Traditional Materials & Premium Spirit P.O.S. Displays!

Whisky and other premium spirit suppliers spend millions creating 'touch points' for their brands, because it's known that most buying decisions are made at the point of sale.

However, consumers are inundated with thousands of marketing messages every day. So, there's a great deal of white noise to be overcome before their message is heard.

With such a high degree of impulse buying and severe competition, whisky and other premium spirit brands are under huge pressure to be creative with their point of sale displays, in order to make their products stand out from the crowd.

Jura Whisky Counter-Top Display Stands

It's crucial therefore to research the demographics and the motivating factors, in order to understand the target market.

Is it the image, the kudos obtained by being seen ordering a premium spirit, the unique taste, or is it that wonderful warm feeling that people get when the spirit goes down? These factors can and will influence point of sale design.

When certain visual cues are triggered they send signals to the brain which converts them into buying impulses. For instance, if someone can smell a product, pick it up, feel it and inspect it, they are almost twice as likely to buy it.

That's why traditional, wood display stands are such effective marketing tools for whisky and other premium spirits.

What's more, consumers today are becoming more and more environmentally aware, so they  react positively to displays made from traditional materials obtained from managed and sustainable sources. Sustainability is a deep-seated, emotional benefit that persuades many consumers to buy.

With counter-top displays, visual impact will be the main impulse, so this has to be as evocative and stimulating as possible. The more senses that are engaged at the critical point of purchase, the better the sales figures will be!

In today's competitive market, using virtual imagery is popular because it can bring point of sale displays to life. However, traditional materials such as wood will always have their place, because they resonate so well with people's emotions and senses!

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Why Use Wood To Manufacture Whisky Boxes?

For centuries whisky distilleries have stored their whiskies in oak barrels or barrels made from other 'pure' woods, to give the whisky it's 'flavour'.

Oak is most often used because it has unique, physical and chemical characteristics that seem ideal for whiskey making!

Oak Whisky Barrels

Whisky derives it's colour and character from direct contact with the wood, particularly if the barrels have previously been used to store different spirits such as rum, sherry and red wine.

In fact, many Scottish and other distilleries around the world use barrels previously used to store bourbon to age their whiskey and this process takes a minimum three years.

When these oak barrels reach the end of their useful life for whisky production, they may be ground down into wood chips and used in barbecues, or sold off to be made into quirky pub furniture!

It is this traditional connection in the production of whiskey that makes wood resonate so well with the 'elixir of life'. In fact, wood is the only material that can transcend a purely functional product into one that is truly beautiful! Yes, it's true!

Other materials such as aluminium, cardboard as well as fibreglass try to mimic the warmth and natural beauty of wood but fail to do so.

Wood whiskey boxes provide incomparable design and finishing possibilities that add real 'value' to the whisky inside, even if it's a 'special' and an extremely valuable distillation!

Furthermore, choosing wood for packaging whiskey boxes will give whiskies, particularly single-malt whiskies, that crucial competitive edge, because the unique quality of wood will make them stand out from the crowd!

Inherent characteristics such as colour, texture, grain and lustre all come into play in wood's visual appeal. For instance, a wood that has lustre appears to have a natural sheen that's difficult if not impossible to replicate in other materials!

Wood from the same tree may look the same but there are always differences due to it's organic nature! These are the subtle qualities that make wood such a beautiful, diverse and desirable material in the manufacture of whisky boxes.

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Tak a wee dram afore ye go!

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How To Display Military Memorabilia!

During the course of their military careers, many people accumulate items that have personal and / or historical significance. Some of these will be stored,  some  discarded, whilst others are displayed, as a reminder of their time in service. Sadly,  the display will sometimes serve as a memorial to a family member, or friend who has been lost!

Military memorabilia is a very broad category and is often referred to as 'militaria' and may include any, or all aspects of military life, from small items like medals and ribbons to larger items such as uniforms and equipment!

When organizing military memorabilia there is often a need to display these items in custom made, wood display cases and / or frames. Wood has unique qualities that resonate well with the traditions of military service and is used extensively.

Militaria Display Cases

The framing and display of military memorabilia is very personal and depends upon the materials available and the required size and style.

However, to create a great display, the details are always important. The first consideration is the importance and significance of the items to be displayed. They may have a personal significance, or they may simply be a collector's display, acquired for some other reason, such as an investment.

Then there arises the more practical question of how extensive the display is and the nature of the items, their size and quantity. The most popular displays are wall-mounted and often comprise glass-fronted wooden display cases, or wood frames rather like picture frames.

These may be either fixed displays, or with some kind of easy access, either at the front or the rear. With wall mounted display cases, the glass panel at the front will often be hinged and have a lock.

If a collection has particular significance it may even be displayed on a specially designed table, or other piece of free standing furniture. The display will have a glass top, or front for protection and so it can be clearly seen.

Military display cases and frames are important personal possessions. Invariably they'll occupy a place of honour in the home, that will provide a focus of attention for family members and guests.

Militaria display cases and frames are a testament to a person's achievements and military career and  represent an important aspect of a family's heritage. For these reasons, the design of the display, the materials used and workmanship should always be carefully considered.

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Why Use Tubes In Wood Presentation Packaging?

In the commercial world, companies vie with each other to stand out from the crowd, so potential customers are drawn to their products rather than a competitors'. That's why innovation in product design is so important!

When people think of wooden boxes, they probably imagine a square or rectangular wood box. However, in recent times and particularly in the premium spirits sector, tubes are being used more and more as an economic alternative to traditional rectalinear shapes.

Whisky Boxes In Tube Format

They can be made from thin gauge plywood, such as Finnish birch ply that can be easily bent to a tight circumference, then lapped and pinned with copper, or plated metal studs at the vertical joints. These may be straight, or shaped to produce a wave pattern, or saw tooth effect, for greater decorative impact!

Tubes can also be made from natural wood veneers, which are popular because of the range of beautiful veneers to choose from. Natural, wood veneers are readily available, economic, stable and very practical to use.

Veneers are thinner than plywood, so are normally glued to an inner core for greater strength and stability, either as flat sheets, or to provide a winding, spiral effect.

Once the tubes have been made, solid wood bases and lift-off lids can be added. Lift-off lids may be traditional, lapped or flush style, or cut at forty five degrees at the base, to provide a more contemporary look and feel!

Thin gauge plywood or wood veneered tubes can be decorated using a wide range of natural wood and colour stains and clear lacquer finishes, if the natural warmth and beauty of wood is preferred.

They can also be branded with a company logo and/ or text by printing directly onto the wood surface, or using engraved, or etched metal plates.

Thin gauge plywood or natural wood veneered tubes are quick and easy to make. Where practical,  economic and innovative design solutions are required to replace traditional rectilinear shapes, they can provide a stunning alternative.

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How To Brand Your Wood Presentation Boxes With That 'Wow' Factor!

Metallic foil blocking, screen printing and laser engraving are all excellent ways of printing directly onto wood presentation boxes, to provide a high quality, branded finish! However, if you want your wood presentation boxes to have that 'wow' factor, consider using engraved or etched metal plates, fixed directly to your wood gift boxes, or promotional boxes.

Engraving and etching are methods of cutting lines into hard surfaces like metal, for the purpose of decoration and/ or branding. The key difference is that engraving uses a sharp tool, often diamond tipped, to 'score' the metal whilst etching is a chemical process that uses acid to 'burn' lines into the metal.

Glenfarclas Whisky Box With Branded Brass Plates

It's also possible to apply colour print directly onto metal plates. These methods have largely superceded traditional hand engraving techniques!

Nowadays, the engraving and etching process, particularly in the commercial world is largely computer controlled for precision purposes. It has increasingly been used for branding onto metal plates, as a highly effective and economic method of printing.

For instance, a solid brass, aluminium, or polished metal plate, etched with an exquisitely designed, coloured logo and text is high-quality branding indeed that customers notice when considering a purchase! Even a simple etched metal plate with few embellishments can look and feel really special!

The visual impact of polished metal plates can also be enhanced by introducing special design features such as chamfered or scalloped corners.

Furthermore, metal has other important characteristics such as being a hard, non-combustible and impact-resistant material It also has excellent resistance to heat and chemicals!

However, metal may corrode in certain conditions and the engraving darken over time, so to avoid this special coatings are often used!

Solid brass, plated brass and steel plates are protected with a clear lacquer finish and aluminium can be supplied anodised. These thin coatings can then be used for fine detail engraving and etching.

If you want your wood presentation packaging to stand out from the crowd with that 'wow' factor, that encourages customers to buy your products, then engraving or etching onto polished metal plates, as an alternative to traditional printing methods', is definitely worth considering!

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Natural Wood Weave Veneer & Reed Boxes!

When considering wood veneer, many people immediately think of furniture. In the furniture sector, veneering is a technique using thin sheets of wood that are glued onto rigid panels, typically solid wood, particle board or mdf.

Veneering was developed as a more economical alternative to solid hardwood which can be expensive. The veneer is obtained by cutting a thin slice of wood from a solid log, or a large block of wood.

Polmac Natural Reed Boxes With Lift-Off Lids

There are many different varieties and thicknesses of veneer ranging from 0.5 mm to 2mm in thickness, depending upon their use. Every tree is different, so each piece of veneer has a unique appearance, which means the colour, texture and grain pattern can all vary, creating stunning finishes!

One of the simplest and cheapest ways to make storage boxes, or gift boxes is to use strips of natural wood veneer, or natural reed, to form a basket weave pattern. Wood veneer can also be used in solid sheets to make beautiful, tactile boxes!

Natural, organic reed provides a more consistent, even finish compared to wood veneer. However, natural reed boxes are a popular, food compatible method of packaging, particularly in the food industry!

Using basket weave or solid sheets of wood veneer means we can create different styles and sizes of boxes. These include square or rectangular boxes, long cylindrical boxes, or flatter, round 'shaker boxes', with or without lift-off lids!

Solid veneer cylindrical boxes often have solid wood discs at top and bottom to maintain the round shape, with a flap opening arrangement along the vertical body of the box, secured by means of a wooden stop and string, rather like an envelope.

An alternative design for both cylindrical style and shaker boxes using sheets of wood veneer, is to have lift-off lids with the wrap around veneer secured along the vertical edge with polished metal stud fixings. The free end of the overlap may be straight or shaped with a band saw to provide a 'saw' or 'wave' pattern effect, for a more elegant finish!

The most economical style of weave boxes is to use veneer or reed strips throughout. The panels can then be stapled or pinned together, with no solid wood end pieces or other reinforcements!

Wood weave veneer and reed boxes can provide a unique and elegant look that many people find compelling and are an economic alternative to solid hardwood boxes. In today's competitive marketplace, where margins can be tight, this can make all the difference!

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Choosing The Right Branding Colour!

One of the major decisions when designing wood presentation boxes is what colour stain, block colour, or finish to choose? What are the factors that will influence your choice of colour/s? 

Well, if you have a strong branding colour (think red Ferrari) the choice is probably fairly straightforward!

Colours are important because they affect our general well-being and mood. Each of us has colours we like a lot and other colours less so!

 

Polmac Wood Colour Stains

Our colour perception (ie. response) depends upon many factors, such as shade, type of light (natural or artificial) our health and mindset etc

From a marketing perspective, choosing a branding colour can be a challenge, as we all have our own preferences, experiences and cultural differences etc., which may influence our choice.

Therefore, when making decisions about colour/s it's probably better to look for practical solutions rather than relying on theory!

There have been many attempts to relate customer responses to specific colours but there are far too many variables to make this a worthwhile exercise! In terms of colour perception however, there are broader patterns that may give us clues.

For instance, it's been found that many impulse buying decisions are based on colour alone. The perceived appropriateness of the colour relative to the brand is another important influencing factor!

The personality of the brand is also a big factor in the decision making process. Who, for example, would want to buy a Ferrari, if they didn't get that feeling of power and status?

When it comes to picking the right colour/s predicting customer's reactions to colour appropriateness seems to be more important than the individual colour itself.

Choosing brand colour/s is definitely challenging and there's no obvious way of making a decision. However, the context you're working in, is an important consideration. 

If your brand, or product creates the right mood, feeling and image, then you've probably cracked it!

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