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Have you ever watched an unboxing video on YouTube or Instagram?

The suspense as a delivery box is opened… the drama of slowly peeling back layers of tissue paper… the surprise and fun discovering all the goodies inside!  

It’s no wonder that people are hooked on these videos. It’s fun to receive a package, but it’s a much more exciting experience when it contains so much more than expected.

Special packaging like this goes by a number of names: Subscription Boxes, VIP Boxes, Book Launch Boxes, Planner Debut Boxes … but the name doesn’t matter. What matters is creating a way to deliver your products in a bold, captivating, and memorable way.

You can use this idea for everything from book launches and product debuts to special events and VIP deliveries. Any time you want your customer to feel extra special, VIP Boxes are guaranteed to get the job done.

The beauty of this idea is that it’s very customizable. You can create as much as you want, add any products you like, and customize the design and details. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

STEP #1: Start with one core product – then add some extras: Choose items to add to your box that will complement the product ordered, or that will add value to the event or program your customer signed up for. Some ideas are:

• Wallet card flash drive
• Custom card deck
• Golden tickets, coupons, or bookmarks
• Athletic accessories (fitness bands, supplements, etc.)
• Notepads / Notebooks / Journals
• Pens, Pencils, Stationery
• Stickers
• Tote bags, pouches or pencil cases
• Calendar or planner

STEP #2: Add a personal message: Create a card with a personal welcome message from you. Include instructions for use, affirmations, mission or mantra statements, contact information and anything else you think would be useful and elevate the experience. This will be the first thing people see when they open the box and you want to make a great impression.

STEP #3: Think about presentation: Do you want the products nestled inside layers of colorful tissue paper? Add a touch of glamour with confetti? Carefully position in shredded packing paper or bubble wrap in colors that match your brand? Take a look at unboxing videos for similar products to yours for ideas on presentation, then let us know what you’d like to do.

STEP #4: Choose your box size: Select a box size that is appropriate for the number of products inside. You want everything to fit snugly with just enough room for packing material so items inside won’t rattle around and your products will arrive safe and sound. (We can help you choose the right size.)

STEP #5: Customize your box: A great design makes a great first impression for your customer. And it lets them know that something truly special is inside. There are two types of boxes you can choose from. We can print a custom box, like the one pictured here, or we can use a white hinged standard box and print custom labels or stickers for the lid and inside the box.

Our standard white hinged boxes (also at right) are great for on-demand or lower volumes. Both are great options for delivering your product with your branded message in a super-special way.

STEP #6: Warehousing, fulfillment and shipping: Special boxed items like these involve multiple parts that need to be assembled, packaged and delivered just right. Here at Vervante, we provide the resources and services you need for all types of boxes – for special launches, monthly subscriptions, seasonal or annual programs, special events and more – with storage, assembly and shipping that fits what you need.

If you're ready to create a box that provides an extra special experience for your customers, we can help. Start by sending an email to sales@vervante.com for a free quote. Let us know the products you plan on using, the box size and anything else you want for this project and we'll help you get set up. Better yet, put your head together with our CEO, Cindy Tyler, and she'll provide the advice you need for the box you want to create. (Schedule a phone call by clicking here)

Here’s to creative ideas that make someone's day!

Ever wonder what going on behind the scenes from the moment a product is ordered until it arrives at someone's door? Today we're pulling back the curtain and giving you the grand tour of how order processing, fulfillment, and shipping work with Vervante.

First: An Order is Received
We accept orders in a wide variety of ways, so you can set up your ordering systems to fit your business model and preference. We can work with:

• ANY shopping cart system
• online retail options such as Amazon
• orders sent to us using Excel or a .csv file
• orders placed manually via your Vervante Author Dashboard
• Orders placed through the Vervante Bookstore

If you have questions about setting up your retail solutions and how they work with Vervante, that information and much more details about processing orders from your shopping cart can be found HERE.
 
Second: Printing, Processing and Fulfillment
Once we receive the order information, your product is either printed on demand, or pulled from stock we are storing for you in our warehouse. Here’s how that works:

• Printing on demand is when we print only the amount ordered, at the time we receive the order. For books or products printed on demand, you pay only the cost of printing plus shipping and handling. Click here to read "What Is Print on Demand?" for more details.
• Bulk orders can be printed and stored in our secure warehouse, ready to be pulled and drop-shipped when you need them. For more information about placing bulk orders and storing stock in our warehouse, see "How to Lower Costs Through Bulk Orders."

Processing & Fulfillment: After your order is printed or pulled from stock, it is assembled and packaged for shipping, and goes through a series of quality control checks to ensure both quality and accuracy for every order. Every package we send out includes a packing slip that you can personalize with your logo, message, policies and more to ensure customer satisfaction. To learn more about how to customize your packing slip, see "How to Create Personalized Packing Slips."

Now it's Time for Shipping
Orders are shipped according to the method you or your customer have indicated. We charge postage based on weight, shipping method, and destination. We do not have a flat shipping fee and we do not inflate the postage rates.

We ship anywhere in the world using USPS and UPS services and keep you up-to-date on its status. Here's how it works:

• Orders are completed and prepped for shipping, the packing slip is scanned, and shipping labels are applied.
• Products are shipped according to your preferred shipping method.
• Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. This feature is optional and can be turned off if you don’t want Vervante to email your customer the tracking number.
• Order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your Author Dashboard online.

We hope this peek at what happens to your products as they move from shopping carts to satisfied customers was enlightening. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to reach out to our publishing pros via our Contact page. We're here to help!

You've seen the term "print on demand" or POD a bunch, but what exactly does that mean? We get asked this question a lot, so we're happy to break it down here and walk you through exactly how Print on Demand (POD) services work. And how POD helps authors, entrepreneurs, and business owners share and sell books and products on their own terms.

What does the term "Print on Demand" mean?
Printing on demand uses both digital and inkjet printing methods to print books and other products only in the amount needed, when they are needed. While other publishing companies may require costly minimum orders in large numbers, here at Vervante we offer Print on Demand services for any size order, printing only when you need it, to meet your budget and demand. Click here to see a list of products that we print using POD services.

How does Print on Demand work?

1. An order is placed for a book or other product.
2. We print the exact amount ordered.
3. The order is then shipped to the customer.

Here are two scenarios to illustrate how this works:

• If you list your book for sale on your website and a customer orders one book, we print one book and ship it to your customer.
• If you have a speaking event coming up and need 25 books, we will print 25 books and send them to wherever you need them.

Print on Demand pricing
For books or products printed on demand with Vervante, you pay only the cost of printing plus postage for shipping. We offer free quotes for print on demand pricing, all you need to do is click on the "Get a Quote" link on our homepage.

Why use Print on Demand?
No more garages filled with towering boxes of books, gathering dust and taking up space until your customers order them. No more late nights assembling shipping packages, filling them with orders and packing materials, then adding each customer address. No more hours spent in line at the post office trying to figure out postage and best shipping methods for each order. No more waste. Best of all - no more stress!

How to Use Print on Demand with Vervante
We offer Print on Demand services for books, planners, journals, information products and much more. Here is a quick list of products we can print on demand. Click HERE to see a full list of POD products. 

• Spiral-bound products
• Saddle-stitch booklets
• Products & books with softcovers
• Products & books with poly paper covers
• Vinyl 3-Ring Binders
• Die-Cut Tabs
• Notepads
• Card decks
• Greeting Cards
• Postcards
• Certificates
• Newsletters
• Bookmarks