Product Review | Unpakful Custom Tissue Paper, Poly Mailers, Stickers, and Cards
With 81% of the U.S. population now shopping online, we are getting more packages shipped to us than ever before. When it comes to the boring stuff (like medication or printer paper), we could honestly care less about the packaging as long as our items arrive on time and undamaged. When it comes to discretionary spending on more exciting things (like a new dress from your favorite brand or a custom gift from a local creative), our packaging expectations change.
The more we spend on a product, the higher our expectations are for the packaging - but the type of vendor matters, too. If I spend $200 on Amazon, I don’t expect the packaging to be any different from a $10 purchase; whereas, if I spend $200 on an adorable ceramic planter handmade by a local artisan, I expect a more personal packaging touch. It doesn’t have to be FANCY - something as simple as a few pieces of tissue paper or a branded notecard can do the trick!
HERE’S WHY PACKAGING MATTERS:
Thoughtful packaging not only makes customers feel valued, but it also increases the perceived value of the product.
Consistent attention to detail builds trust and loyalty.
Today, I’m sharing a detailed review of my experience with Unpakful, a new company based in Hong Kong that offers custom packaging solutions for businesses looking to stand out in a sea of competition.
HEAD’S UP :: Back in February, the team at Unpakful sent us an email, asking if we’d be wiling to write a review of their products. These products were provided free of charge since we had no need to order them at the time. Rest assured that the words below are my own and have in no way been influenced by receiving free product. I (Nikki) am always on the hunt for high quality, custom packaging vendors, so I looked at this as an opportunity to try them out on behalf of our clients.
CUSTOM TISSUE PAPER
If you’ve read my review of noissue packaging products, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of custom tissue paper. It’s an ideal spot to highlight (and reinforce) your branding, and you can use it with almost any type of product packaging (gift bags, boxes, mailers, etc.). When Unpakful offered to let me try their larger, 30” x 20” sheet, I happily accepted.
Here’s a photo of one of the sheets I received:
Here’s the digital file I submitted:
Quick Facts:
Unpakful offers 5 sheet sizes (10x15, 15x20, 20x30, 24x35, and 30x42 inches) in 4 paper weights (17gsm, 22gsm, 30gsm, and 40sgm) and multiple color options. What you see in the top image above is the 20x30 sheet printed with black ink on pink 17gsm paper.
As of today, pricing starts at $49 for (25) 10x15 white sheets in the lightest weight.
| UNPAKFUL CUSTOM TISSUE PAPER | |
| QUALITY | ★★★★ |
| The overall product quality is good. Printing black ink is the usually the easiest, most straightforward option, so I didn't test the limits in that respect. I will say that there are some inconsistencies in the ink coverage (with a few areas appearing lighter than others), but, because this is tissue paper and not a luxury poster, I don't think it's a huge deal. However, the printing wasn't perfect - so I give it 4 stars instead of 5. I do believe they did a good job with my thin lines. More thoughts on color below. | |
| MINIMUMS | ★★★★★ |
| The MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) for sheet sizes up to 24x35 in. is only 25 sheets, which is fantastic for small businesses. | |
| PRICE | ★★★ |
| Custom printed products will always come with a higher price tag. Most of the cost is in the set-up of your job, not the actual printing. Always keep in mind that unit cost will decrease significantly if you can order higher quantities. | |
| ORDER PROCESS | ★★★★ |
| Overall, the online ordering process is easy. Like noissue, Unpakful offers an online design tool if you don't have a pattern file on hand. The website functioned well for me, and the checkout process went smoothly. While my final product didn't turn out EXACTLY as I wanted, I WAS able to speak with a real person before my order went to press. | |
| TURNAROUND | ★★ |
| The listing says custom tissue paper will be delivered within 15 days. I placed my order on March 19 and received product on April 15. It took almost 4 weeks to get it in hand. If they can actually deliver within 15 days, that's not a bad turnaround. My order, however, was late according to what was promised online. | |
| SHIPPING | ★★★ |
| Worldwide shipping is free and "medium fast." According to my tracking, it took 5 days to arrive from China once UPS had possession. Not bad. The 3 stars is more about how the tissue paper was packaged. It was folded in half, put in a clear bag, then slipped inside a box. The edges, therefore, got crinkled by the time my package arrived. Again, not the end of the world - this IS tissue paper, after all...but if I'm going to compare this to noissue, the product did not arrive in pristine condition. I do wonder if smaller sheets fare better traveling long distances - because my noissue tissue arrived flat, with zero wrinkles or bent edges. | |
You can see a few wrinkles here and there - but the printing is clean and crisp (except for a few areas of uneven ink coverage):
COLOR MATCHING:
Pink is not one of our brand colors. I chose it specifically for the tissue paper to test the vendor’s color matching capabilities. My original pattern file was a tone-on-tone look using Pantone 692. Unsure if it would print well, I emailed the team at Unpakful to ask for their thoughts. They agreed it might not come out well, and suggested metallic rose gold ink on their pink tissue paper. I declined that option since we don’t use rose gold, and asked if we could change it to black on solid PMS 692. (This would count as a 2-color job.) Their reply read: “We can use our stock light pink tissue and print black logo for you.”
I felt a little stuck here because I knew their light pink tissue was not a great match to 692 - but this was also a free sample order. So, I accepted the job as is. If I had been a paying customer, OR if this had been an actual client’s order, I would have upgraded to a 2-color job and insisted on a Pantone match.
Below, you can see swatch 692 C next to the tissue paper. The company’s light pink option is more “bubble gum pink” than the tone I was going for.
It would be unfair to criticize Unpakful for not color matching correctly, since I was well aware they were going to use a pink paper instead of printing my Pantone; however…
I HIGHLY recommend the following before placing your custom tissue paper order:
Order a sample pack. As of today, their sample pack (which is only $9) includes custom tissue paper in different paper weights and colors, stickers, cards, poly mailers, and glassine bags. You can also make a specific request by reaching out them directly.
Stick to your brand colors! Don’t settle on a default color. If you need to save money, use 1 custom color (your brand color of choice on white paper). Be sure to communicate your Pantone so they know exactly what color you want.
WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?
Would I order custom tissue paper from here again? If I needed fewer than 250 sheets, probably. If I needed 250 (or more), not YET. Honestly, I prefer the quality of noissue (even if I have to pay a little more and wait longer). I’m a sucker for high quality printing and pristinely packaged products, and noissue was superior in that department. But, if you’re a new small business that doesn’t need hundreds of sheets of tissue, OR you’re looking for a slightly lower price point and faster [advertised] turnaround, Unpakful might be worth a try.*
*Since publishing this article, Unpakful reached out to me, saying their median turnaround time is 15 days. They acknowledged my order was late and that they’re working to speed up production. The thing is, I can’t change my rating - I can only provide the facts. Despite their best intentions, my order still took 4 weeks. I do believe they’ll make improvements, though, and there IS value in supporting a new company that is eager to win your business.
CUSTOM POLY MAILER
Poly mailers are lightweight, durable, waterproof, relatively inexpensive, and easily customizable, making them an ideal packaging option for businesses that ship small and/or soft goods.
As a branding studio, we don’t have a huge need for mailers like this, but I certainly appreciate a well designed one! Anything that makes your interaction with customers more fun and more memorable is a win - especially at $0.80 a piece.
Quick Facts:
Unpakful offers 5 poly mailer sizes (6x9, 7.5x10.5, 9x12, 12x15, and 15x20 inches) in multiple color options (including white, black, pink, purple, peach pink, apricot/tan, blue, yellow, and neon green). White and metallic gold ink are also available. What you see above is the 7.5x10.5 black mailer printed with white ink.
As of today, pricing starts at $47 for (50) custom printed 6x9 mailers.
| UNPAKFUL CUSTOM POLY MAILER | |
| QUALITY | ★★★★ |
| 4 stars might be generous, but I'm basing that on the larger, bolder part of my design. Overall, I like the look of the black mailer and it feels sturdy. The printing is clear (for the most part), but there are inconsistencies with the smaller print. (See below.) | |
| MINIMUMS | ★★★★ |
| 50 pieces is a pretty low MOQ for custom mailers, but noissue offers a minimum of 25. | |
| PRICE | ★★★★ |
| A quick Amazon search told me that you can get 100 plain black poly mailers in the same size for $0.20 a piece. These cost $0.80 a piece. This honestly isn't a bad deal for a custom product at such a low quantity. (Note: 100 6x9 mailers (printed in 1 color) currently cost $1.35 each on noissue, making the Unpakful mailers quite the deal.) | |
| ORDER PROCESS | ★★★★★ |
| No complaints here! Ordering online was easy, and I received a digital proof via email within 1-2 days. | |
| TURNAROUND | ★★ |
| (Same as the tissue paper) | |
| SHIPPING | ★★★★ |
| Worldwide shipping is free and took about 5 days. | |
Below, you’ll see 2 mailers chosen at random. The printing of the website on the top mailer is not super clean. Even the bottom mailer is missing the “dot” in akulakreative.com.
For reference, I’m using Gotham Medium at 8 pt size for the website. It’s too small for the screen they’re using to print these mailers. I recommend using a larger font size to ensure a better outcome.
Quick side note :: I still can’t tell if these poly mailers are made from recycled materials. On the website listing, it says: “We're committed to sustainability. Choose our eco-friendly option made from recycled materials, easily recyclable after use, reducing your brand's carbon footprint.” Instead of saying, “THIS mailer is made from recycled materials,” it says, “Choose our eco-friendly option.” Does that mean I have to “choose” something else that IS eco-friendly? I have no idea. If I were to purchase these for myself in bulk, I’d look into this before buying.
WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?
I’m happy with the mailers, but they’re not perfect. It all comes down to the cost. If you want a custom poly mailer at a decent price, these are great. One feature I like on the noissue mailer is the double self-sealing adhesive strip. If your business accepts returns (or you simply want the option of giving this mailer a second life), perhaps the extra cost is worth it. If not, and you’re just looking for something relatively inexpensive, Unpakful fits the bill!
CUSTOM GOLD FOIL STICKER
Custom foil-stamped stickers can be pricey, so I was really excited about getting my hands on these. Overall, I’m pleased with how these turned out!
Quick Facts:
Unpakful offers 5 circle sticker sizes (1x1, 1.5x1.5, 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 inch) with a glossy finish. You can choose between full color printing or gold foil. What you see above is the 1.5 inch circle sticker with gold foil.
They also offer square, rectangle, and custom die cut stickers.
These stickers do not come on a roll. They are cut down individually on a smaller rectangular sheet and arrive in a stack. Unpakful offers roll labels here.
As of today, pricing starts at $83 for (100) 1x1 stickers printed with gold foil. They charge $49 for (100) 1x1 stickers printed in full color.
| UNPAKFUL CUSTOM 1.5" CIRCLE STICKER | |
| QUALITY | ★★★★ |
| I give the custom circle sticker a solid 4 stars for its clean printing and overall appearance. As a designer, I prefer a deeper black sticker, "less yellow" gold foil, and matte finish for a more luxurious, custom look. Don't get me wrong, though - this is a nice sticker for packaging! | |
| MINIMUMS | ★★★★ |
| 100 pieces is a low MOQ for custom gold foil stickers. (Compare this to 250, which is the MOQ I see most frequently.) On the other hand, it's not hard to find a vendor who will print fewer than 100 full-color stickers. | |
| PRICE | ★★★ |
| In my experience, this pricing is average. 100 custom 1.5" circle stickers with gold foil currently run $94 on Unpakful.com. Full-color are signficantly less, priced at $55. | |
| ORDER PROCESS | ★★★★★ |
| No complaints here! Ordering online was easy, and I received a digital proof via email within 1-2 days. | |
| TURNAROUND | ★★ |
| (Same as the tissue paper) | |
| SHIPPING | ★★★★ |
| Worldwide shipping is free and took about 5 days. | |
WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?
I like these little packaging stickers! They offer a good value for custom gold foil stickers. Of course, as a picky designer, I know that I could order FULLY custom stickers on the “perfect” matte black label stock, in the exact metallic gold I prefer, but they would be expensive. If you want something that will stand out but not necessarily break the bank, these would be a good fit! This is the kind of sticker I would notice (and appreciate) as a consumer.
CUSTOM CARDS
Unpakful also offered to let us try out a free set of custom cards. This is the type of card you’d include inside a package to say thank you, share a discount code, promote a new product, inform customers of the story of your business, etc. It’s a great place to reinforce your branding and allow customers to get to know you better, but this is not something they’ll hold onto forever. As such, it’s ok to keep it simple and inexpensive.
Since Akula Kreative is not an online shop selling tangible goods, I turned our card into a postcard - just something fun I can tuck into Happy Mail or share with fellow snail mail lovers.
Quick Facts:
| UNPAKFUL 4x6 CUSTOM CARD | |
| QUALITY | ★★★★ |
| The custom card gets 4 stars for its clean printing and overall appearance. The line quality is great, and the coverage is even. As a designer, I prefer a different stock. The semi-glossy finish reminds me of a thin cardboard box, rather than a nice promo card - BUT, I don't think this is a place you need to be picky about paper. Just know that if you want to write your customer a note on these, you'll likely need a permanent marker or something that won't smear. | |
| MINIMUMS | ★★★★ |
| 25 pieces is a low MOQ for custom cards. | |
| PRICE | ★★ |
| High quality custom card printing with a low MOQ is easy to find within the U.S. If ALL you need is a custom card, I recommend printing closer to home. Most of this cost is likely wrapped up in the free international shipping that is included in the price. | |
| ORDER PROCESS | ★★★★★ |
| No complaints here! Ordering online was easy, and I received a digital proof via email within 1-2 days. | |
| TURNAROUND | ★★ |
| (Same as the tissue paper) > > You'll find faster turnarounds and shipping if you stick with a U.S. vendor | |
| SHIPPING | ★★★ |
| Worldwide shipping is free and took about 5 days. (For this particular product, I don't think it makes sense to order from Asia UNLESS it's part of a larger order.) | |
WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?
Unpakful did a good job with these cards, but you can find high quality, low minimum card printing much closer to home. To me, it doesn’t make sense to order something like this from a vendor that is overseas unless you’re ordering other items and simply want to get it all done at once.
Custom Tissue Paper designed by Akula Kreative / Matte Black Gift Bag / Handmade Texas-Shaped Leather Tag
If you’re looking to try a new vendor for your small business packaging needs, I encourage you to check out Unpakful and see what they have to offer. In addition to tissue paper, stickers, mailers, and cards, they also custom print mailer boxes, tape, bubble mailers, glassine bags, and more.
One thing I loved about this experience was the ability to talk to a real person about my order. (It seems silly, I know, but it makes a HUGE difference.) One area that can use improvement is the production time. If I’m told I’ll have something in hand within 2 weeks, and then it doesn’t arrive for 4, that’s a problem. Luckily, we were not on a deadline with our order. Hopefully they can smooth out the kinks and start to get orders out the door faster.
Last but not least, don’t be afraid to ask questions. They sound very open to customizing almost every product they offer, which means the sky is the limit for you.
Thank you, Unpakful, for the opportunity to try out your products!
