We are very pleased to share we have retained the highest BRC accreditation at our most recent audit.

Visitors from the accreditation body for BRCGS called to do a full inspection and were delighted with the standards and procedures kept by the Cardboard Box team awarding them AA status for the third year in a row.

“Grading is achieved through a rigorous certification process and achieving the grade of AA BRCGS is a fantastic accomplishment by the entire team,” said Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, Cardboard Box Company. “Having the highest accreditation gives assurance to our customers that we operate at the highest standards, always.”

BRCGS is a globally recognised accreditation body that evaluates company practices and procedures to ensure they are operating at the required standards across all elements of the business including health and safety and legal requirements.

Customers also benefit from knowing that products are manufactured consistently to the highest standards of quality and safety. Furthermore, the team constantly strive to be the best in its field bringing confidence to the supply chain and beyond.

Daniel concluded; “This audit saw us have just one minor non-conformance. To achieve this status for the third year in a row highlights the commitment our team has to maintaining high standards.

“My thanks go to the Janine Bodill our Quality Systems Coordinator who managed the process on her own after the loss of a colleague in August, with support from the team and to the team for their professionalism towards the process throughout all that we do.”

BRCGS certification is used in over 130 countries across the globe and sets the benchmark for good manufacturing processes.

We are pleased to announce that Marc Stobbs has been appointed as our Head of Design.

Marc had been our Design Manager for the construction side for many years and joined the business in October 20024.

Now, Marc will also resume responsibility for the graphics side of the design, after the retirement of our Graphics Manager, Tom Penman, at the end of last year.

Marc commented’ “The constructional and graphic elements of design are closely intertwined for many of our customers so a cohesive approach between the two will allow the team to continue delivering success in this area of the business.

“I’m looking forward to the new challenge and working with the team to continue pushing the boundaries of packaging design and print.”

Marc is supported by Repro Designers Mark Greenwood, Nathan Czuczko and Sam Kearns along with CAD and Digital Print operator Lee Ullah and Junior Corrugated Packaging Designers Kelsey Ritson and Darcey Hudson.

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company added; “Marc has a wealth of experience across all our design functions, and his calm leadership will ensure we continue to deliver the highest of standards with both our constructional designs and our print, both of which we are renowned for.”

To discuss construction and print design the team can be contacted on 01254 232223 or on info@thecardboardbox.co.uk

As 2025 draws to a close, so will the career of Tom Penman, our Graphics Manager.

Tom has been in the print and packaging industry for decades and has been award winning for his achievement.

We asked Tom to take us on a quick trip down memory lane, about where it all began, what happened in the middle and what retirement holds for him.

In Tom’s words –

My career in the print and packaging industry has been shaped by innovation, problem-solving, and a commitment to raising print quality standards.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with outstanding teams, major clients, and forward-thinking businesses across the UK.

I began my career at Outline Engraving in 1976 as a stereo hand engraver, crafting rubber stereos for corrugated printing. I could engrave so quickly that I earned the nickname “The Flashing Blade.” I later became Label Department Supervisor, overseeing artwork creation using traditional drawing boards, exposure frames, and step-and-repeat processes.

For the next decade, I managed the Repro Department, helping guide the shift from traditional methods to digital work. With the introduction of Apple Macs in the late 1980s I supported the move from analogue platemaking to the first CDI digital “computer-to-plate” technology.

As Business & Print Development Manager, I worked with clients across the UK to improve print quality, leading fingerprint trials and turning results into reliable artwork and plate specifications. During this time, we secured several premium accounts and set up on-site studios at locations such as Smurfit Tannochside, Smurfit Chelmsford, and Assi Cumbernauld.

After Pamarco acquired Outline Engraving, I continued supporting national clients, combining technical print development with sales in platemaking and anilox technology.

In 2001, I took on a major new challenge with my colleague John Brown at Excel Formes and Stereos (North), building a full manufacturing unit from the ground up. Over nine years, we developed in-house studios, advanced platemaking facilities, and—with John Tait on board—secured exclusive supply partnerships with TRM, Saica Wigan, Saica Ellesmere Port, and Saica Hartlepool.

When Excel North was acquired by Contact Originators in 2010, I continued as Business Development Manager, supporting key accounts and on-press development before moving to Chemence in 2011.

In 2012, I joined The Cardboard Box Company as Graphics Manager, overseeing artwork production and working closely with the print team to elevate print quality with the introduction of new presses.

Together with our talented teams and suppliers, we are pushing the boundaries of flexo printing and achieved award-winning results on the Bobst 618 and Bobst 1624 presses.

It has been my pleasure to serve the company for over 13 years. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the support of senior management, Peter Street, Ken Shackleton, and Dan Johnston, and to work alongside colleagues who have become not just teammates, but genuine friends.

I will always look back fondly on my years at CBC and remain deeply grateful for the opportunities, support, and friendships I’ve gained along the way. I have every confidence that the future holds even greater achievements for both the team and the business.

And as for me, after Christmas, my itinerary will be golf, travel, and “Homes Under the Hammer.” ?

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company concluded; “We really miss Tom, not just for his exceptional skills and knowledge but also for his gentlemanly manner and calm, friendly personality.

“He’s been a trusted member of our team and we wish him a long and very happy retirement! With our best wishes to you Tom – thank you from us all.”

Inclusive Packaging is something of a new concept to elements of the packaging sector, however it’s something the team at Cardboard Box Company has been working on for some time to offer the best advice to our customers.

Essentially, designed to be more easily opened by everyone, accessible and inclusive packaging is becoming a much more popular request amongst our customer base. However, there are other elements that add value to customers who may face other challenges, not just dexterity ones.

Kristian Howson, Design Manager, Cardboard Box Company explains the steps we take to help customers achieve their accessible and inclusive packaging goals, and why many of our solutions already support this.

Empowering customers

Providing packaging that is accessible and inclusive is all about empowering the customer, allowing them to independently access products.

This is not just about how easy it is to open a box or pack; it can also be about improving how visible product information is by choosing clear fonts and appropriate font sizes, colour contrasting print to make it clearer, or including some tactile elements to help those who are visually impaired.

Many corrugated ecommerce solutions already support accessible and inclusive targets by way of ripper strips, easy peel open packs with self-seal strips and designs where every unnecessary complexity has been removed.

With over 16m people registered as disabled in the UK, it’s important that we make packaging as accessible as possible to help those with challenges such as decreased fine motor skills challenges or impaired vision as just two examples. And, with an aging population, it is likely in the next decade or so, these challenges could become more commonplace.

Something else to consider, which is becoming less common place in today’s digital world is to consider how you can make returning an unwanted product easier. Very few businesses now help consumers to return products with instructions or labels in the pack. Perhaps consider providing these, printed onto packaging to avoid unnecessary wasting of paper. It may just make the difference to customers who find it hard to access the digital world and be a differentiating factor when faced with a decision as to which product, brand or supplier to choose.

Maybe the wider packaging industry, and businesses who currently use other packaging materials that prove challenging to open and hard-to-recycle, could be adding value to their products by sourcing and choosing packaging which is accessible and inclusive.

Features to elevate the unboxing experience

There are several things’ businesses can choose to incorporate into corrugated packaging solutions to ensure they are inclusive and promote a positive unboxing experience rather than consumers fighting with packaging simply to access their goods!

As designers we always take many elements into consideration to create a design fit for purpose however, when specifically designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind, we especially consider the following:

Flexibility – This means the design should support a range of different abilities and demands from the packaging depending upon the product size, shape, weight and fragility contained within the pack. Could tactile markings be incorporated into the design, so it appeals to an even wider audience?

Intuitive simplicity – This means the design should be easy to open in one or more simple steps and that this must be easily understand by all consumers, irrelevant of level of dexterity or other challenges they may be facing

Accessible print – Not only does the print on packaging need to convey the brand and make customers want to buy the product, but it should also consider colour accessibility and contrast especially where text is required. The typeface chosen should be as large and as clear as practical, whilst still ensuring the pack remains on brand.

 

In conclusion, businesses should consider how easy their packaging is to open, how easy it is to recycle and can the print be read with ease (especially important if vital instructions or safety warnings are conveyed on the packaging)

By embracing these points businesses will be supporting people with a disability to enhance the overall experience when receiving a home delivery or choosing a product in a retail environment.

Why not let our design team work with you to create and develop your own range of inclusive and accessible packaging?

We can be contacted on 01254 232223 or info@thecardboardbox.co.uk

It’s time to meet our Night shift supervisor, Paul Watson-Scholes.

Paul joined The Cardboard Box Company in Jun 2015 and became a skilled multi-point gluer operator, a key part of our service offering to customers.

Initially he worked on the Pacific and then moved over to the market leading BOBST Expertfold when that was installed. A move back to the Pacific in late 2020, when the night shift was established saw him then promoted to lead operator in 2021, and then supervisor in February 2023.

Paul’s supervisory role is key to ensuring the night shift achieves maximum productivity and that all work is completed ready for delivery to the customer. As the only nighttime supervisor in both factory and warehouse, Paul’s shift tasks are multi-faceted and include liaising with shift leaders either side for hand overs, targets for the shift and any challenges that be present.

Paul commented; “I deal with many queries overnight and with me being the most senior person on site, I have learnt to go with my gut instinct and to trust myself with the decisions I make.”

Alongside the day-to-day production Paul also schedules one to one meeting with his team every three months to provide feedback from both sides to ensure the team continues to perform at the highest level.

Paul added; “I love working at CBC. There’s a good work life balance and you feel like your work is valued. The atmosphere is positive, and no two days are ever the same. The leadership team is very understanding and supportive and I work with a great bunch of people.

“It’s been great to see some younger people begin their careers with us recently and I would encourage people to consider joining our industry which is so much more than a brown box. There’s such a wide range of jobs for them to do and if you work hard, great promotions can be had.”

 

Just for fun:

*If you didn’t work in corrugated, what would you do?

I’ve always fancied being a green keeper or groundsman.

*A fact that people may not know about you

I’ve run 2 marathons (London & Chester)

*What do you like to do outside work?

I’ve got in to running over the last 12 months. The furthest I’d ever ran was 5 miles, but I’ve now completed 2 marathons this year.

Me and my wife also love to travel and enjoy holidays. We aim to try and get away at least twice a year, sometimes a few more!

We are very pleased to welcome Kelsey Ritson and Darcey Hudson, both 18 years old, to their first full time jobs as Junior Corrugated Packaging Designers.

Design is a huge part of the service the business offers to its customers and as we enter the next phase of our growth plans it was important we added extra resilience to the design department and begin to educate our employees of the future.

Kelsey previously studied engineering at Burnley College and worked at Iceland supermarket before joining CBC.

Kelsey commented; “When I was studying at Burnley College, I gained a little bit of design experience when creating engineering projects and using similar design software such as Auto CAD.

“I joined CBC because I had enjoyed the design aspect of my college course the most and this was the perfect opportunity for me to join a local business in a trainee design role that would allow me to be in the industry while learning and progressing in design.”

Darcey Hudson completed A Levels in Product Design and Graphics, a CAD Course and had previous work experience at an engineering firm and a graphics company before joining the CBC team.

Darcey commented; “I wanted to join The Cardboard Box Company to get genuine industry experience in packaging design as that is what I found my passion for during my time in education. Furthermore, when I came to visit the company, I loved how versatile the company seemed, especially after mentioning how many interesting projects they had been part of.

“I’ve already experienced this when visiting customers and have enjoyed seeing first hand how we can meet their packaging needs by solving their challenges through design and innovative solutions.”

Marc Stobbs, Packaging Design Manager, The Cardboard Box Company added; “Both Kelsey and Darcey have great career aspirations, to grow as designers, gain experience in the industry and learn about other aspects of the company.

“They have both had a great start, shown great team spirit and an appetite for learning and I am sure they will continue to do well with CBC and in our industry.”

Big box, little box…. You know how it goes!

But classic kids songs apart, we really do design and manufacture the whole range of sizes and shapes of corrugated cardboard packaging.

From high quality gift and small format ecommerce packaging to heavy duty and transit solutions our design team make corrugated work for all our customers whether existing corrugated users or not.

Marc Stobbs, our CAD Design Manager, explains how innovative design is key to success.

Micro…

Perhaps it’s an ecommerce solution to despatch jewellery, perhaps it’s a high-quality gift box for hand poured candles; whatever you wish to pack in your small, corrugated solution we’ll be able to design and manufacture a solution that works exactly as you hoped for.

With access to a wide range of board grades we can choose finer flutes and liners which still give the product protection required but achieve a more polished look, ideal for more delicate or high value items.

Perfectly complemented by bespoke print our solutions can make a real difference to the unboxing experience enjoyed by your customers, in addition to the product protection we ensure is achieved by innovative design.

Massive…

But if it’s a heavy, cumbersome product you require, or a large format display solution we’ve got that covered as well.

As an opposite to the delicate board grades we mentioned earlier, we also design solutions in the heaviest duty board grades available. Offering strength to rival wood, metal and plastic when correctly designed by our experts, these solutions have packaged a huge range of goods including sofas, agricultural machinery and automotive components and more.

And it’s not just about massive size. It can be about massive value as well which is where good design comes in once again – designing solutions which protect high value products whilst promoting brands and delivering a positive end user or customer experience.

 

Backed up by production expertise and print capabilities

No matter how good the designs we produce, they still need to be brought to life by our production and print teams.

Our ..?.. sq ft production facility has a wide range of equipment ranging from a high-volume, high-speed case maker to a 6 colour HQPP Bobst die cutter to a range of specialist finishing end solutions suitable to all market sectors including ecommerce.

Our well trained and experienced team understand the production process down to the tiniest detail to ensure your packaging is manufactured, printed, palletised and delivered to your requirements.

If print is your thing, then you’re in good hands – our print specialists have decades of experience in designing and developing the best print finishes on corrugated with amazing detail and clarity being achieved for those customers who require it. However, if it’s a simple one- or two-colour print then that’s what we do as well, each and every day for years, with accuracy and professionalism.

 

Meeting customer expectations

All our customers challenges and requirements are equally important to us and we know that big is not always best. Size truly does matter – it matters that the correct size box is designed to the product, it matters that the correct board grade is specified to the packaging works as expected, it matters that the correct print, font, text etc is used to replicate the brand accurately and encourage brand recognition.

I guess what we’re saying is that if you want a corrugated packaging solution to support your business operations then you’ve found the business that can deliver.

Whether you’re a small enterprise or a large multi-national with global shipping requirements we can work together to find a solution that meets all your expectations.

Micro or massive box, small or large business – we’ve got you covered.

This week on the 15^th September we will be incredibly proud to celebrate 50 years in business!

What an achievement!

It was in 1999 that the business became The Cardboard Box Company but the story started long before then.

It was in 1975 when Chapman Industries formed Chapman Cartons to make and supply cardboard boxes to its five envelope manufacturing sites across the UK.

At that time, Chapman Envelopes was the largest envelope manufacturer in the UK so having its own box making factory to despatch its products made perfect sense.

It quickly became established, and it was recognised from the beginning that the success of the business depended upon its ability to offer credible solutions to customers’ packaging dilemmas. It’s an ethos that’s stayed pretty much the same across the decades.

In the 80s and 90s as the business gathered pace CBC had some pretty notable achievements; in the ‘80s, they designed the original satellite dish packaging for BskyB (British Sky Broadcasting) while in the ‘90s, Time Computers, the largest manufacturer of PC’s in the UK, supplied the first complete Home PC package to the UK retail market via Tesco in a box designed by them.

After several factory moves across the area the business settled in Accrington in 1989 and has stayed there ever since apart from an extension or two!

In was in 1999 that Trelleborg, its then owners, sold Chapman Industries and Chapman Containers and the latter was bought by a private businessman, Mr Peter Street.

With a new owner and a new name of The Cardboard Box Company, the business grew exponentially and increased its turnover significantly, until it was acquired by Logson Group in June 2018.

Today, the business operates a turnover of £24m with a clear plan to take this to £45m and maximum capacity at its current plant by 2029.

Some of our team have been here for many years including Daniel Johnston, Managing Director and Commercial Director, Matt Herd who joined the business around the same time, early in the new millennium.

Daniel commented; “I can’t quite believe where the time has gone since 2003 and the roles I have done since joining as a Cost Estimator when I finished Uni and didn’t really have a master career plan!

“I never planned to work in corrugated, and I accepted the job on a night out after my friends Dad offer me a post. I’d finished Uni and didn’t know what to do so it seemed sensible. Clearly it was the right thing to do!”

Matt added; “It’s quite unusual for people to stay with businesses for such a long time now however there is something quite unique about CBC. From joining in summer 2000, I have also worked in many different roles and know the business inside out.

“It’s a great place to be and I’m looking forward to taking the business forward and into its sixth decade with the rest of the team.”

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits.

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits.

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits.

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits.

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits.

Any manufacturer knows that product returns can be a costly business challenge. And, in addition to product being returned and the financial implication of this, there is the added danger of damage to the brand name and reputation which can often be far more costly than any financial loss attributed to the delivery of damaged product.

Most often, product damage occurs through incorrectly packaging items meaning the goods contained within the pack aren’t adequately protected through the supply chain.

But it’s not just customers that are impacted.

Product returns are a multifaceted issue affecting logistics and profitability to.

Hearsay suggests that e-commerce return rates can exceed 20% in some sectors, with damage during transit a leading contributor. For fragile, high-value, heavy, or awkwardly shaped items, the risk is even greater. Every returned product represents not only a financial loss but also an environmental impact—extra transportation, waste, and in many cases, products that cannot be resold.

However, with the right corrugated packaging, product damage, returns and refunds can be reduced if not eliminated and brand reputation preserved.

This is how.

Bespoke is best

Bespoke is always best but particularly if you have a product that is particularly fragile, high value, heavy or awkwardly shaped.

When businesses choose an off the shelf standard size case, invariably extra void fill is required which can them compromise the sustainability of the pack, if a hard to recycle material is chosen. Paper void fill can be used with great success however it does have its limitations in terms of strength required.

These challenges can all be overcome by choosing bespoke packaging, designed and tailored especially for your product range.

Our expert designers ensure solutions are created which protect the product through some or all of outer boxes, internal fittings, sleeves, pallet packs and more to ensure the product does not move and is protected through the supply chain whether that’s across the globe or through the UK courier network.

Promoting your brand

Marketplaces are very competitive places and representing and protecting a brand is critical to business success.

Choosing a bespoke corrugated packaging solution which reduces or eradicates product damage and return is the first step to protecting brand reputation, perhaps the second step is promoting the brand reputation to customers through printed packaging.

Ranging from simple one colour print which communicates essential product information and the contents of the pack, to complex high quality print representative of photography businesses can choose the type of print they want and the impact they want to deliver.

Our graphics team are well placed to advise on this and as one of the best teams in the corrugated print sector customers are amazed at what can be achieved with their brands and artwork on their packaging.

One thing is for sure; customers are very happy to promote their brands once they are confident the packaging is fit for purpose and their customers and end users will have a positive packaging experience and a positive engagement with their brand and products.

A winning combination

By combining the two both tangible and intangible costs of product returns can be eliminated as can damaged goods, disappointed customers and the subsequent negative impact on a brand and a business.

Companies that invest in bespoke corrugated packaging position themselves as leaders in quality, sustainability, and customer service encouraging repeat business and customer loyalty.

With effective packaging being so much more than a box, bespoke corrugated solutions reduce return rates, improve customer satisfaction, and protect brand reputation—all while supporting sustainability goals. For businesses serious about growth and success in the modern marketplace, the move to custom-designed packaging is not just a trend, it’s a strategic decision which can deliver significant benefits

Simplistically, developing an effective retail packaging strategy involves a carefully orchestrated blend of market awareness, brand alignment, and practical considerations.

In reality, it’s a multi-faceted operation which helps businesses to market their products either on a year-round basis, or for seasonal or promotional campaigns.

By aligning sales, marketing, product development and brand identity and choosing a packaging partner that understands retail packaging it can deliver huge successes, increase sales and profitability and position brands to encourage repeat business and foster brand loyalty.

Knowing your audience

Perhaps one of the most important things to consider is to know your audience. Big brands invest heavily in ascertaining this, but smaller businesses and those without huge marketing teams need to outline who, where, and how they intend to target their audience.

Having an understanding of customer preference, values and purchasing behaviours are all important, not only for the business but also for the packaging partner tasked with developing, designing and manufacturing the retail packaging strategy.

Telling the story

Once the audience has been established it is key to know what story you are telling. Is it an ongoing, over-arching message or a seasonal campaign that has to deliver maximum results in a short space of time?

This helps the packaging partner develop packaging to support this and tell the brand story, ethos and unique selling points to catch consumers eyes and encourage a purchase, especially those impulse buys which can imprint an unfamiliar brand on a new customers mind.

The part corrugated plays

Functionality, sustainability, and recyclability have become hugely important to businesses and consumers alike. The packaging must safeguard the product throughout the supply chain, be easy to open, and, increasingly, reflect eco-friendly values through recyclable or biodegradable materials. This is how a corrugated packaging partner adds infinite value, balancing aesthetics with practicality and environmental responsibility.

Because corrugated board is available in many different grades, which deliver greater strength, print capabilities and overall design flexibility, it is entirely suitable for the full range of retail packaging solutions including point of sale, shelf ready, dump bins, free standing display units, countertop and more.

And, because our team has decades of experience in designing the very best retail packaging solutions in line with our customers retail packaging strategies, we have helped those customers enjoy huge successes in retail environments.

What can you expect when you work with us?

This leads us on nicely to explain what you can expect when you choose The Cardboard Box Company as your packaging partner.

Celebrating 50 years in business this year, we know a fair bit about the corrugated industry. But perhaps more important than that is the fact that today’s Cardboard Box Company is constantly challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries of design and material and print capabilities.

We’ve won awards for our print and have some of the best machine capabilities in the industry allowing us to execute the innovative designs we create with precision and flair.

Customers are reassured by the personable nature of our team, our ability to translate briefs into reality and to do all this with innovation and attention to detail.

If you’d like to know more about how we help you create an effective retail corrugated packaging strategy, simply get in touch with our team and let’s get started.