Custom Packaging For Your Businesses

Increasing sales growth via quality packaging is quickly becoming a priority for many businesses big and small, however, it is true that this is more important for smaller brands that are trying to accelerate brand recognition by using attractive custom packaging. More and more, we see our clients invest in custom boxes, packaging sleeves, custom labels, and even personalized inserts to elevate their customer’s experiences.

Surveys and studies will tell you one thing — branded packaging brings big value for your business. But just to give you an idea:

• 72% of American consumers say that packaging design influences their purchasing decision. (Ipsos)

• 71% of American consumers say they are more likely to buy products in paper or cardboard packaging. (Ipsos)

• 60% of online shoppers say that branded or gift-like packaging gets them excited about receiving the package. (Dotcom Distribution)

• 50% of online shoppers say they are more likely to recommend products to friends if they came in branded or gift-like packaging. (Dotcom Distribution)

According to a study by Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data, e-commerce growth is projected to hit a whopping 6.54 trillion US dollars in 2022. With the market growing, we can expect more brands to further saturate different industries; and with that, there will be a pressing need for you to stand out from the rest.

This where branded packaging comes into play, and here are effective ways small businesses are making sure they stay on top of their packaging game.

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Customize Your Design With Your Brand in Mind

Branded packaging encourages the customer to remember you after their purchase. Well-planned and executed packaging design can turn first-time buyers into repeat customers, and if your packaging design resonates with them, they will become your brand advocates, too.

Taking your product packaging to the next level does not mean you need to have custom shipping boxes. There are factors to consider, such as your product itself not needing it, or your price point now allowing the increase in cost.

Don’t worry - you can make small and meaningful investments into upgrading your product packaging.

Read more about How Can Branding Costs Be Capitalized

Custom Packing Tape

By far the most budget friendly option, the personalized packing tape option is the best option for growing businesses. Besides being a cost-effective way to customize your packages, it can also be an opportunity to include a discount code or more information about your brand as well as advertise any additional items available in your shop.

Custom Packing Labels

Packing labels are usually applied to a simple box where the product is stored. These custom box labels are great to display your branding such as logo, colors, and tag lines or your social media handles. It’s another easy and affordable way to personalize your packaging.

Pro Tip: Hire a product packaging designer

Custom Packing Sleeves

Packing sleeves are often used on small items that are packaged in small boxes where a sleeve can be placed. Besides the visual component, your branded packaging design should be functional. After all, it will hold your product securely in place during transit.

Custom Tissue Paper

Customized tissue or packing paper is primarily used for apparel, however, it does not have to be! This option is again another way to keep your branding costs down. Tissue paper with your brand on it can be printed by your local merch printer or screen printer, or if you’re looking for a more DIY option, you can purchase a stamp of your logo and stamp the paper as you go!

Custom Packing Inserts

Packing inserts compared to the top suggestions may cost a bit more depending on the type of paper (you will want to use a thick card) and the type of print such as gloss or matt. Insert cards give you a little more flexibility as to how much information about the brand you can include due to the size (assuming your box is big enough to fit an 4x6 card).

Adding a discount card can make for a wonderful surprise treat and are a great way to encourage repeat sales.

You can also add thank you notes and other personalized messages that allow them to inform, engage, and ultimately, build a relationship with their clients.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Do you have more questions about packaging design and printing?

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

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A Guide To Streetwear Design

Designing artwork for a t-shirt or a hat may seem like a simple task, but when it comes to the technical application of the design; things may get complicated. The road to starting your own streetwear brand does not have to be bumpy! we encourage you to inform yourself before investing time and money, and we will help you by taking you through the different steps to consider when creating and designing your own apparel brand.

In this article, we will walk you through efficient and economical ways to begin a streetwear clothing line as well as the technical part of apparel printing to help you avoid having to re-design your logo or any other artwork you would like to print on t-shirts, hats, or pants.

Photo and T-Shirt Design By NEVER MADE

What Is Streetwear?

Streetwear is a casual fashion style that became popular in the 1990s. It includes comfortable yet trendy clothing such as graphic tees, hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers. Streetwear brands are inspired by both hip-hop culture and skater style. Followers of the latest trends in streetwear are known as hypebeasts, and many go to great lengths to acquire limited-edition designer hats, hoodies, sneakers, and more.

The first streetwear brands emerged in Southern California in the 1980s, when surfers sold screen printed T-shirts to promote their hand-shaped surfboards. Inspired by the street style of LA skateboarders and surfers as well as hip-hop fashion, small skateboarding shops in NYC started creating their own designs in the 1990s.

In the 2000s, sneaker culture influenced streetwear fashion. Hypebeasts paired their graphic tees with athletic sneakers, and collaborations flourished.

In the 2010s, luxury streetwear was born. As young people and social influencers made streetwear an important part of pop culture, and the fashion industry noticed, from mainstream sportswear brands to high fashion brands, got in on the action.

The Basics

Comfort

As mentioned, streetwear takes inspiration from the hip-hop culture as well as the skater style. When figuring out the fit of your apparel, you will first want to think about whether you’re looking to design loose and comfortable pieces or have more of a tapered look.

Streetwear is generally defined by breaking the rules of proportion by using oversize t-shirts with skinny jeans or dropped-crotch sweatpants, but as the style evolves, it is encouraged to just make cool and interesting apparel regardless of fit.

Ripped pants and distressed jeans are also part of the streetwear style, these details are important to the overall look. Considering what type of fit and style gives you brand identity and consolidates your audience to a specific group, which in turn, will help you narrow down your marketing efforts in the future.

Fabrics & Design

Because t-shirts are one in a million, and cool graphics are being designed and printed daily; good high-quality fabrics will set you apart from the competition and give your brand an edge. If this is something you can afford, we highly recommend going with higher quality cotton.

Cotton fabrics are premium options and ideal for long-lasting apparel. Additionally, the thicker the fabric, the better the graphics will be. The thicker fabric allows for a cleaner and nicer print, whether you’re screen printing the design or opting for a DTG print (direct to garment), a nice cotton blend is what you will need.

The design will depend on what your brand is about. Considering the name and the inspiration behind your brand as well as finding a compelling way to translate your passion for the brand into a cool graphic is key, and that same sentiment should show throughout each article of clothing and each collection thereafter.

We recommend that you stick to one logo and that logo be visible enough on all articles of clothing offered by your brand. The graphic design should be easy to read and recognizable. When designing the graphics, seek inspiration from your life, your surroundings, or the culture within your community. Having a design that directly connects to a certain lifestyle is what makes a streetwear brand successful.

Versatility

When creating your own apparel brand, especially in the streetwear category, you want each piece to be versatile. Versatility means that you can wear that article of clothing with many other pieces to allow the buyer to create their own unique look and keep their originality.

You can achieve versatility by including basic colors such as white, black, or grey. Minimal designs such as your logo embroidered small on the chest or your logo screen printed on the back of a t-shirt.

The Details

Accessories are essential to completing a look. There are simple accessories you can offer, such as hats, beanies, and bandanas to complete a unique outfit.

Screen printing a hat or a bandana is fairly easy and affordable, and are a good way to add accessories to your clothing line. Additionally, embroidering a logo on a hat or a cross-body bag is a good alternative that provides an added touch of customization and quality.

Focusing on the smaller details can make all of the difference in setting your brand apart from others, such as printing on unconventional spots like the sleeves or adding an embroidered element to the design.

Screen Print or Direct To Garment?

There are many differences and similarities between these two methods of printing, and there are a number of criteria to be taken into consideration when making your decision. The following points will help you decide on which print method is better for your brand and more specifically what type of print method is best for your designs such as logo and other artwork you wish to display on the apparel.

1. Quantity: Digital printing allows for a smaller quantity to be printed while screen printing will usually require a minimum.

2. Apparel: Screen printing has more versatility when choosing your fabric. For digital printing, it is advised to print on 100% cotton or other select cotton blends and only certain colors.

3. Design: Photographs or hyper-detailed images with a lot of colors are usually better printed digitally. However, if you have a large number of shirts you would like to print, screen printing may still be an option but it may cost you a little bit more or may require some adapting to make the design work best.

If cost is your main concern, the following criteria will dictate the best print method:

1. Apparel: The type of apparel can range from value to premium options and depends on the style and brand.

2. Print Locations: There is the option for 1 or 2 locations, which would be the front and/or the back (for a t-shirt or sweatshirt).

3. Fabric Color: For screen printing on darker color fabrics, a white layer before your print is necessary and may cost a little bit more.

4. Number of Colors: The more colors your print requires the higher the cost is for screen printing, however, if you have a large quantity, this cost may be a lot lower as you can have access to deeper discounts.

5. Quantity: With screen printing, the number of pieces will dictate the majority of your cost. This is the most important factor that will most likely dictate the right method for you.

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Streetwear Brand Spotlight:

Never Made is a Los Angeles based streetwear / lifestyle brand created by artist Francisco Reyes, Jr.

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Remember!

When people look at you as a “high-quality” streetwear brand, you’ll not only be able to charge more money, but you’ll be much more reputable in the process. Reputation can take you a long way in the fashion industry, especially when it comes to something as urban as streetwear.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Best Promotional Merch Ideas

In the corporate world, it is often customary to have branded pens, notebooks, or mugs. While having your brand on a pen is cool, we think you can do better! Much of the branded products you will find at a conventional office space are stationary and almost expected, but we believe that having more interesting merch brings excitement about your brand for both employees and clients. Promotional merch is also used to spread brand awareness and it can also be used to work with social media influencers to promote your services or products. In this article, we will show you a few ideas for cool branded merch ideas to fit your brand.

Remember! It is not about just having promotional products but about having the right promotional products that are geared towards your audience. Therefore, it is important to do your research before creating an item to promote your brand.

Unconventional Event Swag and Promotional Items

Robo-cube puzzle fidget toy

Magnetic interactive fidget pen

Hexagon spinner fidget cube

Ball of Whacks fidget toy

Fidget Toys are the new stress balls! Everyone loves a good fidget toy to entertain themselves while taking a mental break from your desk job. Especially now that more and more people are working from home and encounter more distractions than before. In addition to the improved learning benefits, fidget toys can also reduce anxiety and stress, enhance dexterity, improve coordination and fine motor skills. Besides the benefits, a fidget toy makes for a great promotional item for potential clients or current clients as it keeps your brand on their minds, but also, who doesn’t love a cool gift? Check out ‘Fidget Toys Are Not Just Hype’ - Scientific American

Conventional and Practical Branded Products

Supersweet Coffee & Tattoos

Panton blue light glasses

Verve Coffee Shop

Ultra-portable speaker

Promotional items are also great if you are looking to do a virtual giveaway. Depending on your business, you may be looking for more traditional items that can be used to promote your brand but still motivate people to want to participate. Promotional products such as t-shirts, hoodies, speakers, notebooks, and coffee mugs are more of the traditional branded merch and can seem boring to some but if you have a good design that also ties in your logo, chances are, people will want them. What is better than a free t-shirt? A cool free t-shirt. Incorporating giveaways can be an excellent way to get people excited about your event, while also spreading brand awareness in untraditional ways.

“8% of promotional product recipients remember the name of the advertiser on the products. 85% of the recipients do business with the advertiser on the product. 83% of people like receiving them.”

Praytell agency Promo Box

Why Promotional Product Work

Promotional products are a powerful marketing tool because they allow a brand to connect with consumers by engaging their senses. Branded items are one of the only forms of advertising that allows consumers to interact with a brand on a physical level, promotional products often create more memorable brand experiences and promote brand recognition.

Family Industries has worked with brands such as Praytell Agency to create a one-of-a-kind promotional items box which included a pair of bombas socks, a thermal mug, stickers, and a scarf. All products and the box itself contained a print of their signature logo.

How to Design The Right Promotional Item

When creating your own promotional items, it is tempting to try to pack as much information as possible, but we suggest you prevent overwhelming the design with too much text. Keep these points in mind when you're designing your promotional products to create memorable gifts.

Less Is More

Keep it simple, use your brand logo and a catchy tagline, website, and if you’re able to fit it in, a phone number or a social media handle.

Use Your Brand Colors

Choose a product with your standard colors to maintain consistency in your style and to improve the chances of brand awareness. If a product option is not available in your colors, select a neutral color that will allow your brand identity to shine through your logo and text, instead.

Usefulness

You will want your product to be useful time and time again. Novelty items such as fidget toys are great to raise a smile or promote a healthy work-life balance, but depending on your audience perhaps more traditional items such as travel mugs, t-shirts or flash drives are the best options. Do your research!

Key Takeaways

Promotional products are essential for your business, over 50% of adults use at least one promotional product regularly, and 85% of that group will eventually do business with the advertised company. Additionally, the cost of a promotional item compared to regular advertising is much lower, and corporate gifts build relationships and brand loyalty.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Best Custom Printed Bags

A great way to step up your merch game is to consider bags. And depending on what kind you get and how you customize them, they can be surprisingly more affordable than T-shirts and other items. We will tell you about our top-selling customizable bags we customize, along with some details about each kind that can save you money and help avoid printing issues.

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5 Most Popular Bags

It is good to note that for screen printed designs, it’s recommended to have a relatively big print area. For smaller items such as a fanny pack and wallets, embroidery is preferred or an embroidered patch to add an extra element of design.

Read Why Your Company Should Invest In Promotional Bags

Some bags call for specific events or occasions. This is why it’s important to consider your audience when it comes to promotional bags. The type of event will also dictate which type of bag is the best and what type of other promotional items to provide event-goers with.

Tote Bags

A tote bag hits all the marks: affordably priced, simple construction, durable, lays flat for printing, and comes in a variety of colors and styles. People love tote bags and use them for everything, from carrying groceries to beach supplies, especially with plastic bags going away.

The most affordable tote bag is made of canvas which is easy to print on and you can be sure that people will use them long-term. Avoid plastic tote bags, which can look cheap and people are quick to get rid of. Additionally, plastic is bad for the environment! Tote bags probably provide the most opportunities for customizing out of all the bag types, especially if you go with cotton. They tend to have the largest print area and the widest variety of print methods to choose from.

Check Out 5 Benefits Of A Giveaway Promotional Tote Bag

Drawstring Bags

Drawstring bags are great for big events where people will be walking for long periods of time. Because these bags are generally small and simple, they are great for people looking to hold just a few things while displaying your logo to several thousand people at large events.

Cotton fabric makes the best drawstring bag for screen printing a large order. Especially because you can’t screen print on the synthetic drawstring bags unless you want them to get all mangled and melted under the heat dryers. The other nice thing is that this bag can be washed like regular laundry.

Fanny Packs

Now that the ’90s are back in style, fanny packs are cool again. We generally suggest using embroidery for your logo or design application, as these types of bags are usually made of tougher material, and because of it’s size and shape, screen printing or DTG can be difficult.

Pro Tip: Avoid designs with too many details or thin lines, these types of designs are not good for embroidery.

Check Out 7 Reasons to Use Wearable Promotional Items for Your Business

Duffel Bags

The duffel bag or gym bag is all-purpose, durable, and handy are some of the words used to describe the duffel. Take it to the gym, take it to school, take it camping, take it as a carry-on bag on your trips. Printing on a duffel bag has its’ restrictions that tend to come down to the print area, which can be small depending on the size of the gym bag. So be prepared for that with a logo that can be reduced in size and still look good. Avoid details and multiple colors for the best results.

Once again, we believe that the best way to customize a duffel bag is to use embroidery. This method has a more classic finish look than a simple screen print.

Neck Wallet

This type of bag is not conventional and is mostly used by event-goers and athletes or outdoorsy people to hold phones, IDs, credit cards, keys, and other small flat items.

Because of the size of this bag and the area available for logo placement, it’s recommended to use embroidery or an embroidered patch which can give the bag a cool look.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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For any inquiries, send us a message!

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send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Finishes That Take Your Brand To The Next Level

Custom finishes can be the thing that sets your brand apart from your competition. These customizations can range from small and simple to being a little more involved and a bit more expensive. We think that investing in details is the best way to take your brand to the next level. In this article, we will go through all of the custom finishes available as well as comparisons and options for smaller budgets.

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What Are Apparel Finishes?

Custom apparel finishes are collar tags, interior tags, screen printed logos inside the garments, price tags, as well as packaging. Most of what apparel finishes refer to are markers withing the garment that shows off your brand’s logo and other brand characteristics.

Check Out A Guide To Branding

Examples of Custom Finishes:

• Neck Tags

• Custom Woven Tags

• Fold & Bag

• Sticker Application

• Brand Info Tags (hanging tags)

Why are apparel finishes important?

Creating a brand new tag on your shirt is an excellent way to promote a business’s brand. Imagine including your logo on every tag knowing that everyone will check to see the size. Customizing the tag allows everyone to see your logo and details about your business in a unique and effective way.

Every piece of clothing comes with a tag already printed and it is usually on the back of the neck. The tag’s purpose is to provide the wearer with all the relevant information they need to know about the garment. But imagine replacing all that with your company’s logo, brand, and info. This can build brand loyalty.

Check out Guide To Product Packaging & Labeling

Neck Tags

Neck tags or collar tags are the most common types of apparel finishes. Neck tags can either be woven or printed directly unto the garment.

Woven tags are a little more involved as these are separate pieces that need to be sown unto the garment, therefore, adding more steps to your finishing services. However, tags look more professional and you have more freedom to add color.

Printed tags are done directly unto the garment, these types of tags are easier and can be more cost-effective depending on the amount of units you or your local screen printing shop are producing. This type of finish is typically done in a single color, which is recommended to ensure a good rate from your screen printer.

If you are looking to place a tag on the sleeve or the bottom hem, woven tags will be your only option. These placements can make a big difference when done right, this is usually a premium service that is provided by a merchandise agency such as Family Industries.

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Hanging Tags

When you add hang tagging to your custom apparel, it gives your garment a professional look that is ready for retail. All you need to provide is the info for the hang tagging and where you want to place it, then a merch agency such as Family Industries will take over the rest.

Hanging tags are generally applied to hi-end apparel and allows for you to include more information about your brand such as your mission statement, your logo, and any other branding elements. As a merch agency, we supply and print all custom tags in-house, as well as apply the tags to your apparel.

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Packaging & More

Personalized packaging such as poly bags or box tape can also elevate your brand presentation. Little details can go a long way when presenting your product. These types of finishing services can be an added bonus when deciding to invest in your business.

As a merch agency, we always recommend adding your logo to the package either by stickers or printed unto whatever the surface may be such as a box or tape.

Stickers are the cheapest option if you are on a budget and adding more to the bag is also a good way to get your brand in front of other people and most customers like these details.

Check out Classy Ways to Use Stickers on Your Packaging

For a more economical way to add a personal touch, you can invest in a stamp of your logo. A stamp can be used in just about any surface which makes it easy to brand your packaging such as shipping boxes, tape, and packing paper or poly bags.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Do you have more questions about premium merch printing?

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

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Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com