In the modern era, visuals and investment in aesthetic appeal are becoming more and more necessary for small businesses. In addition to basic customer psychology, social media has introduced new buying habits and priorities for consumers when browsing a store. Not only does your product have to be high in quality, but its packaging needs to be customized to you and optimized for Instagram. Technological developments such as the ability to create a custom product box online have made it easier than ever for businesses to create eye-catching retail box designs, but that self-designing power brings with it risks of making fatal box design mistakes which can drive away consumers and hurt your sales. If you want to make the most of your custom retail boxes, make sure you avoid these three common mistakes.

Mistake #1: Wasted Space

The number one mistake that companies make when choosing retail boxes is selecting boxes that are too big for the product. A one-size-fits-all box can save you money in the short-term versus custom retail boxes, but they’re often more costly in the end due to the long list of downsides that accompany them. In addition to wasting resources, using up more cargo space, and inconveniencing the consumer, too-large boxes also result in higher rates of damaged goods. Leaving more room for the product to move around inside the box increases the likelihood that it will break in transit, ruining your customer satisfaction ratings and costing you significant money in returns and exchanges. Custom retail boxes can be made specifically for each product, so they can be nestled inside for a safe and secure journey to the customer. You can even commission custom inserts that provide even further protection.

Mistake #2: Lack of User-Friendliness

Another mistake is valuing aesthetics over practicality. Although you want your box to look its best, you can’t forgo user-friendliness. Creating hard-to-open packaging with unnecessary hassle for the consumer can leave them frustrated and in a bad mood before even interacting with your product itself. This is never good for company reputation and satisfaction rates, so choose a custom retail box that is simple to open and intuitive to use.

Mistake #3: Generic Design

Your product’s packaging is more than just a container — it’s a marketing tool. It’s an opportunity to spread brand awareness, improve brand perception, and stand out from the crowd. Custom retail boxes provide an exciting and cost-effective opportunity for brand growth, so one of the biggest mistakes that a company can make is creating a forgettable and generic box design. Having a box with custom dimensions is great, but a company that skips custom graphics misses an invaluable opportunity. Make your product memorable by prominently displaying your company logo and product information. Evoke emotions with colors, designs, and words. Build A Box allows you to cover your custom retail boxes with full-color graphics on both the outside and inside of the box, so take advantage of the space and implement your best marketing techniques to help your company be memorable to consumers.

If you think you’re ready to start designing custom retail boxes for your small business, check out Build A Box today. Our online box design tool makes it quick and easy for you to design your own custom retail boxes and bring your brand’s vision to life. If you need more assistance to ensure you avoid the mistakes listed above, you can give us a call at (888) 406-1610 or fill out our online contact form to speak to one of our design experts. We’ll work one-on-one with you to ensure that you receive the perfect custom packaging boxes for your brand. We look forward to speaking with you and providing you with a free estimate for your next order.