Most paper tubes sold online are cores, poster tubes and mailing tubes. They are stock sizes, made to ship things, and they are not built to sit on a shelf. GTS Packaging Solutions makes the other kind. Custom retail tubes are built to the product, printed in full-color, finished to match the brand, and made in runs from 1,000 units. If the tube is part of how the product sells, it is a different product from a core.
What custom means here
- Diameter, height and lid style built to the product rather than chosen from a size chart.
- Full-color print across the whole tube, not a label applied to a blank.
- Foil stamping and spot UV for shelf presence.
- Food-grade lining wherever the product touches the tube, in foil or food-grade paper. Both are plastic-free.
- Structures a stock tube does not have: short lids, die-cut windows, split lids, sifters, metal inner lids.
How the process runs
Most customers do not arrive knowing what they need. We walk through the product, the fill, how it opens and where it sells, then recommend the structure. We have been doing it for more than 20 years.
- About a quarter of customers use our designers. Most bring their own artwork.
- Minimum order is 1,000 units on custom work.
- Pre-production samples take about 20 days. Production then runs 30 to 40 days in a third-party audited facility.
Materials and finishes
- SFI-certified paperboard, up to 95% post-consumer content.
- Full-color print, kraft, faux kraft, foil stamping, spot UV.
- Foil or food-grade paper lining. Both are food-grade and plastic-free.
Best for
Brands launching a retail SKU, brands moving off stock packaging, subscription and gifting programs, and anyone who needs the package to do part of the selling.
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell stock or blank tubes?
No. Everything is custom, from 1,000 units.
Is this the same as a mailing tube or a core?
No. Those are shipping products. These are built for retail shelves and unboxing.
Can you match a color or a finish we already use?
Full-color printing, foil stamping and spot UV are all available. Send what you have and we will match it.
Are the tubes plastic-free?
Yes. Both lining options, foil and food-grade paper, are plastic-free.
How long does production take?
About 20 days for pre-production samples, then 30 to 40 days for production.
What is the minimum order?
1,000 units on custom work.
