Custom retail boxes that stand out at arm’s length — and survive the stockroom.
Shelf-ready cartons, counter displays and hang-tab boxes designed around how retail buyers stock, stack and sell your product.
- Shelf, peg and counter formats
- Barcode and legal panels planned in
- Display boxes that ship flat
- Hang-tab options
- Peg
- Counter displays
- PDQ
- Minimum
- 50 units
What retail buyers look for in packaging.
If you’re pitching a store, the packaging is part of the pitch. Buyers and category managers tend to check the same things:
- Shelf footprint. Will it fit the planogram depth and height? A box that’s 5 mm too tall may not fit the fixture.
- Facing. The front panel must identify the product at a glance, from a few feet away.
- Stackability. Cartons should stack without crushing; tuck end lids should stay closed when a shopper handles them.
- Barcodes. A scannable UPC/EAN on a flat panel, not across a fold or on a glossy dark background.
- Case pack. How many units ship in each outer case, and whether that case opens into a display.
Getting these right early saves expensive reprints after the first purchase order.
Designing for the shelf, not the screen.
Packaging designed on a monitor often fails in a store because it’s viewed at the wrong distance and size. A few practical rules:
- Test at 3 meters. Print your front panel at actual size, step back and see what you can read. Usually it’s the brand, one product name and a color.
- Use color blocks. A strong, consistent color per product variant helps shoppers find their usual choice quickly.
- Put the variant on every face. Stores stack products sideways and back-to-front; make sure any visible panel says what’s inside.
- Leave white space. It’s what makes premium products look premium.
Need a sanity check? Our free design review covers shelf readability as well as print readiness.
What retailers expect from your packaging.
Retail buyers and distribution centers often have packaging requirements in their vendor guides. Common ones:
- A scannable UPC barcode from GS1 US, printed at an approved size with a clear quiet zone.
- Net quantity on the principal display panel in both US customary and metric units (Fair Packaging and Labeling Act).
- Company name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
- Case packs — inner units packed in labeled shipping cartons with the right count.
- Hang tabs or shelf-ready trays if the product is pegged or displayed in a tray.
Check your retailer’s vendor guide before finalizing artwork; we’ll flag anything that commonly fails.
Designing for the shelf.
Shoppers decide in seconds and from a few feet away. Put the brand and product name in the top third of the front panel, keep the main claim to a few words, and test the design printed at actual size from six feet back. Use the side panels for detail and the back panel for ingredients, instructions and the barcode.
Frequently asked questions
What is shelf-ready packaging?
Packaging that goes from the delivery truck to the shelf with minimal handling — for example a shipping case that tears open into a display tray. It saves store labor, which buyers value.
Can you make hang-tab boxes for pegboards?
Yes. A hang tab with a euro-slot or round hole can be added to tuck end and other carton styles so products hang on peg hooks.
Do you offer counter display boxes?
Yes — counter-top displays and PDQ trays in printed corrugated or paperboard, shipped flat with the product cartons. See our display boxes page.
How do I get a barcode for my product?
Retail barcodes (UPC/EAN) are licensed through GS1 US. Once you have the number, send it to us and we will place the barcode on your box at a scannable size.
What do I need to send for a quote?
The inside dimensions of the box (or the product size), the quantity, and the style you have in mind. Artwork is optional at the quote stage — a logo and brand colors are enough for us to price printing accurately.
Where do I get a UPC barcode?
Retail UPC barcodes are licensed through GS1 US. Send us the barcode file and we will place it at a scannable size.
Preparing for a retail launch?
Tell us the store, shelf type and launch date. We’ll spec cartons and displays that meet the buyer’s requirements.