearance and skill. I can create the same gift as a “gift box” or a “gift basket.” Many of those who are creating the boxes can’t.

[oklahomagifting]

Well, here we go again! I haven’t stayed in business for 23 years without having talent and creatvity! I offer both. The majority of my corporate clients prefer boxes.
Next topic, please…..

[Lise46]

I do both but really haven’t figured out how to leverage boxes effectively. I do some stacks and a few packages actually in shippers (picture here).
https://www.79gifts.com/viewitem.cfm?itemid=180&catid=28&rnd=0.037909179524

I think I haven’t figured out how to market them most effectively.

[creativegifts]

Thanks Lise for adding to this thread. Every business is different but I, too, sell a lot more baskets than boxes. And, like you, I think I haven’t figured out how to market them effectively. Most of my “boxes” however are cookie gifts like this one:

“Hang In There” Gift – Cookie Gift Box

The boxes that I do sell more of are actually our traditional gift basket created in a Boxco box. Like this one:

Birthday Cookies Gift

[Lise46]

How did you get that to pop up?

[creativegifts]

I just copied and pasted the url from that product. But it looks like you did the same.

[Glendadrumnc]

Thank you Joyce, Martha, Lise for responding and adding to the conversation, for afterall, that’s what these forum topics are supposed to be, conversations, right? My initial questions are some of the same as Lise and Joyce, that is, how to best market these. It’s not to degrade anyone for using this type of design, so let’s not get our “feathers ruffled” unnecessarily. Just state the who, why, how this type of design is useful in your neck of the woods! I wouldn’t be asking if I weren’t interested in learning about this style. Since I’m more of a “traditionalist” it’s hard for me to think “outside the/my box”. I’ve purchased white and red lidded boxes from NW and tried to figure out how is the best way to choose boxes that go together and fit together within that space perfectly for a generic purpose gift, it’s not easy. So to me, like Joyce, it’s not so much how beautifully these can be placed if that’s even possible, but the efficiency of the what and how to make it work, both for space and a reasonable pricepoint. Then there’s the WHO, that’s the marketing, like Lise and Joyce said. Every gift has a “who” in mind. Whether we’re designing for a business to give to their employees who are out sick or an employee appreciation time, or to their clients/customers to express their appreciation for their business, or to the public market who want things for their friends and family usually for personal times like birthday, get well, funeral, anniversary, or holidays. All these have a recipient in mind. Who do these appeal to.. the personal customer, WHO are they wanting these for and what’s their objective? Is it value perception, that “wow” factor or just the expediency of getting some goodies without all the fluff and presentation appeal in a condensed manner? Since most of your corporate clients, Martha, are ordering these, then you have a perfect point of view as to how to help out the rest of us that aren’t that familiar with it. Don’t just give up and say Oh here we go again! How is that a sharing, helpful attitude? If this forum is not for sharing and helping, then what’s the point? Joyce put a lot of time and even money into making this happen because 30 some people said Yes, we want it. So where are you all? Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words. Let’s all get on board and be appreciative of Joyce’s offer to help, and make this thing happen!

[SherryCooter]

I think everyone already knows my history with this. Most of my business comes from my website. I don’t do a lot of talking to people on the phone. If I did, I would move them to boxes and bags! LOL! I used to be in the GiftedIn24 program in its initial phase. They sold off my website when designed like a gift basket, but not so much when she went to boxed designs. I’ve put up my own because I’ve bought boxes from people going out of business, and they sold better when I fanned everything out in the photo kind of like a gift basket, but I did also include a photo of it boxed up. Since I deliver most of my gifts, I see a lot of who they go to, they are people 40’s and younger and it’s for all types of occasions.

[Basketlady]

100% of my business is through relationships and it works for me. I know i am probably limiting my profits but I made a decision that I didn’t want to be inundated and working 24/7. My customers keep me very busy for all occasions and special events and I love that. I have some die hard corporate customers and it really gets crazy during the holidays. But I am ready and have begun fulfilling orders not to ship prior to December 10.

[Kelly Aldridge-Smith]

I use both! Crochet baskets and boxes.  I love using the boxes for the mini pamper/spa sets and other smaller items.  This was something taught to me in the Gift Design Association, in their class earlier on. People are going more for boxes for the minimalism approach.  By making more personal touches.  Some people aren’t basket people at all.  They will throw away that basket faster than you can say “Amen.”  Some people can see the usefulness of a basket (depending on the design).  If it’s for a kid, chances are pretty high the basket will be thrown away unless the kid wants it for the toys.  As a mom, this is true.  My son had zero interest in his Easter baskets.  He likes storages boxes or lunch boxes for storing his items (but he is also Autistic).

~ Boxes are simple.  You can buy a custom stamp for your logo and stamp it on top of the box.  Or get a small printer and print stickers with your logo on it.

~ Boxes can come in a variety of sizes and designs.  I love my boxes to have some depth to them, because I can take tissue paper or the torn up crinkle paper confetti and use them as a baset to hold the products.  Product placement to make it look eye appealing is important.  Bigger items in the back/bottom, smaller on top and sides.  Look at sellers on Etsy.  I did a lot of research about this, because I want my business and products to be appealing for all ages (if possible).  Sometimes, too many items can be too much.  Smaller items work great for box sets.  This would work for teenagers, young adults, or people who want to gift something but not sure where to start.
~ For example; if a person came to you for a coworker that they aren’t close with but knows they are having a hard time and it’s their birthday.  They may only know a small handful of things like coffee/tea, candy, and they like soft items.  So a coffee cup from their favorite store and two small boxes of candy and a soft headband or socks would work great. If local, hand deliver to customer so they can gift it to that person, and give them a small token of appreciation.  Like a 20% off card for their next purchase and thank you note.  I love to give small tokens like a chap stick cozy or hand sanitizer sling. If they purchase something big like a basket, then I give them a coffee cozy or one face scrubby as a thank you with my contact info.

I hope this helps.  I’m typing this on my tablet.  I’ll try and upload a picture of a couple of boxes that I have done in the past. I have also worked with other small handmade businesses with a gift away.  We placed all our cards and such inside the box to make sure the customer knew what products came from which business.

[Glendadrumnc]

Thank you, Kelly for your thorough helpful information. This is the kind of information I am looking for. That’s what we’re here for is to share our ideas and not be stingy with them! You have a unique niche with your crochet business. At least you don’t have to worry about shelf life! Also, your gifts will keep and not be eaten up and gone! There’s something to be said for that kind of gift. My sister loves crocheting in her spare time and she loves gifting her handmade accomplishments to her family and friends. It definitely can become a passion. She has made a bottle holder sling that I love. I actually use it more to hold my cell phone to transport it from my house to my shop in case I’m not wearing pockets for its safety. Works perfectly. I also love her scrubbies for the dish washing, excellent!

I like your ideas of the positive benefits of using a box instead of a regular basket because people usually don’t keep them, however, on another option we use the gift basket boxes from Nashville Wraps for just such a reason instead of a wicker or other basket. I use them a lot. I like the “themey” aspect of them to help carry out the reason for the gift plus the size fits most orders. However, if shipping, like any gift basket, the box w/lid will require a separate shipping box, so we have to keep that in mind when pricing shipping, but they’re still not as big as a box that a regular basket would require so the dimensional shipping should be cheaper.

Yes, please post a pic if you can. I’m going to try my 3rd attempt to post my first attempt with a Christmas design box w/lid design. So far the first 2 attempts didn’t take. I’ll try it with only 1 pic at a time. See if that works.

[Glendadrumnc]

So I’m going to try to post my 3rd attempt to get my first attempt at designing a box w/lid design with a Christmas theme. I’ll post it with only 1 pic, as it takes 3 to show the complete process. I would like for those of you who are experienced at this type of designing to comment and critique it with your thoughts. I haven’t posted this yet to my website in case there are major changes I need to address. Thanks.

[Glendadrumnc]

OK, great, apparently it only wants one pic at a time! Here’s the 2nd pic with items arranged in the box.

[Lise46]

Glenda, do you have another angle on that?  Or with the background?  I am struggling to read the picture correctly.

[Glendadrumnc]

Here’s the boxed version ready to go. Does the 2nd pic help, Lise?

[Lise46]

Yup, thanks, that second picture helps a lot.  I think it looks good – or at least very similar to what I do.

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