Why Channel-Specific Solutions Outperform Adapted Designs With the focus of many e-commerce retailers still heavily on optimisation and sustainability, now feels like the right time to address a topic that has been a slow burning frustration for me over the past four years: adapted corrugated packaging solutions for e-commerce… Understanding Adapted Solutions Before diving deeper into my...
Impact of Design on Sustainability
What impact do Packaging Designers have on Sustainability? In the face of growing environmental concerns, the role of packaging designers has evolved from creating attractive and functional packages to becoming pivotal players in the sustainability movement. This shift is crucial as the packaging industry significantly impacts our planet. By rethinking traditional approaches and adopting...
e-commerce Packaging Trends 2024
As we approach the end of the year, it’s that time again… no, not to make new year resolutions that will be broken before the end of January, but predictions for trends in the new year. 2023 brought significant challenges for many However, whilst there may be still further challenges ahead, they always create opportunities for those willing to be agile, dynamic and innovative. So where are the...
How to find the ‘Sweet Spot’ for your e-commerce packaging?
** An article written for DS Smith as the e-commerce Design Manager ** Whilst there are greater complexities in the e-commerce Life Cycle and an increased number of touch points compared to Bricks & Mortar, with the right tools, knowledge, expertise and innovation methods, your packaging ‘Sweet Spot’can be found. Corrugated cardboard and the first box designs were created over 100 years ago...
Evolution of e-commerce Packaging
** An article written for DS Smith as the e-commerce Design Manager ** Evolution of e-commerce in 25 years: towards sustainable packaging Gavin Mounce, e-commerce Design Manager at DS Smith shares his thoughts on the importance of sustainability in this rapidly growing channel and what part the creative community have to play in shaping the future and helping to protect our environment. Waste...
The power of a millimetre
** An article written for DS Smith as the e-commerce Design Manager ** How making small changes to your packaging design can have a big impact on sustainability Sustainability is a critical topic and a key priority for everyone, but how much difference can packaging make? At DS Smith we offer packaging solutions that are created following our Circular Design Principles, aimed at designing out...
How can packaging increase your sales and profits
** An article written for DS Smith as the e-commerce Design Manager ** In this article, I explore ‘How can packaging increase your sales capacity and profits during peak season?’ DS Smith design expert, Gavin Mounce, explores the important role packaging solutions play and how they can make a significant difference in your sales capacity and profitability during one of the busiest E...
Beating Designers Block for the Packaging Industry
I am confident that even if you have been a packaging designer for a short while, you will have had at some stage experienced “Designers Block”. For those that are not designers, or experienced this wonderful feeling, it is where you turn up to work, start a project brief with all the best intentions, sketch a million ideas, hate them all, bin them and then question “why did I ever choose this as...
Reducing the pain of e-commerce returns?
There is no denying that January is the season for e-commerce returns and whilst this can be a huge pain point now, the problem can be year-round for many online retailers and in some cases return rates can be up to triple that of bricks and mortar. Nobody wants an unhappy customer and returns can be an issue for any retailer, however they can also have a significant effect on the overall success...
Don’t always blame the courier…
and ways to improve the performance of your e-commerce packaging There is an old saying that goes ‘before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes’, it seems like the natural thing to blame the courier if our parcel arrives damaged, marked or ripped for mishandling, but spending time with them behind the scenes changed my whole career. “Firstly, I have to hold my hands up and say that I have...