Americans love to eat popcorn. There is no denying this fact. Everywhere you go, you see scores of shops selling popcorn with different flavors. With a market value of USD 3.72 billion in 2024 and an expected CAGR of 5.56%, the popcorn industry in the USA will swell to USD 4.87 billion in 2029. This CAGR is one of the highest in the food sector, presenting huge opportunities for businesses in the popcorn industry. How can brands selling ready-to-eat popcorn utilize this opportunity? Apart from taste, quality, and price, popcorn packaging plays a vital role in increasing sales. This packaging, also known as custom popcorn boxes, can shape a brand’s future.
You may be thinking; how can only a box play such a big role in making a business successful? Well, just to clear up any doubts, these boxes are not just boxes. They are a powerful marketing tool and provide secure housing for the tiny munchies. The space on these boxes can be used to create brand awareness, inform people about the flavors and variations you offer, connect with buyers, and increase customer retention.
8 Awesome Ideas to Design Custom Popcorn Boxes That Amaze Customers
Flavor-Themed Boxes
Popcorn eaters are highly flavor-loyal. What’s better than putting the flavor on the box as well and giving them a personalized experience? It is something that will increase cravings, and you may end up selling two boxes to one customer instead of one. The most common flavors in the USA are caramel, butter, cheese, jalapeno, peanut butter, chocolate, plain, and salted.
Brands can have artwork showing flavor-rich popcorn on the box. For example, for chocolate-flavored popcorn, you can display images that show popcorn on one side and liquid chocolate on the other. Such creative ideas attract and create cravings among onlookers as well, prompting them to instantly buy from your shop.
Super Heroes on the Box
The superhero craze has taken Americans by storm. You see superhero-themed stuff everywhere around you. Clothes, bags, furniture, snacks; these characters are everywhere. Why not put them on custom popcorn boxes too? There are millions of people who follow these characters. Popcorn brands can use this to attract such fans.
While many popcorn shops already use these images on their boxes, brands can create differentiation by using innovative ideals. For example, you can use an image of Thor spinning his hammer, Mjollnir, to show that popcorn are coming from the sky. Another idea would be to show the Infinity Gauntlet with popcorn instead of stones. All such ideas can entice buyers to buy from your shop.
Personalized Boxes
Popcorn are extremely popular at events like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, gender reveals, and baby showers. You can go for dates, quotes, names, or stories to make the event more memorable. These boxes are not only for shops. Even households can use our services to create mesmerizing and memorable boxes for thier guests.
Gift-Styled Boxes
Apart from a menu entry at many events, popcorn are frequently used as a gift item. Many people use them as party favors or send them along with invitation cards. You can go for different variations, like getting closed popcorn boxes, boxes with a handle, or wrapping boxes in a candy-wrap style. These designs, along with a personalized message, can make your special day even more lovely.
Playful and Fun Boxes for Kids
Kids aged 5–10 love popcorn. The sweet flavors are especially popular among the little ones. Popcorn stalls and shops targeting kids can make their boxes stand out with different artwork. The options here are limitless, too. For example, a popcorn shop at an amusement park or a theme park can use cartoon characters. Those in malls can also have different packaging for the little shoppers.
Interactive Boxes
This idea is quite rare and not seen commonly on popcorn boxes, but it can be an amazing way to increase your brand sales. You can put trivia questions, puzzles, games, or interesting information on the boxes to engage your buyers.
However, all the boxes must not have the same thing. You must give variety to your customers. If a customer buys again from your shop, they must get a different game or puzzle on alternate purchases. You can select 4-5 different puzzles, games, or questions and get them printed on boxes. Then you can shuffle the boxes together to create variations. Since custom popcorn boxes are usually stored as flat paper sheets, you don’t have to worry about allocating a large storage space.
Window Cut Boxes
Many brands already use this design, and it is a great way to engage consumers while eating popcorn. A window cut design with a transparent sheet reveals how many popcorn are left in the box. Custom popcorn boxes with window cuts also show buyers that all the kernels in the box are fully flavored.
DIY Popcorn Boxes
All the above ideas are great for getting popcorn boxes in large quantities, but what about making custom popcorn boxes in small numbers for in-house events? Worry not; we will tell you how to make awesome popcorn boxes at home. First, you need to look for a printable popcorn box template and then print it on card paper. We suggest not using regular printer paper because it can’t hold the weight of popcorn.
While many printable templates are available online, you can also design a template yourself. Another exciting way to engage kids while making DIY custom popcorn boxes is to print white templates and let them color or draw shapes on these templates. This can be a fun way to keep them busy for a long time and teach them something new.
Now gently score the cut lines on the template and fold the paper. Check that it sits nicely and appears close to a popcorn box you buy from shops. Glue the box together with food-safe adhesive. Your box is ready to serve as a popcorn container.
What About Brands offering Microwave Popcorns?
Microwave or ready-to-cook popcorns are a big shareholder in the booming popcorn industry. They usually come in one-time-use packets and are displayed in custom display boxes in stores. Brands selling microwave popcorn can attract customers using tailor-made display boxes.
These boxes have enough space to be used as a marketing medium. Moreover, they allow shoppers to easily pick up the items and check them. A good custom display box is necessary for boosting popcorn sales because it provides the competitive edge a brand needs to stand out from the rest.
Final Words
Custom popcorn boxes can become a game-changer for brands striving to increase sales. However, they must design these boxes accordingly to attract customers. The focus must be on target market research and preferences. A popcorn shop in a movie theater can design boxes with movie characters; ones in an amusement park can do great with cartoon characters.
Apart from the design, the print quality matters a lot too. This is where we can help. Packaging Mania is a leading custom packaging brand in the USA that offers free design support, free shipping, and a quick turnaround time to facilitate brands. We don’t have a minimum box requirement, so smaller brands can work with us too. For all brands selling microwave popcorn, we offer custom boxes for shelf display.Packaging Mania has helped numerous brands across various industries increase sales. We take pride in what we do and would love to work with you. Contact us today and let us handle all your packaging needs while you focus on other aspects of your business.
