The holiday season is almost here, and we are looking forward to crisp cold weather, seasonal designs and packaging trends. This time of year gives us many opportunities to reinvent our packaging and therefore reflect the season. There are many ways you can make your future holiday season packaging stand out from your brand’s every day shopping bags and gift boxes. You can create your seasonal packaging with a wide selection of materials and treatments. However, just remember that it takes several months for packaging to be printed and shipped. You want to ensure that your brand’s seasonal packaging items arrive in time for the season, which is the busiest time for shopping.

Many companies and brands alike choose seasonal colors like bright white along with neutral grays and soft shimmery metallics and holograms to create fun, festive and chic packaging. Using up-to-date color trend palettes like Pantone’s Fashion Color Trend Report also helps brands choose the trendiest colors when creating their seasonal packaging pieces.

For example, brands like Ann Taylor, Laura and Melanie Lyn have created past seasonal packaging with the use of these colors and trends. The brands made sure to stay on trend by adding holograms and foil stamping onto their holiday packaging. From subtle holograms to covering an entire bag with rose gold foil, these holiday shoppers can double as gift bags. As a result, no additional wrapping is required.

Holiday Season Packaging Collections

There are many ways to give your future seasonal packaging that chic and luxurious feel without having to go over budget. First, some more seasonal trends to think about when creating your holiday season packaging collection are: velvet materials, patchwork and plaid, as well as transparent materials and holograms. Combine these trends and materials or use them alone for a current, unique look.

Trends and Materials

Plaid and Patchwork: Plaid is a popular wintry pattern. Pair this pattern with patchwork designs, textured materials or boho designs. They can create a timeless look for the season. Or, pair with warm tones, metallic hot stamping on materials like kraft, cotton or canvas to complete your wintry-boho look.

Rose Gold:  This metallic version of Millennial pink is continuing to stay on trend. We have seen this hue throughout past and present fall and winter seasons. This rich shade can be used with similar colors for a monochromatic effect. Or, use rose gold alone for a subtle pop of color.

Iridescent Colors: Hologram varies in color from deep yellow, and bold purple tones to lighter pastel blues and pinks. Finally, with such a variation of colors, holograms can also be customized or printed as a pattern.

Transparent Materials: Use transparent materials like cotton, mesh, or pvc together or separately to create a packaging piece that speaks to your brand. Combine these materials with custom printing for a completely unique in-store shopper, or reusable shopping bag for the holiday season.

Velvet: Velvet is a chic material that is perfect for any holiday season collection. With a luxurious feel and the ability to come in any color, incorporate velvet into pouches, bag handles, jewelry box interiors and even tote bags. Seasonal colors can also compliment this fine fabric to create the perfect on-trend packaging item.

Treatments

In addition to trends and materials that speak to your brand, it’s time to consider treatments. Here are a few popular treatments to think about when creating the perfect seasonal packaging piece:

Foil Hot Stamping: Adding foil hot stamping onto your seasonal shopping bags, gift boxes, and accessories is a great way to add a shimmery metallic hue or other specialty color onto holiday packaging. The metallic foil gives off a warm sophisticated tone. Combine foil hot stamping with embossing or debossing for a multi-dimensional look.

Spot UV: This treatment adds a high gloss finish to logos and graphics on your packaging of choice. It is a great eco-friendly alternative if your company’s concerns are about the environment. Add spot uv to your bag or box sparingly or to highlight a certain area on your packaging of choice.

Matte or Gloss Lamination: Matte or gloss laminations are great to think about when adding texture to a shopping bag or gift box. Matte lamination provides a smooth and sleek texture to paper bags and paper coated gift boxes. Gloss lamination, on the other hand, creates a high-end look for any holiday shopper while enhancing the custom design. Gloss lamination also highlights the colors of the packaging piece, perfect for companies who prefer a high shine finish.

Make Your Packaging Unique

Combine all of these treatments or use them separately on your packaging pieces of choice. However, if you are looking to add minimal changes to your brand’s packaging during the holiday season; a more subtle way to do so is to simply change your brand’s signature colors. Therefore, adding metallic gold, silver, or bronze will give your packaging that formal holiday season feel. For an on-trend look, brands can include a neutral color palette onto their packaging pieces for a delicate change. With a wide selection of materials and treatments to choose from, as a result, your seasonal packaging collection pieces can easily transition into holiday.

 Gift with Purchase Items

Once your brand solidifies their designs and materials, you can also think about adding a small gift with purchase item. Gift with purchase items can complement your future holiday packaging collections. These pieces range from pouches and gift boxes to tote bags. Items like these can make your customers feel like they are being rewarded for shopping in your store. Most importantly, gift with purchase items help keep your brand’s identity unique. Branded merchandise is sold within the store; once purchased act as great advertising items. Gift with purchase items, especially for the holiday season help support customer purchases by getting them excited about receiving a gift from your company.

As a result, having a gift with purchase item in your holiday collection can create a unique store atmosphere, and double as advertising for your brand outside of the store. Having a unified look for your gift with purchase products are great ways to connect with customers on a personal level. This is great especially for the holiday season.

In addition to seasonal packaging, gift with purchase items are fully customizable and can be made from a range of materials like pp non-woven, cotton, muslin, vinyl, jute and nylon. Your packaging collection and gift with purchase items can also be decorated with treatments that can also compliment the holiday season. Above all, the holiday season is a special time for everyone and should be reflected in your packaging.