Business and packaging inserts that delivery delight

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of getting post, not the bills and supermarket catalogs kind, we mean the brown paper packages tied up with strings or perfect boxes filled with never-ending tissue paper and personalized notes. Whether it’s an unexpected gift, or even a regular subscription, there’s always a little buzz of excitement and anticipation when you realize it’s for you.

So if you’re in the business of sending that kind of package, you’ll be interested in making that little buzz be as memorable and long-lasting as possible. In the age of online shopping, the ‘unboxing’ moment is now a powerful and potentially highly emotional experience for customers all around the world. With your delivery costs already covered, why not add a little something extra to deliver a ton of delight?

Follow the guide to take your business inserts to the next level.

A little thank you goes a long way

Nowadays everyone is used to receiving the standard post-purchase auto-generated email. Why not take your manners offline with a personalized thank you note which comes in the box? Lewis and Clare from furniture company Really Well Made, have gone the extra mile with packaging insert cards. “We use both Original Business Cards and Luxe Postcards to handwrite a message for each and every customer. It’s a personal touch that they really appreciate and it also encourages engagement with our social feeds”.

Perhaps you have thousands of customers, so including a handwritten note isn’t always possible. But it doesn’t excuse crafting a notecard that feels and reads as personal. Here’s a tip: when you sit down to write the thank you message, imagine you’re writing to your best friend. Your package insert card will be all the more authentic.

Why not take personalization to a whole other level and send your customers a reward for their loyalty? By tracking their purchase history you can tailor the message just for them. For example, your very first customers could be rewarded for their early and continued support with a limited edition loyalty card to acknowledge the soft spot you have for them. Or alternatively, how about a 10% promo code for someone’s 10th order?

Something to keep…

A great way to show a customer what you are all about is to give them the opportunity to see more of your products firsthand. Online menswear retailer Mr Porter welcomes new customers with a welcome note accompanied by a beautifully packaged embroidered pocket square. This creative packaging insert adds a little unexpected delight, and right on brand for them as the one-stop destination for modern-day gentlemen.

Perhaps a simpler way to gift could be to include a striking postcard with each purchase, something for customers to keep for themselves or send to someone else. If you were a real estate agent promoting a particular area you might feature iconic images of that location, or a photographer might feature different kinds of photography styles or a writer feature different written passages on each card. With our Printfinity technology, you can print up to 5 different designs in each pack meaning that customers don’t need to get the same design twice.

If you’re not in the position to add a free gift, how about an invitation to an event? Candlemaker Jo Malone sends out personalized beautifully designed invitations to in-store events to sample new products and get some pampering. This packaging insert is a great way to reward loyal customers and encourage new ones to stay in touch for future exclusive opportunities.

Let’s get social…

Here’s an online-offline-online idea: insert some social fun to encourage your customers to snap and share images of their purchases with their friends and followers. This sharing helps you get exposure to new audiences and potential customers and will allow you to see and read any feedback on your product or service. In your next delivery run, insert a Business Card printed with your chosen hashtag and social media handles. The hashtag might be a brand one, we use #MOOcards or it might be related to a campaign you’re running e.g. #XmasOnsie. Then sit back and watch your social networks come alive with mentions!

If you prefer a more traditional approach to social networking, another thing we recommend is inserting something that helps generate plenty of word of mouth is a “refer a friend” card. These are cards that you give your customer to hand out to their friends or family. Create a unique code so you can track how successful these are, and print on either mini cards or square business cards like the ones used by Lauren Messiah, which makes them small enough for your customers to easily carry.

Make it stick…

Luxury skincare brand Lola’s Apothecary finishes off the packaging of each tissue-wrapped product with a Sticker to give her customers a fully branded wrapping that is as indulgent as her products. “Receiving one of our parcels should be a fabulous event,” she explains. “We pack each bundle with love to make our customers feel extra special, and include a MiniCard printed with a discount code as a thank you.”

Finally, why not have some fun for fun’s sake? We add a ‘YAY’ sticker to every order we send out. Freebies and offers are always appreciated but don’t forget the power of making someone smile.

Now you know all about inserts for packaging, draw inspiration from these examples to create your own with MOO.

Written by Abbie Thomas