Corrugated boxes are widely used by businesses for all manner of packaging applications. This is because they are inexpensive and effective in securing packaged items, including delicate items such as food.

The brown boxes also have limitless opportunities to be customized, enabling businesses to increase brand awareness and visibility.

The practice of opening gift boxes has evolved into a full-blown ritual, which some people even film. More people are making unboxing videos, which are receiving increased viewership on YouTube. To a marketer, the box carrying the gift should be just as important as what’s inside. The box offers immense opportunities for branding and deepened marketing.

Never underestimate the packaging you use. It’s part of a customer’s experience that should be made as memorable as the product inside it. In fact, studies have shown that thoughtful gift-like packaging influences a customer’s perceptions and increases the likelihood of them being repeat clients.

There are a number of ways you can get creative and turn those bland=looking boxes into pieces of art that Picasso may be envious of (well, maybe that’s stretching the comparison too far). But how do you get creative with custom boxes for your business?

1. Brand Your Boxes

Printing your logo and adding a beautiful message and graphic on your boxes should help take the “bland” out of your box. When designing your boxes, literally think outside the box and make it as appealing as possible to the client. Besides making sure that your company goes wherever the boxes go, you are also telling your clients that you care enough to make their unboxing experiences memorable.

This also communicates to the customer that you value your product so much that you are willing to spend a little more on making the boxes as attractive as possible.

2. Use Color Creatively to Make the Box Stand Out

Nothing brings boxes to life more than creatively applied color. Consider using your company’s colors on the outside and inside of your box. On the outside of the box, you should apply color in strategic spots and then paint the inner sides of the box with a generous splash of your dominant brand color. The one caution here is that you should not overdo it. Anything applied in excess can quickly become unsightly.

3. Make Use of Stickers in Strategic Places

A strategically affixed sticker can bring a plain, bland box to life. Besides extending the reach of your brand to places you may never go, a neatly and attractively designed sticker improves the appearance of your packaging.

4. Give It a Personal Touch

Nothing says “personal” more than a hand-written thank-you note to a customer. It says that you care about them, and not just because they have purchased your product. While it may be impractical to add hand-written notes for every box you send out, you could have one digitally produced.

This way, every customer who receives your product will feel as though you took time to think about them before sending them the package. Do this and you will have a repeat customer on your hands.

5. Think Inside the Box

Your product is inside the box. Besides making the outside of the box attractive, your best should be saved for the inside. This is where the product lives. Make it as attractive as possible. Drop in an extra gift if possible. Make it sleek and pleasant. As your client finally opens the box, they should see your product lying majestically in there, surrounded by beauty and grandeur.

To make your corrugated boxes stand out, be as creative as you can. However, form and function should not be sacrificed for attractive packaging. The boxes should be durable and sturdy enough to withstand any bumps and rough handling while in transit.