Promotional Packaging

Eden Grass – The Paper of The Future?

January 14, 2020

by Toucan Publishing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

Recently, a supplier – Vision Paper and Board introduced us to a marvelous new product called ‘Eden Grass Paper.’

Here at GWD ltd we have always taken environmental issues extremely seriously. As you can imagine, as premier presentation packaging manufacturers we see an awful lot of paper and cardboard throughout the year and we are very conscious of waste, recycling and the environmental processes used in the creation of the paper and board that we use. As we move into the 2020s, environmental issues are becoming a progressively important issue.

Eden Grass Paper is produced with up to 40% natural grass fibres meaning that it not only has a scent of grass but it’s also 100% recyclable and biodegradable. Its production is considerably more environmentally friendly than ‘normal’ paper and board, using only 3% of the standard energy required to produce standard paper. The production process also creates only 25% of the usual CO2, and also can boast a 99.9% reduction in the amount of water required against standard wood pulp.

Eden Grass is ISEGA certified for direct contact with food and has an FSC certificate – which shows that the wood pulp used to create the product originates from well-managed and sustainable forests. These high environmental credentials mean that it is a perfect choice for companies who take sustainability and green issues seriously.

Eden Grass isn’t just a paper it is also available in a light card, or boxboard weight, suitable for cartons and internal box fitments. The paper is suitable for wrapping rigid boxes, which is our specialty here at GWD, and we have already tested it making a few samples, a round and a rectangular box and lid as well as a ‘drawer’ box and a tray and a binder with a ribbon closure, as you can see from the images throughout this article. Eden Grass has a very distinctive finish and can be ‘litho’ printed and ‘foil blocked’ if required.

Environmentally friendly paper and board for packaging

At present we have introduced it to a few of our more ‘green conscious’ customers such as Lush, Bettys of Harrogate and Rococo by sending them box samples and the tech sheet. We believe that this is an excellent product and very exciting for any company that uses presentation or promotional packaging and takes green issues seriously.

If you would like to find out more about Eden Grass, or any of our services please do 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

Promotional Packaging for Printers (and Anyone Else!)

September 13, 2018

by Toucan Publishing Box Making Promotional Packaging

It is well detailed in this blog and elsewhere that we like to consider ourselves experts in the field of presentation packaging, For example the packaging we created with the creative agency Fluid for EA Sport’s FIFA18 videogame. We speak less of our work in ‘promotional packaging’ –specialty promotional or corporate packaging that is often used for business-to-business (B2B) promotions, used to launch products and/or for PR, marketing and advertising.

Earlier this year we were approached by Anna Sedgbeer of Prontaprint Bishop’s Stortford an independent print and design company who service Herts, Essex and London. Anna was looking for a box that she (and other former Prontaprint franchisees) could use as a marketing tool for their clients.

Promotional Packaging for B2B — Promotional packaging for B2B

Promotional Packaging in Essex — Promotional packaging in Essex

Anna chose the contents for the box, in this case a branded pen, a box of mints and a ‘Little Book of Print’– a booklet highlighting their work and what they can offer their clients. Our job was to create a box to present these items in a professional and stylish way, creating a ‘wow factor’ when the box was opened. We created an internal platform and inserts to hold the contents in place as you can see in the images. They went with a fairly basic square box and lid, which was printed with the Prontaprint branding (on the lid) and the details of the different individual Prontaprint businesses on the bottom.

While this is not a particularly complicate project for GWD, it does highlight how we can help businesses present themselves to clients or customers. Sometimes a little ‘old-fashioned’ marketing can be very effective and promote your brand or company extremely well.

Cardboard Manufacturers In The UK — Cardboard manufacturers in the UK

Promotional items can for a very important part of a corporate campaign and our presentation packaging design department will rise to any challenge that your idea or promotional product might present. We are happy to work with any concept or item, and we’ll work with you – within your time frame and budget to create the best results. So, if we can help you or your clients with any promotional or presentation packaging requirements, please do get in touch.

Hang On To Your Hat!

July 26, 2017

by Simon Thomas Box Making Design Hat shaped boxes Manufacturing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

Over the years we’ve created a number of bespoke packaging solutions for florists and occasionally even milliners. We continue to be one of a very few companies in the UK who have the ability to create circular ‘Hat’ boxes. What we also do, however, which is perhaps slightly less known, is that we create packaging in the shape of headwear as promotional packaging for events or special occasions.

Top hats, such as the ones above created for The Ritz (London), are a firm favourite and give a great sense of panache and style for any promotional event. Normally these would be used for chocolates, but could be for any trinket or smaller product.

We have recently created a number of cardboard ‘boaters’ for The Chocolate Shop in Sevenoaks

who specialize in fondants, truffles and high-end chocolate delights, and while in this instant the company themselves added the lovely touch of adding ribbons and decorations….

…GWD can also offer this finishing service as with the personalised ribbon used on the top hat boxes above. As the top lid is removed one is left with a very stylish example of presentation packaging at it’s finest, with the contents displayed at their very best.

where can I get boxes made? — Where can I get boxes made?

We have been making these mortarboard hats (below) for many years, mainly for a couple of hotels in Oxford to celebrate student graduation season (and to promote themselves too, naturally)…

The small size has always contained chocolates, but on another occasion we were commissioned to make a larger version to house a bottle of champagne, as below.

special boxes for wine and chocolate — Special boxes for wine and chocolate

Boxes in the shape of hats can be a great way to draw attention to a product or reference a particular theme or subject, and as such we’re often asked to make them for a variety of different clientele. Ascot, for example is particularly well known for the glorious array of hats that are on show. We created the jockey cap box – a great equestrian institution – for Royal Ascot back in 2013, as a chocolate box, pictured below. This piece of packaging is ideal for hotels or other outlets in close proximity to racecourses – and indeed racecourses themselves – to use during the season.

amazing packaging solutions — Amazing packaging solutions

Christmas Retail Packaging

December 13, 2016

by Simon Thomas Box Making Christmas Design Manufacturing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

It will surprise no one that Christmas plays a major role in the presentation packaging industry. For us, however, Christmas starts very early in the year! Companies creating advent calendars like the one below created for Prestat will often send us their designs in May or June.

where can I get an advent calendar made? — “Where can I get an advent calendar made?”

Similarly, major brands like Lush will have their Christmas packaging planned and manufactured well in advance, for example the ‘Karma’ box below. Christmas, of course, is a massively important time for the retail sector as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate. In retail the Christmas period is customarily defined as the six weeks up to December 24^th – a period that traditionally sees c.18% of the annual retail spend. It isn’t surprising that companies make such an extra effort with their packaging for the Christmas season.

Here at GWD we’ve been creating Christmas packaging since the early 1990s, so there’s little we haven’t seen over the last twenty five years or so. Below, for example, is a selection of Christmas pudding boxes we made for Bettys (chocolatiers), The Dorchester Hotel and The RAC Club.

Circular boxes for presentation packaging

At GWD Ltd we remain one of the very few firms in the UK who can manufacture circular or semi-circular boxes, which really do help your product to stand out from the crowd.

Circular chocolate boxes manufacture uk — Circular chocolate boxes manufacture UK

The hamper box above, again created for Bettys, gives a fantastic first impression to the potential consumer. Surely anyone who has gone to such great lengths over their choice of presentation packaging simply MUST have a great product that they’re offering? The same can be said for this gorgeous Christmas ‘Chest’, created for another chocolatier….

….and also theses lovely chocolate boxes below in their different shapes and sizes. The workmanship that goes into these creations can be extremely complex and often time-consuming. That said our team of in-house designers and cardboard engineers have become extremely well versed in addressing complex packaging problems. If you have any questions regarding the feasibility of packaging designs for your product please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Christmas is a hugely important time in retail. If you are looking to make your product stand out for next Christmas season give GWD a call!

LUXURY BOXES FOR LUXURY INVITATIONS

November 16, 2016

by Simon Thomas Box Making Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

At GWD Ltd we are accustomed to dealing with prestigious clients. In the past we have provided beautiful packaging for Cornelia James, holders of the Royal Warrant, and a one-off presentation box for Taylor’s Bulbs, also Royal Warrant holders, which was used to present a new bulb display to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her 90^th birthday . We have even created a gorgeous one-off box for a certain Mr. Elton John, with whom I’m sure you’re very familiar. But you don’t have to be Royalty, Pop or otherwise, to come to us for a prestige packaging solution.

A client contacted us recently who had a small and exclusive range of luxurious Mediterranean properties for sale and wanted to provide the 200 potential buyers who had been invited to view them with the details and pictures in something more than a conventional brochure. So they came to us to create luxury boxes in which a set of postcards could be presented.

The promotional packaging we designed, consisted of a slipcase with a drawer, with a ribbon pull, that not only enabled the drawer to be pulled out, but once open, was positioned in such a way that it lifted the postcards from their frame so that they could be lifted out easily. The postcards themselves were covered in a gold wrap underneath the invitation card.

presentation box for invitations — Presentation box for invitations

This careful design presented the invitations in a style and manner that conveyed a sense of luxury even before the potential buyer has seen the photographs. Our experienced team of designers work with a client to ensure that we provide them with the best and most luxurious packaging to match their needs. In this case we combined the professional look of the branded outer box with the tactile and prestigious nature of the sliding drawer and inner layer to create something beautiful, memorable and most of all eye-catching, ensuring that any recipient will be both intrigued and impressed by the invitation contained within.

quality promotional boxes, UK manufacturer — Quality promotional boxes, UK manufacturer

At GWD, we have no minimum order requirement and total control over lead times because we are manufacturers as well as designers. Whether you wish to advertise high-end property, or issue luxury VIP invitations for gala events, we have the prestige packaging solution for you.

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

Britain Needs Houses – We have Plenty to Chose From!

April 15, 2016

by Simon Thomas House Shaped Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

Britain Needs Houses!

We’re always being told that there’s a housing shortage here in the UK. Well at GWD, whilst we tend not to get involved in politics or the Planning Industry, we certainly have no shortage of houses!

We’ve been making presentation and promotional packing boxes for nearly twenty years. During this time we have made numerous boxes in the shape of houses and other buildings, ranging from henhouses and outhouses…..

Henhouse Box for Miniature chocolate eggs for Bettys (folding box)

……to the Liberty building and Buckingham Palace boxes that we designed for Rococo Chocolates.

Liberty Building and Buckingham Palace (folding boxes)

We’ve made this type of specialist presentation packaging boxes for a wide variety of clients, including builders, estate agents and charities. Whether you want to work alongside our designers to come up with a unique box that is perfectly tailored to your business, or whether you just want us to do it all for you, we can provide you with a box that suits your needs and promotes your brand or product. We are not a wholesaler, we design and make the majority of our boxes here in the UK, meaning we have no minimum order requirement and total control over lead times. We are also happy to offer face to face meetings as required to discuss your requirements and can offer quotes by email or telephone. Manufacturing in the UK means we can also handle short notice arrangements when possible.

Gingerbread House Money Box for Harrods (rigid box and lid)

It’s that time of the year when many people are considering moving home or extending their present residence. Home improvement is in vogue. You might also want to consider house-shaped packaging as a form of direct mail to promote your brand and services, perhaps in the form of folding boxes such as the ones shown below?

Famous Buildings, Outhouse and Santa’s Boots in the chimney boxes (folding boxes)

Britain needs houses. Why not make use of our expertise in promotional packaging to help you promote your brand? Let us provide that extra flourish which will boost sales and encourage your clients to spread the good news about your business.

House Key Box for Estate Agent (rigid box and lid)

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

Packaging For Easter Gifts!

March 16, 2016

by Simon Thomas Box Making Easter Manufacturing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging Specialist 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!

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.

We Brits simply love chocolate, ranking 4^th 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.

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.

Specialist Presentation Packaging for Candle Makers

December 9, 2015

by Simon Thomas Box Making Christmas Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging Specialist Packaging

At GWD Ltd we have been making specialist presentation packaging for nearly thirty years. We have covered everything from corporate and promotional packs to boxes for flowers, chocolates or gifts. With the festive season so soon to be upon us, gifts are obviously at the forefront of a great many people’s minds and what better helps to capture that Christmas magic than candles? That flickering light, the scent of cinnamon or pine, all combine to create that special feeling we’ve all known and loved since childhood. With our specialist presentation packaging, either chosen by you to fit your specifications or designed and created by us based on your own concept, that experience and atmosphere can begin before the lucky recipient has even opened the box!

As we are sure you’re aware, beautiful products need beautiful packaging, and your candles deserve only the best to highlight and accentuate the promise of their wonderful aroma.

And your candles would be in very good company- GWD Ltd have designed candle boxes for prestigious/world famous hotels, like this beautiful box for Amor et Psyche supplied to the Dorchester for a coffee scented candle. For Amor et Psyche (who hand-pour all their own candles) we created a box that promised that dark, smooth scent and enhanced the beauty of the candle itself.

Candle boxes for No 22, own brand and personalised
(a service GWD can offer)

Whatever your needs, whether you have a firm design in mind already or would like us to work with you to create the best specialist presentation packaging solution for your candles, we can guarantee you a box people will love to give or receive. If you prefer, our designers can work with your own graphic artists to come up with something that will fit your existing brand strategy, or we would be just as happy for you to give us a basic concept to work from and leave the rest to us.

Candle box for Laurence Christel with ribbon lid lift

Of course, Christmas can also be a very stressful time due to the time-pressure involved. As we are not only the designers and creators of our packaging, but also the manufacturers, we have direct control over lead times. This makes us ideally-placed to deliver a first-class service for even your ‘rush’ jobs. Although we are proud to do our manufacturing in Britain, if volumes and lead times allow we also have the option of a Far East production facility.

Let your customers have an extra taste of the magic of Christmas with a GWD Ltd presentation box for their festive candles.

Amor et Psyche own brand Candle and Diffuser boxes
(see their website to buy direct)

Presentation Packaging for Unique Brands and Creative Designers

May 19, 2015

by Simon Thomas Manufacturing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

Presentation Packaging

At GWD Ltd (Harlow, Essex) we have been in the presentation packaging business for 25 years. That’s a LOT of experience. In that time we have created the packaging for thousands of clients, helping them to present and promote their brand to their customer base and drive sales.

We have worked with many large Companies over the years as well as a number of smaller, more unusual brands who often provide the most challenging and interesting projects. One of these include an exclusive, one-off presentation package for a hugely famous, global rock star!

A number of our clients begin their search for presentation packaging with no clear idea how to proceed. In this case we are always happy to provide advice and guidance for them. However, larger companies will have a clearer idea and often have their own internal graphic designers or creative teams. In these circumstances we like to work closely in a consultative capacity with them to deliver the perfect presentation packaging for their product.

Presentation packaging, cardboard handbag

This collaborative approach is vital. GWD has experienced presentation packaging designers in-house and invaluable experience in the industry. Our designers and cardboard engineers are used to the inherent technical issues, which are involved in the creation of the packaging, difficulties which may be unfamiliar to graphic designers. Thus, it is advantageous that we talk to the customer’s designers at the earliest opportunity. There no point in a costly and time-consuming design being created, printed and approved which simply cannot then be manufactured commercially. By the same token there are many aspects that we can add to the design, different facets or possibilities, such as foil blocking, de-bossing or embossing which may not be immediately obvious to anyone outside of our industry.

GWD also offer an invaluable sampling service to bring your creation to life. Our design team can mock-up your creation to help add value and save unnecessary expenditure through deconstructing and reconstructing original designs. Sampling is often a valuable part of the decision-making process.

Talking directly to designers can also reduce the risk of ‘Chinese whispers’ which can occur if there are too many stages, or too many interests in the development process. Messages can get confused if the chain of communication is too large.

So we would ask that your creatives talk to us directly before they embark on the design process. We can help in bringing any designs to life and manufacture them on your behalf.

The Managing Director of GWD LTD is Noel Greenwood. He can be reached on (01279) 416093 or at www.gwd.ltd.uk. Noel would be particularly pleased to hear from any designers or creatives working on promotional or presentation packaging.

The 12 (okay five) rules of Christmas packaging

December 2, 2014

by seb Christmas Design Manufacturing Presentation Packaging Promotional Packaging

Dare we say it? I think we do dare. Deck the halls, people! It’s time to put up the tree, do a little dance, sing a little song, drink a little drink (as long as it’s mulled) and get into the holiday spirit.

GWD Blog

Posts in category: Promotional Packaging