"Out of the box" — when should I use this phrase?

I send a lot of unsolicited emails. In many of them, I ask to buy traditional advertising spots or to help conceive a non-traditional campaign. Oftentimes, I find myself describing these non-traditional campaigns as "out of the box," as in "let's think outside the box!" But I realize this phrase can also be interpreted as "ready-to-go," "turn key" or "prefabricated." That's not what I'm going for.

Am I using the phrase correctly? Is it easily interpreted as I intend? Is there a better phrase?

Solution 1:

The key lies within the text that you used to phrase your question:

"Out of the box" = turn-key, prefabricated.

"Outside the box" = non-traditional, unusual.

Solution 2:

"Thinking outside the box" is regularly voted one of (and sometimes tops) the most-annoying clichés and is best avoided.

Try to use something clearer: brainstorming, creative thinking, let's come up with something unique, innovative or novel (or gimmicky).

Solution 3:

"Out of the box" has both meanings. To think out of the box (or outside the box) is to solve a problem by tackling it from a different perspective. This refers to the nine dots puzzle.

Rather obviously, an "out of the box" feature is one which a product has when you first buy it and take it out of the box it comes in.