2021 has been a busy and excellent year thus far here at GWD Ltd. Our last blog post detailed our work with a new US customer at Fluent Wines and we have recently completed a job with another new customer ADMM Ltd (Audiophile Digital Music Masters Ltd).
ADMM is a UK based specialist organisation handling distribution, support and marketing of Melco and complimentary products in the UK and other EU markets. ADMM is the go-to resource for everything relating to the finest digital music reproduction.
As a construct, the box we’ve made for ADMM is a relatively simple box and a lid, albeit of very high quality. The design is printed in 4 Colour Process with a matt laminate wrapped round a black-lined 1500mic board. This gives the box a pleasant, solid feel, with a softened appearance due to the matt laminate.
ADMM were very pleased with the boxes and we are lined up to make a further supply later on in the year.
In this instance of course, the product and packaging is not about ‘gifting’ as such, but about quality and functionality. The quality of the packaging needs to remain of a top standard as products in the technical sector are often of high-value and hence benefit from (and can carry) high value packaging. Using bland and/or poor quality packaging to display valuable products is detrimental across any marketplace.
This product is an excellent example of how our services are usable in different marketplaces. In the past we have made boxes and high-end packaging for all manner of products, from industrial through to medical – not just stunning boxes for florists and chocolatiers!
A word on quantities – although we do runs that extend into the many thousands, we frequently do much smaller runs of boxes – the quantities we are making for ADMM are in the hundreds for example. This is one of the advantages with dealing with a ‘real’ company, based and manufacturing in the UK, who have control of their own process and distribution.
If you have any technical, industrial or scientific products that would benefit from quality presentation packaging, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
This blog has previously detailed work we’ve done with the wonderful Cornelia James, specifically here Cornelia James create exquisite, hand-stitched gloves and are holders of the Royal Warrant – granted to companies who have supplied HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years. Cornelia James were granted a Royal Warrant in 1979 and have held it ever since. It is not a prize but rather a recognition of excellence consistently achieved – recognised the world over as a mark of quality and excellence which cannot be bought at any price.
Gloves from Cornelia James
This year has been a busy one for the Royal Family with two royal weddings, the biggest being Harry and Megan’s of course. We did ask Andrew Lawson (one of the owners of Cornelia James) whether Her Majesty was wearing a pair of their gloves at either event, but were met with a smiling: “I couldn’t possibly comment” response, so we’ll let readers make their own minds up. What is without doubt though is that it’s been a good year for Andrew and co-owner Genevieve, not only with the royal family being in the public view but with their stylish product featuring on a luxury goods e-portal in China. “Nothing happened at first,” said Andrew, “but then it suddenly took off and China is on fire and going wild for Cornelia James.”
Luxury brands don’t get where they are without being very particular and protective about their design, and specifically in this instance, their packaging. GWD Ltd have been producing the presentation boxes for Cornelia James since 2013, but earlier this year it was decided that the old box should be redesigned into something that made more of a statement about the quality of the product. Specifically, the colour of the box was to be changed to what was described as ‘light cockpit green’. There’s a story in this…
Embossed paper with linen texture
During WWII the cockpits of Hurricanes and Spitfires were painted in a particular shade of light green. After the war large reserves of this paint was left over, so much so that Land Rover bought up a vast amount of it and used it on many of their post-war models. As such the colour has become synonymous with ‘Britishness’ and a ‘golden’ period in our history. Given that in 2016 an estimated 70% of all Series Land Rovers and Defenders ever made – 2,016,933 vehicles – were still on the road the colour has also become synonymous with reliability, quality and craftsmanship. In that regard there’s an obvious synergy with Cornelia James’ products. Similarly, the first Landrover was manufactured in 1948 and Cornelia James was established in 1946. In that period everything was rationed or in short supply – hence the making use of the available light cockpit green paint and the popularity of gloves as a way of sprucing up an outfit for fashionable ladies without using up too many precious ration coupons.
Glovemakers to HRH the Queen
Finding the exact colour did not prove to be simple. Having an example of the paint is one thing, finding the exact PMS (pantone matching system) colour equivalent that works in print is quite another. However, we are nothing if not resourceful here at GWD, and the correct hue was eventually arrived at. The style of box was also changed from a simple box and lid, to a more elegant hinged lid box that closes with ribbon ties. The paper used to cover it has a linen texture, this gives the packaging a tactile quality which oozes class.
High quality presentation box for high quality products
We are particularly pleased to continue working with Andrew and the team at Cornelia James and look forward to continuing the relationship over the years to come.
You can’t have failed to notice that there’s another Royal wedding in the offing, and we at GWD are very pleased to offer our congratulations to Harry and Meghan in advance of their special day. We have always had something of a connection to royalty, with some of our best clients being holders of the Royal Warrant- a recognition of the consistent excellence of companies which have provided goods or services to the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh or the Prince of Wales for more than five years.
Bespoke gift boxes for premier gifts
Cornelia James, for example, have held the Warrant since 1979 – nearly forty years. Cornelia James are glovers of distinction, making the gloves that the Queen herself wears, having made their first pair for her when she was still Princess Elizabeth and was marrying Philip. Cornelia James have expressed delight at the wedding, and also the American connection, as they do a lot of business there, although they couldn’t possibly comment as to whether Her Majesty will be getting a new pair for the occasion!
Boxes for floral presentations
We have also made flower boxes for Taylors of Holbeach, Bulb Growers To Her Majesty The Queen, as well as spoon boxes the cutlery manufacturer, the DJH Group of Consett who supply Buckingham Palace, Windsor and Holyrood, and have just supplied an order for five thousand boxes over the three locations. We have also worked with Prestat, who make chocolate that is literally fit for a Queen.
Presentation packaging for spoon sets
Our specialty is luxurious presentation packaging, and you don’t need Royal blood to take advantage of our services! Whether you want a single box for a special gift or a bulk order, we have a solution for you. We’ve made boxes for hats, flowers, candles- you name it, we can make a box for it. Corporate and promotional packaging is also no problem. We have been manufacturing excellent presentation packaging for over thirty years, and are experts in our field.
Design gift packaging UK
We are proud to create the majority of our packaging right here in Harlow, Essex, although if volumes require and lead times allow, we also have the option of a Far East manufacturing facility. We have an in-house design team who can create a box from scratch for you, or we can work alongside your designers if you already have a concept in mind. Drawers, magnetic closures, heart-shaped boxes – we can provide them all according to your wishes. As the majority of work is done in-house, we have quicker delivery, time-effective sampling and, perhaps most importantly for those wishing to surprise their loved ones, no minimum order requirement.
We are certainly getting into the Christmas spirit here at GWD
Christmas is always a busy time for us here at GWD and is a period which we start early on in the year (sometimes as early as May!). We have been receiving orders thick and fast for our luxury and bespoke packaging services for quite a few months now, so in order for us to fulfil these orders planning and preparation is key!
As you will see in this blog, we are able to give those all-important corporate and personal gifts a bit of Christmas sparkle each and every year. This week we have been working on Bettys of Harrogate’s packaging.
‘Bettys’ opened in 1919 by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont. He mistakenly travelled to Yorkshire and the rest is history! Bettys has grown from strength to strength and is now classed as one of the UK’s top confectioners!
Bettys have chosen a range of shapes and sizes so that their products are delivered and displayed in style this festive period (and ‘style’ they will receive!). One of our favourites is the simple yet sophisticated round hat box which they are taking in 2 different sizes.
AT GWD Ltd, we remain one of the very few firms in the UK who can manufacture circular or semi-circular boxes in-house with the help of our ‘know how’ and bespoke machinery. It’s not only the artwork, or the company name which can help attract attention… it can be as simple as the shape of the box! So be different, be unique and get creative with us. We love a challenge!
Bettys Christmas design this year is based around the idea of an ‘Enchanted Forest’ which captures Christmas perfectly. Bettys believe in and encourage the use of local produce from dairy products to vegetables so where is best to set the scene…? Yorkshire, of course! Locally sourced produce has been a fundamental element at Bettys since day one which is something that we were keen to convey in the packaging design.
Excerpt of ‘The Enchanted Forest’ – full version can be seen in Bettys Christmas catalogue
It’s Christmas Eve in a Yorkshire town
A blanket of snow lies on the ground
Two children in Bettys choosing some treats
Gifts for the family and cakes for a feast…
It is often said that people ‘eat with their eyes’ so we knew that we wanted the appearance of the box to be just as impressive as the treats inside. A simplistic shape with the quality and feel of something that screams out luxury was the objective.
Bettys hat boxes will hold a range of deliciousness including Fruit Jellies, Classic Onion Chutney, The Swiss Chocolate Shortbread Box, a Christmas Fruitcake Portion and SO MUCH MORE! Getting peckish? Us too! Due to their purpose, the round hat boxes had to have depth and a sturdy structure which has been crafted using the best quality materials along with our outstanding attention to detail.
The workmanship that goes into our products, especially these round hat boxes, can be very complex and time-consuming. That said, our talented and experienced team of in-house designers and cardboard engineers have become extremely well versed in addressing the complexities in packaging.
LIFT THE LID ON DELICIOUSNESS
Please don’t sit there and think that the feasibility of your design is ‘out of the question’ without speaking to GWD Ltd first, because you won’t know until you’ve tried! Call us with your ideas and I’m sure we can create packaging which is perfect for your business and your product.
Christmas is extremely important to us here at GWD Ltd. So if you are looking to stand out amongst the already-crowded retail shelves next Christmas, give us a call and we can help pack your gifts with creativity and finesse!
Merry Christmas to you all! GWD Ltd. Team
GWD Ltd are designers and manufacturers of
presentation and promotional packaging.
You can reach then on (01279) 416 093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk
‘Crafting’ as a hobby has experienced a massive growth over the past 5 years, and the crafting industry has grown alongside it. While other sectors have suffered there seems to be no end in sight for companies who provide for hobbyists. According to Paula Gorry, UK Business Development Manager of Stampin’ Up! UK there are a number of reasons for this, including crafting’s therapeutic effect and the sense of pride at the completing of a project. However perhaps the most important contributors are the need for a secondary or tertiary income and the availability of an increasing number of platforms that allow products to be sold on line easily and quickly.
At the forefront of this industry are Antex Craft who have 70 years experience manufacturing heated craft tools for use in card making, fabric distressing, wood-burning, and many other unique craft applications. The company, based in Plymouth, have recently developed a product called ‘The Ant’, which is described as “A safe, low voltage tool designed to enable crafters to be creative with a variety of medias such as leatherwork, hot-fix gems, stencils, paper craft, wax art, fabric and card foiling.”
Antex Bespoke Presentation Packaging Box
GWD Ltd were approached by Antex Craft to create a box for the ant that would have three specific functions:
As presentation packaging, suitable for a product of this type in the marketplace
As a functional box that could be retained for the myriad additional fixings and tools that come with the product, and
As a form of ‘keepsake’ box which would be sufficiently aesthetically pleasing that the end consumer would want to keep it on display
We have touched on this final point before in this blog. Packaging like this can be retained by a customer and has the benefit of keeping the company at the ‘front of mind,’ hence inspiring customer loyalty.
Antex Bespoke Presentation Packaging Box Open
The creation of the box was relatively simple, although it looked and felt suitably impressive with the brand printed on the front and a smooth magnetic closure. The box has been matt laminated to help with its longevity, and give it a high-quality feel. The company’s contact details, including their website were printed on the base of the packaging, making it simple for the end-user to re-order or get in touch with Antex as required.
If you can see the benefit of this type of high quality – but functional – presentation packaging, please get in touch with us today. Our team of experience designers and cardboard engineers are here to help.
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
GWD Ltd were approached in March this year by Mercieca Ltd , a UK-based advertising Agency, who wished us to create presentation packaging for Mitre – who were re-launching their Mitre Delta football. In their words, ‘the legend has returned, re-designed, re-invented and rejuvenated’. The launch date was May 31st 2017 and the ball is to be used in all EFL (Sky Bet) Championship and SPL (Scottish Premier League) matches for the 2017/18 Season.
The packaging they required was to enable the footballs to be presented to important ‘name’ influencers in the football world – so it needed to be high-end and beautifully manufactured. Below is an original concept diagram, prior to any development work.
Packaging for sports companies
For such a prestigious product the packaging had to be of a very high standard, and fortunately our team of designers and cardboard engineers have worked on such high-end packaging for many years, including for companies who hold the Royal Warrant such as Cornelia James
Presentation packaging UK
In this instance the actual build wasn’t overtly complicated. That said creating the aperture in the platform (which held the football) wasn’t straightforward as it needed to be created (cut) after the platform had been covered and wrapped in the printed paper. The platform is set at an angle (see image below) so as to present the football in its best light. During the development stages, the client also considered having a hinged lid on the box, and we consequently produced a sample. In the end, however, the client decided to go for a box with a separate lid for the final product. The decision was influenced by their additional requirement for a display plinth for use at the actual launch, as the base section of the box doubled up perfectly for this purpose.
In the end we created 100 of these boxes for the client, who also ordered 50 additional bases or plinths for display purposes.
If you have a prestige product that would benefit from presentation packaging, please consider GWD Ltd. It is possible to work alongside our designers to come up with a unique box that is perfectly tailored to your business, or if you 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 whole-saler, 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.
Who can produce quality packaging?
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
We mentioned in the previous blog post how Indian Ocean had been let down by their packaging company and came to us in extremis. Bizarrely a similar thing happened a week or two later.
In this instance a printing company came to us with an urgent problem. They had been working with the footwear retailer Footlocker and had been let down by their chosen packaging manufacturer at the last minute. The box in question was to act as a ‘Seeding Box’ – a package created (usually in small numbers) to ‘sow the seed’ of interest for their product, in this case a new trainer.
Packaging for shoes
The client was particularly anxious that the quality of the product should be reflected by the quality of the packaging. The training shoe in question was created by Adidas, who are obviously, a huge brand and a market leader, so a very fine finish was required. Unfortunately for the client, there was also a tight deadline, especially as proofs needed to be created and approved.
Quality presentation packaging
Fortunately, GWD Limited is extremely experienced in overcoming such problems. In this instance the box was a base and lid with a shoulder, wrapped in such a way as to create a grey stripe at the top and bottom of the base. It was gloss laminated throughout and foil-blocked in two positions and using two separate colours, including the use of a matt white foil over a white gloss laminated finish. This produced a particularly attractive and subtle finish, as the foil was only visible when the light caught it.
Adidas and Footlocker packaging by GWD
There was some ‘burning of the midnight oil’ involved in getting the product ready for the strict deadline – indeed it was picked up outside our premises at 4pm on the Friday to be in Holland the next morning!
Incidentally, the model on the box (and on the internal leaflets) is Sofia Richie – who posted about the shoot and the product on her Instagram account.
Here at GWD we are used to requests for intricate and stylish packaging. It is not uncommon for boxes to be built with compartments, drawers and miniature shelves (see previous blogs ‘Specialist Packaging For High Street Brands’ and ‘Afternoon Tea, Anyone?’, for example). But it is important to consider what happens to these boxes after their primary function, as a corporate or presentation packaging item, has been fulfilled.
High quality presentation packaging
The box above, which was commissioned by the high-street brand Lush was originally designed to display a range of their bath bombs, bath salts and other accessories. If you were lucky enough to receive one of these boxes as a gift you’d be unlikely to discard it after the products had been used. Indeed, the average lifetime of boxes similar to these cannot be underestimated as they are often put to use as ‘keepsake boxes’ for trinkets, valuables and the like.
Boxes for candle makers
In a blog late last year we discussed packaging for candle makers such as the lovely example shown above. This box is manufactured not only with a slide-out tray as shown (in which the Client placed matches/tapers) but also with an internal tray to hold the glass in which the candle was poured (below).
Keepsake boxes and trinket boxes
The candle manufacturer had the foresight to realise that once the candle had been removed or had burnt down, the owner would be reluctant to throw away such a stylish item, so the internal tray could be simply removed and the box reused as a keepsake box on a chest of drawers or a make-up table, perhaps.
Christmas gift packaging
The fact that the company’s brand and logo is hence displayed prominently in the customer’s household for a number of years – as a very subtle form of advertising, – is obviously an added bonus.
So when considering the packaging requirements for your product why not consider a secondary function too? Can it be stylish or original enough to be repurposed and kept in the home, perhaps for trinkets or keepsakes, as a reminder to the customer of the quality of the original product?
It isn’t unusual for GWD to receive requests for some pretty difficult items of packaging. Occasionally, external designers will come up with an extremely complex presentation packaging solution and get it signed off by their client before actually checking that it actually can be manufactured. Occasionally (and it is very occasionally) the product cannot be produced in its original design. That said, here at GWD we love a challenge and more often than not our experienced cardboard engineers can remedy any problem thrown at them!
One of the more complicated designs came earlier this year from a well known Brasserie located in one of the Country’s leading dept stores. The task was to provide a box for cakes and delicacies from which to serve Afternoon Tea. The brasserie is extremely salubrious and it’s stylish interiors and fine menu position it at the high-end of dining establishments.. Any packaging products would, naturally, have to reflect the status of the brand as well as having a certain ‘wow’ factor.
Within the dept store, The Brasserie finds itself in close proximity to the millinery department, with its extensive collection of high-quality headwear and fascinators. It seemed appropriate that the provided packaging should come in the form of a hat-box. GWD ltd have a long history of providing round or ‘hat’ boxes for many companies looking to add extra value to their products through presentation packaging, indeed we are one of a very few companies to provide that service from the UK.
After consideration, the designers at GWD decided that their perfect solution was to create a ‘swivel box’.
Octagonal ‘swivel’ box for chocolates
GWD had made a number of ‘swivel’ boxes in the past, primarily for flowers or for chocolates (such as the one above). Introducing a ‘swivel’ into a circular box is considerably more challenging than doing so in a square or octagonal product, as the lack of any straight edges makes fixing it difficult. Also the client wanted to introduce a further element – a semi-circular tray which acted as a third, removable, layer at the top of the box (see below), so the top layer required a built-in collar for the tray to rest on. Fortunately, as previously mentioned, GWD have been in the presentation packaging industry since 1985 and have a very knowledgable workforce of cardboard engineers and designers who were able to bring all their experience to the task.
Hat boxes and round packaging boxes UK
The interior of the product was laminated to make it grease-proof so that the the contents of the box did not stain the outside. The final result can be seen below and both the Client and GWD were very pleased with it.
The ‘Afternoon Tea’ box showing all its compartments
If you or your company have any complex packaging needs, or if you feel that such packaging would be beneficial please don’t hesitate to contact us. The Managing Director of GWD Ltd is Noel Greenwood. You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk
Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner we approach the time of year when couples traditionally exchange gifts as tokens of their affection for one another. Whether you’re in the business of selling chocolates, flowers or even jewellery, we at GWD Ltd can come up with romantic packaging solutions for your product which will set young lovers’ hearts racing. This is our thirtieth year of creating innovative and beautiful packaging, and among the projects of which we are proud are some of our designs for chocolates and flower bouquets or arrangements,
Heart shaped chocolate box covered in red suedel
We worked with The Secret Truffletier (if that’s not giving too much away!) to come up with this beautifully luxurious heart-shaped chocolate box to give the best and most romantic presentation possible to their delicious confectionery. Covered in red suede, it’s wonderfully tactile, and helped to make their chocolates the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
Range of 6 sizes of heart shaped chocolate boxes
We are also very proud of our work with multiple Academy Of Chocolate and International Chocolate Awards winners, Rococo Chocolates, for whom we made this range of luxury presentation boxes. They come in six sizes, from the tiny three chocolate box to the decadent 1kg version.
‘Hat’ boxes for flowers
And of course, it’s not just chocolates. We have designed a range of hat boxes, both with and without lids, which are perfect for gifts of flowers, as well as these gift boxes with ribbon handles (below) to perfectly showcase a floral arrangement.
Gift boxes for flowers
If you’d prefer something bespoke to something off-the-shelf, we can either work from a specific design which you have in mind, or we can put our heads together and come up with something entirely new and unique based upon your own concept. 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.
No matter what your Valentine’s Day packaging needs we can make the boxes for you. We relish a challenge, and are proud to have made boxes for customers all over Great Britain and beyond. Get in touch so we can discuss your perfect Valentine’s Day packaging.
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
