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Introduction to Product Packaging

How an agency approaches branded packaging.
Branding Ecommerce Packaging
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Introduction

What To Expect

This article introduces some of the basic concepts behind user-first product packaging.

Audience

This article will be most valuable to small businesses looking to start selling products.

Read Time:

  • About 10 minutes

Introduction

User First Packaging

User Needs

What does the end-user value?

Seller Needs

Understand who is purchasing your products.

Needs Vs Wants

What does your packaging really need to be successful?

Manufacturing

Ask potential manufacturers the right questions.

Get Started

What about the actual design?

Introduction

User First Packaging

Effective product packaging is the difference between standing out on the top shelf and collecting dust in a back corner. It's also the difference between making a memorable first impression on a purchaser and disappearing into the daily blur. When designing effective packaging, it's important to focus on the needs of the end-user first followed by the needs of your distributors and your own business. That means designing packaging that creates added value, makes it easy and desirable for merchandizers to give it preferred placement, and doesn't require a small business loan to manufacture. Read on to find out how an agency approaches packaging one step at a time to achieve amazing results.

product packaging white box and textures
Jakeman's Family Maple Products Maple Syrup in traditional Kent Glass Bottles

User Needs

What does the end-user value?

Consumer needs are constantly changing, and your approach to product packaging needs to evolve alongside them. When determining user needs, it's best to start by asking what your customers are looking for in your product and then match the packaging to those needs in a way that adds to the overall experience. For example, take the traditional Kent glass style syrup bottle: Its artistic glass design is clearly better equipped to serve retail customers than industrial operations. While heavy to ship this little glass bottle has great shelf presence without being too big to fit on standard retail shelves. The sturdy glass design is also not something disposable to be easily thrown away. For the retail consumer, this packaging solution is environmentally friendly, feels traditional, and can be re-used as a pleasant looking decorative bottle.

Seller Needs

Understand who is purchasing your products.

Where do your end-users go to purchase your products? If they're buying from a retail location or a wholesaler then that middle-man will have needs that are crucial to consider. If your customers are buying direct through your ecommerce store, then you are the seller and will need to consider what it's going to take to ship your products. In any case, consider the day to day operations required to move products such as packing, shipping, shelving, scanning, etc. Before you start pricing out product packaging, ask yourself some simple questions: How many units need to fit in a case? What needs to be true for the product to ship safely and affordably? How often will the bar code be scanned and how easy will it be to find? All of these factors will help you determine the best type of packaging for your product and help you communicate your priorities to a designer.

Norse Foundry product catalogue
Deck of Stories Retail Packaging

Needs Vs Wants

What does your packaging really need to be successful?

When recording your list of requirements, make an effort to differentiate between needs and wants. It's always tempting to punch up your designs with premium treatments like foil printing, spot uv, embossing, etc. but take a step back and ask yourself if a premium finish is what your end-user is really looking for. In many cases, especially luxury products, these features will be important. However, in a business to business environment or in the case of every day products, function will often be more important than form.

Manufacturing

Ask potential manufacturers the right questions.

After you've determined a list of requirements, start to develop a budget for your packaging project. The best place to start is with the manufacturer. When selecting a manufacturer, it's important to prioritize communication and customer service. A good manufacturer will be able to answer your questions and make suggestions for how to get the most out of your budget and effectively package your products. Use standard dies if possible, and avoid reinventing the wheel. Find out if the manufacturer is willing to work directly with your designer. Making sure everyone involved is able to communicate directly will save countless headaches further on in the process. When comparing manufacturers, start off with the following key questions:

What is your minimum order quantity?
Can you provide quotes for A, B, and C quantities so I can compare my options?
Do you provide physical proofs?
What are your shipping terms?

Get Started

What about the actual design?

The work that goes into the actual design of your product packaging will differ on a case-by-case basis. How important is branding in your industry? Are you focused on retail sales or business to business transactions? Is you're product very utilitarian or very personal? All of these questions will impact the required design work and depend on your user-needs. Most graphic designers are not manufacturing experts, retail experts, shipping experts, or lawyers but they should be good listeners, value your end user, and make an effort to understand your brand. As a business owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your product packaging meets the needs of all stakeholders including your own requirements, retailer requirements, and consumer requirements. To tackle the design of your product packaging effectively, start by developing a clear goal and be prepared to explain it thoroughly to a designer. If you need a little help getting started, consider completing a product packaging canvas or find out more about our branding and design services.

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This post was written by Aron Murch for 2h Media.