COMPANY FOCUS: Harry Specters

by Box MakingChocolate box

COMPANY FOCUS: Harry Specters

Award-winning flavours and positive social change – that’s Harry Specters. Mona, Shaz and their son Ash, who has autism, are behind this social enterprise. While visiting a chocolate shop on a holiday in Scotland in 2011, Mona discovered a perfect way of combining her passion for creating positive change for people with autism with her love for chocolate. Ash came up with the name and a year later, Harry Specters was born – dedicated to crafting the most delicious chocolates that create employment for young people with autism. 

Harry Specters, based in Ely>

We received a call back in 2015 when Harry Specters were ready to take their business to the next level. After their graphic designer had established their branding, colour scheme and logo, the next step was perfecting the packaging. They had an idea of what they wanted their packaging to look like, and it was our job to turn that vision into reality.

They wanted their packaging to exude quality and excellence whilst still being attractive to people of all ages and backgrounds. From our previous experience with food brands, we had a very good idea on what would work and what wouldn’t work in terms of size, shape and thickness. Our team of ‘cardboard engineers’ were able to create a whole range of options for Harry Specters to choose from.

The Desire Chocolate Box
The Desire Chocolate Box
The Allure Chocolate Box
The Allure Chocolate Box

As mentioned previously, Harry Specters was established for creating paid employment opportunities for young people and creating a product which everyone can enjoy! This cause is unique and is supported by us at GWD.

Harry Specters staff & work experience students
Harry Specters staff & work experience students

As well as the traditional selection boxes, Harry Specters wanted to be able to sell their chocolates in different quantities so they can fulfil different requirements. We created boxes which were made to hold their ‘Tasty Two’, ‘Finest Four’ and ‘Fine Nine’.

 

Finest Four
Finest Four

If you are looking for an award-winning sweet treat then Harry Specters have an online shop which you can visit here. Both Harry Specters and the GWD team are very pleased with our packaging creations thus far and we very much look forward to working with them again this year!

GWD Ltd are designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging.
You can reach them on (01279) 416 093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

Christmas packaging from GWD Ltd

by Box MakingChristmasPresentation PackagingUncategorized

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 logo‘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!

Our specialist machinery used in the making of rigid boxes Our specialist machinery used in the making of rigid boxes

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.

Bettys Christmas hat box packaging from GWD

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.

Christmas Packaging from GWD Christmas Packaging from GWD Christmas Packaging from GWD

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.

Bettys Christmas hat box packaging from GWD

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

 

Merry Christmas from GWD
Merry Christmas from GWD

Christmas Retail Packaging

by Box MakingChristmasDesignManufacturingPresentation PackagingPromotional 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 24th – 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.

Semi-circular cardboard boxes UK
Semi-circular cardboard boxes UK

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
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….

Bespoke cardboard boxes for products
Bespoke cardboard boxes for products

….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.

Cardboard engineering for boxes
Cardboard engineering for boxes

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!

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

Boxing clever on your Wedding Day

by Box MakingPresentation PackagingPromotional PackagingUncategorizedWeddings

Finally we’ve ushered in some sun, and isn’t it nice to see it?!  I’m a big fan of this time of year – the trees are green, the birds are singing and the Summer is nearly upon us! Each year these factors set little bells ringing in my mind. Not alarm bells, you might be wondering, but wedding bells. That’s right! Wedding season is fast approaching.

Make your Christmas product more attractive with prepossessing packaging

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Image courtesy of thephotoholid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of thephotoholic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There’s no escaping it, it’s that time of the year again.  The Coca Cola advert has been aired, and for most this signals yuletide rolling into town for one more year.   Love it or hate it, Christmas is here for the next month or so, so it’s time to get prepared.

Summer shenanigans – packaging for sweet success

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SweetsWe’re now well into August, and August brings with it the quintessential British seaside experience that we’ve all come to know and love.  Okay, so the weather so far in August is not quite at the same level as the heatwaves we experienced in July, but with only three weeks left before the kids go back to school, now’s the time to enjoy some sea and sand (and hopefully sun). 

Stylish and effective packaging at the drop of a hat

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In the last blog we considered one particular royal connection that GWD are fortunate enough to have, and whilst we’re on the subject of royals, we now turn our attention to Royal Ascot – the glamorous annual event that takes place this week.  Racing enthusiasts will no doubt be licking their lips and looking forward to some exhilarating races; whilst plenty of the aristocracy will no doubt be strutting around in their finery.