It may sound easy and self-explanatory, but unboxing is a lot more than opening a delivery box. For buyers, it is an experience. Then, for business owners, an opportunity to show off product packaging and build a brand.
We can all remember the feeling that came with opening presents on Christmas day. The excitement and anticipation of not knowing what is inside; waiting to savor the moment.
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It is one thing to know why customers are hyped about unboxing. But it is another thing to know why it is important for your business. All these and more, we will share with you in this article.
Does Unboxing Affect Brand Experience?
Short answer? Yes! As a business owner, you already know that the arrival of a purchase is a very important time for customers.
These days, purchases involve ordering items online and waiting days or weeks for delivery. It only makes sense that a buyer will get nervous, anticipating the packaging, hoping it fits the image they have in their head.
The numbers show that the unboxing experience is a big one for vendors because more people shop online. Over the years, e-commerce has grown to be an important part of the global retail industry.
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Thanks to digitalization, paying for goods and services online is now a common practice around the world. It is almost impossible to imagine a world where people cannot shop on the internet.
So far, about 85% of buyers around the world have bought items on the internet.
In 2016, about 209.6 million people in the US were online shoppers. The figure rose to 256 million in 2020, and experts predict that it will reach 291.2 million by 2025.
Some prefer it because it is convenient. Others choose to shop online because of the competitive prices offered on e-commerce platforms.
Whatever the reason, we can agree that product reviews influence many buyers. Many of these reviews come from shoppers sharing images of their purchase online.
Customers will only share unboxing images or videos if the products come in branded packaging. So, how do you make your packaging deserving of this free marketing? Keep reading!
Building the Perfect Unboxing Experience
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No unboxing experience is complete without custom packaging. It allows brands to sell the narrative of a personalized retail experience.
Unboxing is often the overlooked opportunity to wow customers when they unwrap their packages. I still remember the first time I bought something online and the excitement that followed the order.
It was my college graduation, and I had ordered these shoes to wear on that big day. The shoes were the right size and just what I wanted.
Yet, I could not get over the packaging. The shoes came in a branded box (which I stored in my attic) and zippered pouches.
Of course, it’s been years since that purchase, but I still talk about it, like I’m doing now. You can guess that if it came in plain boring packaging, it would not have been stored in my memory.
So, that is how the perfect unboxing experience can work for your brand too. You must ask yourself some questions:
- What do buyers feel as they open the package you sent them?
- How does the package look? Is it in order or thrown together?
- Are they happy enough to write a review or share it online?
Answering these questions will prepare you for the next part of this guide.
How to Give Your Packaging the ‘Wow’ Factor
Whether it is a kid opening a birthday present or an adult on an anniversary, we all are excited to open packages. The anticipation and curiosity to know what’s inside get to us regardless of our age.
Now, people don’t have to wait for special occasions to experience the thrill. All they have to do is place an order and wait for their package to arrive.
As a business owner, you may want to see your products splashed all over social media in unboxing videos. In that case, here are a few ideas that can boost your customer unboxing experience:
More so, integrating order management into your eCommerce site is crucial to ensuring that your customers’ orders are processed seamlessly when you have large order volumes
Here are a few ideas that can boost your customer unboxing experience:
1. Use Branded Packaging
Suppose your goods arrive on a customer’s doorstep. From the moment the person opens the door, you want it to be clear who the package is from.
So, while it may be cheaper to use plain boxes, you may miss a valuable chance to build brand recognition. Plus, nothing beats an eye-catching box to get a customer excited over the purchase.
Even if you sell your products in-store, proper branding makes it easy for buyers to spot on a crowded shelf. What branded packaging does is create a consistent unboxing experience that makes your products easy to identify.
2. Use Proper Packaging Materials
These days, customers are more conscious of the kind of brands they support. With climate change, many people lean towards sustainable living, down to the products they buy.
Consider switching to recyclable packaging if you haven’t already. Using non-recyclable packaging materials can make it seem like your company does not care about pollution or the environment.
Customers will then share negative reviews and unboxing experiences, which is not good for business. Yet, if you try reusable packaging materials, it can boost your brand image and reputation.
3. Presentation is Everything
Now you’ve sorted out your branded packaging and used it to tell your brand story. What next?
All that hard work should not only be for the outside of the packaging. If you just dump the product inside the box or pack, it will not look good on camera when opened.
You need to think of the shape and size of the product and its carrying box. Then, consider putting some custom inserts, tissue paper, bubble wrap, or even air pillows.
How you arrange the products also determines if they will look aesthetic on camera. It is the curated look of an unboxing that makes it shareable. So your arrangement determines if customers will want to share it online.
4. Add Free Samples
There’s not a person on earth that doesn’t like free, unexpected gifts. Surprise your buyers with free items like gifts and samples to show you care and value their patronage.
It is these little touches that make each unboxing experience memorable. They make buyers feel wanted and come back for more.
Still, adding gifts or samples is not possible for every business. It depends on what you are selling and what your profit margin is.
If you can afford to, it is a major step to winning over customers. Yet, your gifts must align with your brand, or it will appear wasteful if the buyer does not understand the gift.
For instance, you may want to avoid sending things like candy. We understand that it is a popular strategy, but you never know what allergy someone might have.
5. Personalize Each Gift
Remember when branded beverage cans were a thing? The marketing strategy worked because people spent money buying cans with their names on them.
It shows how far customers can go for a brand that builds a personal connection with them. So, add personal touches like a handwritten note to humanize your brand and build deeper connections with buyers.
Not to add that customers will be excited to see that you crafted a personalized package for them. It is more that you took time out of a busy schedule that makes it more authentic.
The buyer knows that they are not the only one who has received a box of your products. Yet, with personalized packaging, each buyer can feel like a part of an inner circle. You can use custom gift boxes to make the unboxing experience more memorable for your customers!
6. Keep it Simple
There’s no unboxing nightmare worse than a box that won’t open. Imagine a buyer sharing a product reveal on Instagram live, and they cannot get the box open.
Those few seconds interrupt the entire experience and send a message that the product is not premium. You must understand that unboxing is only a means to an end and not the final bus stop.
Despite all the effort you put into the unboxing process, the product inside is the goal. You don’t want to piss your customers off with packaging that they need a chainsaw to open.
In arranging your products, don’t make them hard to find. If your product has tiny parts, don’t toss them on colorful paper or other packaging.
The buyer may not see it and throw it away, losing a major part of the product. So, make sure there are no spaces for small items to hide. Instead, keep them in the center of the box, surrounded by other items.
7. Don’t Forget to Self-Promote
When your unboxing experience is top of its game, buyers will want to hear anything you have to say. It presents a perfect opportunity to sell your brand and other products.
You can include a newsletter or brochure for a new release. It can even be something more fun like a sticker or thank you note that can double up as a bookmark.
Do not forget to add important documents like invoices and delivery notes. It is easy to overlook this if you get caught up in creating the perfect unboxing experience.
Why the Unboxing Experience is So Important
A great unboxing places your business way above the competition. Apart from this, here are a few other reasons why you must take it seriously:
1. First Impression Matters
No doubt, we all grew up learning not to judge a book by its cover, based on the old saying. Yet, when it comes to customer experience, first impressions don't only count. It is a huge deciding factor for buyers, and business owners must take it seriously.
E-commerce businesses are at a slight disadvantage when it comes to this. Regular brick-and-mortar stores offer a hands-on experience for customers to decide before making a purchase.
To bridge this gap, online sellers must pay attention to details when they can. Doing this will promote trust and show customers that you value your interactions with them.
2. It Builds Brand Loyalty
Every successful business owner knows the one secret to build a successful brand. That is, getting customers to come back to buy again.
Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes and imagine you bought items from two different vendors. Then, one comes in a boring brown box, and the other arrives in attractive packaging.
Which of these deliveries would make you feel like a valued customer? Of course, there is nothing wrong with the first packaging, as it is practical and cost-effective.
Yet, the second example shows an attention to detail and great customer experience. It is this second example that will encourage customers to return.
3. Your Business Gets Free Marketing
These days, people love to share everything on social media. From a trip around the world to getting new packages delivered at home.
Also, there is a huge audience that loves these product reveals and unboxing. Some see it as living through others, as they interact with something they desire.
So, it is not surprising that unboxing videos are some sort of online phenomenon. Most of these videos from buyers are more authentic and personal.
Sometimes, it is better than paying influencers or celebrities to promote your products. People see this type of marketing as more reliable, as a regular person will not promote a product they don’t believe in.
This type of exposure is good for your products. It can even help you to reach new markets that would have been hard to tap into. The good part is that it is free and will save you some advertising coins.
Conclusion
When it comes to creating a unique unboxing experience, your imagination is your only limit. There are a variety of options to suit every budget, and inspiration is all over the internet.
This guide has laid down the building blocks for a fantastic unboxing experience. It is up to you to choose what best represents your brand to your customers.
At Arka we prioritize premium packaging and help create a better unboxing experience with unique custom mailer boxes, custom shipper boxes, and more! You can contact us and we will help you level up your packaging. Happy unboxing!
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