With sales of $299.12 billion, ecommerce retail sales in the US reached a record high in Q4 2022. Due to fierce competition and a small range, internet shopping is becoming more and more popular.
The shipping and packing of the goods are frequently the first tangible contact and relationship with the customer in direct-to-consumer ecommerce, thus these processes must be particularly well-executed.
Even while the main purpose of packaging is to preserve products, when done properly, it offers businesses the chance to give customers a memorable unboxing experience that can eventually result in repeat sales, brand recognition, and customer loyalty.
If you're curious about the unboxing process, keep reading.
The Opening Process
Packaging may make history and serve as a stage.
The act of a client unwrapping a product is known as unboxing. Regardless of the caliber of the product included, the box is a fantastic opportunity for the business to communicate its values and build an emotional bond with the customer. Whether or not a buyer will repurchase a product from a certain brand depends significantly on how effectively it is packaged and displayed.
The unpacking experience is a potent marketing technique focused on packaging and encompasses both external and inner packaging. It is more than just a fad or an online trend. In addition, it has extra elements like presents, brochures, and free samples, among others. The goal is to deliver the in-store buying experience to a customer's front door.
Why is experience in unboxing important?
Making the process of getting and unpacking the delivery package enjoyable and memorable is key to delivering a satisfying unboxing experience. The purpose is to make unboxing feel like opening a present, adding value to the consumer experience journey.
Receiving the eagerly anticipated delivery in gift-like packaging contributes to making a lasting impression and encouraging the customer to make additional purchases. Incomparable ways that creating a great unpacking experience benefits brands include:
1) Promotes consumer loyalty: In today's fiercely competitive climate, it is more crucial than ever to foster client loyalty. Customer loyalty can only be increased by continually providing tailored customer experiences.
It makes sense that firms would employ customer loyalty programs or online personalisation to keep customers, but they are frequently difficult to implement and require the involvement of third parties.
Positive unpacking experiences are quite simple and simple to implement as a retention tactic. A well-packaged product increases the feeling of value among customers, which is a wonderful method to encourage them to make additional purchases.
2) Assists in making a strong first impression: It is true as is often said, "The first impression is the last impression." D2C ecommerce businesses interact with customers less frequently than conventional brick-and-mortar businesses do.
Online shopping frequently lacks the exhilaration of going into a physical store and handling items. It can also feel impersonal. The same experience may be stimulated for clients by presenting a well-thought-out, arranged, and aesthetically pleasing box, which can also leave a favorable impression for a very long time.
3) A chance to tell your brand's story: Stories enable you to connect emotionally with your audience, which fosters long-lasting relationships. The customer is already engaged and has your complete attention when the delivery is delivered. This is the time to tell your brand's story and inform your audience of what sets your company apart from the competition.
Read on for more information about an intriguing new method of brand storytelling in e-commerce.
4) A chance to use content marketing: Over the past 10 years, product unboxing reels, Instagram posts, and videos have grown in popularity. A well-packaged goods and an interesting unpacking experience video are fantastic methods to engage your clients on social media and spark an interest in buying your products for the pure thrill of witnessing a wonderful unboxing for themselves.
As a result, you have a collection of high-quality material on numerous platforms that you can use to establish a distinctive brand identity and raise awareness of your product.
Fun fact: According to research, 70% of buyers are inclined to return to firms who offer a satisfying unpacking experience.
How can I create a fantastic unpacking experience?
Here are 4 strategies you may use to provide your clients a fantastic unpacking experience:
1) Making the package unique
A fantastic unboxing experience includes the product's packaging and presentation, which makes it shine. However, enhancing the box with intelligent inserts raises the quality of the entire experience.
It enhances the recipient's sense of specialness and is frequently associated with celebrity status. Include a note addressing the recipient by first name, such as
A handwritten note from the CEO or founder outlining the history of the company
a letter of appreciation for the purchase and a discount voucher
customized product suggestions
A handwritten message adds an immediate personal touch that helps you establish a strong emotional bond with your clients.
Make The Package Personal As A Way To Create A Great Unboxing Experience
We appreciate how The Bali market, a business that specializes in selling towels, personalizes each of its deliveries with a handwritten message that addresses the buyer by name.
2) Create a special and unforgettable experience
Create a special experience through your packaging as an additional strategy. It might feature an original design that includes several sensory components, like colors, textures, and more.
Innovative company Drunk Elephant offers biocompatible skin and hair care products. They excel in packaging; rather of using the uninteresting brown corrugated boxes for shipments, they employ a sky-blue color box that makes them stand out. The branding is on the tape that was used to seal the package.
The interior of the box is decorated with an eye-catching pattern that is both colorful and lovely. The slip containing the package's information, a thank-you message, and an educational pamphlet that doubles as a coloring sheet are all contained in a lovely, whimsical envelope.
The entire box is skillfully created, with a breathtaking variety of hues that are sure to attract the customer's attention and stick in their memory for a while. Furthermore, you can obtain samples for free
3) Make use of eco-friendly packaging
Natural resources are in limited supply and the population is increasing daily. The best course of action is to protect the environment in every manner possible while reducing our carbon footprint.
Unbelievably, 30% of consumers are willing to pay more for firms that use sustainable business methods, and 37% give these considerations priority when making purchases. Sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices can set your company apart from the competition.
Customers are placing an ever-increasing emphasis on designing the unboxing process with the goal of lowering their overall environmental impact. As a result, including eco-friendly procedures in the unboxing process is a fantastic way to demonstrate your brand's dedication to the environment.
Utilizing biodegradable packaging materials, cutting out on unnecessary packaging, and choosing recyclable and reusable packaging are some ways to practice environmental responsibility.
When it comes to environmentally friendly packaging, Seed Probiotics excels. With the website address on the opening flap and a plain box in their signature green color, the packaging is simple and tidy.
The items' packaging and labeling are both FSC certified. In place of foam or plastic, the products are packaged in glass bottles and use mycelium molds (mushroom roots) to cushion the contents of the box, which can degrade in your backyard garden.
4) Use package design to tell a narrative
The unboxing experience can be made or broken by the packaging design, which will ultimately affect your growth and sales. Even for products you might not understand, like cannabis and CBD hemp oil, it can aid in building a positive brand perception.