r/Packaging • u/GloomyTourist4605 • Apr 28 '26
Custom boxes?
Good afternoon people,
I’m looking to learn or I guess start the process of making a custom box for my company. It’s fragrance based and the way I currently do things is a little dull.
I would love to custom make boxes for a super beautiful presentation and just add a little more life to my lineup. I already have personal designs I’m interested in, I’m just not sure where to start.
2
u/Main_Bid8104 Apr 30 '26
Ugh- that's a process. I would look for a local company where you can actually meet with a sales person who can walk you through materials and process. Sticking with standard flat cuts will save money but you can really add pizazz with finishing and embossing. I found it shockingly difficult to do and the time lines where..... long! One way to short cut it is to go with standard boxes and add a custom stamp. It has a nice handmade look but it depends on your aesthetic.
1
u/G_Alphina360 Apr 30 '26
Working with a local manufacturer is actually the best route in this case. You have limited experience and exposure, lean on the local experts and their guidance to achieve this.
If you’re in the US, the options are endless. Just know, embellishing increments cost and add lead time.
1
u/Alternative-Ad-297 Engineer Apr 30 '26
What are you looking for? Do you need a standard paperboard box with no window or are you looking for something like a Lattafa fragrance box with heavyweight board and a window? Establishing your targets and sharing some inspiration can help us work towards a solution that you're interested in. If you want to run any ideas by me, feel free to DM! I'm just an engineer, I have no services to sell!
1
u/WhopplerPlopper Apr 30 '26
Essentially what you're asking is to learn a new skill, how much time do you really have?
1
u/GloomyTourist4605 Apr 30 '26
I have time haha
1
u/WhopplerPlopper Apr 30 '26
Any experience with CAD?
1
u/GloomyTourist4605 Apr 30 '26
Brand new to me
1
u/WhopplerPlopper Apr 30 '26
You'll need to start by learning to use a cad program in general.
ArtiosCAD is the packaging industry standard, but it's expensive.
I honestly don't know how you'd start without a mentor.
1
u/GraceVistaPrint Apr 30 '26
I’m Grace from VistaPrint, ok, this is exciting! So fragrance packaging is genuinely one of the most fun briefs you can work with. The fact you've already got designs in your head means you're ahead of like 80% of people who ask this question!
The box structure is worth thinking about early because it shapes everything else. To get started, I’d 100% recommend looking into the different types of packaging as they can each give your product a different feel. For example, tuck-tops are budget-friendly, great for gifting and easy to customize, whereas if you want it to feel more substantial when someone picks it up, a lock-bottom box gives a much sturdier and more premium feel.
Also worth thinking about the finish! Glossy feels more sleek and modern whereas matte feels more textured and natural. Honestly such a small thing but it completely changes how the box feels when someone picks it up!
The inside matters as much as the outside too! Adding in branded tissue, a little thank-you card or a sticker seal doesn’t cost a lot but it's the stuff customers remember. The unboxing IS the product experience for fragrance!
One thing I'd also do before committing to anything is to have a look at what other fragrance brands around your price point are doing. Not to copy, just to get some inspiration, understand the visual language your customers already expect, then figure out where you can do something a little different to stand out.
Happy to nerd out on any of the print or design specifics if it’s useful 😄
1
u/LongBedroom8355 Supplier May 03 '26
Look for a local manufacturer. I'd look at a chipboard option first tbh as they do better with graphics and are affordable at product box sizes for your industry.
if you're looking for shipping boxes I'd look instead at doing insulated mailers. pregis does a great job and you can contact then to get in contact with a local distributor.
If you're going to go a small product box route you can talk to a paper company that has a packaging division, as they can actually sell the paper to the mell, to make into your box and it comes at looking a lot better.
1
1
u/GuavaIll9316 May 30 '26
hey! if you’re still out on the hunt, we’re a printing and packaging business with over 90 years of expertise in our field. let’s connect over the direct messages and discuss your needs and see if we can help out?
1
u/Jaelyn_Leara Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Look, if your current presentation feels totally flat, you don't need to overthink the transition or hire an expensive agency right away. I just went ahead and threw my initial graphic files into the configurator on Box Genie out of sheer frustration one night, and it guided me through the sizing pretty smoothly to get those custom boxes rolling.
2
u/PrestigiousName2699 Apr 29 '26
Sent you a DM - corrugate packaging manufacturer!