Press and Influencer Gift Boxes

The Brief

A national high-street coffee brand needed an immersive press and influencer box for a major brand activation timed to a high-profile film release. The project came to us through a full-service live events agency we had been working with since the start of that year.

The ask was 50 bespoke cases designed to look and behave like briefcases, with custom foam inserts to hold glassware, spirits and canned coffee securely in transit. Each one was individually addressed, going to national media, influencers and the client’s own team.

The agency’s words when the client came back with feedback: ‘totally like a briefcase that Bond would be issued by Q.’

We had never built a briefcase box before. We said so, and then we built one.

Creating a Briefcase

Structural Packaging: We worked with our box manufacturer to develop a digitally printed briefcase with a carry handle. Inside, a bespoke foam insert with precision-cut recesses held every item in its own seat, just like an instrument case.

Changing Specifications: The client’s product list was still moving while the box was being tooled. We pushed back on late changes where the foam cutting made it expensive, and absorbed the ones that mattered.

A Lighter Footprint: Knowing this client reduces their carbon footprint wherever they can, sustainable delivery options were in our proposal from the first reply to the brief. We also confirmed the recyclability of the outer packaging for their product notes.

Operations & Issue Resolution

7 Weeks, Start to Finish: That window covered the brief, artwork approval and first dispatch, and it included designing and tooling a foam insert from scratch.

Escalating the Risk Early: When artwork approvals from the brand started to drift and threaten the print window, we raised it with the agency, who took it straight to their client. Approval came through the following day and manufacturing held.

Staggered Dispatch: Recipient names came through in waves as the list expanded. We packed to completion and held finished stock, releasing in batches as each set of names landed, including a late decision to open the remaining boxes to the client’s own staff.

Buffer Stock: We ordered contingency on every content line at the outset, so late additions and replacements were fulfilled from stock and never re-ordered, which kept the project inside budget and stopped late changes pushing the dispatch date.

Tracing & Recovery: One box was delivered to the wrong address by the courier. We traced it to the neighbouring property within the hour. Separately, when a box showed as delivered but hadn’t reached the journalist it was addressed to, we investigated the delivery journey, reported back the same day, and a complete replacement went out the next morning.

The Outcome

The first cases went out on the date the campaign was built around. The project then outgrew its own brief, with the client adding recipients until the last of the boxes went to their own staff.

The briefcases were one project in an ongoing relationship with the agency, which has spanned everything from judging kits and media packs to festive press boxes and a Valentine’s media drop.