Isle of Harris Distillery

Based in the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Harris Distillery’s business model strongly focuses on online postal orders.

The challenges for their postal gifting packaging are:

• To provide an engaging, premium opening experience which enhances the beautiful, multi-award-winning Gin and complementary glassware range.
• To enable the team at Harris to efficiently and cost-effectively assemble the packaging.
• To be 100% recyclable and as materially efficient as possible.
• And most importantly, to safely transport fragile glassware through the post.

Our approach:

• We redesigned from the footprint up making dramatic improvements in material efficiency without compromising structural integrity.
• Quality and tactility were improved whilst maintaining sustainable credentials.
• The introduction of embossing, full-colour print and metallic print all add to the enhanced customer experience.
• Unique glass fitments are created to enhance the unboxing experience and ensure fragile glasses arrive in one piece, whilst allowing for the pack to be used in a retail environment.
• The range was rationalised to minimise component parts, with multi-use elements being created wherever possible to lower the carbon footprint.
• Customers can include a handwritten personalised note to enhance their experience.

A range of beautiful postal packaging for three different glass types, delivered in a blank postal outer to avoid any ‘surprise spoiling’. A balance of aesthetic appeal and structural stability has been reached to create a strong, post-safe pack with strong premium cues which can work equally as well in a retail environment.

We reduced the amount of material used on the packs, all of which was fully recyclable, for efficiency and cost and the design has been enhanced to improve the recipient’s unboxing experience, whilst lowering the carbon footprint.

The results:

• Excellent ongoing customer feedback despite a price increase from the previous year.
• Glass set sales increased dramatically and new customer acquisition increased.
• Winner of several awards including the Scottish Design Awards and a Golden Envelope at the SMP Mail Performance Awards.