Quality Boxes for Quality Chocolatiers at Easter

by EasterPresentation PackagingValentines Day

If you’ve read any of our blog before, you’ll be well aware that Easter is a major event for us. Let’s be honest if, as UK manufacturers of presentation packaging, we weren’t busy in the run-up to Easter something would be very wrong! 

This year Easter falls of April 12th, which is a little later than normal, and so we are still creating Easter egg packaging here at the end of February. Throughout this post you can see some of boxes we’ve made this year thus far. 

Packaging for Easter eggs
Packaging for Easter eggs

The first three images in this blog post show packaging that has been made for the wonderful Rococo Chocolates. The company had previously gone overseas for their Easter packaging but due to previous poor experiences (and with Easter also being such an important season for them), they decided to reduce their risks and place the order with us this year. In employing GWD, Rococo Chocolates knew that they would get exactly what they asked for, delivered when specified and that the product would be of exceptionally high quality. In reality we delivered the order ahead of time despite a number of changes to the original brief. 

This is possible for us as we manufacture the products here in the UK and are in control of both production and transportation. We are conveniently placed just outside the M25 on the ‘London-Stansted-Cambridge’ corridor. 

Easter egg boxes manufacturer UK
Easter egg boxes manufacturer UK

Rococo Chocolates were delighted with the service and the products.

The boxes shown in the images are wrapped/covered in their ‘branding’ of distinctive blue ‘toile’ patterning which features line drawings of antiquated chocolate molds. The children’s range (in orange and turquoise) features rabbit molds with lids in different colours and gold foiling. The different colours being for the different chocolate and fillings.  

The eggs are held in position with a cardboard fitment and have a clear window to show off the colourful foil wrapped egg. Both the box and fitments/trays are totally recyclable.

Packaging for rococo chocolates and other chocolatiers
Packaging for rococo chocolates and other chocolatiers

Rococo also commissioned us to make ‘egg-shaped’ boxes for Easter to contain a selection of their high quality truffles (see above). These were made in three different colours, lined on the inside and ‘foil blocked’ on the lid in gold with seasonal graphics. This was a first for GWD as we had never made a box of precisely this shape before. However we do like a challenge and our in-house team of ‘cardboard engineers’ and designers have the ability to tackle almost any problem set before them. Their experience and ability sets us apart from other box makers in the UK. Again, Rococo were delighted with the high quality handmade products (which compliment their artisan image) and our ability to deliver on time.

We have made a many other high-quality packaging products for Rococo (both all the year round and seasonal).  The image below shows heart shaped boxes we manufactured for them this year for Valentine’s Day.  

Heart shaped boxes for Valentine's day
Heart shaped boxes for Valentine’s day

Whilst we have been making boxes for Rococo for many years, this year was the first time we have worked with Slatterys who are an award winning patissier and chocolatier founded in 1967 and located near Manchester. 

The image below shows an unusual round Easter egg box we made for them incorporating a ribbon handle. The lid was printed on a coated paper (in Slatterys branding) whereas in contrast the box was covered in an uncoated brown paper.  

A round box such as this obviously compliments the shape of an Easter Egg and GWD are one of very few companies in the UK that can manufacture round ‘hat’ boxes such as this, or indeed such a quality handmade piece of packaging in general. 

Easter egg box made for Statterys of Whitefield
Easter egg box made for Statterys of Whitefield

Here’s another image of the box(es) made for Slatterys – please head over to their website to see more of their marvellous products! 

Confectionary packaging
Confectionary packaging

As we mentioned, Easter is a very important time for us here at GWD, but we are always interested in making contact with other chocolatiers, or indeed any firm with products that could benefit from the highest quality presentation packaging available in the UK today. 

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging.  You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

Flowers, Chocolates and Quality Presentation Packaging

by Chocolate boxEasterFlowersHat shaped boxesMothers' DayPresentation Packaging

For good or ill the national obsession with chocolates and flowers continues – particularly at this time of the year.

According to recent figures – In the UK, 10% of all chocolate is consumed in the form of Eggs over Easter, with the country being the fourth largest consumer of chocolate (per head of capita) in the World, behind Switzerland, Germany and Austria. On average, each person in Britain eats approx. 9.5 kg of chocolate each year.  When it comes to flowers, according to aboutflowers.com a staggering 26% of ALL flowers are purchased from florists on Mother’s Day, surpassed only by Valentines Day.

Naturally as the UK’s premier manufacturer of presentation packaging this period is extremely important to us here at GWD Ltd .  Indeed we have a substantial number of florists and chocolatiers amongst our clients. Here are a few examples of products we have made over the past year.

Heart-shaped boxes made in the UK
Heart-shaped boxes made in the UK

This heart-shaped box with a window was manufactured here in Essex for flowers, specifically preserved flowers and rose heads. These have a life of 3 years or more and are used as table decorations, centrepieces and other ornamental uses. The packaging therefore, has to be robust as well as stylish.

Packaging for mother’s day gifts
Packaging for mother’s day gifts
Packaging for mother’s day gifts
Packaging for mother’s day gifts

The two photos above show round hatboxes that were produced for different flower growers/importers: Exprezzion and MM Flowers .  They were used in the sale of their flowers at two leading supermarket chains and for their online sales. Hat boxes, with or without lids, are widely recognised as a very up-market way of presenting flowers for that special gift or loved one, and GWD Ltd make them in a range of sizes, from 150mm diameter to 150mm high (and smaller if required) up to 300mm diameter x 300mm high (and bigger if required).

Packaging for chocolates and Easter eggs
Packaging for chocolates and Easter eggs

The Easter egg boxes in the picture above show two high-end, bespoke, rigid Easter egg boxes (with separate box and lid) that were made for The Secret Truffletier who create handmade champagne truffles, Swiss Chocolates and luxurious dark chocolate truffle gifts. At the other end of the scale the image also shows a small fold-up carton for a much smaller egg. This was personalised for Claridges , the luxury hotel in Mayfair. It is an equally high-end product.

Whatever product your have, you can be assured that GWD can help you with the perfect presentation packaging to help it sell, online or in the shops. We’ve been creating packaging for florists and chocolatiers for over 30 years. Please get in touch.

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging.  You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

Egg-cellent packaging for Easter!

by Box MakingChocolate boxEaster

Egg-cellent packaging for Easter!

For many, Easter means time off school, overdue family time, beautiful daffodils starting to head in the gardens and not to mention… eating copious amounts of delicious chocolate! We have all been there; sitting on the sofa with the ‘Christmas dinner feeling’ after successfully demolishing your final chocolate egg.

Easter is the number one chocolate-selling period of the year and quite astoundingly, the first Easter egg went on sale in Sainsbury’s in JANUARY this year! According to The Telegraph, us Brits eat 11kg of chocolate each year, so it’s no wonder why Easter is celebrated by the masses.

Easter boxes by GWD for Rococo Chocolates
Easter boxes by GWD for Rococo Chocolates

Easter boxes by GWD for Rococo Chocolates
Easter boxes by GWD for Rococo Chocolates

For us, Easter is a fantastic marketing platform for gift & confectionery companies to show off! The pastel colours, the cute bunnies, the gold ribbon… it WORKS. Both B2B & B2C business can benefit from this holiday. Think about wowing your valued customers and suppliers with beautifully packaged edibles to show them how much you appreciate their support.

Be sure to consider your corporate clan in the Easter excitement as our cardboard engineers can create marvellous, bespoke and branded confectionery and gift packaging to meet your requirements.

Grown Up Easter egg boxes by GWD
Grown Up Easter egg boxes by GWD

Grown Up Easter egg boxes by GWD
Grown Up Easter egg boxes by GWD

In this day in age, a healthy conscience is being embedded into our brains by the TV, media, industry leaders and even our own family! Instead of gifting a traditional chocolate egg, more and more people are opting for Easter gifts (which last A LOT longer than chocolate!).

Even though the Easter gifts that are sent to us, to create beautifully packaging for, are not always egg-shaped, they are always guaranteed to hatch a smile!

 

We have been honoured to work with some of the UKs best names in chocolate including Rococo, Bettys and The Grown Up Chocolate Company.

Bettys ‘Trio of Eggs’ box by GWD
Bettys ‘Trio of Eggs’ box by GWD

Have a fantastic Easter!

 

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotionalpackaging.  You can reach him on (01279) 416 093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

 

Packaging for Florists and Floral Arrangements

by Box MakingEasterFlowersSpecialist Packaging

Well here we are again, back at work after the Christmas Holidays! Here at GWD

we’re lucky in that the normal New Year dread or malaise doesn’t actually apply – there’s always something fascinating to get our teeth into! This week we’re working on a new heart-shaped hatbox for flowers, see below…

hat boxes for florists
Hat boxes for florists

It’s that time of year again when a lot of our work relates to Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter – all of which are fast approaching. Chocolates, of course, are a very popular gift and we make a great deal of packaging for confectionery at this time of year. However, it’s presentation packaging for florists that pre-occupies GWD at present.

hat boxes for floral arrangements
Hat boxes for floral arrangements

Our Blog has spoken previously about round, ‘hat’ boxes and how GWD is one of a very few companies in the UK with the ability to create them. Circular boxes (above) are perfect for floral displays and show off the beauty of any arrangement to great effect.

Where can I find packaging for my flowers?
Where can I find packaging for my flowers?

Above is an example of a hatbox created for roses for a small independent florist in Scotland, demonstrating that you don’t have to have multiple outlets to have great packaging. The matt black wrapping and foil blocked-in gold gives a fantastic, upmarket feel to the floral arrangement within. Valentine’s and Mother’s Days are occasions when customers are prepared to pay a little more for gifts to express their regards and affection to their loved ones, so many florists will invest in special presentation packaging for the occasion, such as the stunning boxes (below) that we created for Royal Queen Roses, another independent florist, this time in Cyprus!  The fact that the cost of shipping these boxes to Cyprus is not inconsiderable indicates that our services are not only rare in the UK, but in Europe also.

Specialist boxes for florists
Specialist boxes for florists

Of course we don’t just provide circular or heart-shaped boxes for florists – if you are looking for a more traditional square or rectangular box we can provide those too (see below). So if you are a florist (or indeed a chocolatier) and would like to make your flowers stand out for the special dates to come, why not give us a call? We have over thirty years experience in the presentation packaging industry and are considered leaders in the field.

Rectangular boxes for flowers
Rectangular boxes for flowers

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging. You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

Packaging For Easter Gifts!

by Box MakingEasterManufacturingPresentation PackagingPromotional PackagingSpecialist Packaging

Think Easter and you probably think chocolate. Easter is a time of year when some of us take time out of work for (cold and rainy) family holidays and unbelievable chocolate overload. Who hasn’t regretted – at least once – the amount of chocolate eggs mindlessly scoffed over the bank holidays? Ever guilty of taking the leftovers into the office just to get rid? A resounding yes! After all, Easter is the biggest chocolate-selling period of the year following the over indulgence of Christmas…and rather astonishingly, this year Easter eggs went on sale in Tesco and Sainsbury’s (other supermarkets are available) on the FIRST of JANUARY!

Easter Egg Box from GWD
Easter Egg Box from GWD

But as you roll your eyes, think about how Easter presents itself as a superb marketing opportunity for B2B and B2C! A time to wow your customers and suppliers with beautifully presented and packaged edibles or alternatives to show them how much you appreciate their business and their support.

Single and multi Easter Egg Boxes
Single and multi Easter Egg Boxes

We Brits simply love chocolate, ranking 4th in the world just behind the finest chocolate makers in the world, Switzerland, Germany and Austria on consumption per capita. Most of us will eat around 9.5 kg of chocolate per year and at Easter time, we will purchase around 80 million chocolate eggs, generating a consumer spend of a whopping £299m. These eggs-travagant (apologies) sales make up 10 per cent of Britain’s annual spend on chocolate.

Easter egg box - clear square format
Easter egg box – clear square format

But of course, the buzz word is ‘moderation’. Dietitians have already warned us that most children (and us adults) will eat around 5 Easter eggs each as well as the delicious contents, easily doubling the recommended calorie intake resulting in rapid weight gain. And where does that leave today’s consumers who are health conscious, allergic or worse, who suffer from severe reactions to Easter egg ingredients? There’s no reason to leave your corporate clan or family loved ones out of the Easter excitement as our cardboard engineers can create sensationally bespoke and branded confectionary and gift packaging to meet your exact needs.

Easter egg box - clear round format
Easter egg box – clear round format

It’s no secret that plenty of people now give gifts rather than Easter eggs and while it might make traditionalists jump up and down about the true meaning of Easter, an actual non-edible keepsake gift will last longer and be a healthier choice than chocolate.

Easter gift boxes
Easter gift boxes

Sometimes the Easter gifts you choose for us to beautifully package may not be always be egg-shaped, but we are certain they will hatch out better things.

 

 

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging.  You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.ukGWD is ....

All eggs need a basket: Easter packaging

by Box MakingDesignEasterManufacturingPresentation PackagingPromotional PackagingUncategorized

The trees are blossoming, the sun is shining in the crisp cool air, and the grass is looking decidedly long again: it’s Easter time.

What does Easter mean to you?  For some, it might all be about Christianity.  For others it’s about bunnies and daffodils.  For lots more, it’s all about the gloriously decadent period when Lent finishes and the assault on the chocolate can begin again in earnest.