10 Jewelry Trends for Fall

As we head into the hot summer months, it's time to think about how to stock our stores for the fall and important holiday shopping seasons. JCK fashion magazine recently reviewed the fall runway shows and offered 10 jewelry trends that retailers should be prepared for:

• Choker and collar necklaces: This trend hangs on for the fall and the daring fashionistas will pair them with longer necklaces.
• Mismatched earrings: This European trend could be finding its way Stateside.
• Safety pins, locks and hardware: This edgy trend is enjoying a moment, but you'll know if your customers want to go this far.
• Yellow gold: To pair with the 1970s and '80s styles that are making a comeback.
• Long pendant necklaces: These also are swinging from the '70s trend and can be one piece in a layered look.
• Chains and bow: Combining the hard chain look with the softer bows and ribbons makes a dynamic pairing.
• Oversize earrings: A carryover trend from the spring so you can have another chance to clear out your showcases.
• Pearls: Pearls are creeping out of their traditional mode, but what's hot are big baroque and colorful pearls.
• Layered necklaces: One is never enough! Think up-selling!
• Long drop earrings: Fashions are trending long and the earrings need to hang with them.

Jewelry isn't just for high-end or boutique jewelry stores. Hair and nail salons, spas, and cosmetics retailers, as well as clothing and gift stores can also grab some of this lucrative business for a small investment and nice mark-up - your cash register area is the perfect place to grab these sales! 

As you think about stocking these hot items for fall, don't forget to make sure you have the appropriate packaging on hand as well. Contact us today to get the right size packaging and trendy bags to promote your store.

Boutique Bakeries - Goodness Inside And Out Of The Package

Boutique bakeries and confection shops are swiftly emerging everywhere. From the heart of metropolis to small cities and towns, these culinary gems are in demand. After all, who doesn't love fresh-baked cupcakes?

Boutique bakeries, as well as other specialty shops, depend on the unique talents of their chefs. You don't have to be a cupcake connoisseur to know that these deserve appreciation! The culinary skill of these home-grown chefs is refined, creative and experienced. Presentation is an important hint to prospective customers though. It tells them to give it a try.

The confections trend is growing, but it's still a niche market. Distinguishability is key, which is one of the beauties of cooking! Just like these baked goodies, there are countless ingredients and combinations that go into a branded parcel. 

Look for different elements that can create something new, but something that gets the taste buds tingling too... Shapes that reflect or invoke how the product feels are viscerally and visually attractive. Size also allows for bountiful options in packaging. Boxes, bags and wrappers can all be specially tailored to signify these exceptional and eccentric foods; creating more possibilities for design.


Fancy cupcakes are often taken to parties as gifts – so if you want your customers spreading your brand for you – make sure to contact us to discuss cupcake box options, as well as branded bags, tissue, labels, and more. 

Bring Summer Color Trends From the Runway to Your Store

Every year fashion shows from Milan to London to New York will set the pace for new summer color trends to spark designer's imaginations and grace the racks of retail and online fashionista websites. Runway designer fashions may be practical and affordable only for pop culture artists and entertainers, but the colors, patterns and general shapes and lengths will translate into ready to wear clothing for the average consumer. For retail store, salon, and spa owners – keeping your eye on the new summer colors can add fresh ideas to your product line and in-store design!

This summer, look for a more saturated color palette that will distinguish summer fashion from the soft pastels commonly worn in the spring. Coral, a pink with salmon colored undertones, will be a popular bright spot in retail this summer. Persimmon has the same pink hue, yet with a tinge of orange to make a dramatic color splash. Pairings of Coral and Persimmon shades with golds, greens and browns will make your space, products, or packaging pop.

Lemon Chiffon and Periwinkle Blue are the new blue and yellow this summer, especially for masculine products, clothing, and environments. However, muted colors will always be “in” for men. Who can forget Kanye West's revealing of his second Yeezy collection which featured only neutral color clothing? Use the beige color palette when in doubt! A natural colored bag with a ribbon, bow, or tissue of a vibrant trendy color will never go out of style!

Dark Teal and Burgundy are two super saturated colors that were popular on the 80's fashion scene and are making a dramatic comeback. The darker the hue, the more bold and elegant of a statement will be made. While these colors have traditionally been reserved for fall and winter fashions, you won't go wrong with these colors this summer – whether in retail design or packaging.

Contact us to learn how incorporating new, trending colors into your brand packaging and accessories can add a refreshing new look to your business!

The Importance of Un-packaging

Are your online shoppers getting the same treatment as your in-store shoppers? Social media is abuzz with pictures of people showing off products they bought online; YouTube especially has many "Unpackaging" or "Unboxing" videos, where one not only talks about a particular product on camera but also opens the box it comes in.

According to an article in Ecommerce Platforms which discusses the 2015 Dotcom Distribution Packaging Report:

"Unboxing videos are becoming more and more popular, and 35% of the survey respondents actually stated that they had [watched] an unboxing video in the past, and of those 55% said they ended up purchasing the product because of this video."

However, your products will not end up on a viral YouTube video if you don’t add some flare to that e-commerce packaging! We suggest the following:

• Ditch the plain cardboard box. While you might want to remain discreet with standard cardboard on the outside, print the inside of the box or insert an wrapped gift box within the shipping box.
• Tie it up. Add a ribbon or bow to the inside package. Or, include marketing materials or promotions in the package, and tie them up in a flattering way with the products.
• Stuff It. There are many economical (i.e. light) fill options for boxes, including shred or tissue, that help not only protect your merchandise, but also add an extra hue of color and excitement.

Beautify your packaging and see the love for your product rise. Contactus for more information on ecommerce packaging.

Lightning Fast Delivery - Just What Small Business Needs!

Amazon, ever the innovator, is changing the way retail delivery works once again. Back in 2005, when Amazon started its premium “Prime” service that offered two-day delivery, many found themselves asking if it was really “necessary”. In the last 11 years, though, consumers have shown that the question isn't whether or not speedy delivery is necessary, it's whether or not consumers are willing to pay for it. In 2014, the same debate started again when Amazon launched its even-more-premium “Prime Now” service that offers delivery as quick as one-hour. The service began limited to Manhattan, but has since expanded to include most major cities in the United States, and some beyond.

Other companies, like Macy's partner Deliv and Uber's UberRUSH and UberEAT, have seen the potential of getting consumers their goods as soon as possible, and have gotten on board with the new delivery trend. Companies like Instacart and DoorDash, services that deliver groceries and ready-made meals, respectively, are also beginning to branch out into the arena of same-day retail delivery.

And while giants like Amazon and Macy's are spearheading the practice of lightning fast delivery, this is an opportunity that seems tailor-made for small, local businesses. The problems that detractors frequently point out for behemoths like Amazon, specifically that near-instant delivery can become a logistical nightmare that would prove prohibitively expensive to expand beyond urban centers, is not an issue for smaller businesses with a narrower focus. Beyond that, as these businesses grow, they can keep same-day delivery in mind while building their infrastructure so as to avoid the same problems that other companies experience while expanding.

Given the trend in, especially millennials, favoring local businesses, this kind of hyper quick delivery could prove to be exactly the edge a brick and mortar operation needs to separate itself from the pack.


With the move toward quicker delivery, small business will also need eye-catching packaging to further set themselves apart. That's where we come into play. For top quality shipping materials, think Action Bag. For more information, feel free to contact us.

Study Shows Young Shoppers Want Brick and Mortar Shopping Experiences

While much of the current hype we are exposed to in the news revolves around the virtues of online shopping, research shows that brick-and-mortar shopping experiences are still highly desirable options, particularly for younger consumers. This research, conducted by iModerate, indicates that Generation Z and Millennial shoppers are more than ten percent as likely as their predecessors (Generation X and Boomers) to feel that a physical location is an important element of their shopping encounter.

The study noted that brand perception for all consumers is differentiated by key factors that are unavailable to the online shopper:

• Convenience
• Store Layout
• Personnel

Although these factors can present either a better or worse perception of brick-and-mortar brands, their existence provides:

• Reassurance that styles and sizes are right, and decreases the chance that items may be returned. Generation Z gravitates towards samples and demonstrations to perfect their product selections.
• Efficiency - Although online navigation provides ease at the click of a mouse, Millennials require frequent forays into shopping venues to find everyday items. Growing families and expanding employment options draw these young consumers to the one-stop shop.
• Discovery and Escape is what drives Generation X into physical shopping venues. They are looking for newness and adventure in their shopping experiences.
• Comfort in the form of low sensory experiences, such as calm music and light fragrance is the goal of Boomers, who also value seating and space.

Physical retailers can take a cue from these revelations, to lure buyers into their establishments by tweaking their in-store merchandising and marketing strategies. Contact us to choose retail packaging that sends the right message to your target demographic and compliments your product and brand.

Spring Into Growth!

Is the arrival of spring inspiring you to think of ways to grow your business, as well as flowers? Below are some tips and ideas that will take hard work, sweat, and maybe some tears – but significantly less digging in the ground!

1. Brand It! One of the best tips for a small retailer in the beauty, cosmetics, salon, or spa verticals to get more easily recognized is to work on branding the company on a larger scale. People may know you after they have had a service provided and spread your reputation by word of mouth, but make sure they leave with a good visual of your logo and/or slogan. Brand recognition travels just as far as word of mouth.
2. Market It! Once you have an established brand, you have to ensure you stay “front of mind” at all times – make sure your website it up to date and has solid SEO behind it, and send out weekly or monthly emails with relevant content to your audience. Don’t overdo it, but make sure you touch your audience enough so your brand is recognized.
3. Package It! Everyone knows the best “impulse” sell is at the cash register. Even if your small boutique focuses on hair, nail, or spa services, always be sure to have items at the register for purchase – and make sure those purchases leave with the customer in a well-branded bag or box! Our talented team can help design your packaging today!

If you want to find out more ways of branding your beauty boutique, salon, or spa, contact us for more information. In this season of renewal and growth, now is the best time to update, upgrade, or refresh your packaging!