How to Adapt Your Packaging Design in Time for Christmas

Festive packaging: Wrapping your brand in holiday cheer

As the most wonderful time of the year approaches, it’s not just Santa’s elves who are busy at work. For businesses big and small, Christmas is also the most lucrative time of the year. Customers are brimming with festive cheer and goodwill (most of the time!) and are ready to spend, spend, spend.

When planning for Christmas, businesses should remember that it’s not just what’s inside the package that counts; the packaging itself can be just as important! By decking your products in festive finery, you’re not just wrapping a product but giving your customers a little slice of Christmas joy!

If you’re feeling unprepared, don’t worry; it’s not too late to sprinkle some Christmas sparkle on your brand. Enter the Christmas elves at Create8! Whether you need bulk Christmas wrapping paper or custom Christmas packaging services, our team can help your business shine brighter than the star on the tree this Christmas.

Need further inspiration? Read on to learn more about the benefits of adding festive flair to your packaging this Christmas and our top packaging design tips.

Why adapt your packaging for Christmas?

Wondering whether your packaging really needs a holiday makeover? Failing to adapt your packaging for Christmas is a bit like turning up at the office on Christmas jumper day in your uniform. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about being part of something bigger – the celebration of Christmas. From evoking warm holiday feelings to becoming a beacon of festive joy in a sea of standard packaging, let’s unwrap the reasons why giving your packaging a touch of Christmas magic isn’t just nice; it’s necessary.

Connect with customers 

Christmas is a time of twinkling lights, joyous carols, and the warmth of family and friends. Brands that don’t adapt for Christmas risk looking like a bunch of party poopers. By embracing the holiday spirit with custom Christmas packaging, your brand can connect with customers at the most magical time of year, demonstrating its fun and human side.

Stand out in a crowded marketplace

When your head feels like a snow globe, swirling with your Christmas to-do list, it’s natural that Christmas-themed packaging is more likely to jump out at you and attract your attention. Attractive, well-designed seasonal packaging can help your brand to stand out from competitors, giving you a competitive advantage.

Boost sales

As with most business decisions, a key reason for producing Christmas packaging is to boost your bottom line. Adapting your packaging for Christmas can help your products stand out, attract attention, and delight customers, increasing demand and boosting your festive sales.

Build brand awareness

If your product packaging stands out and attracts attention this Christmas, it can help to build a buzz around your brand, boosting brand awareness and amplifying its reach. 

Delight customers

Whether customers pick up your products in a brick-and-mortar store or by shopping in your eCommerce store, carefully thought-out Christmas packaging can help to improve their shopping experience. Making the unboxing experience memorable helps to add perceived value, grow loyalty, and encourage those all-important repeat sales. 

When should you start planning your Christmas packaging design?

Ok, so the stores have been full of Christmas tat since mid-October, we know, but don’t panic – if you are yet to deck your products in festive packaging, it’s not too late!

Ideally, businesses should start planning for Christmas as the last rays of summer fade away. However, if you’ve clung to the summer vibe a tad too long or got caught up in the whirlwind of autumn and Halloween, it’s a case of better late than never!

At Create8, our experienced packaging designers love nothing more than donning a Santa hat and getting creative designing festive holiday packaging. We design holiday packaging that captures the essence of your brand whilst also spreading festive cheer. From initial research and design to development, printing, and delivery, we provide an end-to-end product packaging service. 

Ready to find out more? Speak to our team today by calling us on 0161 820 9686.

Christmas packaging design tips and ideas

With the festive season nearly upon us, it’s time to think outside the (gift) box when it comes to your product packaging. From custom Christmas packaging to festive red and white filler materials, there’s a sleigh-load of options to make your packaging stand out. You can customise practically any part of your packaging, including postage bags or boxes, cellophane wrapping, gift boxes,  shopping bags, tissue paper, labels, and even jute bags.

Here are some of our top tips and ideas for designing packaging that will make the unboxing experience magical for your customers this Christmas.

Make it recognisable – When designing your festive packaging, the goal is to sprinkle Christmas magic without losing the essence of your brand identity. You want customers to feel the festive cheer while still recognising the familiar face of your brand. 

Create limited-edition packaging – Creating limited-edition packaging can help to create a buzz around your brand. The exclusivity of the packaging can amplify its value, increase demand, and create a sense of urgency. For example, Starbucks has been producing Christmas-themed takeaway cardboard cups for the last few years, which are so popular and eagerly anticipated they’ve even become collector’s items!

Personalise your packaging – Personalisation can turn a simple package into a heartwarming gift. This may not be a viable option for all businesses, but if you can, personalising the packaging adds an extra special touch and elevates the customer experience.

Seasonal vs Christmas – If you want packaging with longevity, opt for a ‘winter wonderland’ theme over a Christmas design. This approach extends the shelf-life of your packaging beyond December 25th, which is perfect for those who may be a little late designing their holiday packaging.

Packaging that doubles up as something else – Packaging that transforms into something else, like a Christmas decoration or a craft activity for kids, is not only eco-friendly but also adds an element of fun.

Make it a sustainable Christmas

This Christmas, green is the new red. Embracing sustainable materials in your eco-packaging design isn’t just the right thing to do for the planet; it could also make your products more attractive to your audience. More people than ever are concerned about sustainability and making eco-friendly shopping choices, especially the environmentally conscious Gen Z. 

Going green doesn’t have to be complicated either. Simply swap plastic packaging for cardboard or paper, or opt for biodegradable or recyclable materials. Or, if you’re feeling creative and want to offer packaging that’s a little bit extra, use our previous tip about creating packaging that doubles as something else. It’s an imaginative way to extend the life of your packaging, reduce waste, and delight your customers.

If you do offer sustainable Christmas wrapping options, don’t be shy about letting your customers know. This transparency builds trust and aligns your brand with the values of a growing eco-conscious consumer base.

Let Create8 design your Christmas packaging

With Christmas fast approaching, don’t worry if your brand’s packaging isn’t ready yet – there’s still time to enlist the help of Create8’s packaging designers to sprinkle your products with Christmas magic.

The right packaging can turn your products into the stars of the holiday season, and our team is brimming with creative ideas, sustainable solutions, and a passion for capturing the festive spirit in every box, bag, and wrap.

Whether you require a traditional red and green design or a winter wonderland theme, our designers can bring your vision to life.

To find out more about what to expect in a packaging design project or to learn more about our Christmas packaging deals and project timescales, contact our team by calling 0161 820 9686 or request a proposal online.