How Do Box Inserts, Display Boxes, and Cardboard Tubes Improve Unboxing Experiences?

Struggling to make your packaging memorable? Your customers receive the box, tear it open, and toss it aside, missing a key brand moment and a chance for connection.

Box inserts, display boxes, and cardboard tubes transform unboxing from a simple action into a memorable brand experience. Inserts secure and present products elegantly, display boxes add retail-ready appeal, and tubes offer a unique, premium feel¹, all working together to create a delightful and shareable customer journey².

Creating a great unboxing experience is more than just putting a product in a box. It's the first physical handshake your brand has with your customer, a crucial moment that sets the tone for your entire relationship. In a world full of choices, this first impression can be the difference between a one-time sale and a lifelong fan. Let's break down how to make that moment count.

Why is the unboxing experience so important?

You believe your excellent product is the only thing that matters. But a cheap, frustrating unboxing experience can devalue your product before the customer even holds it, poisoning that first impression.

The unboxing experience is your first and best chance to create a physical connection with your customer. It tells your brand's story, communicates the value of your product, and creates a shareable moment that can turn one customer into many through social media, building excitement and loyalty.

![A person smiling as they open a beautifully packaged box](http://gifts-pack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Positive-Brand-Image-from-Packaging.jpg"The Importance of Unboxing Experience")

Over my 16 years in the packaging industry³, I've seen a huge shift. The unboxing moment is no longer just about getting a product from our warehouse to a customer's home. It has become a powerful marketing tool. Think of it as the final stage of your sales funnel. A great experience confirms to the customer that they made the right choice. It creates a feeling of being valued. This emotional connection is priceless. In today's digital age, people love to share their experiences online. A beautiful, well-designed package is content waiting to happen. Customers become your brand ambassadors⁴, showing off their purchase to friends and followers. This user-generated content⁵ is authentic and incredibly effective. It all starts with the box.

How can you enhance the unboxing experience⁶?

Your current boxes are plain and functional, but totally forgettable. Your brand is missing a golden opportunity to create excitement and stand out from the sea of brown cardboard.

You can easily enhance the unboxing experience by focusing on layers and sensory details. Use custom printing inside the box, add a branded thank-you note or tissue paper, and incorporate unique structural elements like cardboard inserts or a satisfying tear-strip opener to add surprise.

Enhancing the unboxing experience doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It’s about being thoughtful. At Giftspack, we often guide clients to think about the unboxing as a short story or a journey. The customer should feel a sense of discovery as they open the package. This is where basic paper packaging truly shines because of its high design flexibility.

The Power of Print

Don't just print your logo on the outside. A surprise message or a vibrant pattern printed on the inside of the box creates an immediate "wow" factor. It’s an unexpected detail that shows you care.

Layers of Discovery

Instead of just placing the product inside, wrap it. Use branded tissue paper sealed with a sticker. This builds anticipation. The customer has to peel back a layer to get to the prize, making the reveal more satisfying.

A Personal Touch

A simple, pre-printed thank-you card can make a huge difference. For smaller businesses, a short, handwritten note feels incredibly personal and builds a strong connection. It shows there's a human behind the brand.

What exactly are cardboard inserts⁷?

Your products are arriving at your customer's door jumbled and messy. This looks unprofessional and, worse, it can lead to damage during shipping, resulting in costly returns and unhappy customers.

Cardboard inserts are custom-cut pieces of paperboard or corrugated material designed to fit perfectly inside your box. Their job is to hold products securely in place, protecting them from damage while presenting them in a clean, organized, and visually appealing way upon opening.

Cardboard inserts are the unsung heroes of great packaging. In my experience, they solve two major problems at once: protection and presentation. I remember a project we did for a cosmetics brand. They sold a skincare set with several small bottles. Without inserts, the bottles would rattle around, risking breakage and looking cheap. We designed a simple die-cut cardboard insert with precise cutouts for each bottle. Suddenly, the product looked like a premium gift set. The customer opened the box to find everything perfectly arranged and secure. This elevated the perceived value of the product instantly. Inserts are incredibly versatile and can be made from recycled materials, aligning with sustainability goals⁸. They are a cost-effective way to make your packaging feel more deliberate and high-end.

What are the benefits of using custom boxes⁹?

You are using standard, off-the-shelf boxes for your unique products. This forces you to use lots of void fill, makes your brand look generic, and costs you extra on shipping.

Custom boxes provide superior product protection with a perfect fit, which also reduces shipping costs. They serve as a walking advertisement, boosting brand recognition with bespoke printing, and elevate the entire customer experience by making your brand appear more professional and established.

Switching to custom boxes is one of the smartest decisions a growing brand can make. The benefits go far beyond just looking good. First, there's the cost-effectiveness. While a custom box might have a slightly higher per-unit cost, you save money elsewhere. You use less filler material like bubble wrap or packing peanuts. More importantly, you can optimize the box dimensions to reduce shipping costs, as carriers often charge based on dimensional weight. Second, the branding opportunity is massive. Your box is a mobile billboard that travels from my facility to your customer's doorstep. It's seen by many people along the way. Strong branding on your box builds recognition and trust. Finally, it's about protection. A box designed for your product's specific size and weight will always protect it better than a generic one. Yes, paper-based packaging is not waterproof, which is a consideration, but for most goods, a well-designed custom box offers all the protection you need.

Conclusion

Ultimately, elements like custom boxes, inserts, and thoughtful printing transform packaging from a simple container into a powerful tool that builds brand loyalty and delights customers every single time.