Great packaging is something that’s often overlooked in product businesses. Companies focus so much on creating great products that they forget that the packaging helps sell them. And when 72% of Americans say that excellent packaging design influences their purchasing decisions, it makes sense to invest in one yourself.
If you’re ready to pick packaging for products, you owe it to your customers to pick the right ones. Read the guide below to learn about the types of product packaging and how to find the right one for your needs.
Pick the Material
The first part of looking at your different packaging materials is deciding what type of material you want to use. You have several options — including paper, plastic, and cardboard.
The type of material you choose will depend on how you want to present your products and your customer preferences. Many people have packaging preferences and don’t enjoy certain types of packing. Think of your target customer and use something that doesn’t turn them away.
Consider Safety
Safety is a big concern with packaging — especially if you need to transport your products long distances. If you don’t have secure packaging, you risk things coming loose and getting damaged during transport.
If your products are susceptible to this type of damage, consider including extra packaging to keep things safe. Your goal is to have your items arrive at the target destination in one piece. Once it’s there, the person or retailer receiving the package can take everything out and see the real packaging for your product.
The more you expose your products to potential damage, the more you open yourself to returns and lost revenue.
Think of Your Budget
Your product packaging budget will play a significant role in your packaging decision. You may want to invest in the best packaging you can, but if it goes over your budget, you’ll need to consider something else.
Think of this number before you start shopping for product packaging. You don’t want to get excited about one of your options only to learn that you can’t afford it.
Limit your search to the products in your price range and see how well they maximize product cost and maximize your return on investment.
Consider Sustainability
Sustainability is a growing concern for a large portion of shoppers. People are concerned about the environment and the waste they produce. Because of that, those people now look for brands that focus on sustainability.
Look at the environmental friendliness of your product to see if it makes sense. Yes, it will probably cost more to go this route. But if you can get more sales by branding your company as environmentally friendly and charging higher prices, it may be worth the higher cost.
Calculate how much you expect to earn from those customers and the expected price point to see how sustainable your brand can be.
Packaging Design
Your packaging design will play one of the most vital roles in making retail sales. You have limited space to speak with consumers, so you must do whatever is possible to explain your product with the shortest amount of text possible.
Some packaging products are better for creating a design. Before starting your packaging search to see what ideas make sense, come up with packaging design ideas.
Once you have a few design ideas, you can start looking at the materials that will help you bring those ideas to life. Go through this process for several designs and types of packaging to determine the one that works best.
Ideally, work with a design company that can test your design with actual shoppers to see how they respond.
Package Shape
The next thing to consider for your packaging is the shape. If you go to retail stores, you probably don’t want a plain box. It won’t stand out when sitting next to your competition.
A unique package shape can help make your product stand out on the shelves. Look at the shapes your packaging suppliers offer to see if any will work well for your products.
It also pays to get a shape that conserves shelf space. You only get a limited amount of space at retail. You want to maximize as much space as possible to fit as many product offerings as possible.
Material Supplier
The last thing to consider when looking for product packaging is the supplier. There are many companies available that offer the type of service you need. The question is, will they all offer reliable service?
Vet the reputation of your supplier options before you commit to a company. Look for reviews on the internet and reach out to your network of contacts to see if you can learn about the companies they use.
Look for any red flags that make a company not worth working with. Look at customer service, timeliness, and other factors. Visit this packaging company website to learn more about what reputable packaging suppliers can offer.
Pick Packaging for Products Carefully
Your product packaging tells customers a lot about your product. It gives them their first impression of your brand and lets them know how they will benefit from your product. If you don’t pick the right packaging, you risk creating a clunky box that doesn’t appeal to buyers.
That’s why you need to be careful when picking product packaging. When you do, you’ll find a packaging material that helps your product shine and increases sales. Keep the things above in mind to find the perfect packaging for your needs.
Do you want to learn more tips that will help you sell more products? Check out the blog to find more business advice.
