“There is a need for innovation in packaging. Many people are doing the same carton or paper boxes that are mass produced. I use the paperboard and my focus is on the design and quality. All the boxes I design are handcrafted,” explains Rao.

The venture, launched a year ago has already won four National Awards for Innovative Packaging in 2017 informs Rao.

Unbox offers luxury packaging and enables its client's design and produce exquisite packaging which includes stationery, wedding card, gift boxes, LED boxes among others. During a recent workshop curated by PrintWeek India, Rao showcased innovative boxes to the Elephant Design team.

Rao said, “In a constant effort to keep creating new designs, we have also come up with LED-designed boxes and an e-commerce website that is in the making. The website will allow the user to customise a box as per his or her need and it will be delivered within 24 hours.”

Talking about his journey, Rao said, “Initially, we found it difficult to find suppliers for boxes. It was very difficult to match the deadlines to deliver a certain number of boxes in a limited time frame.” The firm has now invested in machineries to manufacture the rigid boxes in-house.

Rao said, “There is no compromise on quality. That’s why you come to Unbox. My main idea is to cater to everyone and not necessarily have to be B2B, it can also be designing a box for a wedding. Even if the order is just five boxes and it is customised then we will do it.”

In future, Rao wants to expand this to Goa and Delhi where there is a niche market for such services that isn’t saturated.