#Retail Packaging Box

[pio-packaging]

Retail Food Packaging Boxes By Pio Packaging.

With the booming of ‘Take-Away’ and ‘Delivery’ of food products and freshly cooked food being the norm of the day, It is imperative for those in the retail food or restaurant sector to reposition their packaging concepts so that they can create a brand identity for their organization. Pio Packaging has Retail Food Packaging Boxes. A unit of Pio Printers based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, A one-stop shop for all Printing & Packaging needs. For more information visit the website: www.piopackaging.com/retail-food-packaging

[oceanic6packaging]

Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions: Compostable & Recyclable Bags

Upgrade to sustainable packaging with Oceanic6 Packaging's premium compostable packaging bags, recyclable packaging bags, and recycled paper carrier bags. Our eco-conscious solutions reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality. Contact our experts today to discuss custom sustainable packaging options for your business. Let's work together to create greener packaging solutions that align with your brand values and sustainability goals.

[ella--smith]

Make an unforgettable impression with our color shipping boxes, designed to elevate your packaging game. Crafted from high-quality corrugated material, these sturdy boxes not only protect your products but also add a splash of personality to every shipment. Available in a variety of vibrant colors, they’re perfect for eCommerce, subscription boxes, retail packaging, and special occasions. Lightweight yet strong, they help keep shipping costs low while enhancing your brand’s unboxing experience. Whether you want to match your brand’s aesthetic or make your packages pop, our color shipping boxes are the perfect choice. Order now and ship in style!

[customboxes01]

How Custom Retail Boxes Impact Packaging Choices

Packaging has a unique function of establishing a product image in the market. Today it is very different from that of simply boxing a product to sell, it is the design of a brand that is relevant to the end user. Companies that invest finite financial resources in fine-quality packaging are unique from their competitors and are better positioned to foster stronger relationships with their target market. Not only does good packaging protect against damage to the goods, but for sheer merit itself packaging can contribute to consumer appeal, and as a consequence, the decision of whether or not to purchase the goods.

In terms of available packaging solutions, customized retail packaging boxes have very successfully developed as a common solution as they can easily be tailored to marketing needs. No matter what it is—a luxury item or a necessity—those boxes mean that retail outlets can make their mark for a while. This blog explores how custom retail packaging affects packaging choices, brand recognition, product protection, and sustainability while helping businesses maximize their marketing potential.

Enhancing Brand Identity

A good brand identity is one such ingredient for business success. The fact that it enables clients to visualize in the first instance and experience an affective bonding consequent to the use of the brand is what makes it. Packaging is arguably the best way to further brand identity. This allows companies to include their logos, color schemes, and the distinctive design specifics that can differentiate them from other companies.

Additionally, when purchasing in large quantities, purchasing retail boxes wholesale purchase at a discount meets the requirement for consistent branding at a reduced cost. Wholesale packaging solutions provide the capacity to print high-quality images, product notes, and marketing copy whilst maintaining design compactly. Companies committed to appealing and functional packaging offer a unique customer experience that can lead to lasting success.

Improving Product Protection

Although branding is one of the key functionalities of the package, the protection of the device is not to be overlooked. It should not be confined to applications of aesthetics only but must serve as at least a container's shield when it is transported, stored,d, and manipulated. Strong construction and engineered designs minimize breakage, contamination, and the risk of exposure to the environment concerning moisture and heat.

Printed retail boxes guarantee that the packaging helps with the provision of complete information about the product, such as instructions for handling, safety warnings, or ingredient lists. If there is a good quality box, the product's structural integrity is preserved and, consequently, the customer's confidence is achieved with a higher likelihood of not needing to return the product or complain. During the process, authentic and clearly labeled packaging encourages a higher level of customer satisfaction and brand attachment.

Creating a Memorable Unboxing Experience

With the growth of e-commerce, the process of "unboxing" or opening the package has gone from a fun thing to a key consideration in driving customer engagement. A good consultation has the power to change the ordinary into an experience of which the consumer can have something to be proud, and the process, creates a sense of significance in the attitude of the consumer to that purchase and can foster an emotional connection on the part of the consumer to that purchase.

Retail Boxes Canada stores, and businesses have found that it is possible to generate brand awareness and customer brand preference from an outlay of brand-new packaging design. This could be achieved in various ways by its personalization and customization of inserts as well as textures, however, the greatest impact will be achieved through brands by building a sense of belonging and by deepening the emotional ties between consumers and brands. 

Sustainable Packaging Solutions

There is a growing number of environmentally minded consumers, and they tend to purchase a company that is sustainable in its industry. Companies undertaking any green actions establish a market presence and at least suggest the development of a waste management approach.

Substitution of retail packaging boxes using recycled, biodegradable, or compostable materials offers companies a chance to meet sustainability expectations and respond to eco-minded consumers' expectations. Furthermore, and increasingly, the same manufacturers who are already applying eco-friendly packaging will extend to a broader consumer base and/or improve the brand image.

Cost-Effectiveness Ordering Benefits

For businesses, packaging is not just about aesthetics and functionality—it’s also about cost efficiency. Because of that, it can be complicated, especially for micro- and medium-sized enterprises to find the right balance between cost and quality. It is a clever solution to buy them in bulk and thereby reduce the cost of packaging without materials degrading.

Private label store owners who are also investing in custom retail fixtures are in a position to order packaging materials in bulk at a lower cost per piece. Bulk purchasing offers a regular source of custom retail packaging material such that stock-outs or delays in shipping products are not encountered. Besides, purchasing in bulk enables businesses to tailor package packaging at a lower cost, which is an economical solution for companies that prefer to possess a professional and polished look without taking out a bank loan. 

Conclusion

Packaging is not only protective packaging but also a powerful promoter whose role is crucial in establishing brand image, customer satisfaction, and even the success of the business. Companies are today obliged to make a careful selection between different types of packaging in the light of the competitive system of the retail trade, to suit consumer perception and trends of the sector. Custom retail boxes provide a wide range of benefits from enabling businesses to survive to creating brand identity to safeguarding products to utilizing sustainability.

Investing in high-quality, durable, sustainable custom boxes packaging companies allows companies to forge stronger customer relationships, generate income,e and build a market share that's built to last. Through flexible branding, green-linked materials, or more—should they be emphasized at all—low-cost multipack, the thoughtful packaging approach can be a disruptor.

[ipulpmedia]

The iPulp Media business directory connects businesses with quality retail packaging supplies and related services, providing options for sustainable, custom, and wholesale packaging solutions. Companies listed offer a wide range of materials and packaging designs tailored to retail needs, enhancing product presentation and brand appeal. Explore diverse suppliers to meet packaging demands effectively in one convenient directory.

[hangzhoushengyeprinting]

Printing Pharmaceutical Retail Paper Packaging Box

Pharmaceutical retail paper packaging boxes adopt advanced four-color printing technology, with bright and full colors and clear and realistic patterns. Different design solutions can be customized according to customer needs to meet individual needs. The environmentally friendly high-quality paper has been specially treated to have good durability and toughness, ensuring the safety of pharmaceuticals during transportation, storage, and sales. The box body adopts a unique opening and closing method, which is convenient for consumers to open easily while ensuring the sealing of the medicine.

[custompackaging32]

Retail Boxes provide evidence of the effectiveness of packaging in creating a lasting impression in the contemporary marketplace as companies fight for consumer’s attention.

[rigidboxesusasworld]

Display boxes are transparent or open-front containers designed to showcase products prominently. They are commonly used in retail environments to attract customers' attention, highlight merchandise, and enhance the overall shopping experience.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The one weird monopoly trick that gave us Walmart and Amazon and killed Main Street

I'm coming to BURNING MAN! On TUESDAY (Aug 27) at 1PM, I'm giving a talk called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE!" at PALENQUE NORTE (7&E). On WEDNESDAY (Aug 28) at NOON, I'm doing a "Talking Caterpillar" Q&A at LIMINAL LABS (830&C).

Walmart didn't just happen. The rise of Walmart – and Amazon, its online successor – was the result of a specific policy choice, the decision by the Reagan administration not to enforce a key antitrust law. Walmart may have been founded by Sam Walton, but its success (and the demise of the American Main Street) are down to Reaganomics.

The law that Reagan neutered? The Robinson-Patman Act, a very boring-sounding law that makes it illegal for powerful companies (like Walmart) to demand preferential pricing from their suppliers (farmers, packaged goods makers, meat producers, etc). The idea here is straightforward. A company like Walmart is a powerful buyer (a "monopsonist" – compare with "monopolist," a powerful seller). That means that they can demand deep discounts from suppliers. Smaller stores – the mom and pop store on your Main Street – don't have the clout to demand those discounts. Worse, because those buyers are weak, the sellers – packaged goods companies, agribusiness cartels, Big Meat – can actually charge them more to make up for the losses they're taking in selling below cost to Walmart.

Reagan ordered his antitrust cops to stop enforcing Robinson-Patman, which was a huge giveaway to big business. Of course, that's not how Reagan framed it: He called Robinson-Patman a declaration of "war on low prices," because it prevented big companies from using their buying power to squeeze huge discounts. Reagan's court sorcerers/economists asserted that if Walmart could get goods at lower prices, they would sell goods at lower prices.

Which was true…up to a point. Because preferential discounting (offering better discounts to bigger customers) creates a structural advantage over smaller businesses, it meant that big box stores would eventually eliminate virtually all of their smaller competitors. That's exactly what happened: downtowns withered, suburban big boxes grew. Spending that would have formerly stayed in the community was whisked away to corporate headquarters. These corporate HQs were inevitably located in "onshore-offshore" tax haven states, meaning they were barely taxed at the state level. That left plenty of money in these big companies' coffers to spend on funny accountants who'd help them avoid federal taxes, too. That's another structural advantage the big box stores had over the mom-and-pops: not only did they get their inventory at below-cost discounts, they didn't have to pay tax on the profits, either.

MBA programs actually teach this as a strategy to pursue: they usually refer to Amazon's "flywheel" where lower prices bring in more customers which allows them to demand even lower prices:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaSwWYemLek

You might have heard about rural and inner-city "food deserts," where all the independent grocery stores have shuttered, leaving behind nothing but dollar stores? These are the direct product of the decision not to enforce Robinson-Patman. Dollar stores target working class neighborhoods with functional, beloved local grocers. They open multiple dollar stores nearby (nearly all the dollar stores you see are owned by one of two conglomerates, no matter what the sign over the door says). They price goods below cost and pay for high levels of staffing, draining business off the community grocery store until it collapses. Then, all the dollar stores except one close and the remaining store fires most of its staff (working at a dollar store is incredibly dangerous, thanks to low staffing levels that make them easy targets for armed robbers). Then, they jack up prices, selling goods in "cheater" sizes that are smaller than the normal retail packaging, and which are only made available to large dollar store conglomerates:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/27/walmarts-jackals/#cheater-sizes

Writing in The American Prospect, Max M Miller and Bryce Tuttle1 – a current and a former staffer for FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya – write about the long shadow cast by Reagan's decision to put Robinson-Patman in mothballs:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-08-13-stopping-excessive-market-power-monopoly/

They tell the story of Robinson-Patman's origins in 1936, when A&P was using preferential discounts to destroy the independent grocery sector and endanger the American food system. A&P didn't just demand preferential discounts from its suppliers; it also charged them a fortune to be displayed on its shelves, an early version of Amazon's $38b/year payola system:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/#relentless-payola

They point out that Robinson-Patman didn't really need to be enacted; America already had an antitrust law that banned this conduct: section 2 of the the Clayton Act, which was passed in 1914. But for decades, the US courts refused to interpret the Clayton Act according to its plain meaning, with judges tying themselves in knots to insist that the law couldn't possibly mean what it said. Robinson-Patman was one of a series of antitrust laws that Congress passed in a bid to explain in words so small even federal judges could understand them that the purpose of American antitrust law was to keep corporations weak:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

Both the Clayton Act and Robinson-Patman reject the argument that it's OK to let monopolies form and come to dominate critical sectors of the American economy based on the theoretical possibility that this will lead to lower prices. They reject this idea first as a legal matter. We don't let giant corporations victimize small businesses and their suppliers just because that might help someone else.

Beyond this, there's the realpolitik of monopoly. Yes, companies could pass lower costs on to customers, but will they? Look at Amazon: the company takes $0.45-$0.51 out of every dollar that its sellers earn, and requires them to offer their lowest price on Amazon. No one has a 45-51% margin, so every seller jacks up their prices on Amazon, but you don't notice it, because Amazon forces them to jack up prices everywhere else:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/01/managerial-discretion/#junk-fees

The Robinson-Patman Act did important work, and its absence led to many of the horribles we're living through today. This week on his Peoples & Things podcast, Lee Vinsel talked with Benjamin Waterhouse about his new book, One Day I’ll Work for Myself: The Dream and Delusion That Conquered America:

https://athenaeum.vt.domains/peoplesandthings/2024/08/12/78-benjamin-c-waterhouse-on-one-day-ill-work-for-myself-the-dream-and-delusion-that-conquered-america/

Towards the end of the discussion, Vinsel and Waterhouse turn to Robinson-Patman, its author, Wright Patman, and the politics of small business in America. They point out – correctly – that Wright Patman was something of a creep, a "Dixiecrat" (southern Democrat) who was either an ideological segregationist or someone who didn't mind supporting segregation irrespective of his beliefs.

That's a valid critique of Wright Patman, but it's got little bearing on the substance and history of the law that bears his name, the Robinson-Patman Act. Vinsel and Waterhouse get into that as well, and while they made some good points that I wholeheartedly agreed with, I fiercely disagree with the conclusion they drew from these points.

Vinsel and Waterhouse point out (again, correctly) that small businesses have a long history of supporting reactionary causes and attacking workers' rights – associations of small businesses, small women-owned business, and small minority-owned businesses were all in on opposition to minimum wages and other key labor causes.

But while this is all true, that doesn't make Robinson-Patman a reactionary law, or bad for workers. The point of protecting small businesses from the predatory practices of large firms is to maintain an American economy where business can't trump workers or government. Large companies are literally ungovernable: they have gigantic war-chests they can spend lobbying governments and corrupting the political process, and concentrated sectors find it comparatively easy to come together to decide on a single lobbying position and then make it reality.

As Vinsel and Waterhouse discuss, US big business has traditionally hated small business. They recount a notorious and telling anaecdote about the editor of the Chamber of Commerce magazine asking his boss if he could include coverage of small businesses, given the many small business owners who belonged to the Chamber, only to be told, "Over my dead body." Why did – why does – big business hate small business so much? Because small businesses wreck the game. If they are included in hearings, notices of inquiry, or just given a vote on what the Chamber of Commerce will lobby for with their membership dollars, they will ask for things that break with the big business lobbying consensus.

That's why we should like small business. Not because small business owners are incapable of being petty tyrants, but because whatever else, they will be petty. They won't be able to hire million-dollar-a-month union-busting law-firms, they won't be able to bribe Congress to pass favorable laws, they can't capture their regulators with juicy offers of sweet jobs after their government service ends.

Vinsel and Waterhouse point out that many large firms emerged during the era in which Robinson-Patman was in force, but that misunderstands the purpose of Robinson-Patman: it wasn't designed to prevent any large businesses from emerging. There are some capital-intensive sectors (say, chip fabrication) where the minimum size for doing anything is pretty damned big.

As Miller and Tuttle write:

The goal of RPA was not to create a permanent Jeffersonian agrarian republic of exclusively small businesses. It was to preserve a diverse economy of big and small businesses. Congress recognized that the needs of communities and people—whether in their role as consumers, business owners, or workers—are varied and diverse. A handful of large chains would never be able to meet all those needs in every community, especially if they are granted pricing power.

The fight against monopoly is only secondarily a fight between small businesses and giant ones. It's foundationally a fight about whether corporations should have so much power that they are too big to fail, too big to jail, and too big to care.

Community voting for SXSW is live! If you wanna hear RIDA QADRI and me talk about how GIG WORKERS can DISENSHITTIFY their jobs with INTEROPERABILITY, VOTE FOR THIS ONE!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/14/the-price-is-wright/#enforcement-priorities

[oceanic6packaging]

Trusted Bag Manufacturer in India - Custom SOS Bags for All Industries

As a top bag manufacturer in India, we provide premium SOS bag manufacture in India with superior quality kraft paper. Ideal for groceries, takeaways, and retail. Custom printing, various sizes & bulk order options available. Choose sustainability without compromising on strength. Get your branded SOS bags now!

[leyeahpackaging]

Shenzhen Leyeah Packaging Design Co., Ltd - China Packaging Solutions

Leyeah Packaging is one of the top Packaging Solutions providers in China. we offer different types of packaging solutions such as Retail packaging, Corrugated Box packaging, Shelf ready packaging, and many more designs. These packaging designs grow your sales by up to 40%. Packaging design helps to grow brand awareness. For more details call us at +86-13631604091.

[requiemforthepoets]

you say good morning when its midnight ⟢ OP81 (part 5)

main masterlist | fic playlist | series masterlist

PAIRINGS: oscar piastri x female!reader

SUMMARY: you and oscar grew up together, and despite being neighbors and best friends with her sister, hattie, you never really talked or had a conversation with him. until one day, where he randomly texted you out of nowhere.

REMINDERS: this is purely fiction, the way how the character is portrayed in my story does not reflect the person that is portraying my character in real life. always separate fiction from reality, and do not repost or copy my work in any way.

WARNINGS: use of y/n, (a little) slow burn, humor, fluff, inaccurate information, no consistent face claims, all photos are from pinterest, weird, awkward, unhinge, reader is a little bit ball of a mess, long distance relationships, and minor typographical errors.

WORD COUNT: 555

AUTHOR'S NOTE: part 5! sorry if the update took a little long, i was away for a vacation. but i'm now back, and i'll try to update this series as much as i can. also, this series will be my primary focus for the meantime. i would like to apologize if this is a bit rushed, indecided not to some parts since i wanna focus on the plot, but i hope you'll enjoy this one!

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

It was four days later when the front desk called up to your apartment at Kent Ridge Hill Residences, letting you know that there’s an express package that had arrived for you. Couriers weren't allowed to go up to the units, so you had to head down to the lobby to collect the package yourself.

You linked in confusion, slipping on your slippers as you mumbled a soft, “I didn't order anything.”

You certainly haven't ordered anything. Not even a midnight retail therapy binge your forgot about. Still, you took the lift down and approached the reception desk, signing of the delivery. The box was not heavy, but it was neat, its brown cardboard edges sealed perfectly with a transparent tape that has the “fragile” word printed on the tape, and your name printed clearly on the shipping label. It wasn't large, nust enough to cradle in both arms comfortably.

You carried the box back to up to your apartment, the elevator ride feeling longer than usual. Once you reach your apartment, you quickly went in and locked the door. You sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor of your living room, scissors in hand. You stared at the package for a good minute like it might explain itself if you waited long enough, and then you began carefully slicing through the tape until the flaps peeled back.

As always, your curiosity won out.

You opened the box with care, like it might contain something so fragile. Inside, nestled in a bed of brown paper, were four things: a fridge magnet in the shape of Mt. Fuji that has the word "JAPAN” lettering under it, a tiny sakura petals swaying in a snow globe dome, a frog mug that is oddly shaped like a tiny pitcher, curved and handmade-looking—like it was plucked off the shelf of a sleepy Kyoto ceramics shop, and finally, a delicate matcha tea set—complete with a bamboo whisk, ceramic bowl, and a tin of fragrant powder so green that it could’ve only have come from somewhere special.

You felt your hear skipped a little in your chest. You definitely knew who it was from before you can even see the the note that was tucked neatly beneath the matcha set. But still, your fingers trembled slightly as you opened the small card, written in careful handwriting:

< I didn't buy you a postcard. I figured that’s somethinf you should do yourself, someday, when you’re finally there. I didn't want to take that moment away from you, but I thought I’d help you get started on the fridge magnet collection. Oh, the frog thing was just a spur of the moment thing, it reminded me of you and it looked like it should belong with you. - podium boi >

You read the note not only once, not twice, but three times. You couldn't help it and bit you lip, cheeks burning. The smile that grew on your face didn't stop for a long while. You tucked the note safely on your journaling notebook, then grabbed the fridge magnet and stood in front of your fridge, and with a soft click on the surface, you pressed the magnet into place. There was a quiet warmth blooming in your chest that you didn't quite know what to name just yet.

Postcard-less, for now. But not empty, not anymore.

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

yn.jpg posted to their story!

liked by hattiepiastri, yourmom, your brother, and 13 others

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

𓆉𓆝𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓇼

taglist: @uuoozzii , @freyathehuntress , @littlemisskavities , @elieanana , @rexit-mo , @imagine-it-was-us , @satorinnie , @pessismisticpotato , @milkysoop , @random-movie , @supersanelyromantic , @greantii , @chirpchirp69 , @purplephantomwolf , @mimisweetz , @frogiemushr0om , @angxedxtz , @hevzo8 , @pandora108 , @ms-darcy23 , @sluttybitch , @proudshinsoukinnie , @pinklemonade34 , @gemi-boi , @elizamoe133 , @sideboobrry11 , @mrrayjay , @curlylando , @soleilgrec , @nothingjustaninchidentt , @suns3treading , @dramallama9 , @1-queenofpotatoes-1 , @suibianupyourass , @armystay89 , @verstappen-leclerc-inchident , @landossainz , @martygraciesversion381 , @larkkyoris , @iloveotters11 , @isagrace22 , @bagelsbitch , @gigigreens , @wolfbc97 , @esw1012 , @raesblues , @mashmashi , @chxseversion , @fairyjinn , @hoseokjin194 , @ihaveitprinteddout , @henryspersonalver , @fctnllvrs , @pinkdeadtopia , @noimnotmae , @henna006 , @quenanababy , @formulaal , @mits-vi , @urmomsgirlfriend1 , @yeahimcrying , @ardentsnowfall , @teamnovalak , @mmsimp

[ipulpmedia]

IPulp Media’s business directory offers a comprehensive list of suppliers for various business needs, including retail packaging supplies. With easy access to top vendors, businesses can find solutions for customized packaging, eco-friendly options, and wholesale pricing, helping them meet diverse packaging requirements efficiently. This directory simplifies the sourcing process by connecting businesses with trusted suppliers, making it easier to enhance brand presentation and secure durable packaging. For companies focused on retail, the platform is an invaluable resource to streamline procurement and boost brand impact.

[kvroomi]

right person, wrong address!

☆ synopsis: y/n l/n, avid online shopper and retail enthusiast lives in the same building as tetsuro kuroo, another avid online shopper and retail enthusiast.

y/n lives in apartment 39 and tetsuro lives in apartment 36, so it’s easy to get the two confused.

this fact is proven when y/n opens her door and collects her package, expecting to be greeted with a box of new christmas ornaments and is instead met with a package that reads “USB PET ROCK”. inside? a rock with a cord sticking out of it.

fate works in funny ways.

☆ pairing: tetsuro kuroo x fem!reader

☆ genre: timeskip!au, aged up characters, strangers to friends to lovers!!, disgustingly cheesy fluff, crack, happy ending :)

☆ warnings: swearing, miscommunication, angst if you squint

☆ status: ongoing… updated irregularly

DISCLAIMER: all pictures used do not belong to me and credit is given where it’s due. haikyuu characters are owned by haruichi furudate

meet the gc!

☆ hot mess express || stinkfest

one. mornings at the apartment complex

two. usb pet rock and christmas ornaments

three. rocks have no conscience

….

TO BE CONTINUED

☆ TAGLIST: OPEN :)

@wyrcan @kukkurookkoo @nnnyxie @gigiiiiislife @lees-chaotic-brain @wakashudou @noyaistall @usbrous @frootloopscos @bubybubsters @bnhabadass @mdmraz @qardasngan @saintcosette @brilliantshoyo @rriwyu @weezerbby

[NAMES IN BLACK CANNOT BE TAGGED]

all reblogs and likes are appreciated!

KVROOMI © 2024, DO NOT REPOST, PLAGIARIZE, MODIFY OR TRANSLATE.

[panda-writes-kpop]

I'll give it to someone special ~ k. mj.

a/n: Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! I wanted to have this fic out earlier but I was recovering from a nasty sinus infection the last few days that managed to travel into my lungs and give me a chest cold 🫠 it's all good though, this is the best I've felt in about a week so I'll take it. KATIE'S COMEBACK IS HERE EVERYONE RAHHH

tw: lots of food mentions, winter kind of breaks into your apartment?, mixed bag with angst and fluff so take it as you will, writing might be a bit rough around the edges since it's been three months

summary: the icy weather reminds me of your unstable "relationship" with Winter as you prepare for a Christmas party with friends. Little did you know that a late night visitor would settle your worries about Winter once and for all.

♡ Masterlist ♡

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart…

You hum to yourself as you pull the Christmas cookies from your oven. The scent of pure sugary goodness, mixed with the gingerbread candle on your countertop, is enough to make you drool.

You usually weren’t this festive when it came to Christmas. With finals season being intertwined with the holiday, it was hard to be excited about Christmas when you’re trying to not cry over an exam. Throw a few retail shifts, and you quickly grow tired of the Christmas season.

But this year… something was different. You managed to get through finals season in one piece, and your place of work decided to shuffle some non-Christmas music into their season mix. 

…You still didn’t like All I Want for Christmas is You.

The lights on your Christmas tree seemed to shine brighter, illuminating the main showstoppers - the ornaments on your tree. One in particular catches your eye as you set the cookie tray down on two potholders. 

It’s a simple glass bulb in your favorite color with your name engraved in cursive letters. You remember finding it on the window sill outside of your apartment last year.

A light knock on your window makes you nearly jump out of your skin as you look up from your computer. You grumble because you were finally starting to get into the groove of studying, and your final was in two days - couldn’t this wait?

You tilt your head as you notice a small box on your window sill. Cautiously, you stand up and head towards the window as you inspect the box. 

It has small red and green shapes all over the box - definitely from a Christmas store, but who could have gotten something like this for you?

With a barely audible click, you open your window and grab the unexpected present, hoping that bombs don’t come in abnormally small packages.

As carefully as you can, you open the box to reveal an ornament inside.

Sugar cookies weren’t the most demanding treat to make, but they were a smash hit with your foodie friends. Add in some snickerdoodle cookies, your grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies, some homemade rock candy, and a few other goodies, and you were a necessary addition to many of your friends’ Christmas parties.

This year, to save yourself the hassle (and a few broken cookies from the trip), you decided to host an intimate gathering with a few of your friends. Sure, your apartment wasn’t the biggest place, but you’d only have three guests.

Four, if you can count on a special someone coming your way.

With 48 hours to go, and plenty of baking to do, some late night baking was necessary to get everything done in time. As you watch the sun set (much earlier than it should), your mind wanders back to the ornament on your tree.

I know you bought that ornament for me. Minjeong.

~

Your phone buzzes as you concentrate on creating the perfect carrot nose for one of the sugar cookies. You don’t break concentration until it buzzes again, which makes you give your snowman an orange tongue that’s somehow connected to his stubby nose.

“Sorry, bud, we can’t all be perfect…” You mutter to yourself before setting the frosting down and picking up your phone.

You don’t recognize the phone number, but the text messages seem oddly familiar.

On my way! Don’t stay up late for me. <3

It’s already past 9 o’clock, and you’re only done with a small portion of the sweet treats you have to make, so it’s probably going to be a late night anyway… and you were terrible at listening to others.

Maybe that’s why the two of you never worked out?

There was something sweet in rebellion, besides the wonderland of baked goods that sat in your kitchen. You never were a rebellious teen, for one reason or another, so you liked to do rebellious things like stay up late, order junk food, and binge watch TV until three in the mornings.

…There’s a reason why Giselle calls you and Karina the losers of your friend group.

“C’mon, go drinking with us!” Giselle throws her arm around your shoulder, completely ignoring the way Winter tenses up at the action. “It’s no fun to eat take-out alone and rewatch the same show again and again.”

You feel the need to defend yourself as Winter’s piercing eyes meet yours for a minute before she looks away. The frown on her face neutralizes into a more aloof expression as you study her further.

“For the record, I don’t rewatch shows that often.” You say as Ningning narrows her eyes at you.

“What are you watching right now?”

“Okay, that’s besides the point!” You fold your arms after teasingly brushing Giselle’s arm off your shoulder. 

“One night can’t hurt, right?” Giselle elbows your arm before continuing to march down the street. “First round’s on me!”

You sigh while choosing to pinch the bridge of your nose instead of trying to fight against your friends’ plans. They had good intentions, trying to bring you out of your comfort zone, but you’d much rather cut this meeting short. Partially because you want to go home, and partially because Karina’s absence made the tension between you and Winter so much more palpable.

~

The small timer next to your oven happily dings as you finally shut the oven off for the night. Although you weren’t completely done, at least everything that needed to be baked was baked tonight. You could frost and assemble everything in the morning, after you had a bit of sleep and a break from the repetitive Christmas music coming from your music speakers. 

You quickly turn the dial back to zero on the timer before pulling the last round of cookies from your oven. With the sickening sweet smell of chocolate chips invading your nose, you set the cookies aside as you glance around your kitchen.

I just need to let these cookies cool, do a few dishes, and then box everything up so the gnats stay out of my sweets.

Checking the time, your shoulders slump as you notice that it’s two-thirty in the morning - where did the time go?

Good thing you don’t have work early tomorrow; otherwise, you’d probably call off. 

Winter would scold me for doing that.

You chuckle at the thought - Minjeong would scold you for calling her Winter, saying it was “too formal for our relationship”.

Our relationship? What relationship could she be talking about?

Winter was your friend, just as Ningning, Giselle, and Karina were, but you two often stretched the definition of the word “friend” to its limits.

“Winter-” Your back meets the wall as Winter places two hands on either side of your head, forcing you to look in her eyes.

“I want you.” Her posture seems harsh, but her voice softens as one of her hands leaves the wall to caress your face.

She’s giving you an out - you could slip out of this situation if you wanted to. You could rejoin the party like nothing happened.

But you can’t pretend like nothing happened. Not when you’re with her.

“I want you too.” Breathless, a shaky hand beyond the control of your rational thoughts reaches out and pulls Winter closer to you.

With her face so close to yours, you press your lips against hers.

Yet words like situationship and friends-with-benefits seem too… distant for the two of you. They imply a lack of connection and romance, which definitely doesn’t seem to describe the two of you.

Unless buying flowers and intimate gifts for each other could just be seen as a friendly gesture.

“I bought you these.” You present the bundle of flowers to Minjeong, as if you were a nervous pre-teen who was trying to impress your crush.

“Oh… thanks.” Her hands ghost over yours as you pass the bouquet to her. 

The lack of emotion on her face causes you to panic as you grab one of her wrists.

“If you don’t like them, I can always return them, or get some different flowers-”

“They’re lovely,” Winter interrupts you, “but I didn’t think we were close enough for gifts.”

You fake a warm, innocent smile as your brittle heart starts to crack under your false expectations of Winter.

Icy memories aside, it was time to let your mind and body rest as you made sure that the oven was turned off and the cookies were correctly sealed away-

Tap! Tap!

Luckily, nothing was in your hands as you jumped at the sound of something tapping against your window.

“Damn bird,” You mutter under your breath, “I’m going to murder Karina for feeding you.”

With the fluffiest slippers, and in your finest Christmas pajamas, you stomp through your living room to handle the avian problem that’s still tapping on your window.

When you approach the window, your birdy frenemy is missing from the window; instead, a familiar face stares back at you.

Against your better judgement, you throw the window open and offer her your hand.

“Winter? How the fuck-” You pause as she takes your hand and tries to crawl into your apartment.

“Don’t ask.” Her voice is raspy from the cold as she manages to enter your apartment. “Why did you get a third-story apartment?”

“Why did you climb up to my third-story apartment?” You stare at her, dumfounded, as Winter carefully closes the window behind her.

She freezes before turning around and shrugging her shoulders.

“I missed you?”

You pause before laughing to yourself.

“You could’ve called, Minjeong! That’s what normal people do!” You gently scold her as she rubs her arms to stay warm.

“I sent a text your way. Did you get it?” 

“Ah, so that’s who sent me that message.” A tiny smile appears on your lips as she lets out a small breath of relief.

“You’re not mad?”

“At you? Never.” You smile before suddenly becoming aware of the state of your apartment. “Sorry, this place is a mess. I’ve been baking all day, and I didn’t have any time to clean.”

“No, don’t worry. I’ll help you clean up before the party.” Winter casually brushes by you to grab a pillow from your couch as you stare at her in disbelief.

“Minjeong, do you know what time it is? Scratch that, do you know what day it is?”

“Yeah, it’s the 25th - Merry Christmas, by the way - and the party’s in about twelve hours. I thought I’d help you clean up before everyone else came.”

You fold your arms as a small smile appears on your face.

“It’s the 24th.”

She stops fluffing up the pillow and turns her head towards you.

“Really?” Winter tilts her head, confused for a moment, before continuing her task. “Well, that gives me more time to help you.”

“You can’t be serious!” You follow her every movement as she appears to gracefully dance around your couch and guide your decorations back into their rightful places. “You need to sleep, as do I.”

“I’ll sleep when I’m ready to.” She brushes you off again as you feel your frustration beginning to build.

“What compelled you to see me at this hour?”

“I told you that I missed you.” With that same unreadable expression, she gently sets a Christmas teddy bear against your Christmas tree. “Isn’t that enough?”

“It’s enough when your actions match your words, Winter.” The words slip out of your mouth, callous and cold and completely unlike you.

Her expression sours as she looks at you.

“What did you say?” 

You shyly look away as your frustration melts under her scrutinizing gaze. You were never good at standing up for yourself in front of her, but how could you let your heart fracture again and again as you dance in this endless “will-you-won’t-you” limbo with her?

“I’m tired of doing this with you. We flirt and tease and kiss but it never leads anywhere.” 

It feels good to let your frustrations out, as you’re usually letting yourself melt into her embrace every time you’ve thought this in your head before. Although you’re not opposed to the night ending that way, you want to hear her say something first.

“Ah, so that’s what you meant.” Winter slowly walks towards you, but stops a few inches short of your reach. 

She offers you her hand, an olive branch that you’re not familiar with, but you don’t take it right away.

“I want to hear you say it.” Your voice softens as you stare into her eyes.

“That I love you? I thought that was obvious - did the gifts not express my love for you? Do you want me to show you that I love you in a different way?”

“I just want to be yours, Minjeong. Sure, I’m affectionate and friendly with the other girls, but I’ve never wanted to be with anyone else since I met you. I’ll do whatever it takes. I just can’t keep doing… whatever this is anymore.” You pause to take a shaky breath. “I love you.”

You gently take her hand, which she immediately brings to her lips.

“I.” She presses a kiss to your hand before gently pulling you forward.

Her other hand cups your face as her lips meet your cheek. 

“Love.”

Her hand leaves your hand and lands on your waist instead.

“You.”

Her lips meet yours, and you don’t hesitate to kiss her back.

The taste of sweet liquor, dangerous and fruity and addictive, hits your tongue as you attempt to memorize her taste for good.

It feels like every time I kiss her will be the last - isn’t that sad?

When you break away from her, you’re left breathless as a small smirk appears on her face.

“Is that enough to convince you that I love you?”

“Yup.” You sigh, completely and utterly lost in her world.

She could tell you sweet little lies, honey-coated false promises, and you’d believe every word. 

She was the gospel, and you were the truest believer.

“I’m sorry that I’ve made you feel like you’re not important. I know you’re busy with university, so I always thought that you wanted to wait. I never, ever met to push you away.” Winter’s hand leaves your face and intertwines with yours.

“I… should apologize too, for not expressing myself earlier.” You squeeze her hand in reassurance. “And thank you for leaving me that ornament a year ago.”

“You knew it was me?” Winter looks bewildered as you try to hide your laughter. 

“Of course I did - who else would do something like that for me?”

“I-” She pauses before shaking her head. “Of course you did. You’re much smarter than anyone gives you credit for.”

“Ah, stop, you’re making me flustered!” You playfully push her away before her hands reach out to grab you again.

“C’mon, don’t tease me like this.” She nearly begs as she glances at a picture on a nearby shelf. “Otherwise I won’t take you on a date this Sunday~”

“Wait a minute,” You immediately grab onto her arm, “you’re serious?”

“I am. We have to make it official, after all.”

You give Minjeong the biggest smile before wrapping your arms around her torso.

“Thank you for everything. I’m glad you stopped by today, even if you didn’t come through the door.”

“You’re not going to tell the others about that, are you?” She looks concerned as you impishly laugh. 

“Oh, you know I will.” You gently tap her nose before pulling her in for another kiss.

[piistaciio]

The “Home Care Attendant” ™️ DCA AU

(all subject to change as i expand on this au)

Fazbear gets into some legal trouble that nearly puts them out of business, forcing them to lie low for a while and shut the plex's doors to visitors while things are sorted.

In an attempt not to lose money, Fazbear had the idea to use their daycare attendant as a ‘home care’ attendant. Considering it was already reprogrammed once to look after small children, Fazbear thought, 'Why not?' A caregiver wasn't that much farther off, right? :)

Rebranded as the "Home Care Attendant"(™️)

…

Takes place after Security Breach, Gregory does not mutilate the other animatronics to be able to escape the plex/stay safe until morning.

This AU uses the idea of Vanny being the one to infect Moon with a virus that makes him hostile in the night. 

But as Fazbear lies low, Moon finds he’s.. in control of himself again? And it stays that way as they are reprogrammed and fitted for their new job. 

Sun and Moon got to coexist with each other without fear, catch up, and grow close again in the couple of weeks it took for Fazbear to get them all sorted.

…

Cut to one of Cio’s (my insert/sona) online friends seeing this ad for an in-home caregiver robot, ‘for any age!’

They know their friend has been struggling lately, even though she doesn't think so.

So one day there's a knock on Cio's front door and there's a truck unloading this giant ass box???

She tries to make her friend take it back cause ‘omg wtf how expensive was this???’ 

Friend said too bad, the company they bought it from was adamant about no refunds, and they didn't need an in-home robot caregiver.

“If you rly don't need it, just resell it.”

…

Cio eventually accepts, at the end of the day, when is she ever going to be able to see a robot in person ever again, let alone own one? In this economy???

Especially as a former retail worker on unemployment, using art as a secondary income.

Has to sign a thick pamphlet of liability forms to be able to use it.

Cio skims and signs (we all hate reading terms, but girlie pls)

Comes with a concerningly thinner user guide, as if it was hastily put together or written with the bare minimum legal content needed to ‘sell’ the DCA to the public and generate extra money for Fazbear.

As well as only a singular, fine print, Fazbear branding in an inconspicuous spot on their packaging.

Shit feels sketchy but there are also no refunds/returns.

“The HCA comes fully charged and ready to help you in your day-to-day life!”

That was a damn lie.

…

[Mini drabble for their beginnings below]

Cio squinting at the vague ass instructions of this, intimidatingly larger than she thought, robot is sat in the middle of her living room floor.

“So I just…” squints at the pages, “Wait, why do I have to plug it in if it's supposed to be charged?? Ugh, this is feeling more and more scammy by the second..” 

She looks closely at the robot again, its blank sun and moon-themed face and well-built body.

“But it is like an actual fully made robot or- whatever, so maybe not?” Shrugs as she opens the back panel and connects its cord to the extension cord she had plugged into the wall to be able to reach it.

Lights flicker but don't quite trip the breaker

“Oooo boy.. you take a lot of power. I better go unplug some stuff;;”

Comes back and looks the bot over, wondering and checking with the bare minimum instructions on how long this “fully charged” robot was going to take to turn on.

“Bro.. They shouldn't have even included these instructions if they were gonna be this vague about them-” eyes widen as she reads down, “ ‘charging can take anywhere between 5 and 15 hours???’ Ughhhh…”

Cio sighs, looking around, then looking at the bot, “You better be worth it,” she huffed, booping its flat nose.

…

It takes halfway into the night for Sun and Moon to be fully charged. And by that time, in the dark/very dim ‘candlelight’, it's Moon who comes out first, Sun's rays tucking in and his hat popping out.

They hadn't been turned on since Fazbear tweaked them to be what they are now. Why waste the power of a currently closed plex on charging animatronics waiting to be bought?

Moon groaned, body's joints stiff from lack of motion for who knows how long, Fazbear left them uncharged.

[[🌙: Ugh.. Sunny..? ☀️: I'm here.. are we.. 🌙: Yeah.. I think so.. Oh- huh ☀️: what?? What is it?? 🌙: I think I just met our charge. ☀️: Really?? Oh I wanna meet them too!! Do they look nice?? 🌙: That'll have to wait, they're asleep ☀️: Asleep?? Aww…]]

Moon looks down at the sleeping form on the floor in front of him. Hair tousled, cheek smeared with graphite from their sketchbook, as they breathed quietly.

Moon huffed. 

They had no knowledge about the person in front of them or what they were like, but it wasn't in his programming to leave someone uncomfortable as they slept.

He unplugged himself from the extension cord and closed their panel. His metal strained as he stretched, flexing his fingers and such before gently and carefully picking up the short human, taking care not to disturb them.

In such a small home, it didn't take him long to find their bedroom. If he had a working nose it would have wrinkled at the messy state of the room.

[[🌙: it's a good thing you're aren't out right now, Sunny ☀️: what, why?? 🌙: messy.. ☀️: Mmmmm- 😣]]

Moon snickers quietly as he lays the human down in their bed, covering them with their blanket. Cio shifts a bit to get comfortable but doesn't stir beyond that.

On a full charge, Moon takes the time to poke around the home, while getting scolded by Sun about privacy and such.

And after tidying a little bit, takes a seat on the bay window in their new charge’s room, looking up at the night sky. A bit in awe, they'd never really gotten a good look at the outside, having been in the 'Plex their entire lives.

...

Unsure if I will make an actual fic about this AU, but this is the world any art of my sona and the boys will be based in!

Thank you for giving it a read! ♥

And feel free to hop into my asks with any questions you may have!