Whether you are shopping online or in an actual brick and mortar store, retail and virtual shelves are jam-packed with products. A major factor in determining the success of these products is the packaging. Packaging delivers one more brand message to consumers in the final stage before purchasing. A quality product is table stakes for repeat buying, but how much weight do you think packaging holds in that equation? More than you know. To break through the clutter of hundreds of other competing products, it pays to be different. We’re talking about being innovative and unique in order to get a product noticed. Packaging builds brands and gives a product personality. First impressions count, and even if we don’t want to be judgy, people do judge a product by what it comes in.
Grab attention
Let’s first look at ways to capture eyes in the aisles. Today there are a plethora of standard paper stocks as well as unique textures and specialty paper options in a wide range of weights to help differentiate the package. High-quality cartons that stand out with innovative printing and finishing methods while meeting product specifications and adhering to brand standards generate more attractive packaging and lucrative results.
Be recognizable
Consumers form an opinion about a brand the moment they see the packaging. Make it count. And once noticed, it’s vital that consumers can easily determine what the product is and make any brand associations that are important to them. There are both traditional offset and offset-quality digital printing methods that upgrade your branded packaging to a branded experience. Bring together quality print with premium materials for full-color impact and memorable outcomes.
Elicit emotion and action
Create awareness and excitement while showcasing elements significant to the brand and its mission. Maybe it’s quality, maybe it’s conscientiousness. Perhaps crisp folds, perfect sizing, strength or possibly flexibility makes the brand statement. It could be choosing to use certified recyclable materials, such as those endorsed by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI® (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), which are sourced from the highest available percentage of post-consumer recycled content from local mills. The power of great packaging gives a perceived image and value to the product. How it looks provides for better experiences and raises its profile.
Add a little extra
Custom finishes and coatings add pizazz and pop to retail packaging. Processes like debossing, embossing, foil stamping and spot color printing transform the appearance of products on the shelf. Finishing processes such as UV gloss coating, spot UV, soft-touch lamination, aqueous satin, and gloss coatings, intricate die-cutting, and raised UV give it a snazzy, polished look. These extras highlight design elements, elevate the tactile experience, and add dimension.
Set yourself apart
It’s not the complete package until it’s the complete package. Including related products such as labels, inserts, bottleneckers and hang tags rounds out a comprehensive, well-branded and highly visible product package solution. Tapping into the creative inspiration of organizations like the Retail Packaging Association, and working with consultative partners that bring comprehensive solutions and marketing savvy to packaging programs is your best bet.
Make design the focus of the packaging
Better packaging design sells more products. That’s the bottom line. It’s in the innovation where packaging can accomplish all of what we’ve covered here. Brand managers and package designers spend countless hours exercising their creative chops to develop the right look for their products. The packaging and unboxing presents an experience for the consumer that adds to the product’s appeal. Organizations like the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA), dedicated to promoting the benefits of paperboard packaging, recognize the importance of certain products, and influence preference for these materials in packaging design and selection. Companies that put innovation principles to work and rethink the design of their packaging create magical moments when consumers first spot it when they pick it up and feel it — all the way through their unboxing experience.
The takeaway
Opportunities for packaging innovation can be driven by pivots in consumer behaviors, attitudes, and interests, as well as other macro trends in the marketplace. But true innovation comes from blending consumer desire and product usability with production feasibility and brand voice. Sprinkle in cool packaging options and embellishments to ultimately connect brands with consumers and create moments that matter.
Our expertise, your value-add
We’re here to walk you and your customer through the process of designing and ordering standard or custom packaging. With our innovations, our Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) membership, and our experience in diverse industries, we are an excellent resource for creative packaging solutions that meet your customers’ needs. It’s this innovation and experience that allows us to deliver The Best Packaging Experience in the industry.
Looking for inspiration? We provide finished package samples for a number of strategic markets to inspire you and your customers. Request a sample kit. The best place to start is by contacting your sales rep. If you’re not sure who your rep is, give us a call at 866.628.3290. We’re here to answer any of your questions.
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