After establishing the significance of mailer boxes for branding, let's examine their components. The quality of your boxes is important, just like it is with any bespoke packing.
While purchasing mailer boxes, take into account the following factors:
1. Grades on papers
Because mailer boxes are primarily used for mailing products, they must be durable. For this reason, corrugated material is typically used to make corrugated boxes with handles. Selecting the ideal industrial paper for your needs and goods is crucial.
Corrugated Kraft Cardboard
These are the standard brown corrugated mailers that everyone is accustomed to seeing. An inexpensive alternative that offers you a rustic, earthy appeal is kraft cardboard. The composition of corrugated mailer boxes ranges from 60 to 100% recycled materials.
White Corrugated Cardboard Without Coating
White corrugated mailer boxes are preferred by some people. This option will result in a cleaner appearance and more prominent graphics. Beautiful white corrugated packaging boxes also exude luxury.
Corrugated cardboard coated in clay
The surface of this corrugated packaging solution is brighter and smoother. Since it's a little more costly, luxury brands should consider it.
There are variations in thicknesses for corrugated cardboard boxes as well. Consider the mail you are sending. Is it not too heavy? brittle? Next, choose the necessary flute grade (thickness). The E-flute 1/16 and the B-flute 1/8 are two typical box mailer flute grades.
Depending on your budget and desired look, you can dress up or down any kind of box. A tight budget is not a justification for boredom. A plain brown box imprinted with your brand may make a big impact.
Your mailer boxes can be customized, even if money is very tight. Try a bespoke sticker or order a hand stamp with your logo on it. It all comes down to personalizing your boxes and enhancing your brand.
2. Closures
These boxes all need to be safely sealed up and ought to be simple to put together. In contrast to standard shipping boxes, which are frequently sealed with packing tape, mailer boxes feature a tab-locking system.
Additional protective dust flaps are included with some mailer boxes to keep dirt out. For even more security, you can select a box with a tear strip. To prevent the box from opening during shipment, you can further fasten it if you're sending it by using tape or hot melt glue.
3. Creating Printed Materials
As soon as your bespoke mailer box arrives at your customer's door, you want it to make a positive impression. This implies that you want the text and visuals to look clear and excellent. Unintentionally hazy photos should be avoided.
The type of printing method you select will determine how well your images appear. There are several options available, and you should take into account a few things such as your budget, time restrictions, desired quality, and whether you want to use your mailer boxes for retail packaging or shipping.
You are aware of the power of color to convey a particular feeling or improve brand awareness, so it's critical to comprehend how these colors are printed on boxes.
When printing on mailer boxes, PMS and CMYK are the two primary color methods employed.
The PMS, or Pantone Matching System
Using Pantone premixed ink formulae, PMS ensures uniform color across a wide range of media. The colors are more vivid when you have PMS. If you use a lot of fine lines or metallic or fluorescent colors, this is the best choice.
PMS is the less expensive choice if you're using three colors or fewer. You're not, however, restricted to just three hues. Colors can be "tinted" to save money. For instance, you can make mint green by adding a small amount of white to green.
CMYK
The other color option is CMYK. It is composed of the following four colors: black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). Tiny dots are used in this method to produce the images. If you require a lot of various colors or wish to use full-color photographs, this is your best option.
Let's go on to the printing process. Direct printing and pre-printing are the two primary methods of printing on your personalized mailer boxes.
Direct printing is the process of printing directly onto the box; it's sometimes referred to as post-printing. Corrugated boxes are frequently utilized using this technique.
A common choice is flexography, sometimes known as flexo. You print directly on the box when using flexo. Flexo is appropriate for both smooth and rough materials; it can be set up fast, prints at good speeds, and is reasonably priced. Flexo employs PMS colors, therefore you might not receive the desired results if you're searching for high-quality picture photos.
One printing technique that is becoming more and more common is digital printing. You get better quality from it than with flexo. It works well at low quantities but is quick.
Offset lithography, sometimes known as litho, is categorized as pre-printing. Typically, it is employed to print on personalized labels that are adhered to the box. If you want to add foil stamping or embossing to your photos or use higher-quality images, this option is fantastic. Litho labels can be used to cover a portion of the box or the entire thing. You have the last say.
Hot stamping, often known as foil stamping, will offer you a chic, refined appearance. Using hot dyes, foil stamping is a printing technique that applies foil and a metallic pattern to the box's surface. Although you can use any color you like, a black background with gold or silver foil is a common choice that keeps things straightforward. Typically, foil stamping is located on the box's exterior. However, why restrict yourself? Try it on the interior of the box for something a bit different.
Remember that these printing methods are not exclusive of one another. Don't be afraid to experiment to attract clients.
You can even combine direct printing with a litho label if you're feeling very fancy. Alternatively, if you're feeling very fancy, try two-sided printing. Try to purchase the best quality or cheap packaging boxes, in which you can afford, no matter what you decide. You should not cut corners when it comes to your mailer boxes' appearance. You want them to be distinctive and well-groomed.
4. Completions
Eye-catching printing can stand alone. But think about including a coating or other finishing touches if you want to improve the look of your product package even further. They can add a refined, upscale appearance to your package.
Water-Based Finish
A common and reasonably priced coating choice is an AQ finish. In the 1970s, this covering made of vegetable cellulose was introduced. A box with a covering looks sleek and polished and is shielded from scratches and smudges. You have the choice of a satin finish, which is in between a glossy and matte finish.
An additional advantage of an AQ finish is its eco-friendliness. It may be readily recycled and is harmless due to its water-based composition.
UV Layering
This is a transparent liquid coating that is applied, and UV light dries it. Your box will have more texture thanks to this coating. Consider using a spot UV varnish, which is applied to just a portion of the box. This is a fantastic method to draw attention to a desired design feature, such your motto or logo.
