Tag: news
The landscape of ecommerce packaging has changed so much over the last decade. So much so, it is virtually unrecognisable from the early days of ecommerce when everything was shoved in a poly bag and shipped with a hope for the best!
Today’s ecommerce packaging world is a fast paced, multi-faceted industry which many brands are completely reliant on. If their chosen packaging is not available, online sales can’t be despatched and the business would grind to halt within minutes.
But aside from the important practicalities of packaging availability, brands choose packaging suppliers for so much more. Product protection to minimise returns, ease of packing for efficient fulfilment and visual appeal for customers.
All of these factors can have positive impact for a business and its brand; done badly it can also have a damaging negative impact.
The art of unboxing
Unboxing is the process of unpacking products, particularly high-end consumer goods, and sharing the experience through videos or photos online. This phenomenon has become a significant aspect of ecommerce and social media, transforming the simple act of opening a package into a moment of anticipation and excitement.
Unboxing allows customers to showcase their purchases, highlighting the packaging and the brand’s attention to detail. It builds anticipation and excitement, as viewers are taken through the process of unveiling the product, layer by layer.
For brands where customers regularly post social content about the unboxing of products, it’s important the correct investment is made in creating visually appealing packaging as well as packaging which fulfils all the practical elements such as product protection, sustainability and ease of recycling.
Visually, custom designs, vibrant colours, and thoughtful presentation contribute to making the unboxing memorable and shareable. This visual storytelling helps in reinforcing the brand’s identity and values and can help to create a sense of community amongst consumers driving engagement, boosting brand loyalty and influencing future purchasing decisions.
Unboxing and the impact on social media
Aside from the obvious business benefits of ensuring a fit for purpose ecommerce packaging range is curated, creating an unboxing experience has become a powerful marketing tool for ecommerce brands.
By encouraging customers to share their unboxing experiences, brands can generate organic content that serves as endorsements and testimonials. This user-generated content can significantly increase brand visibility and credibility.
Additionally, the unboxing experience can shape consumer perception of a brand. High-quality packaging and presentation convey a sense of value and care, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Conversely, poor packaging can lead to disappointment and negative reviews, affecting the brand’s reputation.
Packaging that is also effective packaging, as well as visually appealing, not only enhances the unboxing experience but also ensures product protection during transit. Minimising damage and returns are crucial for maintaining customer trust and reducing costs associated with damaged goods.
The art of unboxing has evolved into a vital element of the ecommerce and social media landscape, creating impactful moments that resonate with consumers.
As brands continue to innovate and invest in packaging, the unboxing experience will remain a powerful tool for driving engagement, loyalty, and business success.
Choosing the right partner to achieve success
To ensure ecommerce packaging meets expectations in all parts of the supply chain, it is imperative to select the packaging partner that not only meets your expectations but also brings ideas and innovation to the table as well.
A packaging partner should take your requests, ideas and objectives on board and develop solutions to ensure these are achieved but also suggest ways in which your pack functionality and visual appeal can be enhanced.
As purveyors of some of the best and most innovative constructional and print designs in the corrugated packaging sector why not let the team at Cardboard Box Company help you meet your ecommerce packaging goals?
Talk to us on 01254 232223 or drop us a message info@thecardboardbox.co.uk
As with any industry, there are lots of terms and phrases we use without a second thought. For those, who may be new to the industry or new to purchasing corrugated packaging here’s a run down of our top 20 most common, handily arranged in alphabetical order to make things that little bit easier.
However, should one of our team use a term that you are unfamiliar with, please don’t hesitate to ask us for clarification which we will be more than happy to give.
Board Grade – A grade given to corrugated board based on the weight of the weight and type of outer and inner liner and the type of flute sandwiched within.
Chop – The length of board or sheet
Clay Coat – An additional coating which helps improve the surface for printing. It can be successfully applied to unbleached or natural Kraft paperboard.
Crash lock base – A box style which enables the base of the box to be locked together without the use of tape. If offers a robust solution and is easily assembled.
Deckle – The width of the board or sheet
Die Cutting – A manufacturing procedure in which, a cutting forme is used to cut the design from the corrugated sheet.
Dividers – A corrugated design which creates separate sections within a pack. They can also be used alongside fittings to protect product and provide cushioning.
Double Wall – A sheet of board consisting of two outer liners, one inner liner and two flutings sandwiched between the liners. This type of board is often used for more robust packaging solutions due to its added strength and rigidity.
Drop Test – A test to ensure the manufactured design protects the product as expected when dropped from height without incurring damage.
FEFCO codes – A set of standard designs used by the corrugated industry. It covers many typical box, fitting and divider designs.
Flexographic printing – This is out most common printing process and our equipment permits up to six colours making it ideally suited to more high quality print requirements.
FIA – Flexographic Industry Association and host of the FIA awards which we are proud to have won on several occasions in recent years.
Fluting – The wiggle in the middle! This is what gives all board grades their strength and rigidity and impact protection when correctly designed.
Forme – A unique template with metal blades to cut the board either through a rotary or flatbed process.
Liner – This is the outer and inner surfaces. Typically, one is usually of higher quality to give a better substrate for printing.
Pantone – The most common colour matching system used to ensure we replicate your brand colours and designs exactly right.
POS packaging – This is Point-of-sale packaging and encompasses a range of different solutions including Shelf Ready Packaging (SRP), Free Standing Display Units (FSDU) Retail Ready Packaging (RRP), Dump bins and more to help brands take their products into retail settings successfully.
Sheet Feeder – A manufacturing plant that operates corrugators to produce the raw material required by packaging companies. Board24 is the Logson Groups sheet feeding division.
Sheet Plant – The reference for a business who buy corrugated sheet to convert the materials into packaging. This is what we are.
Single Wall – A sheet of board consisting of two outer liners and one inner fluting.
We are very pleased to announce we have been shortlisted at the Insider Media Made in the North West Awards!
This is in the categories of Manufacturer of the Year under £25m, Manufacturing Future Talent and Apprentice of the Year for Laiten Scholes and Jim Meikleham.
“We are rather pleased to have made it to the shortlist and to have our efforts and our people be recognised with other businesses in our region,” said Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, Cardboard Box Company. “We are especially pleased for Laiten and Jim, who really deserve to be acknowledged amongst their peers.”
The Made in the North West awards celebrate the best of manufacturing business across the region and brings all finalists together for a glittering gala dinner and awards presentation. This year’s event is to take place on 22nd May at Hotel Football in Manchester.
Daniel added; “We shall look forward to taking team CBC to the awards dinner and would be truly delighted to win at least one award! That said, it will be fantastic to see our region, one which we are very proud to be part of, being celebrated and all the businesses that make it such an amazing manufacturing hub.”
To view all other finalists please visit https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-west/shortlist-announced-for-made-in-the-north-west-manufacturing-awards
Customers and consumers can be discerning in their expectations and when making instore or online purchases the packaging that goods are contained in has a significant impact on buying decisions.
Commercial customers, perhaps choosing a range of packaging to take their product to the shelves of well-known supermarkets will be looking for something very different in their packaging requirements to a high-end handmade shoe brand bases in Lancashire.
Yet two things remain the same. They both understand the positive impact printed packaging can have on their brands and they choose Cardboard Box Company to deliver them.
Why is printed packaging important
Printed packaging plays a crucial role in the marketing and presentation of a product.
It not only protects the goods but also communicates the brand’s identity, values, and message to the consumer.
High-quality printed packaging can attract attention on crowded shelves, enhance the perceived value of the product, and create a memorable unboxing experience. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful tool for storytelling, enabling brands to connect with their audience on an emotional level.
Whether it’s through vibrant colours, intricate designs, informative text, or a ‘wow’ factor finish printed packaging helps differentiate products in a competitive market and fosters brand loyalty among consumers.
So how do we produce some of the best printed packaging in the corrugated industry?
Achieving amazing print
We have a superb range of printing machinery and a skilled graphic team that understand how to get the best from each type of press.
The latest addition, around a year ago was the Fujifilm Acuity Prime L, LED UV flatbed printer.
Ideally suited to smaller scale production runs a multi-coloured job can be quickly printed – 1 unit in approximately 60 seconds – and then cut on the CAD table as required.
This is a direct alternative to litho-lamination print we offer which achieves a similar high gloss finish by laminating the print finish to the corrugated. This has brought cost efficiencies for some customers depending upon requirements and volumes. It is always considered as a suitable alternative for smaller production runs and if suitable offered to the customer.
Litho laminating is still required for some larger scale jobs that we run and adds further capabilities to our portfolio.
Our main printing type is flexo printing and we have four presses that do this up to a maximum of six colour print.
Our rotary die cutters – a BOBST 618 and a Martin 924 – print up to four colours, fold/cut, glue and wrap into bundles as specified.
This is complemented by a Martin 1636, one of the largest industry printers at over 3m wide. This is ideally suited to large format boxes, typically to protect heavy and cumbersome products and it is usually a strong board grade that is utilised here.
Finally, our six colour BOBST 1624 is a High-Quality Post Print (HQPP) printer that is proving to be a suitable alternative for some litho-lamination jobs. With a digital checking table and CAD cameras it can bring benefits to customers who are seeking the highest quality print without using a digital solution.
With such a range of printing capabilities we achieve print finishes that really capture the eye, the consumer and make everyone go ‘wow’.
How we get the ‘wow’ factor
High quality print doesn’t happen by accident, no matter the quality of your printing equipment. To that end, we commit a lot of time and effort researching print solutions so when customers present enquiries, we are fully aware of how we can deliver the correct solution and meet their requirements.
Because of the experience we have we support customers to explore new ways to achieve the same or better finishes or explore new options when they expand their packaging range.
We do this by carrying out print development trials, sometimes for customers, sometimes just as research projects in house to discover new and improve ways of doing things. This allows to understand clearly what we can offer to our customers and how we need to achieve this. Small trials are run on each occasion to ascertain the correct expectations can be met on every occasion and that all tolerances are understood.
Quality artwork and ink also plays a part in achieving the highest quality print finishes which we are renowned for.
And, if you’re still unsure about why we’re ideally suited to providing some of the best printed packaging in the business, our print capabilities are award winning, having been commended at the Flexographic Industry Association awards on several occasion and most latterly in 2024 when we achieved four awards for our printed packaging.
To discover how we can work with you to support with printed packaging solutions give the team a call on 01254 232223 or drop us a line on info@thecardboardbox.co.uk
Last night we were delighted to attend the 2025 Red Rose Awards at the Winer Gardens in Blackpool where we had been shortlisted in the category for Design Award.
Sadly, not a winner on the evening, our warmest congratulations go to category winner Emma Weston Illustration.
Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, Cardboard Box Company commented; “Being shortlisted is such a great accolade for our team and they should feel really proud of their achievements.
“Warmest congratulations to all business which were shortlisted and entered these awards showcasing the very best of business in the Lancashire region.”
Other finalists in the category were CA Interior Designs, Carters Building Consultancy, Fruity Llama, and G Plants.
Tom Penman, Graphics Manager at Cardboard Box Company commented; “Both our graphics team and our construction design team have won many industry awards over the years, but to be a finalist on home turf is quite special too.
“We’re very proud to work with many Lancashire businesses and hope that more will now appreciate our capabilities as one of the leading corrugated packaging manufacturers in the North West.”
Ecommerce packaging is a term used to refer to any type of packaging that supports online purchases.
For the team at Cardboard Box Company, and the wider Logson Group, this can take the form of many different styles of boxes, cases and envelopes all designed to be easy to pack goods into, protect product through the supply chain and give a positive unboxing experience to the consumer.
With the third biggest ecommerce market in the world being here in the UK, the amount of packaging required to facilitate this is significant. Getting those goods from warehouse, retail outlet, distribution centre or workshop is a slick operation worth billions of pounds and corrugated is right at the heart of it all.
Understanding what is required from all parties in the process is key to establishing successful ecommerce partnership and we work closely with our customers to make this happen without exception.
What do businesses need from ecommerce packaging?
Businesses require ecommerce packaging to be functional, fit for purpose and cost efficient. We consider how easy the solution is to assemble, pack and open as all parts of the process need to suit be appropriate.
We understand customers need their ecommerce packaging to also protect products through the supply chain, reducing the risk of damage and the chance of customers being unhappy when receiving damaged goods. This also protects the reputation of the business supplying the products.
We also consider the diversification of the product range and how the packaging solutions we create can be adapted to keep the range as sleek as possible without shipping fresh air, requiring additional void fill and without complicating the shipping process unduly.
Sustainability is a big consideration for business and corrugated is one of the most sustainable packaging materials available to business to support their ecommerce operations.
Finally, depending upon the markets they operate in and the customer base they have, business may want their brand reflected in a variety of ways ranging from simple logo representation to a whole unboxing experience.
Achieving the balance of all these requirements is key to success and to delivering a superior customer experience.
What do consumers need from ecommerce packaging?
Consumers typically have specific distinct needs and expectations when it comes to ecommerce packaging and these will change in priority depending upon the product they have purchased. For example, if a customer has ordered a microwave the minimum expectation will be for the packaging to protect the product so it arrives intact. However, if they are purchasing a high end product on line they will expect the product to not only arrive intact but also give them a pleasurable opening experience.
Ease of opening is also another critical factor consumers. Packaging which is difficult to open or require tools to open (which can damage products within) can be very frustrating and negatively impact on the consumers experience. This is why achieving the balance of business, product and consumer friendly packaging is non-negotiable.
Consumers also like aesthetically pleasing packaging, especially when buying luxury or non-essential products. Attractive packaging that reflects the brand’s identity and adds an element of excitement to the unboxing process can significantly enhance the consumer experience. This visual appeal can create a memorable moment for the consumer, encouraging them to share their experience on social media, which in turn benefits the brand.
In addition, sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Many are more environmentally conscious and prefer packaging that is recyclable, biodegradable, or made from sustainable materials. Eco-friendly packaging not only aligns with their values but also impacts their purchasing decisions, as they are more likely to support brands that demonstrate environmental responsibility, and this is why corrugated packaging is preferred by brands and consumers alike.
Why corrugated is best
Corrugated can meet these expectations of both business and consumers and this is why it is the preferred choice for many ecommerce businesses. For those who don’t currently use corrugated, there continues to be a growing shift as businesses seek more sustainable solutions to meet their own ESG goals and align with consumer demands for eco-friendly solutions.
When correctly designed by qualified professionals it is infinitely durable and its adaptability allows businesses to achieve the balance of product protection, easy packing and opening and aesthetics as required.
It also offers the ability for a range of print solutions to be applied to it bringing a whole other range of possibilities for businesses to choose from to find a corrugated packaging solution that optimises all elements of the supply chain and delivers a solution which meets the demands of the ecommerce industry.
2025 will see more businesses tackle their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies developing and implementing them across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
One Scope three emission (those which are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company) is that of managing hard to recycle materials from the supply chains of businesses and their onward customers and consumers.
As one of the most sustainable and recyclable packaging materials corrugated is ideally placed to support businesses achieve these goals.
Here, we investigate how versatile corrugated is and the hard to recycle materials it can successfully replace.
Wood
Wood is a more sustainable material; however, it can still be very hard to recycle both commercially and domestically.
Corrugated can successfully replace wooden crates and pallet, with heavy duty corrugated board proving just as strong and infinitely more sustainable and recyclable.
Single Use Plastic
Plastic clearly still has its place in a modern 21st century, however single use plastic such as plastic ecommerce mailers and void fill can easily be replaced with corrugated and paper-based solutions.
As with most packaging solutions, the key to success here lies within the design and professional knowledge of how corrugated can best be utilised to provide recyclable alternatives.
Metal
Again, metal can be challenging to recycle and dispose of responsibly, however in certain situations, depending upon application and usage corrugated can be a worthy replacement offering unrivalled strength, durability and increased flexibility in terms of product storage.
It can have a very positive impact on global supply chains, allowing greater utilisation of container space and reducing pack weights and therefore shipping costs.
Robust and resilient
The beauty of corrugated is the wide variety of board grades or types of material available which brings endless options for customers seeking to replace those hard to recycle materials with more sustainable ones.
More robust and resilient than many appreciate, corrugated can replace so many hard to recycle materials through innovative design often providing not just a replacement but a better and more sustainable solution.
EPR legislation
Ultimately, Extended Producer Regulations (EPR) are there to create a more circular economy and increase recycling. However, it does mean that businesses are now financially obligated to meet the costs of managing their packaging waste.
Whilst this is proving challenging for some, it does support ESG principles and in some scenarios will be the driving force to businesses to seek alternative packaging supplies.
2025 will therefore be a year, we believe, that an increasing number of business seek more sustainable and recyclable packaging and that they will endeavour to source this from more local suppliers to reduce the number of ‘packaging miles’ it travels. This too, will support elements of ESG policies.
With the team at Cardboard Box Company having years of experience and a commitment to designing, manufacturing and supplying the latest and most innovative corrugated box solutions alongside tried and tested FEFCO styles, business can be assured of a packaging partner that delivers on every level.
To access the benefits for your business contact the team on 01254 232223 or email them on info@thecardboardbox.co.uk
We are very pleased to announce that we are finalists at the 2025 Red Rose Awards hosted by Lancashire Business View Magazine!
Celebrating the best of Lancashire business for the 15th year, we’ve been shortlisted in the Design Team of the Year category, reflecting our superb design team and their achievements, particularly in the last twelve months.
Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, Cardboard Box Company said; “Reaching the finals of these prestigious local awards is a great result for our design team and the business.
“We have been renowned for our award-winning construction and print design for many years and to be able to showcase this to businesses in our region on a wider platform is very pleasing.
“My warmest congratulations to all other finalists and to the awards team for organising and hosting this event to highlight business success in our region.”
The team cited many reasons as to why they were deserving of this award not least the pioneering print work they do, the winning of two FIA awards in summer 2024 and the constructional design prowess the team displays to its customers.
Tom Penman, Graphics Manager added; “This is a wonderful result for Marc (Stobbs), me and all our graphic, print and constructional design team, and we look forward to the award evening in a few weeks’ time.”
The Red Rose Awards 2025 is to be hosted on Thursday 13th March at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
All the finalists can be found here, whilst tickets for the event and further information can be found by visiting https://www.redroseawards.co.uk/
Kristian Howson is our Design Optimisation Manager.
Having studied Illustration at college he joined his family’s businesses which specialised in die-making for the packaging industry. After five years he moved on, after the family business ceased trading. It was a glance through a local newspaper when he saw a CAD design job advertised at CBC. He applied and the rest is history.
He was promoted to his current role in 2023 and now has a role which has two main parts.
One is to design the structural aspects of packaging, creating samples, and preparing jobs for production receiving work from our sales team, through emails, or by visiting customers.
Alongside this he focuses on production optimisation across all elements of the process. This can involve redesigning boxes, enhancing machinery, or creating more efficient manufacturing routes. He assists customers with their packing, whether it’s manual or automated work so the CBC team can create packaging solutions which suit customers operational requirements. By identifying the source of the customers problem and he determines what needs to be done to improve the situation.
Just for fun…
If you didn’t work in corrugated, what would you do?
I feel it may be something active. Although creative, I’ve always enjoyed sports. Knowing there aren’t many rich artists or designers, a career in the sports industry would probably be my second choice, but plain brown cardboard boxes are just too appealing!
A fact people may not know about you
Through CBC I’ve been lucky enough to take part in two Red Bull Soapbox Races and finished first in vehicle design. We achieved international stardom for the design (short period) with newspapers in Japan, America and Australia contacting me.
What you like to do outside of work
In my spare time I mainly climb, hike, wild swim, and gym. I train in the gym in the mornings and climb in the evenings, it’s very rare I’m caught sitting around doing nothing but if I am I will probably on my PS5.