And we don’t mean corrugated!

Christmas, the festive season, peak period – call it what you will – is fast approaching even though it couldn’t really be further from our minds when we were creating this blog for you on the hottest day of the year! Mad really!

There are two things that are certain for the point of this article though… the weather will cool down and Christmas will happen just as it always does.

But could this be the year you get your packaging in order to ensure the festive season is a complete breeze?

We’ve put together a few pointers on what you need to consider and how we can help.

Meeting seasonal packaging demands

Perhaps one of the key things you can do to meet seasonal packaging demands is to start early, well ahead of the festive or peak season. By doing so, businesses can ensure they have their supply chain secured, their packaging partner on board with them so goods are dispatched to retailers, warehouses or consumers on time and without delay.

Similarly, for seasonal branded or printed packaging it’s important to ensure you have your designs (both constructional and artwork) agreed and signed off and ready to go well ahead of your peak season. Such tailor-made packaging can have a very positive impact on brands during their festive season; however, you need to be ready to go once those orders start rolling in.

Key to seasonal packaging success is ensuring you achieve the correct stock levels. We know it can sometimes be hard to predict, however your historical sales data, your planned campaigns and your sales presence all help us to work with you and plan a strategy which we feel will suit your requirements and ensure your operations and supply chain run smoothly.

Planning ahead for perfection

It’s not just about planning ahead to ensure design and volume requirements are met. It can also be the perfect time to review your packaging and make some timely amends.

We could help you streamline your packaging processes so you can better handle the seasonal spike or simply work with you to transform your day-to-day operations with bespoke packaging solutions.

Should you use hard to recycle materials in your packaging solutions currently, we can also work with you to remove this, helping you elevate your sustainability perceptions with your onward customers and help your business reach its sustainability goals.

Key to this type of success though is partnering with a reliable and reputable supplier, such as Cardboard Box Company, who know what they are talking about and are a preferred supplier to a huge range of businesses in the Northwest of England.

By considering these factors and all facets of the seasonal supply chain, businesses can prepare well for the seasonal surge and ensure a smooth festive period.

And, with over 40% of businesses seeing a surge in sales in the festive period, it pays to be organised well ahead.

Talk to our team and we’ll be more than happy to support so your peak period or festive season is all boxed off nicely!

Last week our team attended the Made in the UK awards at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool as finalists in two categories – Apprentice of the Year and Manufacturing Future Talent.

Sadly, we weren’t formal winners on the evening however, we are still hugely delighted to have received recognition for the work we do in our fledging apprenticeship scheme and how we work hard to develop our people and their careers, as do our fellow finalists and sister company, Board24, who were also shortlisted in the Manufacturing Future Talent category.

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “What a fantastic evening the team had celebrating Laiten Scholes, Finalist and Jim Meikleham, Highly Commended in the Apprentice of the Year category and the business in the Manufacturing Future Talent category.

“As a proud manufacturing business, it was fantastic to see that UK manufacturing is thriving with some innovative and successful businesses being represented across the board. My warmest congratulations go to all those who entered and won; we shall look forward to achieving even more in the months ahead and to hopefully being represented at the Made in the North West awards again in 2026.”

To view all winners from the evening visit https://www.insidermedia.com/event/made-in-the-uk-awards-2025/coverage

The benefits of corrugated board as a sustainable packaging material are numerous and significant.

Offering unparalleled protection due to its robust and resilient structure, the fluted design acts as a cushion, absorbing impacts and vibrations during transit, which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the packaged items.

Complemented by its flexibility in terms of cutting and folding to create a whole range of shapes for fittings, it makes it ideal for bespoke packaging solutions that suit a wide range of product types.

However, these successes are only enjoyed when a professional corrugated packaging designer applies their knowledge to customer briefs and objectives.

The team at Cardboard Box Company is renowned in the industry for its talent and creativity but how do they deliver such successful projects and innovative designs on a continuous basis across a wide range of industry sectors?

Understanding the different types of corrugated

As there are so many different types of corrugated board available it is important they understand the different types of corrugated. The type of board chosen plays just an important part in protecting the product as does the design.

The unique structure, characterised by fluted layers sandwiched between linerboards, provides exceptional strength and durability. This design helps absorb shocks and impacts during transportation, reducing the risk of damage.

The type of liner board differs, the fluting differs, the number of layers differ and these all contribute to making up lots and lots of different types of board.

Our designers have extensive knowledge of these board grades and work with our suppliers, including our sister company Board24, to select the right board type for the project in hand.

Designers delivering solutions

Our talented designers, and those across the industry, leverage the versatility of corrugated board to create innovative and effective packaging solutions. They experiment with various flute profiles, combining different types to achieve the perfect balance between strength, cushioning, and weight. By incorporating die-cutting techniques, designers can craft intricate shapes and structures that enhance the visual appeal while maintaining the integrity of the packaging.

We won!

Last night we were delighted to win two awards at the Insider Media Made in the North West Awards at the Hotel Football in Manchester.

We were shortlisted in three categories –  Manufacturer of the Year £25m and under, Manufacturing Future Talent Award and Apprentice of the Year, where we had two finalists, Laiten Scholes and Jim Meikleham.

Laiten won Apprentice of the Year with Jim receiving a highly commended whilst the business won the Manufacturing Future Talent Award.

“What an amazing result for the team, Laiten and Jim and I am very proud of them all,” said Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company. “My warmest congratulation to the team and to all other businesses who won and were shortlisted at this year’s event.”

The team and Laiten are now automatically finalists at the Made in the UK awards which take place the Titanic Hotel on 19^th June, in Liverpool. The team will go head to head with colleagues at Board24 in the Manufacturing Future Talent Award as Board24 won the same category at the Made in the Midlands Awards in April.

“These awards show how robust the UK manufacturing sector is and how businesses in each region are proud of their achievements both on the production floor but with their people too,” said Daniel. “We were very pleased to showcase the corrugated packaging industry to the wider northwest manufacturing sector and highlight to the judges the ongoing investment we make in developing the business, and our people, to be the best we, and they, can.”

The full list of finalists and winners can be found by visiting https://www.insidermedia.com/event/made-in-the-north-west-awards-2025/coverage

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.”