Few Christmas gifts are as safe a bet as food and drink. Buttery biscuits, precious preserves, marvellous mince pies, wonderful wines… the mouth waters at the very thought. And of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the baby cheeses.
But the item itself, as lovely as it may be, is just… an item. To make it a true gift, something that will impress clients and customers and bring festive spirit to the recipient, you need to package it properly.
Proper presentation raises the perceived value of the gift, increases anticipation and makes the unboxing unforgettable.
But how exactly do you take an item from shelf to gift? We’ve previously looked at luxury gifting strategies and Christmas trends, so today, we thought we’d take a look at a few common gift items and how you can elevate them with packaging. Hopefully these will spark some ideas of your own!
Wine bottles
A fine wine or a bottle of bubbly makes for a greatly appreciated gift, but do you know what’s even better? Multiple bottles.
We’ve previously written about how to create luxury wine gifts (read that blog here), with beautiful silk-lined wooden boxes, so here’s another option:
We’ve gone with a selection of wine gift boxes. Of course, boxes are also available to hold more bottles, depending on what you need. Regardless of the number of items, these boxes are highly-eco friendly and surprisingly strong. As well as solid boxes, they’re available with a window as shown above, which shines the spotlight on the main event - the bottles themselves.
While the colours are nice, you could get even more impact by personalising the box. Add a company logo, an image or a custom design - it’s a great way to reinforce your brand and remind recipients where the bottles came from.
The box will look great wrapped with recycled satin ribbon. Available in multiple colours (gold above), it helps secure the box, and makes it stand out. Plus, it builds anticipation when unboxing - there’s always a little frisson when you pull off the ribbon, right?
Other options for bottles:
- Wooden wine boxes
- Hampers
- Bottle bags
Jars
Some of the most delectable delicacies come in jars, or similar glass containers. Jams, chutneys, pickles, spreads, pâtés… whatever the contents, you’ll want to present them in the best possible light.
Here, we’ve gone with Jar Kraft Bags. These attractive carriers are eco-friendly and fully recyclable, with a window that puts the attention on the main event - the jar itself.
They’re available in multiple sizes for up to four jars, with twisted paper handles that strong enough to support them - important because you want your gift to be a smash, not smashed.
They’re finished with card gift tags. These attach securely and can even be personalised with your company name, or a message.
Other options for packaging jars:
- Gift boxes
- Trays
- Hampers
Curated food and drink selections
What if you want to give a little bit of everything? Some jars, some cheese, biscuits and wine - all the things someone needs to eat, drink and be merry.
Hampers and baskets are a great way to turn a curated collection of items into a highly desirable gift. Wicker is a classic choice – it’s sustainable, strong and aesthetically pleasing. It can also be used well into the future – the container becomes part of the gift.
For maximum effect, we’ve fitted our hamper with a cotton lining. This can be branded however you please - we’ve gone with the ever-appropriate ‘Merry Christmas’, but you could add a message, your company name, a logo… whatever you want.
As ever, it’s the finishing touches that take things to the next level. Sizzlepak shred fills the empty space in the hamper, ensuring everything stays safe and secure, while also adding visual appeal in its own right. It’s available in different tints - we’ve gone with a lovely forest green. You can’t really go wrong with Christmas colours, right?
For a complete guide on how to create the perfect gift hamper, check out our guide:
Seven steps to create the perfect Christmas hamper
If you have a smaller section of items, or want your items on full display, a wicker basket is a great choice. We’ve finished our example with very fine shredded paper for an attractive display. For transport, you could also add clear cellophane gift wrap, which would keep everything in place, while ensuring that your display remains visible.
An alternative approach would be a card gift tray. These are a lower-cost alternative to wicker, but are still robust and attractive, and are available in a range of colours.
Now it's over to you
Hopefully these examples have sparked some ideas for how you can elevate your food and drink products this festive season and make the unboxing a core part of the experience.
Of course, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other options available - boxes, bags, carriers, and all kinds of awesome finishing touches. So, let your imagination run wild - and if you need some expert advice, speak to our sales team today. They’d be delighted to help.
