Cheers to an innovative year in beverage boxing

​The humble beverage box has a great big job. With continued emphasis on direct-to-consumer and online sales, wine, spirits and beer packaging must tell a story from the pages of a catalog, on social and websites, as well as jump off the shelves at member warehouses like Costco and tiny corner markets. All that, and the package must ensure the beverage arrives home in perfectly drinkable condition.

A specialty printer with expertise in packaging, Carlson Print Group can help breweries, wineries and distilleries reach the height of sophistication in packaging. Raise a glass to these hot trends in beverage box branding:
 
Copper Foil Fills a Niche

Copper is a unique trend in alcohol packaging, according to a branding expert at Drink With Your Eyes. The hue of the humble penny is a nod to the copper pot still that is “many craft distilleries’ main investment.” References to the copper pot evoke an air of artisanal batch sizes and hand-crafted quality. Carlson’s ColourFoil™ process seamlessly merges metallic foil into images and graphics to create stunning effects that grab the eye and won’t let go.

The process enables you to specify precisely the areas of the package you want to treat and does it with perfect registration every time. Add one or more of a range of UV coatings, and you’ve got the ultimate showstopper. An infinite spectrum of color possibilities means that you can set your brand apart by honing in on just the shade of copper and complementary colors that suit your product. Carlson presses have the flexibility to produce large, solid areas of foil with fine detail, in addition to halftones, small fonts and knockouts on any run length.

Vintage Americana for an Authentic Vibe 

Craft beverages have a storied history in this country, even though their hip status is relatively recent. Non-coated and kraft papers display a sensibility of authenticity, longevity and heritage. A reputable printer can create a vintage or antique look without sacrificing color and brand consistency. Nostalgic packaging can also include elaborate hand-drawn art, reproductions of antique photographs, early typefaces and regional imagery. Vintage-style packaging evokes a time when quality was high while prices were low, which appeals to discerning beverage buyers.

Can Boxes are a Marketing Must

​Do brewers really need to sell cans of beer in a box? Weren’t cans designed to travel and shelve with minimal packaging? Absolutely. But in the increasingly crowded quality craft beer market, bold, full-box packaging sells. “Over-boxing is more expensive,” according to brand experts at CODO Design.

“But it’s also an effective way of achieving billboarding (a big solid block of your branding) in an off-premise set, which can lead to more eyes on your product and more sales. They work particularly well in floor stacks.” Using an entire box for packaging and shelving is popular even with four- and six-can sets, especially with more expensive, high-end packs whose sales can offset the higher cost of over-boxing. Cans in boxes are also an eco-friendly option compared to traditional plastic bindings. Carlson specializes in the holographic, lenticular and foil effects -- in addition to embossing and die-cutting -- that will set your beverage’s box above the rest.
 
With Carlson Print Group at the press, your cup will be filled to the brim. Call or click today to plan your packaging from the top to bottoms up.