Happy Box Blog

Written By: Caitlyn Conville / @cat_lyn99 

Whether you’re in a long-distance relationship or you and your significant other are quarantining separately, this year has familiarized everyone with virtual dating! Lucky for you, Happy Box and all of our awesomely unique items are here to make sure that your virtual dates are as interactive and intimate as they can be.

So quick, open Zoom and let’s get started with some long distance date ideas! 

A Flippin’ Good Morning
Nothing quite stacks up to treating your love to breakfast in bed, even if you’re miles apart and they have to make it themselves… the sweet sentiment is still there!

Send yourself and your partner matching custom gift boxes for a brekky date one morning, complete with pancake mix and rich maple syrup. Happy Box has just starting stocking fun fall flavors for all your pumpkin spice breakfast needs!

Set up your laptops in the kitchen and compete to see who’s the master pancake flipper, then write sappy love notes for each other in syrup, all without ever changing out of your PJs!

Keep Calm And Get Your Spa On
Now that you’ve got a social distancing date idea for the morning, you need one for the evening! And an at-home spa is just the right way to treat yourself and your beloved after an exhausting day of being apart.

From sheet masks to body butter to bath bombs, Happy Box has all the luxurious products you could want for a relaxing night in. There’s even a “bro mask” to convince your manly fella to do a sheet mask with you (and secretly take screenshots)!

Alcohol You Later
Do both of your time zones sync up for happy hour? Then let Happy Box propose a toast to celebrate!

Whether you play a drinking game during a movie, or just sit, sip and enjoy each other’s company, this virtual date idea proves you don’t need to go to the bar to have a good time.

Happy Box has plenty of cocktail mixers and syrups to choose from, and even a cute, helpful hangover kit so you can show your sweetheart a little extra care the next day.

Technically it’s not drinking alone if your partner’s on the other side of the screen!

Hindsight 2020
November 3rd might just be the end of the world, so we might as well party, am I right?

Help your dearest prepare for Election Night with a survival kit from Happy Box. We have funny political-themed cocktail picks and comfy gym socks that proudly proclaim “I Vote for Snacks,” because clearly they’re the best candidate. Maybe throw in something to craft a drink for good measure.

The two of you can spend your virtual date updating each other on the election results and looking up plane tickets to Canada.

Written By: Caitlyn Conville / @cat_lyn99 

The Best 2020 Birthday Gifts are the ones you make yourself.
2020 has been rough so far - your loved one could probs use a little extra affection and a little extra surprise and joy on their birthday this year. Rather than just ordering something random from Amazon, make them something personalized in a few clicks with our custom gift box builder! Why?

They’re More Thoughtful than the Average Gift Basket
Hand-picked, personal birthday gifts just radiate love and consideration. A DIY project like building a custom care package tells the recipient that you put in the time and effort to hand-select each and every item. You showed that you pay attention to their interests and personality, which in turn shows just how much you care about them!

They’re One of a Kind - Truly
Every hand-crafted care package gift is unique! That exact box with those exact sentiments will never be created again. It’s a treasure, and makes for a very special experience. Something precious shared between only you two.

They're Affordable 
Custom gift boxes from Happy Box are already affordable, but you can still control the total cost by picking out more affordable items (we have 99+ to choose from) to your heart’s content without sacrificing quality.

They’re More Personal with a Beautifully Handwritten Note 
The best part is writing your message in the card - the pièce de résistance! - to tell them precisely the reason you picked each and every gift. Whether the item is emotionally tied to a memory or just something you know will make them laugh, you and your recipient have endless memories between the both of you. Use them to your advantage!

Happy Box Pro-tip: Think back to all your shared years of friendship to when you build them the perfect custom gift box and mention your thinking in your card: “I got you a face mask because you need to chillax! And it’s watermelon-scented - your favorite!” or “Here’s a sticker of Drake, because I know you still listen to God’s Plan on repeat,” or “A pink scrunchy to finally replace that one I stole from you, teehee!” or “The Brunch candle represents all the times we’ve drank too many mimosas at brunch together.”

Using the Happy Box custom gift box builder, smiles are guaranteed.

Written by the talented Megan Breukelman of Brooklyn Wedding Photo (Be sure to follow Megan at @meganbreukelman)

When you are a wedding photographer, your job doesn’t start and end on the wedding day. Cultivating a photography client experience is crucial to your business. Your client experience involves thoughtful and intentional customer service from start to finish. One major component of a customer journey for wedding photographers is client gifting.

How Client Gifting Can Impact a Wedding Photography Business
Client gifting for wedding photographers can become a streamlined process with gift boxes. You may think of gift boxes as a corporate gift, but they work wonders for small businesses. Creating good customer experiences by surprising your clients with a gift box can be simple. Once they sign on for their big day, receiving a box from your business will be the best surprise!

You could just have your wedding photography clients sign the contract and be done with. But they’ve chosen you and your business to capture their wedding photos – lifetime memories! This is a huge testament to the amazing service you’re providing. Thanking them for their choice and their consideration in return can make a meaningful impact.

Gift boxes not only benefit your client, but they can benefit your wedding photography business as well. Let’s dive into why client gifting is important for photographers.

Advertise Your Business
Imagine this: you send out an amazing wedding photography client gift box. They love it so much that they post it on their Instagram Story. Their friends, engaged and in relationships, see your thoughtful and intentional gesture. In turn, those friends follow and engage with your content.

You’ve now created brand awareness with an entirely new audience.

With a simple act of kindness, you’ve now set potential customer expectations. You’ve delivered something memorable that not only sparked joy, but sparked new interest as well. For couples that don’t end up posting on their story, they may still share with friends and family. Imagine your clients texting their friends about the sweetest treat they received in the mail from their photographers!

As a business owner, you can also measure customer satisfaction with how your clients respond to your gesture. Are they coming back to you to let you know what they loved? How about posting on social media? Keep tabs on how your wedding photography clients are responding.

Crafting a Brand Experience
Craft your brand experience with the addition of physical gifts for your wedding photography couples. Create a customized surprise box to round out your positive customer experience. Beyond your website and visual branding, you can create a rounded brand experience for your photography business.

Adding gift boxes can signal to your clients that they’re in for a high-quality experience. When you decide to build a box specifically for your business or use a pre-made Happy Box, it shows that you take time for your clients. They will remember this when talking about your business. If word of mouth is important in your photography business plan, this rounded brand experience will make an impact.

Bring Joy to People’s Lives
At the end of the day, giving your wedding photography customers a gift box brings joy to their lives. If your client’s love language happens to be receiving gifts, this can be especially impactful. While weddings are a joy in people’s lives, they can also create a lot of stress. Bring joy and value into the lives of people who want you involved in their big day.

Client Gift Ideas for Wedding Photographers
Whether you’re just starting a photography business or you’re a full time wedding photographer, client gifts can create impact. It could be something small or a larger gesture to say thank you for involving me in your celebration. But what exactly should a client gift for wedding photography couples look like? Here are some box ideas for wedding photographers.

De-Stressing Gifts
Wedding planning can be a stressful experience for your clients. Gifts that focus on de-stressing your client’s life can be meaningful and bring value. Look into spa-themed items like face masks, bath bombs, and candles. Happy Box has an assortment of self care gifts that will de-stress your clients!

There is one important thing to remember about experiential marketing like gift giving. Your couples will always remember how you made them feel. Consider your brand messaging and how it aligns with the gifts. If you emphasize a low-stress wedding photography experience, self care gift boxes match that energy perfectly.

Party Themed Gifts
Being engaged is a time for celebration! Make your clients feel excited about their big day and about your new connection. Something like a happy hour box might get your wedding photography couples feeling festive! Remind your couples that this is their party, and they can celebrate how they want to.

Practical Gifts
Practical gifts for their engagement like a ring dish and notebooks will mean a lot to marrying couples. If they’re early on in their wedding planning process, they may not have those little details prepared yet. That ring dish can come in handy at home and can make an awesome prop on the wedding day. Stylish notebooks for their vows can come in handy on the big day as a beautiful alternative to reading vows off a piece of paper!

Giving chic, practical gifts to your wedding photography clients will show them how much you care. You understand what they’re going through and want to help them through the process. Practical client gifts show that you’re a professional who knows the ins and outs of a wedding.

What Should Your Experience Look Like?
Figuring out how to shape your experience for clients is the most fun part of the process! First you need to figure out what’s actually going into the box. Moreover, it’s time to figure out how to make your experience unique and beautiful! Let’s figure out how to craft your Happy Box.

Represent Your Brand with Your Client Gift
When building a gift box for your wedding photography clients, it’s wise to align it with your brand. If your website heavily features pink, for example, having pink items in your box will match your aesthetics. Think about how the boxes align with your overall brand experience from a visual standpoint.

Creating Custom Client Gifts with Happy Box

Create customized client gifts for your wedding photography business with Happy Box. By choosing to use customized packaging, you can immerse your clients deeper into your brand. This creates more opportunity for brand recognition. Get started by reaching out to our corporate gifting team for your wedding photography business of any size.

Written by Ariel Redmond, Co-Founder, Happy Box & #CoronaBride2020

Pushing your wedding SUCKS. It will suck, and we would NEVER take that away from you. You can tell us how much it sucks until 2022 and we won’t blame you. As someone who has postponed once, and probably has to postpone again in July, Let me tell you, I GET IT. However, staying positive is key here, ladies. I’m no expert on Corona weddings, BUT here are a few tips from one corona bride to another:

1. Call your bridesmaids & have a chat. They’re your closest friends and you chose them because of the support and love they’ve had for you from the get. Nothing puts things in perspective like a #realtalk with your girls.
2. Know that everyone wants to party. They want  to come. They are scared and just as bummed as you are. Try like hell not to take it personally if you have an uncertain guest-list.
3. Look at your ring. It's so pretty. Repeat when sad.
4. When you do have your big day–it will be EPIC. MONTHS of pent-up need for socializing and partying with people has built up for your guests, and it will all be unleashed when you finally have your wedding day. Prepare for the  party, the after party, the sunrise party, and day drinking the next day–I sure am!
5. Know this is totally out of your control. The decisions you've had to make to cancel are being made FOR you, so there’s no need to worry or be upset, this is horrible but it’s also not your fault at all.
6. Remember, you found a soulmate--that’s INCREDIBLE. It’s really easy to get caught up in all the “wedding day” hype, but truly remember this is all about you and your partner. A few masks, less guests and a global pandemic can’t take that away from you. <3

These 10 gift ideas are guaranteed to solidify your well-deserved spot as Favorite Child. 

Written By: Hannah Redmond, Co-Founder @ Happy Box

It's a weird time: we're living through a global Coronavirus pandemic that comes with mandatory social distancing and self-isolation. Crazytown.

As a company built on preserving long distance connections with friends, we thought we'd share some of our team's fave tips for staying in touch with friends during social-distancing to help us all survive what could be a pretty lonely time. 

1. Schedule a virtual hangout (or better yet, a virtual happy hour) 
Zoom and Google Hangouts aren't only for meetings. Schedule a hangout or happy hour with friends using one of these group video call services, make yourself a drink with what you have on hand (use this cocktail builder for help), and curl up on the couch and catch up with friends, without ever having to put on pants. Or a bra. #FREEDOM. Play never-have-I-ever, truth or dare, do it up! Fun fact: Japanese women coined a new term for drinking in self isolation.

2. Take an online workout class with a friend
So many workout studios and trainers are offering free online workout classes and free extended trials for workouts you can do right at home. So, (virtually), grab a friend and dedicate some time to take the workout class during the day together. Check out obé or Blogilates, and don't forget to check out what local boutique studies near you are doing - many are live streaming home workout classes for free on social media. Working out not your thing? Join a virtual dance party.

3. Party like it's 1998: challenge a friend to an online game.
So, looks like Slingo won't be around for much longer (damnit, this is the worst timing!), but there are plenty of apps, online games, and video games you can play with friends. Let your inner child come out and have some fun! Some ideas: Chess, Battleship, Speed Sudoku, Pictionary and more. Go ahead, do a quick Google search for your favorite multiplayer games and see what's online.

4. Call friends & family you don't see often.
Yes, with the phone - we've gotten too used to texting. With no commute time, you'll have plenty of time to call grandma, or FaceTime your roommate from college and check in. Use this time to reconnect. Ask how your friend's kid is doing, ask your cousin how school is going. Hell, write someone a good old fashioned letter. You'll be happy you did, and they'll be happy to have heard from you.

5. Binge watch Netflix together - on different couches.
Netflix Party is a new way to watch Netflix with your friends online - it synchronizes video playback and even has a group chat feature. So, make it a movie night with your gals, or turn Love Is Blind into a drinking game together...

Remember: we will get through this. Stay safe and stay connected, everyone. <3

XO,

Happy Box Team

Click here to build a cute custom care package shipped to your friends' doorstep.

Written By: Caitlyn Conville / @cat_lyn99 

It’s hard enough shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts for boyfriends, but if you two are long distance, it’s even more difficult. You want to give him something that not only reassures him of your love, but is worth the shipping costs. See below for some creative gifts for your long distance guy this Valentine's Day:

1. Ship him a Care package, like our Beer or Bourbon Happy Boxes
Raise your boyfriend’s spirits this Valentine’s Day by sending a boozy-themed care package from Happy Box. The curated “Beer Box” comes with gourmet craft beer cheese pretzels and a barrel aged brown ale candle for your brew-loving dude. The “Bourbon Box” will meet all your sweetheart’s neat needs with a bourbon cask aged dark chocolate bar and his very own flask.

You can also build your own long distance Valentine’s Day gift box and fill it with goodies picked specifically for your favorite fella. 

2. Make a “52 Things I Love About You” Book
The way to ace Valentine’s Day gifts for your boyfriend is to give straight from the heart. Playing cards are widely available at many price points, and are sturdy enough to arrive at their destination intact. On each of the 52 cards, write something about your boyfriend that you love. It can be anything from the color of his eyes to the way he only ever drives with both hands on the wheel. Be creative, but heartfelt! It’s an easy, adorable long distance Valentine’s Day gift to remind him that he is your king, even if he acts like a joker sometimes.

3. Buy Long Distance Touch Lamps
Light up your boyfriend’s life with a unique in-sync lamp this Valentine’s Day. You and your boyfriend each set up your own lamp via wifi, then when one of you touches the lamp to turn it on, its paired mate will emit the same colored glow. These lamps are perfect long distance Valentine's Day gifts because they function no matter how far apart you two are. With a simple touch of your hand, you can let him know that you’re thinking of him and he can do the same for you.

4. Surprise Him with An In-Person Visit
Don’t just surprise him with presents, surprise him with your presence! The best Valentine’s Day gift for your boyfriend is your company. Hit the road or take to the skies, since it’s already been way too long since you’ve given each other a hug.

Written By Erin Celletti 

Galentine’s Day is all about the gals — that’s a given. But what is it, really? And how did it come to be? 

Well, it’s actually the title of the 16th episode of the second season of Parks and Rec. Yep - it’s from one of our fave TV shows!

In this iconic episode, Leslie hosts her annual "Galentine's Day" party for her girl friends on February 13th — aka the day before Valentine’s Day. They exchange stories of crushes and unrequited love which then (of course) manifests into antics of tracking down old flames, senior dances, jealousy and even heartbreak. It’s a doozy.

But Galentine's Day has taken on a whole new meaning in society as girl gangs across the country now partake in fun festivities prior to actual Valentine’s Day — whether they’re single, taken, or ready to mingle. It has nothing to do with romance, and everything to do with celebrating femme friendship. 

Here are some fun ways to celebrate. 

Girls Night In
Sometimes swanky reservations or a big girls night out is appealing but more often than not, there’s nothing better than some quality time at home with your girls. So instead of getting dolled up and spending big dough for a night on the town, get together on the couch. Cook or bake, cheers to your friendship, scrapbook, make vision boards — whatever your heart's desire. All that matters is that you’re together making memories. 

Fun Photoshoots
If it’s not on Instagram, did it really happen? Chances are you have plenty of photos with your best friends — but kick it up a notch and have a fun, professional photoshoot together instead. Services like Shoott.com make it easier and more affordable than ever to beautifully capture memories. 

Take a Class
Friends that learn together, stay together. For a more experiential Galentine’s Day celebration, why not learn to cook, paint or build a craft together?  Bonus points if it’s BYOB, obviously.  Or, why not take a new studio workout class together — because nothing says forever friendship like sweating it out, right? 

Spoil Each Other
The season of gift giving may have just ended, but Galentine’s day certainly calls for special treatment. Whether you’re long distance friends or live down the block from one another— what’s better than an unexpected (and adorable!) package showing up on  your friend’s doorstep that’s choc full of items they’re sure to love? Let Happy Box help you create a custom care package for Galentine’s Day, complete with a handwritten, personalized note shipped right to your friend's door.

Oh, and remember those 90’s classroom Valentine’s with your favorite stars and cartoons? We have those, too, so you can relive your childhood classroom parties with your besties this Valentine’s Day.

Regardless of how you decide to spend your Galentine’s Day, we wish you a day filled with laughter, love, and all the Happy—ness.

 By Erin Celletti

Have you ever spent hours browsing in a store hoping that the perfect gift for your friend will just come jumping out in front of you? Finding that perfect gift can be a long and confusing process, but it doesn’t have to be!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when selecting the best gifts before you break out that credit card:

1. Do Your Homework
Before picking anything out, now is the time to put Harriet the Spy out of business and stealthily find out all those little things you don’t already know about your bestie.

For example, no one in their right mind could turn down chocolate, so this tasty treat is always a good choice, but for a more custom gift, incorporate her own personal chocolate preferences! Does she like milk or dark better? Is she nuts about nuts? How does she feel about nougat? When you hand her a custom gift box of chocolate perfectly tailored to her liking, she’ll be thrilled (and surprised) at just how well you know her!

2. Think of ALL of her Various Interests! 
There’s always one girl in every friend group that’s obsessed with her dog, so she’s probably already received every pooch-related gift under the sun. But maybe this pup-preoccupied pal also likes to pamper herself every now and then, so a quality bath bomb or a delicious-scented face mask would really stand out among all the fur and whiskers as a unique gift!

3. Remember: She Deserves to be Spoiled
Your best friend deserves only the finest things in life, so give her the lavish lifestyle you know she wouldn’t buy herself but would totally appreciate anyway. The best gifts are things she would love Present her with gourmet, luxe, jumbo-sized, or handcrafted prezzies that will make her feel like the princess you know she is.

4. It’s the Thought That Counts
No gift is too small when the amount of thought and love behind it is so big. A sleep mask is a simple yet sweet way to tell your friend that you care about her well-being and how much sleep she’s getting. A pen shows her that you believe in her dreams of stardom when you pair it with a handwritten note that says she should really start practicing her autograph. Make sure you choose her favorite colors and patterns and you’ve got yourself a tiny but mighty, unique, and personalized gift.

Whether your friend loves chocolate, dogs, spa days, or anything in between, Happy Box has got you covered. You can choose a themed gift box filled with curated goodies or you can build your own box for an even more personalized gift. Either way, Happy Box will ensure that your friend will be thoroughly pleased with how much you care about her.

 By @cat_lyn99 

1. Make a photo album of your best and most memorable photos
   Guys – no one prints photos and makes albums anymore, which makes them super special. Add in handwritten notes about your favorite parts about those moments and photos to make this gift extra personal and special. Go grab a cute printed photos as CVS and done Google Photo books, both are so simple and easy and fun to make!

2. Get them a Cameo of their fave celebrity
   This is such a great birthday gift for the friend who doesn’t want more “stuff.” It is SO simple and so, so much fun. I did this for my sister’s engagement, and she freaked out! Cameo is a service where you can have a celebrity shout out to your friend, for a fee of course. Some celebs cost more than other but it is well worth it!
   
   
3. Make a gift bag full of themed items based on a hobby, interest, or where they are in their life, along with a sweet note.
   I have been known among my friends for making “kits” for gifts: I would make “30^th Birthday Survival” kits, “New Job” kits, “Med School Survival” kits, and even “Breakup Survival” kits – these were the OG Happy Boxes and are what inspired me to start the company! They are super simple to make, and if your friend has an obscure passion or hobby, even better! Find 3-5 things that will help them do their fave hobby or their new life moment better, throw them in a cute gift bag with some tissue paper and a thoughtful note and POOF: a unique, super personal gift that they will LOVE!
   
   
4. No time for #3? Not creative? Your BFF live far away? Welp, ladies, THAT’S why we created Happy Box: So you can build a custom care package full of unique items and ship it right to her door.
   It’s super simple: pick a box design (my favorite is our pastel gradient called “sunset”), fill her up with various gifts (I suggest adding the “Brunch” candle and some Raaka chocolate – these are best sellers!), pick a card, type in your note, and our team hand-packs and ships the box out to your friend’s doorstep or office. Start building a custom care package now, or take a look at our curated Happy Birthday Box full of some best- selling birthday gifts and goodies.

In the age of Pinterest, creating custom bridesmaid gifts and bridesmaid proposals  can be intimidating! You want to surprise and delight your bridal party with something custom, unique, personal, and that looks like it was DIY'ed by a Joanna Gaines-Martha Stewart Hybrid, #amiright?!

It's not impossible - and we're here to show some of our FAVE and best-selling gift items customers have put in their Bridesmaid Proposal and Bridal Party gifts using our box builder. 

1. Spa Items from Old Whaling Co.
We love the delicious scents of these quality bath and spa products from this female-owned company, and we know your girls' will too. Check out our box builder for various products and scents we carry, but pro-tip: French Lavender is to die for.

2. Unique & Ethically-Sourced Chocolate Bars
Our friends at Raaka chocolate are doing it right: they make their chocolate from scratch; with traceable, high quality, single origin cacao that is transparently sourced. And it. is. delicious.

3. Some GIRL POWER!
We are all about some women empowerment and love these fun best-sellers - an iron-on patch that says "girl gang" and a two-piece heart-shaped best friends necklace that says "best bitches." Love love love.
  

4.  Sheet Face Masks
These are some of our best-selling gift items, everyone loves a good face mask! Not to mention we keep introducing more fun seasonal favorites (hello, pumpkin!). Check out all of our scents on our box builder.

4.  Our Best-Selling "Brunch" Candle
This candle, made by the female-owned Wax Cabin Co. smells AH-MA-ZING, we wish this was a scratch-and-sniff. It has notes of rose, chardonnay, blood orange, and grapefruit.

If you need help creating the perfect custom bridesmaid proposal gift, email our gifts pros today and we'll send you some suggestions! hello@happyboxstore.com

A gift for the pumpkin and fall obsessed! Every year we create a pumpkin themed gift box and every year we buy more inventory because it always sells out! This year, we created a Seasonal Pumpkin Gift Box that has some great fall elements in it as well. It's filled with:

• Pumpkin Sheet Face Mask
• Pumpkin Horchata Candle
• Moscow Mule Carry On Cocktail Kit 
• Gourmet Coffee Caramels

Buy it here today, or better yet, build your own custom care package and fill with even more goodies.

We're in love...and even MORE pumpkin items are coming up on the box builder soon!