Designing a Brand Unboxing Experience with Nothing But Tape

Customers no longer rip their packages open in a rush. Unboxing the product is now part of the purchasing experience, an act that people enjoy watching as much as doing. Just ask the millions of TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels users who head to their favorite creators' channels to watch unboxing videos. This increased interest in product unboxings gives businesses a compelling reason to invest in branded packaging. Since there's no telling how many eyes might meet your brand through your packaging, it's a smart marketing strategy.

Unfortunately, custom boxes can be so expensive that many small businesses can't swing the costs of them. But that doesn't mean they can't jump on the custom packaging bandwagon. Branded tape is a more cost-effective option that achieves the same goal: it gets your name out there. Let's explore the ins and outs of using Tape Jungle's custom printed tape to create a visually striking and memorable unboxing experience for customers.

Why Tape Is the Most Underrated Branding Tool in Packaging

Custom tape is just what you need to level up your branded packaging game.

First Impressions Matter

You never get a second chance at a first impression, so make it count with a few strips of custom packing tape.

When consumers receive their product in the mail and see your business name, logo, or colors printed on the tape sealing it shut, it gives them some insight into who you are and where your priorities lie. Custom printed tape tells them you care about all the details, even the small, seemingly insignificant ones others might overlook. It also adds some professional-looking flair to basic kraft boxes or poly mailers, letting customers know that the way your brand is perceived matters to you.

Affordable, Scalable, and Functional

Beyond giving packages a more aesthetically pleasing look, custom branded tape provides a level of security that non-branded tape cannot. If an unauthorized person tampers with non-branded tape, it's easy for them to replace it without getting caught. However, it's harder to cover your tracks with branded tape. Any evidence that a branded tape-sealed package was tampered with before making it to the recipient is glaringly obvious.

You should also note that custom tape not only costs less than fully customized packaging, it's also easier to reorder. Especially when you're buying it from a vendor like Tape Jungle, which keeps your branded tape's design on file so it's easily accessible when you're ready to order more.

If you ever need to rebrand, think about how simple it is to do when branded tape is the only packing material you have to update. There's no need to worry whether every piece of the packaging puzzle - boxes, mailers, bags, tissue paper, etc. - was updated to include the new design if tape is the only packing tool you customize.

Custom tape is a comparatively low-cost way to provide a clean-looking, more secure packaging experience, not to mention that it's not overwhelming to keep up with during rebranding. So, stocking up on a few rolls is a wise choice for up-and-coming startups or businesses that provide subscription boxes or direct-to-consumer products.

Core Components of a Tape-Only Unboxing Experience

Thoughtfulness and strategy are your best friends in using custom tape to create a one-of-a-kind unboxing experience.

Custom Printed Tape as Your Centerpiece

Think carefully about how you want your branded tape to look. After all, it's the star of the show!

Decide what kind of tape you need and what you'll put on it. Then, let Tape Jungle's tape customizer tool help you with the heavy lifting - aligning your logo, tagline, campaign messaging, and brand colors on the tape.

Want to put more than just your brand name on the custom adhesive? Consider adding QR codes that lead to your website, your social handles, or customer incentives to your branded tape.

Colored and Fluorescent Tape for Accent & Seasonal Themes

It's always a good idea to create a core branded tape. But adding a pop of color to the core packaging is a fun attention-grabber, especially for seasonal or limited-edition drops. Edge the box's corners or seal its side flaps with a few strips of colored tape to give your package a fun refresh.

Since Tape Jungle has an impressive selection of colored vinyl tape for you to choose from, you'll have no trouble finding something that works for your brand.

Kraft Gummed Tape for a Sustainable, Premium Feel

Water-activated kraft tape is a popular choice for several reasons. First, it provides a clean, tamper-evident seal. Second, it pairs well with minimalist branding efforts. It's simple and unobtrusive, getting the point across without being over-the-top.

What's more is that it's also an excellent choice for eco-conscious brands. Non-reinforced gummed paper tape is biodegradable. Earth-friendly and aesthetically pleasing - a win-win!

ATG Tape for Internal Mounting and Inserts

ATG tape is every serious scrapbooker's go-to, as it's acid-free and adheres well to a variety of surfaces, including paper. Use it to organize the internal layout of your package - attach thank you notes and promo cards to the box or tissue paper with ease.

A standard-grade selection like Alanson's should do the trick. However, heavy-duty ATG tape variations come in handy if you're working with an irregular surface.

Tape Design Tips That Spark Customer Engagement

Approach your tape design strategically to ensure you make the most out of your new adhesive marketing tool.

Align Tape Design With Your Brand Personality

Color theory or color psychology is a crucial part of branding. Colors not only give consumers something to associate with your brand but also evoke specific emotions and influence viewers to take specific actions. For example, red is most commonly associated with urgency and attention, while blue is most often a color of calm and stability.

So, when you select the colors for your custom printed tape, you should not only make sure they pair well with each other and match other packaging materials. You should also make sure they accurately set the tone of your business.

Encourage Sharing With Tape-Based Messaging

Adding text to your tape is one of the easiest ways to be certain it shares exactly the message you want. If you want people to bring their unboxing to social media, tell them with a call to action like, "Tag us on Instagram @yourbrand!" printed across your adhesive.

Real-World Use Cases for Tape-Only Unboxing

Anyone can rely on a custom logo tape-focused packaging strategy. However, it's especially beneficial for a specific crowd.

DTC Startup on a Budget

A direct-to-consumer (DTC) startup just getting on its feet likely doesn't have a massive budget for marketing or premium packaging. But that doesn't mean it can't create a luxurious unboxing experience for its consumers.

A few strips of branded packing tape and an ATG tape-mounted insert card take a plain kraft mailer to sleeker, more professional-looking levels without breaking the bank.

Subscription Box With Seasonal Themes

It can be pricey for brands to totally overhaul packaging on seasonal subscription boxes or monthly campaigns. Something as simple as changing tape colors tells customers their package holds a new season's worth of goodies without going over budget. Make sure to pair your seasonal colors with a custom core tape to establish brand identity.

Maker Brand Using Tape to Tell a Story

Your brand has a compelling story or mission; let custom tape tell it. Print a fitting quote or a short mission statement on your printed tape. Then, customers will know what you and your products stand for even before they open the box.

Scale Without Sacrificing Aesthetics

Are you still unconvinced? Here are a few more reasons to create a tape-only unboxing experience and let Tape Jungle's custom tape builder help you do it.

Easy Reordering With Saved Tape Designs

When you trust Tape Jungle to build your custom tape, you don't need to worry about inconsistency when it's time to reorder. Tape Jungle keeps your brand artwork on file. So, when sales start increasing and you need more tape to cover shipments, you can rest assured that every roll of tape you buy will look just like the first one.

Bulk Options and Fast Lead Times for Growth

If you need to stock up on a lot of tape, Tape Jungle has you covered. The platform is designed to support volume ordering; the more you buy, the more affordable your price point. That's perfect for newer brands - if your orders are increasing faster than your packaging budget grows, Tape Jungle's bulk ordering prices are worth taking advantage of.

Explore Tape Jungle's Branding Tape Options

Though custom boxes can be nice, they aren't necessary to create a memorable, brand-boosting unboxing experience. All you really need is custom tape. When used intentionally, tape-only packaging is just as effective as a custom box at a fraction of the cost.

Tape Jungle and its custom tape builder make curating wow-worthy, Instagrammable unboxing experiences easy. Start designing your roll with the custom tape builder today, or contact Tape Jungle to request a quote for branded tape today.