SYPCOFFEE: Packaging Designed Around a Company Mission
Anyone who knows about starting a business can tell you this. It’s tough. Being an entrepreneur means thinking through a concept from beginning to end. And the questions! Will it be worth it? What is the company mission? Is it sustainable? How can you build confidence in your brand?
For Craig Margolius, founder of SYPCOFFEE it began as a very clear thought: life is short. It was a “seize the moment” belief that led him to begin a company guided by an underlying mission that superseded the product.
After a sudden personal loss, Craig found himself leaving an enjoyable and familiar corporate environment for the world of entrepreneurship because he asked himself “what's the worst that could really happen?”
SYPCOFFEE was founded with a mission to help others confidently recognize the special people in their lives. As a coffee and gift boutique they offer handcrafted packages- paying special attention to each tiny detail. You'll find wax seals, handwritten notes and special cards detailing coffee origin notes and info about elevation, processing method, and flavor profiles. Choose from delicious signature infused sugars to go that extra mile.
CompanyBox caught up with Craig to discuss how he created a business centered on small moments, smiles and customized gifts for the people in our lives.
A big part of SYPCOFFEE is focused on allowing customers to purchase gifts for others. Tell us why this is important to you.
Really, the first thing we wrote before starting anything - which we call the SYPCOFFEE Manifesto (that is written inside every gift) - ends with the acknowledgement that a single moment is all it takes to bring a fresh smile, make a gorgeous day or reinforce a beautiful life. Those moments you give to others really could be precipitated by any product or service - we just happen to LOVE helping you do this with coffee. With a love for coffee as a consumer, I knew that as a company, we must be guided by an underlying and very real mission superseding the product. My life experiences helped give proof to this mission.
Your gift packaging is beautiful. Why did you make the decision to invest in unique packaging?
Everything we do is driven by a goal to earn your trust and confidence in gifting. And that trust must be built on ensuring a remarkable experience for you at every step - from ordering through roasting, personalizing, unpacking and of course, tasting. And really that's what makes SYPCOFFEE so fun for us! There are simply no limits on the multitude of creative ways to imbue a satisfying and - what we're really striving for! - remarkable impression for you and your recipient.
Handwritten notes are something you don’t see very often anymore. Talk a little about the time it takes to write them. Is it worth it?
As our manifesto states, SYPCOFFEE are 'handcrafted packages of impending moments' and handwritten cards are just another way to help guarantee that promise. Handwriting may not be the most efficient or easily scalable way, but we can promise you it will always be THE way.
Talk about the process of finding coffee farms that you trust for your brand.
In the beginning, we aimed to visit each farm from which we sourced and while we are not able to keep this really enjoyable part of the journey up, we do want to ensure clarity and transparency into every unique origin and farm from which we source.
There are so many incredible sources of specialty grade coffee from around the world - and so many amazing people involved to ensure such variety - that every month, you will always find new selections from which to choose. And its true - you may enjoy a given months' selection more or less than prior - but such consistent variety may help introduce new origins and profiles that you never knew you could enjoy so much!!!
What has custom packaging done for SYPCOFFEE?
Our packaging is designed to sincerely leave a memorable impression. We strive for it to be of such high quality that gift components may be reused and remembered long after the last cup of SYPCOFFEE. For example, this is why all of our giftboxes are handcrafted here in the US from brushed Birch and Pine Wood…and why our soy candles are poured in very easily cleaned and reusable Lowball Glasses! How could one possibly discard, nevermind forget your beautiful gift!?
What tips would you give someone just starting their own e-commerce business?
From the beginning, the below components have always helped us:
(a) Meet 1 new person a day - the perspective gained in listening to someone new can have a remarkable effect on your drive and creativity, both personally and professionally
(b) Always stay open and flexible. We started with a single gift, available online only. Through customer feedback, inquiry and critique, we now offer corporate gifting, gift delivery, wholesale, event services and even opened our first Gift Boutique proof of concept. Without a constant willingness to pivot, we would never keep discovering additional opportunities
(c) Most importantly, make certain you are always having fun! And working hard really should be immensely fun if there is an underlying joy in what you do.
Interested in creating custom gift packaging that makes an impression? We can help. Also, check out SYPCOFFEE's online shop to send a gift to a special person or try out their delicious coffee.
How David & Bear Created Dual Purpose Packaging
David & Bear owner Sean Webb wanted to help all parents by providing products that were affordable, stylish, long lasting and easy to use. He also wanted packaging that could be reused to store particular products.
If you know kids, you know they have a few universal talents:
a. Using their imagination
b. Having fun
c. Making messes
Every parent out there knows that the secret sauce to keeping kids busy involves combining a + b with (hopefully) a minimal amount of c. We recently printed packaging for David & Bear, a company that developed a product around this exact recipe.
The family-owned company, named after Sean’s two boys, offers a fort building kit that works just about anywhere. (All you need is a blanket.) We spoke with Sean about how he got started in this e-commerce business and how their Fort Builders kit works to encourage kid’s imagination and playfulness.
Talk beginnings. How did you get into products for children?
As parents, we were inspired to design products that help little ones use their imagination, be creative, and provide Mom and Dad the accessories they need to make parenting easier. We offer blanket Fort Building Kits, Multi-use Car Seat Covers and Nursing Covers in various designs. We designed all our products to be affordable, stylish, and long lasting. These were important features we could not find in balance online or in retail stores. Another passion of ours is for full-time mommies, whether they stay at home or commute to work, they are always on call, and we want to provide a helping hand by offering products that are practical and easy to use.
Why did you decide to use custom packaging? How does it add to your business?
The David & Bear Fort Building Kit fits perfectly inside a strong and durable custom designed box. We wanted packaging made of sustainable and recyclable materials that is dual purpose, for shipping and for first impressions. Both have their own unique requirements.
Shipping requires a box that is strong and durable to get the product to our customers just as it left our facility, in perfect working order. However, most poly mailers or other shipping material need to be disposed of once the product reaches the customer. By working with CompanyBox, we were able to provide a practical use of our box. We incorporated a fun & lighthearted, outdoor camping inspired design that is also used to store the pieces of our product when not in use. From our research, it's important for our customers for storage and grab-and-go purposes. Most multi-piece toy products are easily lost because the package the customer receives will be disposed of since it's not designed to be kept or used as storage. As easy as it is to build a fort, its just as quick and easy to put away and store for the next playtime with the unique quick tab release.
All kids love creating forts! Tell us more about your product.
We were inspired to design it to help little ones use their imagination and be creative. The fort building kit provided them with this unique ability. We wanted to offer the product to other Moms and Dads out there that needed something simple, yet effective and affordable to build play forts.
Building pillow and blanket forts was something we have the best memories of as kids and we wanted to create something that made enjoying forts for our kids easier and simpler. The Fort Kit provides the perfect solution for this. We love how David & Bear's® Fort Building Kit is compatible with any size blanket, and because the accessories compact easily for storage, its portable and small enough that it fits perfectly in a drawer or cabinet when not being used.
Most Fort building products on the market today are expensive, elaborate, come with many pieces, or do not provide the strength to be very long lasting. To solve this, we invested in the largest, strongest, and most durable suction cups available from our suppliers (This isn't your average suction cup! They are about the size of your palm, over 3.5 inches in diameter!) We coupled this with strong elastic ties that flex and twist to anchor the blanket to the suction cup and window. Using the kit, a fort can be assembled in less than 30 seconds and will be able to withstand tugging and stretching when your little ones are playing and crawling around inside.
We love the designs you created. Talk about the design process and inspiration for your boxes.
We focused on lighthearted designs inspired by children and art, that feature bright colors, shapes, and animals. Mosaic stained glass and giraffe pattern spots are features of a few of our designs. CompanyBox made the iterative design process easier than ever before, with their online design portal, no minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirement, and a very helpful and knowledgeable staff available to discuss any questions we had on processing and printing our designs.
One of the best parts of working with CompanyBox was the ability to iterate through our designs and receive samples in a matter of days. This made getting our products to market much simpler and easier than we had anticipated. They don't outsource to overseas suppliers, cutting out the middle-man and extra fees, which we discovered was hard to find in a custom packaging supplier.
What tips would you give someone hoping to start their own e-commerce business?
Reflect on why you are interested in creating a business. Finding out why you are passionate in the industry you have chosen will help propel your business to success. It is this passion that will drive innovation, creativity, and a well-established investment strategy.
Conduct market research and invest in an area that isn't over saturated, and on products that solve problems and provide a good value to your customers. Partner with suppliers that provide great value and work hard to do so. Most importantly, incorporate a way to serve others and give back!
Interested in creating custom packaging for your story and business? We want to be a part of your story. Also, check out David & Bear through Amazon Prime and their "How To" video on YouTube.
Hello Snap2Pack
What do you want from your packaging? Do you want it to be easy to open? Simple to fold and pack? Branded for your business? Sized to save on shipping? Pose this question to 100 people and you’ll get all kinds of answers. And while we've got most of these things covered, there were two additional features people were asking for: self-sealing and returnable.
We get it. Shippable packaging needs to be securely closed. Most of the time, this means packing tape, but it can be a hassle and an extra cost. Think about this: what if you could take tape out of the equation?
Our team of designers took the request seriously and developed something even better. Welcome the Snap2Pack. A mailer who is anything but ordinary. She’s sleek, secure and offers an extra printing surface on the inside (without 2 sided printing!) And for an extra bonus, has the option for a returnable tape strip- which reduces waste and saves on cost.
What does Snap2Pack offer?
We set out to make a product that was extra special, both inside and out.
Secure : Tamper proof seal for mailing important items.
Tear Strip : No cutting to open. Simply pull the tab for a clean entry.
No Tape : Adhesive closure included on all packages.
Returnable : Order with an additional tape strip to allow your customer to return. They just fill, close and reseal.
Standard Sizes : We’ve researched the top 21 sizes and included all of them.
Shallow Depth : For small, thinner products, we’ve brought in microflute material for depths of one inch or less.
Safe : All Snap2Pack boxes are produced using water-based, odorless ink.
If you’d like to get a closer look, start by checking out the 21 sizes Snap2Pack has to offer. If you're looking for a custom size not offered, contact us and we'd be happy to discuss your options.
5 Questions to Ask Your Packaging Supplier
There is a certain beauty knowing the e-commerce business model can exist without brick and mortar. The flip side is that you need a way to get your products out in the world. Shipping is a must. Your packaging can be an afterthought, or it can be a part of your overarching brand presence.
There are dozens of packaging suppliers to choose from. But if packaging is going to be an important part of your customer experience, you need to make sure you choose the right one for your business. While you’re out shopping for the right supplier, consider asking these questions.
1. What is your minimum order?
If you’re ordering thousands of boxes each month, this may not be a question you should worry about. But, if you are like most e-commerce companies, order quantities fluctuate month to month. It’s in your best interest to know how low you can go. (And how how high also! Can they accommodate potential growth?)
2. What is your lead time?
It goes without saying, but the timing on your order will be an important thing to consider when you’re planning an e-commerce business. You will find turnaround time varies anywhere from 7 days to 14 weeks. Packaging that is being shipped from China will obviously add a huge chunk of time. While you’re asking about lead time, also see if rush production is an option. We all have those moments of panic and it’s good to know who can handle this type of request
3. Are you the manufacturer or a distributor?
This is a question most people don’t think to ask. But asking this simple question can give you a huge insight into what your experience will be like. A manufacturer will be on hand during the entire production process of your boxes. They have the ability to check on your order at any point and because they aren’t a reseller, they can keep prices lower.
Plus, if there’s a problem with your order, a box manufacturer is in a better position to reprint and fix the problem- and will usually do so without question since it’s their printer.
4. Do you offer water-based inks?
Things are changing in the world of printing. Studies have shown that UV-curable inks on the outside of packaging can migrate through the box and into products contained within. Brands around the world are switching over to safer ink, especially in the food, baby and cosmetic industries. Water-based ink is food-safe, odorless and non-toxic. Something to consider if any of your products will be consumed. Read more about water-based inks here.
5. Do you have designers and structural engineers on staff??
Unless you feel 100% confident in packaging design, this is a good question to ask. It doesn’t necessarily mean you will use their designers, but it’s nice to know someone has your back. Packaging designers know what will print well and what won’t. They can also collaborate with you to provide feedback if you’re looking for a little help.
Bonus points for having structural engineers. They are well versed in packaging design and will provide fresh insight relevant to your brand. Companies who have engineers on staff can create custom inserts and develop innovative packaging around your specific products.
Once you get the answers to all your questions, ask yourself one more. Will they take care of you? Whoever you choose will be an important part of your e-commerce business. Ultimately, this is a partnership. You need to know you can count on them.
Make your mark with custom boxes with CompanyBox. We'll give you a fresh approach to packaging and turn it around in 10 business days.
LUXE: Your options to stand out are now limitless
Our most luxurious, beautiful option; Luxe printing is sure to set your brand apart. CompanyBox can now offer food-safe printing for both primary and secondary corrugated packaging, requiring no additional barriers. Printed on the new HP C500, Luxe is also a great choice for those high resolution images and perfect tiny details. Nothing will make a bolder statement.
What makes Luxe different?
- Food safe & odorless
- True water-based ink
- Meets Nestle guidance and Swiss Ordinance stringent food packaging demands
- Use text as small as 4 pt without blurring
- Perfect skin tone printing
- Great for the highest resolution images (600 dpi)
- True lithographic replacement
- Shows off small details and vibrant colors
- Available in matte and gloss finishes
Jubilee Plant Box on the Benefits of Plants and Custom Packaging
To celebrate Earth Day, CompanyBox asked the plant experts at Jubilee Plant Box to reflect on the benefits of greenery, how their custom packaging helps with customer experience and running a start-up business on the side.
Co-founders, Liv and Casie met at a job interview and later learned of their shared plant love. After moving to Cleveland, Ohio they spoke more about the scientific benefits of plants and how they could create something that gave others joy in life through gardening. Together, they started a community of loyal plant lover
What sparked your decision to focus on plants?
We have both been involved with plants in some way since we were young. At this point in time, we are two very busy women working for startups and realized that plants actually acted as a self-care ritual for us. Plants have many scientific benefits but for us they provided a healthy responsibility that did not require a screen. We had many people reach out to us to help diagnose their sick plants, ask how to get their own plant collection started, etc. After a glass of wine celebrating a raise, we decided we could turn this into a business.
Tell us about your subscription box! What is typically included?
Jubilee Plant Box is a quarterly subscription box that combines the scientific benefit of plants and natural beauty products to promote self-care in a less traditional fashion – delivered directly to your door! The Jubilee Box comes with 2 succulent plants, beauty product(s), and a piece of artwork all sourced from small women-owned businesses. The Plant Box comes with 2 succulent plants. Both boxes include care instructions and identification for each plant, Jubilee stickers, and stickers to place on the plant pots (gotta name those new pals!).
You decided to run a subscription business, what are the benefits of doing this over a traditional e-commerce site?
For us it allows us to fulfill orders on a quarterly basis versus on an ongoing basis. We both work full-time for startups so we didn’t have the bandwidth to continuously ship products every single month. This also helps us keep inventory lower so we can run this out of the space we have without needing any storage.
Why did you decide to use custom packaging?
We wanted people to feel like they were getting the “Jubilee experience” when they received our box. We want people to feel joy, feel the excitement to learn, grow, and care for new plant pals. Custom packaging is so important for a business like ours that has a strong brand and needs that to be communicated at every touchpoint with our customers.
How does your packaging add to your business?
It definitely makes the brand come together as a full product. In my own opinion, I do not think our product would be taken as seriously if we did not have the packaging we currently have.
Where do you find inspiration?
We find inspiration in many places – while doing activities we enjoy such as being outdoors gardening, the internet, people that we know or meet, articles we find to be inspirational, and loads of lady bosses. We may even see a shade of a color and get inspired!
Make your mark with custom boxes with CompanyBox. We love working with businesses of all sizes to create a new and memorable touchpoint for your own customers. Any color. Any size. Any amount.
Packaging Design Predictions for 2019
With every new year, comes fresh designs, trends and different techniques. If you are in a position to stretch those design muscles, it’s important to keep up on new trends-even if you are just using them as a source of inspiration.
1. Minimalism
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘less is more’, but keeping it simple isn’t always easy. Design with a minimal aesthetic takes lots of critical thinking and tweaking, but when done right, it can give a serious “wow” factor.
We see 2019 leaning toward a modern, minimalistic style with a more careful use of white space. White space (or negative space) doesn’t have to be just white. It can be any area within the design that is free from text, images or embellishments. As a note, the best minimalist designs often have a single feature that stands out above all else. In 2019, you can say more with less.
2. Pantone Color of the Year: Living Coral
Packaging designers take note. Each year Pantone announces it’s Color of the Year and for 2019 they opted for a color that is anything but drab. Living Coral, predicted to dominate the design industry over the next 12 months is said to be a “nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media”. That doesn’t mean you should change your entire logo to Living Coral, but think about using it as an accent on your marketing materials or next month’s subscription box so your audience knows you’re on trend.
3. Hand Drawn Graphics
After years of thick, bold lines we are starting to see more and more delicate, elegant illustrations. This handmade aesthetic is a nod toward a more sophisticated, minimal style. Some designers are adding hand-drawn graphics over other images, taking those stock photos and giving them some originality. It could include words or even just a fun doodle. Others use the hand drawings as the actual focal point of the box. We love this personal touch and think it’s a nice opposition to digitally made designs, if you’re looking to try something different.
4. Asymmetrical Layouts
A few years ago, we were seeing an influx of websites built with template-based programs like Canva and Squarespace. These sites provided beginners with beautiful products but with it, we saw rigid and grid-like templates become more commonplace. Fast forward to 2019 and designers are breaking free. Looking to create products that feel more alive, designers are adding aspects with movement and interest. The asymmetrical layout demands attention because it creates a feeling of curiosity as the consumer where the information and graphics might go next.
5. Bright Gradients
Gradients aren’t a new design concept. We see them everywhere, even in nature. You can see them in the sky as the sun rises and sets, which might be why the transition of color (when done correctly) can stimulate a sense of peace and calm- even excitement. Gradients keep fascinating both designers and consumers and have become a key trend within the design world.
For 2019, look for gradients to bring fresh depth and dimension to packaging. Instead of living in the background, expect to see it become a main component in the design.
6. Photography
Graphics and typography are not the only weapons in your packaging arsenal. Photography has always been strongly linked to design and it’s a great way for getting your packaging designs noticed.
More than anything, photography tells an authentic story in a very short amount of time. It’s a way to make a human connection and give a complex visual message. Use the photo alongside your brand’s typography and/or other illustrated elements for a pulled together look.
What is your favorite packaging design prediction for 2019? We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
4 Delivery Best Practices to Improve E-Commerce Site Credibility
When it comes to running a thriving e-commerce business, there are plenty of challenging operational aspects. From offering products that stand out in the marketplace to clear branding, there will always be something to keep you busy.
However, there is nothing that can make or break a consumer’s experience more than the delivery procedures. Once a customer has decided to purchase a product and has handed over their hard-earned money, it is up to you to do everything you can to make sure their goods get to them promptly.
If you are struggling with your shipping practices, or are looking to improve this area of your business, read on to learn about four delivery best practices that can improve e-commerce site credibility.
1. Have your delivery policies explicitly listed on your site
The best thing you can do to improve your e-commerce site credibility is to have your shipping and delivery policy thoroughly explained on your site. By precisely stating how shoppers will obtain their goods, you will develop confidence in your brand, secure more sales, and reduce shopping cart abandonment.
In your shipping policy, you need to include the courier options, the service types you offer (such as same day, overnight, international, and standard), handling times, delivery time frames (for example, if you are shipping from China), and any restrictions you have.
Obviously, pricing needs to be noted. If you offer free shipping, then this needs to be mentioned. If you utilize flat rates, then have your pricing table posted. The best option is to provide calculated rates at checkout, which are specific shipping rates dependent on the patron’s location.
2. Include your return policy
Research shows that when people are shopping online, looking at an e-commerce site’s return policy is an essential factor in deciding to make a purchase. As online shoppers aren’t able to see and hold the physical product before they buy it, they want to make sure that a company has fair and appealing return policies.
Accordingly, you need to have a well-thought-out return policy presented on your website if you are going to attract and keep shoppers.
A succinct yet transparent return policy supplies purchasers with a sense of security that what they are ordering is confirmed to be what it is portrayed to be. If you don’t provide this guarantee, then potential buyers often become skeptical and bypass purchasing the item.
The types of return policies include exchange only, store credit, all sales final, complete refunds, and restocking fees. Whichever strategy you choose to enforce, make sure it is posted prominently on your site, as well as printed on the customer’s receipt.
3. Always accept responsibility for problems with delivery
Whenever there is a mishap concerning shipping, it is crucial that your business has a policy for accepting responsibility. Even if you didn’t personally lose a shipment or if you had nothing to do with late delivery, it is still your burden to bear. Assume responsibility for the issue and take action immediately.
Your best strategy is to ship a replacement item as soon as possible to help sustain the customer’s satisfaction, while following-up with the carrier. As an e-commerce store owner, it is a good idea for you to purchase shipping insurance to shield your company from squandering money on lost and damaged shipments.
4. Manage customer expectations
You may have heard about the concept of under-promise, then over-deliver. Well, this certainly directly applies to the delivery of goods from your e-commerce site. It is entirely in your best interest to expertly manage the expectations of your customers. They can deal with a slightly longer delivery timeline, as long as they know about it from the get-go.
They aren’t happy with supposing that an item will be delivered on one date and then finding out that it’s not true.
For this reason, it is essential that you clearly show customers the estimated delivery date for the items they are purchasing from you. This will comfort them and also provide them with enough confidence in your company to re-order and spread the good word about your firm. Think about these questions: What best shipping practices and policies does your firm follow? What steps are you taking to improve your customer’s experience regarding delivery?
Toby Edwards
Toby is the CEO of Shipa Freight and is based in Dubai. Shipa Freight is a new online platform powered by Agility that makes it easy to get air and ocean freight quotes, book, pay and track shipments online. Shipa Freight empowers small and medium-size businesses, taking the complexity out of International Freight Forwarding, making it easy to manage legal, regulatory and compliance issues, and offering convenient ways to pay to move their goods.
Water-Based Ink: Why is it a Game Changer?
In printing, ink is a necessary ingredient. From the very smallest home printer, to the largest industrial printing press. But all ink was not created equal. Different inks are used for different types of packaging applications and printing presses. The digital world is changing and the ink is changing with it.
How is ink used?
When something is digitally printed, pigmented ink is delivered directly to the top layer, bonding to the surface- creating a desired graphic result. As packaging continues to evolve and become more readily available to everyone, brands must be diligent about choosing the right ink for their job, especially with new evidence to suggest ink doesn’t always stay put on that top layer.
A high-profile case occurred in 2005 involving a massive recall of Nestlé baby milk formula. When trace amounts of ink chemicals were found in the cartons, the brand had to recall 30 million liters of products from supermarkets across Europe. It’s estimated that Nestlé lost €1. 6 million worth of products as well as incalculable brand reputation damage.
This issue is called migration. When ink from the surface material enters food or drink contained in a package, it can then subsequently be consumed. It’s no surprise that this case forced retailers and brands around the world to take a closer look at their own packaging. So what are the ink choices for digital printing?
UV-curable inks
UV-curable inks are immediately exposed to ultraviolet lights as they are printed onto the packaging substrate.This method ‘dries’ or cures the ink when chemicals called photoinitiators react with certain wavelengths of that ultraviolet light.
Because they cure instantaneously, the printed product has a more raised and enlivened look. This process also makes the ink firm and durable, consequently making the print less subject to smearing and resistant to abrasions. UV-curable inks are known to maintain color consistency and contrast. And because these inks are waterproof, they can be used for outdoor applications.
The big downside to UV-curable ink? Those same photoinitiators that cause the instantaneous curing of UV inks can migrate into the interior of the packaging and interact with the contents. Depending on the contents, this can be a very big deal.
Water-based inks
Water-based inks are food-safe, odor-free and nontoxic. This option opens up huge possibilities for companies who package food, cosmetics, drugs or even children’s toys. Water-based inks also reduce the environmental impact of food packaging, since no additional material are needed to prevent ink contamination. Plus, all corrugated packaging printed with water-based inks are fully recyclable.
The technology used in HP’s PageWide C500 press extends that reassuring experience by avoiding the use of UV-reactive chemistries, while still delivering extremely high print quality. Instead of using ultraviolet light to cure the ink, the C500 press uses heat.
These inks comply with even the most stringent global food safety regulations and industry guidelines. These include the FDA, Nestle Guidance, Swiss Ordinance, EU Framework and more.
In 2018 CompanyBox made the decision to invest in HP’s C500 press in order to expand our digital printing capabilities and open the door to industries that necessitate food-safe printing. We offer water-based ink for runs of 2,000+ pieces, but in an effort to make this option more accessible, CompanyBox has changed the policy for food related packaging to 500 pieces.
Which ink should you use?
Choosing between water-based ink and UV-curable ink truly depends on how you plan to use your packaging. You will need to take into account your order volume and desired production method. We highly recommend water-based inks for any products in the food, beverage or baby industry.
We also encouraged you to consider this type of ink for beauty and cosmetics to avoid potential impact to the product or risk to the consumer. By working with a knowledgeable packaging expert, you will be able to determine the best packaging strategy for your needs.
Don’t be a stranger. CompanyBox can help answer all your packaging and ink related questions. We love collaborating with our customers to design fresh looks, no matter what your industry is.
How Custom Boxes Help Popular Media Site ‘Her Campus’ Engage with Clients and Community
We have the pleasure of developing custom packaging for all types of clients. We ship them off to you, with a hope they will be a part of your brand’s story. And it’s those stories that are our favorite. We love to see what you’re doing with custom packaging and what it’s doing for your business.
One of those businesses is Her Campus, a lifestyle brand and media site dedicated to providing aspiring female journalists and marketers with the skills and experience they need to launch their careers after graduation. Their sister company, InfluenceHer Collective is a tight-knit community of influencers and brands that send out custom “survival kits” to members. But here’s the best part; Both businesses are run 100% by women and the 12,000+ contributors are entirely made up of college journalists spread out across 11 countries.
The founders, Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Annie Wang and Windsor Hanger Western met while working on a lifestyle print magazine. At the time, they were focusing specifically on Harvard college women.
“We decided to bring the publication online to modernize it and allow us to reach a broader audience.” says Wang. “We realized there was this need in the media industry for lifestyle content by college women for college women. After experiencing success with publication, we wanted to do something bigger that was not just a publication at Harvard, but a platform that would allow anyone to create a similar magazine on their campus.”
Their venture has led them to be named as the Number One Media Site for College Women by Forbes, Top Small Business of the Year by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of The Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America
We recently caught up with Annie Wang, Co-founder and Creative Director of Her Campus, to talk more about her business, finding inspiration, and how she uses a custom designed (and downright awesome) subscription box to engage with their clients and community of women.
Tell us more about your subscription box.
Our InfluenceHer Collective survival kits are an extension of our Campus Survival Kits. Both kits are a fun way that we engage both our clients and our community of college women. We work with clients to send product to our community, and they in turn create content surrounding the kits. It allows our clients to reach a niche and new audience, test new products and promote their brand while allowing our influencer community to be on the cutting edge of new trends and brands while building their content portfolios.
Why did you decide to use custom packaging? How does it add to your business?
Custom packaging takes our products to a completely new level. We have a genius and award-winning design team that I lead, and they are integral to every campaign we launch. We believe in storytelling through graphic design, and custom packaging is another way to expand on our brand’s standard of excellence that our members and clients expect.
How do you promote Her Campus?
The success of Her Campus can be largely attributed to our chapters. We have over 380 chapters around the world producing original editorial content on HerCampus.com. The hands-on experience our students gain working on their chapter teams leads them to land their dream jobs and important connections. We also have multiple events a year — from our tentpole Her Conferences in New York and Los Angeles, to College Fashion Week in Boston and New York, to our B2B College Marketing Summits.
We have immersed ourselves directly in the college market, engaging with students on social media, and have truly embodied the approach of 360 marketing that spans digital, influencer, on-campus, experiential and insights.
Where do you find inspiration?
As someone in a creative field, it’s incredibly important to constantly seek inspiration and intentionally make it a part of your day. Inspiration for me comes in many forms, from scrolling through my Instagram feed, to reading Architectural Digest (I like getting inspired from “unrelated” art disciplines), to consuming a large diet of articles on leadership, productivity, and best practices related to my responsibilities. I moved from Boston to Miami a year and a half ago and this was the best thing I could have done for myself in terms of gaining inspiration, thanks to the totally new culture, weather, green spaces, and creative energy of this city.
What is one piece of advice you like to give young women?
Be outgoing and be confident in who you are and your ideas. Network, network, network. We like to describe our team as overachieving, entrepreneurial, action-oriented, innovative, collaborative and passionate, because we feel that these are the qualities of successful women, and I would encourage those looking to break into their dream field or find their dream career to embody those traits as well!
One of my favorite quotes is: “Entrepreneurship is not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” and that’s so true. Sometimes winning just means getting through another day and moving forward. Starting your own business can be daunting at times; focusing on what you can do each day to move the needle, and trusting the team you have built, will lead you to success.
Would you share one of your secrets to success?
We at CompanyBox know that daunting feeling. We have felt it ourselves and we see it with many of the companies we work with. That’s why we love telling your story. Because, if Annie, Stephanie and Windsor can take an idea and turn it into a successful media site for college women with national content, countless campus chapters, bloggers, events, conferences, apparel and even a book, then you can do something great with your idea too.
Interested in creating custom packaging for your story and business? We want to be a part of that marathon with you. Visit us at CompanyBox.