Evolution of the Netflix mailer 23 Apr 2006

(Each quote represents a different iteration of the design)

1999

"Made from cardboard, the first Netflix mailer weighs more than an ounce. But with only 100,000 customers, reducing material and shipping costs is not yet a priority for the company."

2000

"Thick paper replaces cardboard. DVDs are inserted and removed from the top rather than the side."

"Full-color printing is introduced. Top-loading is abandoned in favor of side-loading, which is judged more convenient."

"Customers are asked to peel off a sticker to reveal Netflix's return address. The design is eventually deemed too complex."

"Made from plastic instead of paper, this mailer is cheaper, but it sometimes inflates when transported on airplanes."

2001

"An airhole (the black dot on the left side of the mailer) is added to prevent the package from inflating."

"Netflix returns to paper because it's easier to recycle. Foam padding is added to reduce breakage."

"Foam padding is dropped because the benefits don't justify the cost. The company gives top-loading another try."

"Marking a return to side-loading, this mailer is a direct ancestor of the one the company uses today."

2003

"Instead of sealing the entire top and bottom, Netflix introduces a circular sticker, affixed only on the top."

2004

"For the first time, the company uses the mailer to promote the release of a DVD - Shrek 2."

"A window shows the disc bar code. Speculation is that this enables storing discs in mailers prior to shipping."

2005

"The current mailer - introduced in early 2005 - adds a bar code at the bottom of the envelope. (Netflix says the additional label is part of its "secret sauce" but won't elaborate.) The result of more than five years of experimentation, this mailer transports approximately 1.4 million DVDs a day to Netflix's 4.2 million subscribers."

[Via 37signals]