Getting Gift Packaging Ready For Christmas

Like everything else this year, Christmas is set to be a little different to normal. Yet despite lockdown and regional restrictions, businesses still have a little time to prepare for their Christmas orders – as well as make sure they're in a position to meet the anticipated increase in demand.

A recent survey showed 70% of Brits plan to do all their Christmas shopping online this year, so retailers need to ensure they get it right. That's certainly true for OnBuy, where a huge influx of new customers is expected following the successful launch of their ITV advertising campaign and biggest Black Friday sale ever – to say nothing of their big Black Friday plans!

For many OnBuy sellers, marking the occasion is a big deal, and rightly so. Christmas themed gift packaging can help sellers capture the essence of these special moments in the retail calendar.

For many eCommerce entrepreneurs, around 30% of their annual sales come between Black Friday and Christmas, meaning there's everything to play for on OnBuy. 

What's more, sales figures are expected to enjoy a massive upswing compared to festive seasons past, as consumers make up for restrictions in socialising and missed holidays by really pushing the boat out this Christmas.

While that should mean a sales bonanza for online retailers, it also creates a highly competitive time of year, in which sellers need to create surprising-yet-intuitive unboxing experiences for buyers.

Of course, having enough stock to meet demand is a huge part of your preparation, but modern customers want more. After all, eCommerce has opened the world up to consumers in unprecedented ways, placing ever greater emphasis on the customer experience.

In addition to doing their Christmas gift shopping from the comfort of their own home, consumers also expect the item to arrive quickly, in a stylish box that's the right size and environmentally friendly.

These are the fundamentals that sellers need to get right to impress customers – and retain them for future purchases. With 79% of consumers saying they plan to continue using online shopping for most purchases once the global health crisis eases, providing good quality customer service during the Christmas and Black Friday period should be at the top of sellers' agendas.

Luckily, OnBuy's Seller Support team and PayPal partnership can help ease this journey, yet it's still a high-pressure time of year!

To complete the customer experience, businesses ought to consider delivery and presentation in addition to the quality and price of their products. For those sellers who handle their own shipping and fulfilment, that means having sufficient stock of high-quality shipping boxes, with appealing designs.

DS Smith ePack can help you exceed your customers' expectations. They offer a wide range of eco-friendly gift packaging, which is sturdy, stylish and sustainable. They can offer customisation, and they're the leading packaging supplier in the UK – helping sellers pair their brands with festive designs on their packaging to surprise and delight customers.

It's a busy time of year, but by working with the right partners and making the most of what OnBuy can offer, there's plenty of opportunity for every seller out there! Are you set up and good to go for OnBuy's biggest Q4 ever?