What PackagingBee does

PackagingBee (legal name PackagingBee; also doing business as Packaging Bee) is a US-based, privately held custom packaging manufacturer operating a B2B direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform out of its Brooklyn, New York headquarters, with a secondary office in Staten Island. Founded in 2008, the company targets both small businesses and large enterprises across North America (with wholly-owned regional storefronts extending into the UK and Australia), serving what it reports as 5,000+ customers with a 94.7% retention rate. Its functional proposition is short-run custom packaging at a 100-box minimum order quantity — well below traditional trade-printer thresholds — supported by free design, free physical sampling, and free freight in the US and Canada with an 8–10 business day standard turnaround.

The core technology stack is print-and-finish rather than software. Manufacturing capability spans offset, digital, UV, screen, flexographic, CMYK, PMS, litho, and rotogravure printing, with finishing options including gloss, matte, soft-touch coatings, spot UV, foil stamping, embossing, debossing, and lamination. Materials range across cardboard, corrugated (single/double/triple wall), rigid paperboard, kraft, chipboard, and bux board, and the company has added a sustainable mycelium-based line. The published catalog exceeds 600 distinct SKUs organized by end-vertical rather than industry (Soap, Candle, Cosmetic, Food, Mailer, Rigid, Corrugated, Cardboard, Kraft, Mylar, CBD, Vape, Hemp, Subscription, Jewelry, seasonal lines including Christmas/Halloween/Thanksgiving, and labels/stickers/paper bags/folders/hang tags/inserts).

The business model is one-time wholesale unit sales: customers request a quote through the website, supply artwork (or use the bundled design service), receive a 2D/3D mockup and physical sample, and place a unit-priced order with no stated subscription, recurring, or SaaS component. GTM is website-direct (no distributor or reseller layer), supported by organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), a content blog, and a quote-request funnel. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company markets on flexibility (MOQ 100), speed (8–10 business days, rush available), and bundled "free" services rather than transparent unit pricing. Revenue mechanics are consequently repetitive, transaction-based, and tied to the company's ability to win long-tail SMB orders while moving upmarket via named enterprise customers such as Nickelodeon and CBDMD.

Name

PackagingBee

Legal name

PackagingBee

Website

https://packagingbee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PackagingBee is a Brooklyn-based B2B custom packaging manufacturer operating a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform with 600+ SKUs, a 100-box MOQ, and wholly-owned regional storefronts in the US/Canada, UK, and Australia serving SMBs and enterprise brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Paper Bags & Sacks (retail, industrial, multiwall) (IMAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Custom packaging boxes
• Printed packaging manufacturing
• Wholesale custom boxes
• Retail packaging solutions
• Ecommerce shipping boxes

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Packaging Box Sales: One-time sale of custom printed packaging boxes with minimum order quantity of 100 boxes per delivery. Wholesale pricing model with free perks including shipping, design support, and physical sampling. Revenue generated through product sales with no recurring subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PackagingBee manufactures and sells custom printed packaging boxes and related packaging products (over 600 SKUs across categories such as soap, cosmetic, candle, food, CBD, vape, jewelry, mailer, rigid, corrugated, kraft, mylar bags, stickers, and seasonal/event boxes) to businesses. Orders are placed online with a 100-box minimum order quantity, supported by free design services, free physical samples, and free US/Canada delivery with an 8–10 business day standard turnaround.

Product overview

PackagingBee is a custom packaging solutions provider offering a comprehensive catalog of over 600+ packaging products and box types. The company operates as a wholesale box manufacturer with a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of 100 boxes, providing custom printed boxes with no minimum beyond that threshold. Their product portfolio spans multiple categories including: Custom Soap Boxes, Custom Perfume Boxes, Custom Candle Boxes, Custom Cosmetic Boxes, Custom Food Packaging Boxes, Custom Mailer Boxes, Custom Rigid Boxes, Custom Corrugated Boxes, Custom Cardboard Boxes, Custom Kraft Boxes, Custom Mylar Bags, Custom Tissue Paper, Custom Stickers and Labels, Custom Folders, Custom Paper Bags, Custom CBD Boxes, Custom Vape Packaging, Custom Hemp Packaging, Custom Subscription Boxes, Custom Jewelry Boxes, and various seasonal/event packaging. The company offers extensive customization options including material selection (cardboard, corrugated, rigid, kraft, chipboard, bux board), printing techniques (offset, digital, UV, flexography, CMYK, PMS), finishes (gloss, matte, spot UV, foil stamping, embossing, debossing), and add-ons (PVC windows, custom shapes, inserts). They provide free design support, free physical sampling, and free delivery across the US and Canada with an 8-10 business day turnaround.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Soap Boxes Custom packaging boxes for soap products including mystery soap, holster, pink, display, pillow, cardboard, and kraft variants, with various customization options, sold to soap brands and retailers.
• Custom Perfume Boxes Luxury rigid perfume packaging boxes with magnetic closures, foil stamping, embossing, and premium finishes for high-end fragrance products and brands.
• Custom Candle Boxes Packaging boxes designed for candles including retail, 2-piece, shipping, and rigid variants with window options, sold to candle manufacturers and retailers.
• Custom Cosmetic Boxes Packaging solutions for cosmetics including lip gloss, lip balm, eye shadow, eyeliner, foundation, mascara, and nail polish boxes for beauty brands.
• Custom Food Packaging Boxes Food-safe packaging boxes including burger, pizza, cereal, cake, cupcake, muffin, and custom food trays sold to food brands and foodservice operators.
• Custom Mailer Boxes Shipping and mailer boxes for e-commerce packaging with custom printing, logo options, and material choices including corrugated options, sold to online retailers and DTC brands.
• Custom Rigid Boxes Premium rigid packaging boxes made from durable paperboard including luxury, magnetic closure, drawer-style, and shoulder-neck boxes for high-end product brands.
• Custom Corrugated Boxes Sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes for shipping and storage with single wall, double wall, and triple wall options for enhanced product protection.
• Custom Cardboard Boxes Versatile cardboard boxes for various packaging needs including die-cut boxes, tuck-end boxes, and custom shapes and sizes sold to product brands.
• Custom Kraft Boxes Eco-friendly kraft paper packaging boxes made from recyclable materials for sustainable packaging solutions sold to sustainability-focused brands.
• Custom Mylar Bags Flexible packaging bags including child-resistant, holographic, and windowed mylar bags for food, cannabis, and product packaging sold to consumer goods and CBD brands.
• Custom Tissue Paper Custom printed tissue paper with logos for retail packaging, gift wrapping, and product presentation sold to retail and e-commerce brands.
• Custom Stickers and Labels Custom printed stickers and labels including lenticular, ink, food, candle, and product labels sold to consumer product brands.
• Custom Folders Presentation folders, pocket folders, and custom corporate folders with branding for business and marketing materials sold to businesses and professional services firms.
• Custom Paper Bags Custom printed paper bags including kraft, colored, and personalized paper bags with handles sold to retail and boutique brands.
• Custom CBD Boxes Specialized packaging for CBD products including CBD oil boxes, CBD vape boxes, CBD gummies packaging, and CBD display boxes sold to CBD brands such as CBDMD.
• Custom Vape Packaging Packaging solutions for vaping products including e-cigarette boxes, vape cartridge packaging, and e-liquid packaging sold to vape brands.
• Custom Hemp Packaging Packaging solutions for hemp and cannabis products including pre-roll boxes, marijuana packaging, and hemp oil boxes sold to cannabis and hemp brands.
• Custom Subscription Boxes Subscription box packaging for recurring product deliveries including candle, candy, and custom subscription box designs sold to subscription commerce operators.
• Custom Jewelry Boxes Luxury packaging for jewelry including rigid, velvet, and custom shaped jewelry boxes sold to jewelry brands and retailers.
• Custom E-commerce Packaging Packaging solutions specifically designed for online retail and direct-to-consumer shipping including mailers and branded unboxing materials.
• Custom Shipping Boxes Durable shipping boxes for safe product transportation sold to e-commerce and product brands for outbound fulfillment.
• Custom Retail Boxes Retail-ready packaging boxes for store display and sales sold to retail brands and consumer goods companies.
• Mycelium Packaging Innovative sustainable packaging made from mushroom-based mycelium materials sold to brands seeking eco-friendly alternatives.
• Pharma Packaging Packaging boxes for pharmaceutical and medical products sold to pharmaceutical and healthcare brands.
• Custom Swag Boxes Branded merchandise boxes for corporate gifts, promotional items, and marketing campaigns sold to corporate marketing teams and agencies.
• Custom Hang Tags Custom printed hang tags for retail products including luxury, die-cut, and branded variants sold to apparel and retail brands.
• Custom Mailers Mailing solutions including bubble mailers, poly mailers, and custom mailer envelopes sold to e-commerce and shipping-heavy businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94.7% customer retention rate demonstrating customer satisfaction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BoxGenie: BoxGenie provides custom printed packaging boxes with low minimum orders, targeting e-commerce and SMB customers — overlapping directly with PackagingBee's mailer, cosmetic, and retail box lines.
• Arka: Arka offers custom branded packaging including boxes, mailers, and inserts targeted at small and growing DTC brands — a direct competitor in the SMB custom packaging segment.
• PakFactory: PakFactory is a direct competitor offering custom printed boxes, mailers, and rigid packaging with low minimum order quantities for SMBs across cosmetics, food, and retail — closely matching PackagingBee's positioning and product catalog.
• Noissue: Noissue offers custom sustainable packaging (boxes, tissue, mailers, stickers) targeting small DTC brands — overlapping in customer segment and emphasis on eco-friendly kraft and recyclable materials.
• The Custom Boxes: The Custom Boxes offers custom printed packaging solutions with wholesale pricing and design support, serving the same small business and mid-market segments with overlapping product categories.
• Refine Packaging: Refine Packaging is a custom packaging manufacturer offering printed boxes, mailers, and specialty packaging with low MOQs for small businesses — a near-direct competitor in product, customer segment, and digital-first GTM.
• Emenac Packaging: Emenac Packaging provides custom printed boxes and packaging for industries including cosmetics, food, CBD, and retail, with a similar low-MOQ, e-commerce-driven model targeting SMBs.
• Custom Packaging Pro: Custom Packaging Pro manufactures custom boxes, mailers, and retail packaging with low MOQs and online ordering — a direct competitor for SMB custom packaging orders.

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Westrock: Smurfit Westrock is one of the world's largest paper-based packaging manufacturers, offering corrugated and folding cartons at scale — a broad incumbent that competes with PackagingBee at the larger end of the market.
• Sticker Mule: Sticker Mule is a larger, well-funded custom printing platform known primarily for stickers and labels but expanding into boxes and packaging — competing for the same SMB brand customers with stronger brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/packagingbee
• Facebookfacebook.com/PackagingBee
• Instagraminstagram.com/packaging_bee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/packagingbee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PackagingBee