11 Small Business Packaging Ideas to Start Using Now

Every interaction with your brand leaves an impression on your customers. So, if you treat your packaging as an afterthought, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to connect with them.

Small businesses can turn every interaction with packaging into memorable experiences, leaving customers satisfied and craving more. In this blog post, we’re showcasing 11 packaging ideas for small businesses that will leave a lasting impression on customers—without breaking the bank. 

Small businesses don’t need to spend copious amounts of money to make the unboxing experience memorable. In the section below, we’ll show you how even the smallest details can make a big difference, along with some additional tips on how to elevate your packaging.

1. Tissue paper 

Tissue paper is a translucent paper used for wrapping or cushioning items in gift bags. It’s the final layer a recipient removes to reveal their gift. This gift-giving mindset is useful when considering how to package products for your customers.

By incorporating tissue paper into your packaging, you recreate the excitement of opening a gift. Such thoughtful details can evoke positive emotions and create lasting impressions with your customers. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate buying from brands that make them feel special?

The best part is that adding tissue paper is affordable and simple; it provides a final elegant touch to your packaging. You can use it in various types of packaging, from postal boxes and gift boxes to bags.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: If you’re looking to enhance brand recognition, consider creating custom tissue paper. This allows you to showcase your brand’s personality through images, colors, and taglines that reflect your identity, giving customers a deeper insight into who you are.

2. Custom stickers

Using custom stickers on or inside your packaging is a simple yet effective way to showcase your brand. As a small business owner, it allows you to get creative with your sticker designs and helps spread the word about your brand. Plus, your customers can repurpose your sticker, keeping a piece of your brand with them wherever they go.

Imagine a customer placing your sticker on their laptop while sitting in a coffee shop. Someone else notices the sticker, sparking a conversation about your company. Just like that, your customer has become a walking advertisement for your brand—effortlessly! Word-of-mouth advertising like this is a powerful way to gain new customers for small businesses.

Custom stickers also act as freebies in your packaging—and who doesn’t love a freebie? They are a fun way to keep your customers engaged with your brand and ensure you stick in their minds.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: To keep brand recognition top-of-mind, we suggest using a QR Code that showcases your company logo. The advantage of QR Code stickers is their ability to link to online content of your choice—whether it’s your website, social media pages, or any other online destination. Just a quick scan of the sticker can drive traffic directly to your digital presence.

 Find out which QR Code solution works best for your business.

3. Packaging inserts 

Packaging inserts are additional add-ons that can take various forms, such as instructional guides, discount offers, product samples, personal notes, invites to product reviews, and more. These handy extras help brands communicate and build relationships with their customers.

Whether your goal is to educate customers on how to use your product, introduce them to other products you know they’ll love with enticing samples, or direct them to your active social media pages, inserts can do it all. 

Inserts are excellent packaging ideas for small businesses because they don’t take up space or add weight to the packaging, which means no additional shipping costs. Plus, they offer a cost-effective promotional method since you’re not paying for traditional advertising—just the inserts themselves.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Amplify engagement by adding a QR Code to your insert. A great example of a company doing this effectively is Curology. With each order of their Starter Set, they include a booklet insert featuring a QR Code.

When first-time customers scan the code, they can redeem a discount on Curology products worth over $50. Similarly, you can print a Coupon QR Code on an insert, allowing your customers to redeem a discount. This encourages them to repurchase your products and boosts brand loyalty.

Learn more about Curology’s use of QR Codes here! 

4. Ribbons 

Ribbons are a popular choice for gift packaging. They can beautifully adorn items like wine and spirit bottles, premium chocolates (think Vosges Haut-Chocolat or Lindt), artisanal soaps, and luxury perfumes.

Incorporating embellishments like ribbons into high-quality premium products is a smart way to draw the attention of discerning shoppers because the sophisticated look enhances the perceived quality of the product.

But it’s not just about the aesthetic appeal of ribbons—it’s also about the full sensory experience of customers unwrapping the packaging. The ribbon that intricately holds the package together can easily be unraveled, allowing customers to savor the anticipation of opening up the packaging. This experience helps bridge a connection between the brand and the product.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Personalized ribbons add a brand-friendly flair to your packaging, keeping your brand fresh in the minds of your customers. Whether it’s your brand logo, name, or colors, you want it to be instantly recognizable so your customers can identify it right away.

Infusing your brand into your ribbons and wrapping them around your products makes your items instantly marketable—and if you’re lucky, Instagrammable! Plus, customers can keep the ribbon as a keepsake, or reuse it for gifts, passing it along to other potential customers.

Alternatively, you could weave a label with a printed QR Code into the ribbon, allowing customers to quickly access more of your online content—from your social media pages and website to a landing page or online store—with just a quick scan.

5. Personal notes

Going the extra mile speaks volumes about how much you value your customers. Something as simple as including a thank you note in your packaging can express your appreciation.

Personal notes are thoughtful gestures that help build relationships, whether with first-time customers or loyal buyers. They can make your shoppers feel valued and inspire them to shop with you again.

Personalized cards are excellent offline methods for connecting with your customers. Brands should never underestimate how small gestures can leave lasting, positive impressions and encourage customer loyalty.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Sprinkle a bit of innovation into your personal notes by incorporating a QR Code. For example, a Video QR Code could link to a recording of your CEO personally thanking your customers for their purchase. Or, you could include a Coupon QR Code in your note to offer your buyer a special discount, encouraging repeat purchases.

6. Instructional packaging 

Including instructions through a manual, a note, or even a visual diagram on your packaging is a way to educate your customers on how to get the most out of your product.

But it’s not just about educating your customers—it’s also about making their experience more user-friendly and getting them excited about using your products.

Providing resources that assist your customers in using your products demonstrates that you care about their experience. Paying attention to the customer experience creates a positive first impression, helping to build trust and long-term customer loyalty

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Including a QR Code on packaging can guide customers to product instructions, perhaps through a video format where you can explain step-by-step how to use your product. You can also leverage our 2D Barcode solution linking your customers to online resources like websites and PDFs. 

7. Custom packaging 

Often, packaging is the first physical interaction your customer will have with your product—and a lot rests on that first impression. This is where your customer starts to form their initial opinions about your product—and by extension, your brand.

Relying on generic packaging that is nothing more than a blank cardboard box conveys little about your brand. Custom packaging, however, tailors your packaging to fit the product, the brand’s visual identity, and your target audience.

By doing so, your packaging stands out as unique, communicating to your customers who you are and what you offer, helping them to build a relationship with your brand.

Customizing your packaging to reflect your brand image is beneficial for reinforcing your brand identity, but also for creating a personalized unboxing experience that tells your customers, “I’ve paid attention to every single detail in this box.” It shows effort and care—qualities customers will instantly appreciate when they open your packaging.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: As the integration of the online and offline world becomes more commonplace in the world of smart packaging, small businesses must learn how to modernize their packaging. A simple and affordable way to do this is—you guessed it—through QR Codes. 

QR Codes can help customize your packaging by acting as a bridge between your physical packaging and your online presence. Consider adding a Dynamic URL QR Code to link directly to your website or a Business QR Code that provides all the essential business information your customers might need. 

8. Printed newsletter 

Even if you already maintain an online email list, distributing physical copies of a newsletter remains a compelling way to engage customers with your brand in a classic yet refreshing manner. It may be considered “old school,” but it offers a break from having to sift through overflowing email inboxes, where your message might otherwise go unread.

Just as many readers still relish the feel of a paperback or hardcover despite the popularity of audiobooks and e-readers, there’s a growing appreciation for tangible experiences amidst the digital overload.

Including a physical newsletter in a package that your customers have already ordered ensures they’re engaged with your brand, presenting yet another chance to showcase your offerings. A well-crafted newsletter can feel personal, capturing your unique personality and making your customers feel as if you’re speaking directly to them.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Based on your customer’s order, you can suggest related products you think they will love. This is also an excellent opportunity to offer a special discount on these items for their next purchase.

Your printed newsletter can be a launch pad for customers to explore more of your offerings. Are you promoting a new product line? Do you have an online catalog to share? Have you launched an online store? Your newsletter is the perfect tool to inform your customers about these developments! 

Plus, you can incorporate QR Codes directly into your physical newsletter, providing a seamless channel for all your online content with just one scan.

9. Business cards 

Business cards are one of those seemingly outdated items that have indeed stood the test of time. For a small business looking to establish authority in the business world, these cards exude professionalism.

While business cards are traditionally passed to prospective customers or partners in person, slipping a bite-size card into your packaging is an easy and effective way to give customers more information about your business. This method is also a subtle branding tool.

You can include all the business information that makes it easy for customers to contact you: your business address, email, phone number, website, social media accounts, and much more. By doing so, your customers have a tangible card on hand that makes it easy to keep in touch with you. 

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: Design a business card that embodies your brand’s signature style, from the logo to the colors, to the fonts. Consistency across all channels of communication creates a cohesive customer experience, which is crucial for building long-term trust.

Or you can simply create a hybrid business card that bridges the physical and digital with a vCard QR Code. By leveraging this digital tool, you can customize the digital version of your card with your core brand colors, logo, and include all of your business details. This allows customers to scan your QR Code and access a landing page that consolidates all your business information in one convenient place.

10. Eco-friendly materials 

Supporting the sustainability movement is not just an ethical business decision but also a cost-effective strategy in the long run. This could involve anything from repurposing materials to using minimal and recyclable materials.

Utilizing the resources you already have helps cut down costs but also attracts customers who prioritize sustainable spending. 

Demonstrating your commitment to the planet or making a conscious effort to reduce your carbon footprint can also resonate with the right customers, ensuring they return to buy your products again.

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level: The “less is more” philosophy can be embraced by keeping things minimalist, such as providing information that customers can digitally access via QR Codes. 

If you want to highlight a cause you care about or showcase your sustainable practices more transparently, consider adding a QR Code that directs customers to detailed content. This approach allows them to learn more about your initiatives and build trust in your brand.

Discover more eco-friendly packaging ideas on our blog!

11. Artistic graphics 

Incorporating artwork into packaging is like turning your packaging into a gallery that attracts potential buyers with artful masterpieces. A 2018 survey showed that 72% of American consumers purchased products based on product design. 

Attractive packaging significantly alters consumers’ perceptions of products, making them more likely to purchase based on first impressions. Creating eye-catching and unique graphics distinguishes your product from competitors, turning heads and sparking curiosity about what you offer. 

Selecting an artist or graphic designer whose style aligns with your brand’s visual identity is key because creating uniformity across your packaging enhances brand recognition. It’s about finding the perfect balance between exquisite design and brand consistency, offering your customers fresh visual experiences while remaining recognizable. 

Small business packaging ideas to take it to the next level:  QR Code branding opens up possibilities for incorporating your brand’s visual identity into your packaging without compromising its design. The best part is that you can use the codes to direct your customers to a reservoir of digital content, from blog posts to podcasts. 

Win the hearts of your customers with QR Code Generator PRO

While there are endless ways to enhance your packaging, from adding custom stickers to ribbons, QR Codes create a digital channel that allows consumers to connect with your brand beyond the physical aspects of the product. 

To top it off, when you add a QR Code to your packaging with QR Code Generator PRO, you get to track and analyze your customer’s behavior. This helps you understand whether your marketing efforts are successful and whether you need to optimize. 

QR Codes might not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about smart packaging ideas for a small business. However, as the business landscape evolves, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes to think outside the box and embrace digital savviness in marketing their products.

Sign up for QR Code Generator PRO today to take your packaging for your small business to new heights!