There are many driving forces behind what we do here at Vector & Raster Laser. For starters, we just love bringing ideas to life. We work with a wide variety of small business owners and creators across our laser cutting projects to produce a diverse selection of designs, from laser cut wood art to custom commercial signage.
Given our 20+ years of experience providing our services, our laser cutting technicians have also been able to witness firsthand some interesting trends over our history of projects. We’ve seen some materials like brass go in and out of vogue, and we’ve also seen our project demographics evolve year after year. And currently, we’re really excited to be in this new age where laser cutting as a production process is being embraced for small business manufacturing projects.
Over the past twelve months, we’ve been thrilled to take on small business projects ranging from PoS displays to shopfront signs and more. And now with consumers paying more attention to the little details that elevate product experiences, our laser cutting team have been taking on a novel challenge: using laser cutting technologies to create custom retail packaging.
Why Packaging Plays a Big Role in Buying Decisions
Customer experiences are becoming increasingly integrated into business branding, and we understand why. We want people to feel positively when interacting with our products, which in the context of our custom laser services, means making sure our finished designs align perfectly with your vision.
For retailers offering custom branded products, this means making sure that every phase of interaction with that product maintains the customer’s engagement. With ‘unboxing experiences’ being a point of interest for consumers and a signal of a brand’s attention to detail, this is the primary reason why more businesses are investing in their packaging.
The Benefits of Laser Cutting for Retail Packaging Production
With laser cutting technology, there are virtually endless possibilities when it comes to innovative packaging designs. You can process branded cutout designs into boxboard to create box packaging that provides just a little glance here and there of its contents. Or you can cut out boxes that are designed to be opened in a particular way to create a unique unboxing experience.
With laser cutting technologies, you also have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of materials for your custom retail packaging production. By opting for plywood or acrylic plastic boxes, you can make your product packaging a genuine keepsake for customers and not just a way to keep your products safe on store shelves and in transit.
Laser cutting technology doesn’t just allow for cutout designs, however. It can also be used to cut intricate components for functional product packaging. Instead of cardboard box designs that fold out flat, your laser cut custom retail packaging may even be able to boast a hinged lid or 3D accents or patternwork. These extra little details can make your product packaging feel like an extension of the quality of the products themselves.
To recap, here are just some of the benefits of working with laser cutting technologies for manufacturing product packaging:
- Versatile and accessible production method for retailers of all sizes
- Fast production methods allow for quick rollout and/or iterative designing
- Easy to budget for, with a sustainable cost per unit
- Allows retailers to think outside the box and unlock their creative freedom
- Allows for high-precision designs and easy customisation/branding
Top Laser Cutting Materials for Premium Product Packaging
Above, we highlighted a few of the more common types of laser cutting materials used for manufacturing product packaging. Alongside boxboard, plywood, and acrylic plastics, however, there are other laser cutting materials that we’ve seen growing in popularity across eCommerce and retail product packaging. Here are our top tips for the most versatile materials to be used for manufacturing product packaging:
- Cardboard, boxboard, and other paper materials
- Glass or plastic bottles/jars with aluminium lids and caps
- Laminate and other plastics for engraved boxes, tags, and other components
- Cloth fabric bags for soft fashion retail packaging
- Wood materials for hardwood boxes over cardboard packaging
Top Tips for Refining Your Laser Cut Custom Retail Packaging
Much like the project proposals we receive and laser trends we observe, retail packaging projects are by no means static. Your retail packaging will evolve right alongside the needs, tastes, and expectations of your customers.
To help provide you with a little extra inspiration and motivate you to keep on holding your packaging to a high standard that’s reflective of your brand, our laser cutting technicians have outlined their pro tips below for refining your laser cut retail packaging.
Consider Your Materials Selection When Finetuning Designs
Laser cut product packaging often includes cutout designs or patternwork, from two-toned mosaic cutouts in plywood surfaces, to embroidery applique in cloth fabric bags. Depending on the strength of the materials you’ve selected, some designs may not be possible without risking the structural integrity of your packaging. And broken product packaging may not provide the best confidence to consumers in the quality of construction for your products.
If we feel a design may be too intricate for a weaker material, our laser cutting technicians will let you know. From here, your design can be reworked to better suit the material selection, or we may recommend an alternative material instead – like MDF instead of a thinner plywood, for instance.
Trial Different Design Options to Find the Best Fit for Your Brand
Alongside trialling different materials, retailers are also encouraged to trial different design options (i.e. folding box vs. hinged box vs. sliding lidded boxes, etc.) to find the best style that pairs with their branding and brand tone. In other words, don’t be afraid to prototype and iterate. You may be surprised with the designs you end up stumbling across through a few different trials and mockups.
Our team also offers graphic design services, so we’re always ready to help you refine your designs even further if needed. We’re always happy to mockup some design options for you via vector image files, allowing for easier design refining both in our studios and online.
Find the Right Laser Cutting Team for Your Packaging Project
Of course, if you’re iterating your product packaging, you’ll want to work with a manufacturer who you actually trust, who’s easy to talk to, and who’s equipped to deliver the work on time and within your budget. Thankfully, laser cutting technology allows laser cutting teams to stay agile without sacrificing on production speed, quality, or output.
Our laser cutting team here at Vector & Raster Laser Services is also equipped to offer their services nationwide. Whether your retail business is based here in Melbourne or you’re looking for a laser cutting team in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, or even Hobart, our laser cutters can get your designs produced, packaged, and shipped securely to you as soon as your order is ready.
Gather Feedback from Your Customer Base
Finally, you need to keep on temperature checking your customers and gathering their feedback on your product packaging. These designs are ultimately for them after all, so keeping in the loop with the public reception of your brand’s ‘unboxing experience’ can help you keep improving on that experience as packaging trends, designs, and technologies evolve.
Turn Your Packaging Ideas Into Products that Sell with Our Laser Cutting Solutions
Ready to start turning your packaging concepts into innovative solutions that represent your brand? Then be sure to get a quote on your next retail packaging project with our team here at Vector & Raster Laser Services. Our convenient, online laser cutting services makes product packaging projects easy to put into production. And thanks to our secure shipping Australia-wide, you can be rest assured that your custom packaging solutions will arrive to you on time and in secure packaging to ensure zero risks of damage in transit.
Get in touch today to inquire further about our laser cut custom retail packaging services, or to receive a no-obligation quote on your next laser cutting project.
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