How a simple yet innovative packaging solution helped a handcrafted drinks company to deliver occasion-ready packaging

The customer's challenge

Gift sets, containing a selection of three premade cocktails and a martini glass, are an important product line; however, while perfectly functional, the existing packaging was failing to deliver the level of customer experience they were looking for - or present the Tapp’d Cocktail brand story as well as they would have liked. As the company was also planning to update their branding, they were keen to address the various issues at the same time. Tapp’d Cocktail’s discussions with their incumbent packaging supplier had failed to deliver a solution, but a chance visit from Antalis Account Manager Alan Stanley proved to be the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

The Antalis solution 

For the gift set a carton was proposed, made from 180gsm white Kraft e-flute, the packaging protects the contents and is digitally printed to enhance the customer experience.  The open-fronted presentation box offers protection while allowing a clear view of the contents. Generic ‘gift set’ artwork is on brand while offering flexibility of use. A removable sleeve allows the generic design to be updated with minimal cost and effort. The sleeve is made from a 450-micron white back folding boxboard, digitally printed.

The process 

Using a clear framework, the Antalis packaging team set to work developing a solution: 

1. Explore. It was during an initial conversation about transit packaging that Alan mentioned the free packaging design service offered by the Antalis Smart Packaging Centre (SPC). A meeting specifically to discuss the packaging requirements for the gift set followed. Ciara and Zoe, two newly qualified packaging technologists at the SPC who also happen to fall within Tapp’d Cocktail’s target demographic, were tasked with developing concepts for new gift set packaging. 

2. Propose. Ciara and Zoe developed two concepts, which made minor tweaks to the existing packaging design, while artwork proposals addressed the company’s rebranding requirements. The designs were made into prototypes on the SPC’s CAD table and presented to the team at Tapp’d Cocktails. Following the customer’s positive receipt of the design proposals, they asked the SPC to develop a removable sleeve that could be used for promotional and special occasion packs. 

3. Test. As well as needing to fulfil presentation and protection criteria, the gift set also needed to fit into an existing outer transit box without being damaged. Following successful testing, steps were taken to implement the design. 

4. Implement. Antalis organised the manufacture and printing of the new packaging. The presentation boxes and removable sleeve options.