Revamp Cereal Boxes: Connect with Customers
Introduction
Cereal is one of the most popular breakfast foods, with over 95% of households purchasing it regularly.[1] However, with hundreds of cereal brands on the market, creating packaging that stands out is crucial. Custom cereal boxes allow brands to fully control their packaging design and reinforce their brand identity. With the ability to customize size, shape, graphics, textures and special finishes, custom boxes enable brands to make their cereal pop on crowded store shelves. They also provide opportunities to add interactive elements that engage customers and create memorable unboxing experiences. Ultimately, custom cereal boxes are an impactful way for both large and small brands to refresh their packaging and boost their appeal.
What are Custom Cereal Boxes?
Custom cereal boxes are fully customized packaging that allow brands complete control over the design. Unlike stock boxes, custom boxes can be tailored in terms of shape, size, materials, and graphics to perfectly reflect a brand's identity and personality.
With custom cereal boxes, brands can choose unique die-cut shapes beyond the standard rectangle box. Custom sizes also allow for packaging that stands out, from single-serve pouches to family packs. Boxes can be customized with high-quality graphics including logos, mascots, typography, illustrations, and photographs.
Beyond shapes and graphics, custom boxes allow brands to select special finishes like soft-touch lamination, spot UV, metallic foils, and embossing. Interactive elements can be added like pull-out prizes, punch-out games, and augmented reality. Overall, custom cereal boxes enable brands to elevate their packaging far beyond generic stock boxes.
Branding Benefits of Custom Cereal Boxes
One of the biggest advantages of custom cereal boxes is the ability to reinforce and elevate your brand identity. As this article discusses, cereal packaging plays a crucial role in branding and should clearly communicate your brand message. Custom boxes allow you complete control over the graphics, colors, fonts, and imagery used.
With a crowded cereal aisle, custom boxes help your brand stand out on shelves. You can use your brand logo, fonts, and color scheme to create cohesive branding that pops. As this source mentions, iconic cereal box designs help consumers quickly identify their favorite brands.
Another benefit is the ability to reflect your brand's personality and style on the packaging. For example, a fun, playful brand can use bright colors and whimsical illustrations. Or a health-focused brand may want to emphasize nutrition facts and wholesome ingredients.
Overall, custom cereal boxes are a powerful and versatile tool to reinforce branding across your product line and stand out on crowded shelves.
Shelf Appeal
Custom cereal boxes allow brands to create packaging that pops on crowded store shelves. Unique shapes and sizes like die-cut boxes or oversized family packs make cereals stand out (Source). Windows cut into the box are another eye-catching option, giving customers a peek at the cereal inside. Clear windows generate excitement and showcase the cereal's color and texture.
Applying special textures and coatings is an impactful way to differentiate cereal boxes. Soft touch lamination feels smooth and luxurious. Matte and gloss finishes add visual interest. Foil stamping, embossing, and spot UV coatings create premium accents. Using textures and finishes strategically highlights the brand name and key messaging for an upscale, elevated look (Source). These embellishments make cereal boxes stand out on the shelf and convey quality.
Increasing Customer Engagement
Custom cereal boxes present exciting opportunities to engage customers and create an interactive, multi-sensory experience. Brands are incorporating tactile elements like soft touch lamination, foils, embossing and spot UV to make boxes appeal to touch as well as sight. Playful graphics, games, competitions accessed by QR codes, and prizes inside boxes provide entertainment and added value.
Free giveaways and prizes hidden inside cereal boxes have long fueled excitement, especially among children. Brands can include small toys, stickers, or coupons to encourage repeat purchases. Competitions and sweepstakes promoted on the box boost engagement. QR codes can link to mobile games, augmented reality experiences, or brand content. Custom boxes enable creativity in incorporating interactive elements to delight and captivate customers.
Unboxing Experience
The unboxing experience is becoming a critical touchpoint for brands to make a positive first impression on customers. Research shows that 61% of consumers get more excited about receiving a parcel if it has branded packaging. When customers unwrap a cereal box, it transforms from a functional container to an engaging brand experience.
Custom cereal boxes allow brands to turn unboxing into an event. Using special finishes, textures, die-cuts, and interactive elements makes opening the box more exciting. This creates a memorable moment that reinforces the brand in the customer's mind. According to studies, 52% of consumers share unboxing videos and photos when the experience is unique. Cereal brands can tap into this trend with custom boxes that are unboxed like gifts.
The unboxing experience also sets expectations about the cereal inside. Packaging perceived as premium and high-quality indicates that the contents match this standard. Custom printing, foil stamping, and embossing make cereal boxes feel special and valuable. This provides reassurance about the brand and product. Ultimately, custom cereal boxes turn a commoditized purchase into a differentiated brand experience.
Nostalgia Marketing
Nostalgia marketing leverages feelings of fondness for the past by incorporating retro branding elements into packaging. For cereal, this often means using vintage designs that remind customers of beloved cereals from their childhood. According to TechTarget, examples of effective nostalgia marketing campaigns include Coca-Cola's revival of its 1970s logo and branding in the late 2000s. The familiar design immediately brought up warm memories and connections for customers.
One way cereal brands can tap into nostalgia on custom boxes is by featuring prizes or free gifts inside. This engages kids' excitement while also fueling fond memories for parents. Brands like Oreo and Frito-Lay have recently brought back prizes in their packaging. Likewise, custom cereal boxes could include small toys, stickers, or other surprises to remind customers of beloved cereal box prizes from the past, as noted in an AdAge article about the power of nostalgia marketing.
Overall, strategic use of throwback designs, logos, characters, and prizes on custom cereal boxes allows brands to play to customers' nostalgia. This helps form an emotional connection and reminds them of happy mornings from their childhood.
Sustainability
As consumers become more environmentally conscious, sustainability has become a key factor in packaging design and production. Cereal brands have an opportunity to show their commitment to sustainability through their custom cereal boxes.
Many custom box providers now offer eco-friendly materials such as recycled paperboard, plant-based inks, and biodegradable plastic windows. Responsible sourcing of materials ensures forests are replanted and resources are renewed. Brands should look for FSC-certified and post-consumer recycled content.
Recyclable cereal boxes allow customers to properly dispose of packaging. Optimize boxes for existing recycling streams by avoiding mixed materials that hinder recyclability. Many brands now proudly display recycling labels and instructions on custom boxes.
Sustainable custom cereal boxes demonstrate a brand's values and show customers they care about reducing their environmental impact. It's an important part of crafting a memorable brand experience.
Choosing a Provider
When selecting a custom cereal box provider, you'll want to partner with a company that has significant experience in food packaging and can deliver on your vision. Some key factors to consider include:
Customization Range - Look for a broad range of options like different box shapes, specialty coatings, interactive elements, and custom die cuts. As per this article, customization allows you to differentiate and make your brand stand out.
Cereal Box Expertise - Choose a provider focused on cereal boxes specifically. They will understand dimensions, materials, filling lines, and other considerations unique to cereal packaging. Their experience will ensure your boxes are shelf-ready and functional.
Customer Service - Your provider should offer guidance on options and timely responses to questions. Good communication is key for custom projects.
Fast Turnaround - Look for fast prototyping and production times, even for small batches. You want to get your custom boxes to market quickly before trends change.
When you find the right partner, custom cereal boxes become an easy, cost-effective way to boost your brand and customer experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, custom boxes provide an affordable and impactful way for cereal brands to boost their image and connect with customers. The endless customization options allow brands to reinvent their packaging to be more eye-catching and reflective of their personality. This creates a more exciting unboxing experience for customers, turning a regular morning routine into a fun event filled with surprise and delight. Custom boxes also tap into nostalgic memories of childhood breakfasts, forming an emotional bond between brand and consumer. Most importantly, custom cereal packaging is an easy way for large corporations and startups alike to refresh their brand image. With low minimum order quantities, it's accessible even on a budget. Partnering with the right packaging provider ensures an efficient process from concept to shelf. Overall, custom cereal boxes check all the boxes for boosting brands and creating memorable customer experiences.