Creating scalable retail packaging and merchandising systems that balanced premium brand experiences with manufacturing efficiency and cost
Overview:
For several years, I designed packaging, retail displays, and e-commerce experiences for Yankee Candle, creating systems that balanced premium brand storytelling with manufacturing efficiency.
From concept development through production, I partnered with purchasing teams, packaging engineers, and manufacturing vendors to transform creative ideas into retail-ready solutions that met business goals, production requirements, and customer expectations.
Premium Experience + Cost-efficiency
The following is a collection of packaging systems, seasonal display concepts, and unboxing experiences that balanced brand storytelling, sustainability, and cost efficiency.
Holiday Village Gift Set
A seasonal packaging collection that resembles a miniature holiday village when displayed together, encouraging multi-product purchase behavior.
Conceptual Development
Explored storytelling and architectural details to create a cohesive holiday packaging system
Packaging Production
Custom illustrations and production-ready dielines transformed the concept
Collectible Display
Each worked individually while building a full village display that encouraged collection
I led packaging concept, structural direction, and vendor collaboration to develop a seasonal gift set program that achieved a 90% sell-through rate in retail stores.
Yankee Candle needed a premium seasonal gift program that balanced storytelling, manufacturing efficiency, and retail impact. I developed a collectible village packaging system that encouraged multiple purchases while remaining production-ready and cost effective.
E-commerce Unboxing
A sustainable unboxing experience designed for protection, efficiency, and brand storytelling
Unboxing sequence for WoodWick candle, and Yankee Candle's Special Edition 20oz jar, both designed to mirror the gifting experience: the invitation, the anticipation and the reveal.
Yankee Candle needed packaging that protected fragile products while creating a memorable brand experience. I designed an unboxing concept that combined structural efficiency, sustainable materials, and sequential storytelling to turn product delivery into an engaging customer experience.
Modular Retail Display
Developed a modular floor display system designed for seasonal refreshes—allowing graphics and components to be updated without rebuilding the entire structure, significantly reducing costs and waste.
Low-cost refresh strategy versus seasonal one-off builds
BEFORE:
Yankee Candle's seasonal merchandising relied on corrugated floor and counter displays that shipped preloaded with product. After each campaign, the displays were discarded and replaced, creating ongoing production costs and unnecessary waste.
AFTER:
A reusable metal display system utilized the existing 6-count Large Jar CDU with interchangeable seasonal graphics, enabling quick refreshes while reducing waste, production costs, and the need for new displays each season.
Rather than rebuilding floor displays for every campaign, I proposed a modular retail system that paired a permanent fixture with interchangeable graphics and merchandising components. The approach reduced waste, lowered long-term costs, and made seasonal refreshes faster and easier to execute.
Overall Impact
Across multiple retail initiatives, I helped Yankee Candle evolve packaging and merchandising from individual projects into scalable systems that balanced brand storytelling with the manufacturing process. By partnering with purchasing teams, branding teams, packaging engineers, and production vendors, I delivered solutions that improved retail presentation, supported operational efficiency, and created memorable customer experiences.
Project Highlights:
Achieved 90% seasonal sell-through on the Holiday Village gift set program
Developed reusable packaging and display systems that reduced long-term production costs.
Improved the customer experience through premium packaging and thoughtful unboxing design
Collaborated with purchasing teams, CAD engineers, and manufacturing vendors from concept through production
Balanced creative vision with manufacturing feasibility, sustainability, and budget requirements
