How to Get Your Holiday Packaging Right: Tips for a Festive, Functional Design

Why Holiday Packaging Matters for Your Brand

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for businesses across food, beverage, retail, and beyond. Customers aren’t just shopping for products, they’re buying experiences, memories, and meaningful gifts. Packaging plays a vital role in this process, helping products stand out on crowded shelves, creating a memorable unboxing experience, and reinforcing brand values.

Done right, holiday packaging can:

• Boost sales with eye-catching seasonal designs

• Improve brand recognition and loyalty

• Add perceived value and enhance giftability

• Reflect sustainability and responsibility

  
  

Start Planning Holiday Packaging Early

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is leaving seasonal packaging to the last minute. Lead times for custom packaging, design approvals, and production can stretch during peak holiday months.

Start planning several months ahead to ensure you have time for:

• Design brainstorming and approvals

• Material sourcing (especially eco-friendly options)

• Production and printing

• Distribution and shipping

  
  

Getting an early start avoids supply chain bottlenecks and ensures your packaging is ready well before the holiday rush.

Keep Your Brand Identity Front and Center

It’s easy to get carried away with festive elements like snowflakes, ribbons, or glitter, but your packaging should still feel unmistakably “you.” Seasonal designs should compliment, not overshadow, your brand identity.

Tips to stay aligned with your brand:

• Use brand colours in creative ways (a metallic twist on your palette, for example).

• Incorporate subtle holiday cues rather than generic patterns.

• Highlight your story - especially if sustainability, craftsmanship, or innovation are part of your brand values.

  
  

Balance Festive Design with Functionality

Packaging isn’t just about looks; it also needs to be practical. Customers expect packaging that protects the product, stacks neatly on shelves, and is easy to carry or gift.

When designing your holiday packaging, consider:

• Durability: Will it protect the product during shipping and handling?

• Storage and display: Is it retailer-friendly?

• Convenience: Does it make the product easy to wrap, carry, or gift?

  
  

The best packaging designs are those that merge functionality with festive flair.

Enhance Giftability with Smart Design Choices

During the holidays, many customers are purchasing with gifting in mind. Packaging that doubles as a ready-to-give solution saves time and increases appeal.

Popular strategies include:

• Window boxes that showcase the product inside

• Multipack carriers designed for sharing and gifting

• Custom trays and advent calendars that create a premium feel

• Special finishes such as embossing, foil stamping, or textured paper

  
  

These touches transform your packaging into part of the gift itself.

Sustainability Sells - Even During the Holidays

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental footprint, even when shopping for seasonal products. Offering recyclable, compostable, or reduced-plastic packaging options can strengthen your brand reputation and resonate with eco-conscious buyers.

For example, at KinsBrae Packaging, we help brands incorporate sustainable solutions like recyclable corrugate, compostable pouches, and the paper KB Bottle. By combining festive designs with sustainable materials, businesses can deliver packaging that’s both impactful and responsible.

Leverage In-House Design Support

Not every business has the time or resources to manage packaging design internally. That’s where working with experienced packaging partners comes in. In-house design services, like those available through KinsBrae Packaging, help brands translate their vision into seasonal packaging that’s both eye-catching and practical.

Design experts can guide you through:

• Selecting the right materials and finishes

• Creating designs that balance brand identity with seasonal appeal

• Ensuring files are production-ready to avoid costly delays

  
  

This collaborative approach ensures your holiday packaging is executed flawlessly, from concept to delivery.

Maximize Holiday Sales with Strategic Packaging

Seasonal packaging is an important and impactful marketing tool. When done well, it can drive impulse purchases, encourage repeat buys, and make your product the go-to gift option.

To maximize results:

• Tell a story through your design: make it memorable.

• Consider limited editions: holiday exclusives often create urgency.

• Promote across channels: highlight your festive packaging in social media, newsletters, and in-store displays.

  
  

Wrap Up the Season with Packaging That Pops

Holiday packaging is an opportunity to strengthen your brand, delight your customers, and boost sales. By starting early, staying true to your brand, balancing form, and function, and embracing sustainability, you can create festive designs that resonate long after the season ends.

If you’re ready to bring your holiday packaging vision to life, reach out to the KinsBrae Packaging team. With sustainable materials, in-house design services, and industry expertise, we’ll help you create packaging that’s festive, functional, and unforgettable.