Hercule Industrial logoHercule Industrial
Dieline

EVF12002

Vertical Pillow Pack with Handle

  • Available in a wide range of custom configurations & material selection.
  • Order 1 sample. Or order 100K+ units. Or anything in between.
  • Affordable delivery across North America.
  • Design support, warehousing, testing, assembly available.
  • Widest machinery capability in America via 30+ specialist partner plants.
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30+specialist partner plants

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To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

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Product details

Top highlights

  • Ships flat and opens by pressing the edges inward
  • Fold-over top creates a reinforced, triple-thick handle
  • Suited for lightweight retail and promotional goods

About this product

The vertical pillow pack is a flat-shipping presentation bag designed for retail checkout, boutique items, and promotional events. Unlike standard horizontal pillow boxes, this style stands vertically, using curved side gussets to create a bowing, three-dimensional shape while pinching flat at the top and bottom.

A fold-over top flap aligns three die-cut openings to form a triple-thick carrying handle. Because it relies on a pinched bottom and an exposed handle, it is built for hand-carry environments. If the bag needs to travel through a courier network, it is usually packed inside a rigid outer shipper.

Common uses

  • Cosmetics and beauty kits
  • Boutique apparel
  • Trade show promotional bags
  • Lightweight specialty foods

Get a quote

Share what you know. We'll take it from there. Or email us at info@herculeindustrial.com

Best Price Guarantee

Already have a packaging quote? Let us beat it.

Send us the quote you have. We will beat it for the same specifications, quantity, and delivery requirements.

Upload a competing quote

Free quote review. No obligation.

30+specialist partner plants

We supply through the plant best suited to your price, material, production, and delivery requirements.

Why we can beat a lower quote

30+ plants give us more ways to lower the price.

Each plant has different machinery, material costs, order minimums, and freight rates. Our buying volume helps us secure better pricing. We then quote through the plant that gives you the lowest total price for your requirements.

Send us your current quote. Watch us beat it.

Attach it to the quote form or email it to us. We'll review it free and send you our price.

Upload a competing quoteinfo@herculeindustrial.com
Best Price Guarantee terms

To qualify, send a written supplier quote dated within the past 30 days and addressed to your company. It must cover the same dimensions, construction, material, print, finish, quantity, tooling, freight, delivery date, and delivery location. The guarantee does not cover taxes, expired quotes, liquidation or clearance sales, or obvious pricing errors.

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Boutique checkout, event kits, and corporate gifting

Boutique checkout and apparel accessories

This bag replaces traditional paper shopping bags for small items. The bowing front and back panels provide a continuous surface for branding, making it a fit for cosmetics, jewelry, and lightweight apparel.

Trade show and event promotional kits

The flat-shipping format allows event teams to transport large quantities to venues efficiently. Staff can pop the bags open, insert literature or small samples, and hand them to attendees using the integrated handle.

Specialty food and confectionery gifts

For lightweight treats, chocolates, or tea samplers, the lenticular shape offers a distinct visual profile compared to standard square cartons. The fold-over handle keeps the contents enclosed while providing a carrying method.

Corporate gifting and onboarding kits

When presenting branded merchandise to employees or clients, the vertical pillow pack provides a distinct unboxing experience. It can be handed out directly or packed inside a larger presentation box.

In-store assembly and flat-shipping logistics

In-store retail environments

Retail staff need packaging that is quick to assemble at the register. Because the side seam and bottom flap are factory-glued, cashiers only need to press the edges to open the volume, drop the item in, and fold the handle over.

Event and exhibition distribution

Event coordinators prioritize logistics and storage space. These bags arrive flat, taking up minimal pallet space, and can be erected on demand without tape.

E-commerce presentation layers

While this bag is not designed for direct mailing, e-commerce brands use it as an inner presentation layer. The bag holds the product and provides a distinct reveal when the customer opens the outer corrugated shipping box.

When to compare flat-bottom cartons or parcel mailers

Heavy items or freestanding shelf displays

Because the bottom pinches flat and is secured by a single glued flap, this bag may not stand upright on a retail shelf without support. If the product is heavy or requires a stable, flat base for shelf display, a snap-lock or auto-bottom carton is a safer choice.

Direct parcel shipping

The exposed handle, pinched ends, and paperboard construction are designed for hand-carry. If the primary distribution method is through a courier network without an outer box, a corrugated mailer should be evaluated instead.

Board thickness, bottom seal strength, and handle shape

Board thickness and fold clearance

The top closure involves folding the board 180 degrees over itself, aligning three separate handle cutouts. If the paperboard is too thick, this fold creates tension, making the handle difficult to close and increasing the risk of cracking. Specifying the right folding carton grade helps ensure a clean fold and a comfortable grip.

Bottom seal strength and product weight

The entire weight of the product rests on the single factory-glued bottom flap. The adhesive choice and flap width should be discussed based on the specific payload to help prevent the bottom from opening during transit.

Print surface and finish choices

The large, bowing front and back panels naturally catch the light, making them a useful canvas for foil stamping, embossing, or varnishes. Grain direction should be planned to minimize cracking on these primary presentation faces.

Handle cutout shape and ergonomics

The die-cut handle holes can be reshaped to match branding or ergonomic preferences. The custom shape should align across all three layers when the top flap is folded over.

Handle customization and gusset depth adjustments

Handle shape and alignment

The standard oval handle can be modified into rectangles, rounded slots, or custom shapes, provided the three layers register correctly during closure.

Side gusset bowing depth

The depth of the curved side creases can be adjusted. This changes how far the bag bows outward when squeezed open, altering both the internal volume and the visual profile of the package.

Bottom flap height

The height of the bottom sealing flap can be extended to provide a larger glue area, which may be useful if slightly heavier items are being packed.

Packing details

Factory gluing and flat delivery

The bag is delivered with the side seam and bottom flap already glued. Retail staff or fulfillment teams simply press the sides to pop the volume open, drop the product in, and fold the top handle over to lock it.

Handle cutout styling

Handle cutout styling

The standard oval handle can be modified into rectangles, rounded slots, or custom shapes as long as the three layers register correctly during closure.

Additional notes

Grain direction and crease cracking

Because the design relies on both straight vertical folds and curved lenticular creases, grain direction should be discussed with the converter to minimize cracking on the most critical presentation faces.

Related pillow packs and retail cartons

FAQs

Can this bag be shipped directly in the mail?

The exposed handle, pinched ends, and paperboard construction are designed for retail hand-carry. For courier distribution, it is usually packed flat or loaded inside a rigid corrugated outer box.

Will this bag stand up on a retail shelf?

It depends on the product inside. The bottom pinches flat rather than forming a square base, so it is generally better suited for laying flat, hanging, or handing directly to a customer rather than freestanding shelf display.

Can this be made from corrugated board?

Corrugated board is generally too thick for this bag. The top handle involves folding three layers of material together, which often causes fluted board to crush or bind. It is usually produced in standard folding carton grades like SBS or FBB.

How much assembly is required at the packing station?

The bag arrives flat with the side and bottom already glued. Packing involves pressing the edges to bow the sides outward, inserting the product, and folding the top flap over to align the handle holes.

Where is the best place for branding and graphics?

The large front and back panels offer an uninterrupted surface for printing, foil stamping, or embossing. The bowing shape naturally catches light, making it a useful canvas for custom finishes.

How much weight can the handle support?

The triple-thick handle distributes lifting force well, but the overall capacity is limited by the single glued bottom flap. It is intended for lightweight cosmetics, apparel, and promotional items rather than heavy jars or hardware.

Does the handle shape have to be an oval?

The die-cut handle can be modified into rectangles, rounded slots, or custom shapes, as long as the cutouts align across all three layers when the top is folded closed.

How is the bag delivered from the converter?

It is delivered flat. The side seam and the bottom flap are glued at the factory, so no tape or adhesive is required during final packing.