Businesses have now realized that with the correct packaging you have the power to move your products from the shelves of retail stores into the shopping bags of customers. One of the biggest mistakes that most startups make is focusing so much on having the best product and forget about coming up with the best packaging. With no idea about the ideal packaging for their market, many of these startups end up wasting a lot of money on marketing and advertisements.
When you are looking for the best packaging, you have to spend time and money so that you can get the best packaging. At the end of the day, you need custom printed pouches and combining it with the best graphics that will make the packaging look great. Buyers tend to shy away from packaging that is too big, bulky, wrong shape and plain.
When it comes to packaging, there are some very simple guidelines that retail stores need to use. The packaging of any product needs to be light and at the same time compact. While using these two metrics, the value and appeal of the product should be maximized by the packaging used.
The transportation cost and storage used by the product also needs to be considered when picking a packaging design. If you lack a competent team to help you with selecting a packaging design, then you can hire a professional to determine the best packaging style for your products. However, remember to have a budget, and you must stick to that budget.
Packaging material also plays a vital role in the packaging design you will pick. There are different products on the market, and they all have different shelf lives. Therefore, the packaging materials used for these products will be different from one another. The other additional factors that professional look at when recommending a packaging style and design include: the total cost, the durability, the environmental impact and the functionality of the packaging style used.
After picking the correct packaging style for your product, you need to equip yourself and staff with the following packaging tips so that you can make the most out of your packaging design.
1. Does the packaging being used reflect what the product is about
There are instances where businesses pick a packaging design that doesn’t reflect anything about their product. The worst scenario is when a customer picks up the product thinking it’s another thing since the packaging is very misleading. The best packaging design for your product must be able to clearly communicate to a client what product is inside even before reading the contents on the packaging. This is the first rule about visual marketing.
If you walk in a retail store, it’s easy to identify the dairy products since most of them have the picture of cows and milk. The ability to communicate about your product by using the packaging is known as brand-centric. The other scenario would be using a packaging that doesn’t reflect anything about your product; it’s like wrapping your products in a brown bag with a small logo and placing them on the shelves of retail stores. The value and purpose of your product need to be clearly stated by the packaging you use.
2. What is your target market?
It’s crucial to survey and study your target market before launching your product. The ability to understand your market and their preferences will put you in a better position when it comes to delivering the goods and services that fit their market needs. Many startups make the mistake of targeting the wide market; the bad thing about this strategy is that targeting everyone might leave you having zero leads and zero clients.
The market might be wide, but then it’s important to know the regions where you have the potential of getting maximum revenue. After identifying your potential consumer, the next stage would be to package the product in a way that will attract your target market. The best packaging will be able to talk to a potential client and attract them into buying the goods. Understanding the market is very important especially where issues like age, cultural differences, religion and personal preferences of the clients are given important consideration.
3. Can your packaging survive transportation?
The process of transporting your goods from the point of production to the place of sale is very important. The packaging style being used should guarantee you that your product will be transported safely to its final destination which is the consumers’ house. The protection levels of your products need to cover a lot of aspects. Weather elements should not have the ability to harm your products.
Your products also need to be protected from theft and in case of an accident the damage should be close to 0%. Companies that have been in operation for long will tell you that, replacing damaged products prove to be costlier compared to spending a few more dollars on protective packaging.
Most business target optimum packaging specification, where the cost of damage product equals in value to the cost of protective packaging. You can include the use of protective packaging as part of the production budget. The other additional tip when it comes to protecting your goods from any damages is having your products insured. You can take the insurance coverage from the production stage.
4. What are the sizes you are using for your packaging?
Many times, in a store you have seen people postpone buying something because of the size. Consumers take size into great consideration when buying something. Using standard sizes will not only improve your product appearance but will also:
- Allow for easier display on shelves
- Easy storage and transportation
- Reduce the cost of production
- Less usage of space
- Improved flexibility on pallets
When picking the size take into consideration the cost and the nature of your product.
With these tips and the correct packaging style for your products, you don’t need to be worried about having low sales. The best packaging offers many advantages to a business owner since it is a silent way of marketing the product through visual marketing.
