Design to delivery of beautiful, premium gift packs

Christmas gifting is of crucial importance to beauty brands, but also creates an intensely competitive landscape for cut-through. Clarins wanted to ensure that cut-through when they approached us to develop a new packaging design and structure for their 2018 Christmas gifting advent calendar. Having produced this offer for the last 2 years, they were looking for step change innovation, unique packaging formats and a compelling proposition on shelf and online. They required men’s and women’s variants with the option to share the structure with Mugler Fragrances and their retailer exclusive products for Selfridges.

Leveraging our unique blend of capabilities, we put together a multi-skilled team covering graphic design, structural design, print technical and print operations to support and understand Clarins’ key aspirations.

We developed an innovative 17-part range of packaging structures including a rigid lid and base, o-sleeve, 12 individual faceted gift folding cartons, display covers for in-store and protective outer case. We presented a range of mock-ups and prototypes to develop with Clarins and provided the rollout of the design across formats using a global style guide. We also managed print finishes, artwork and color throughout the process, and produced the print and manufacturing through our sister company ASG Spark, managing full logistics and shipper packaging requirements.

 

A full range of high-value and high-complexity calendars were delivered with minimal touchpoints for the brand teams. All variants launched early October as retailers went to market with their Christmas proposition. Within just a few days they were featured in numerous Best 2018 Beauty Advent Calendar reviews including Marie Claire, Glamour and Vogue. Early reports indicate they flew off the shelves.