Gift Packaging Supplies for Christmas: Ideas for Retailers & Small Businesses

Christmas gift packaging that works as well as it looks

Christmas packaging can turn a routine purchase into something that feels ready to give. For retailers and small businesses, however, choosing the right gift packaging supplies involves more than presentation. Packaging must also protect the product, suit the sales channel and remain quick for staff to assemble during the busiest weeks of the year.

A simple combination of coloured tissue paper, kraft paper rolls and a small number of branded details can create a consistent Christmas look without requiring a different pack for every product. The key is to decide what each layer needs to do before choosing colours and finishes.

Choose gift packaging supplies for each sales channel

Begin with the way the customer will receive the order. A shop purchase, a click-and-collect order and a parcel sent through a carrier face different handling conditions. The decorative layer should never replace the packaging needed to protect an item in transit.

1. In-store gifts need fast wrapping, tidy folds and a finish that is easy to carry.
2. Ecommerce orders need suitable outer packaging and protection before decorative tissue is added.
3. Click-and-collect orders need a presentable handover pack that also keeps the contents together.
4. Hampers and multi-item gifts need support, separation and a layout that prevents products from shifting.

Once the practical pack is clear, use tissue, kraft paper, labels or tape to create the festive experience. Kendon’s retail packaging range and ecommerce packaging range can help businesses compare options for different fulfilment routes.

Which gift packaging supplies should you choose?

For most retailers and small businesses, a compact set of gift wrapping supplies can cover most seasonal orders. Compare each material by the job it needs to do, then test the complete pack before ordering at volume.

Which gift packaging supplies should you choose?

For most retailers and small businesses, a compact set of gift wrapping supplies can cover most seasonal orders. Compare each material by the job it needs to do, then test the complete pack before ordering at volume.

Use kraft paper as a flexible foundation

Brown kraft paper creates a neutral base that works with traditional, modern and brand-led Christmas colours. Rolls are especially useful when a business wraps products of several sizes because staff can cut the amount needed for each item. Kraft paper can also cover an inner box, line a display, wrap a hamper or provide a simple parcel presentation.

Kendon lists both pure and recycled kraft paper rolls in a range of widths and paper weights. Choose the specification according to the product, wrapping method and handling demands rather than appearance alone. A heavier paper may be useful where more strength is required, while a lighter grade may suit simple presentation tasks. Request samples or advice if you are unsure which format fits the job.

Add colour and anticipation with tissue paper

Tissue paper adds colour without making the pack feel heavy. It can line a box, soften the reveal inside a bag, separate products or wrap delicate surfaces. Kendon’s range includes assorted, premium and MG coloured tissue in seasonal and brand-friendly shades such as burgundy, dark green, cream, black and blue.

Use one colour for a clean, consistent look or layer two compatible colours for more depth. Avoid adding several unrelated shades simply because they appear festive. A restrained palette usually looks more deliberate and is easier for purchasing teams to manage. If standard colours do not suit the brief, explore bespoke printed or coloured tissue for a more distinctive presentation.

Five Christmas packaging styles to try

1. Traditional and warm

Pair brown kraft paper with burgundy, red or dark green tissue. Finish with a simple label or one strip of branded tape. This combination suits food hampers, homeware, independent shops and products with a handmade feel.

2. Modern winter

Combine white, grey or dark blue tissue with crisp kraft folds. A black or white label keeps the effect understated. This palette works well for contemporary gifts, stationery, menswear and design-led products.

3. Quiet luxury

Use cream or ivory tissue with dark kraft, black details or a restrained metallic accent. Keep logos small and allow the paper texture to do most of the visual work. This style can elevate cosmetics, accessories and premium corporate gifts.

4. Brand-first Christmas

Choose tissue that matches or complements your normal brand palette, then introduce Christmas through a seasonal sticker, message card or limited-edition tape. Customers still recognise the business, while the pack feels timely rather than generic.

5. Bright and playful

Layer cerise, green, blue or another confident colour inside a plain kraft exterior. The contrast creates a strong reveal without requiring a heavily printed outer pack. This works particularly well for children’s products, confectionery and cheerful lifestyle brands.

Build a simple, repeatable wrapping system

1. Group products into a small number of size bands so staff do not improvise every pack.
2. Choose the protective packaging required for each band, including suitable boxes or postal products where needed.
3. Select one kraft paper format and one or two tissue colours that can cover most Christmas orders.
4. Set a standard number of tissue sheets, folds, labels and tape strips per pack.
5. Create one finished example and photograph it from several angles for seasonal staff.
6. Time the process and test whether the pack still works when order volumes increase.

Standardisation helps control material use and reduces inconsistency between shifts. It also makes stock forecasting easier because purchasing teams can estimate average consumption per order.

Match the material to the product

Decorative paper is not automatically suitable for every application. Check the product and packing conditions before making a final choice.

• For delicate or pale surfaces, test for colour transfer, rubbing and moisture exposure.
• For archival, jewellery or other sensitive items, ask whether acid-free tissue is appropriate.
• For food, do not assume decorative tissue or kraft paper is food-contact suitable. Use an appropriate food-grade layer and confirm the specification.
• For heavy or sharp products, use suitable protective packaging; tissue is a presentation layer, not impact protection.
• For posted gifts, test the complete pack through realistic handling, not just on a display table.

Keep Christmas packaging commercially practical

The most attractive design will fail if it slows dispatch or creates excessive waste. Before ordering, calculate the number of packs you expect to prepare, the amount of paper used per pack and the storage space required. Remember to allow for training, damaged sheets and unusually shaped products.

Order core materials early enough to test them with real products. Then confirm how replenishment will work during the peak period. A limited palette and a small number of standard pack sizes usually give teams more flexibility than a large collection of highly specific seasonal components.

Think carefully about environmental claims

A paper-based look does not by itself prove that a complete pack is recyclable or lower impact. Adhesives, coatings, metallic finishes, laminates and mixed materials can affect what happens after use. Ask suppliers for the relevant specification and give customers disposal information that matches the finished pack and the recycling services available to them.

UK extended producer responsibility for packaging is designed to encourage businesses to reduce unnecessary packaging, reuse where practical and support effective recycling. Businesses that may be obligated should review the current GOV.UK EPR guidance and obtain appropriate compliance advice.

Christmas packaging checklist

• Confirm the product sizes and sales channels that the packaging must cover.
• Separate protective requirements from decorative presentation.
• Choose one core palette and limit unnecessary variants.
• Test tissue for colour transfer and kraft paper for strength and fold quality.
• Confirm any food-contact, acid-free or other specialist requirements.
• Measure packing time and material use with a realistic trial batch.
• Order early and agree a replenishment plan for peak weeks.
• Check that environmental and disposal claims are accurate for the complete pack.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest Christmas packaging style for a small business?

Start with a neutral kraft exterior, one tissue colour and one branded finishing detail. This combination can work across several product categories and is easier to stock and teach than a complex seasonal system.

Can tissue paper protect products during delivery?

Tissue can prevent light surface contact and improve presentation, but it is not a substitute for suitable cushioning, void fill or a correctly specified outer box. Base transit protection on the product and delivery conditions.

How early should Christmas packaging be ordered?

Allow enough time to receive samples, test the complete pack, train staff and reorder before demand peaks. Bespoke materials generally need more lead time than standard stock, so discuss deadlines with the supplier as early as possible.