We know you’ve put your heart into perfecting your product. Now, you’re facing the final challenge: crafting the best packaging. A good one can make your items fly off the shelves, while a poorly designed one can do the opposite. So, how to create packaging for a product that gets noticed and doesn’t kill your branding?
Think of the last time you’ve shopped for something while wading through aisles packed with endless product choices. Some would immediately come into the spotlight, while others would barely catch your attention. Why this happens has a package-related explanation.
Most consumers probably don’t even realize they are instinctively drawn to items with eye-catching packaging. Even if you’re a cool-headed shopper, you’re more likely to grab something that can tell its story through colors, labels, and descriptions.
How to make packaging good on all levels
A good package serves as your product’s armor, a brand ambassador, and, often, the deciding factor in whether your items will tickle the customer’s fancy. With so many hats to wear, your packaging has to be perfect from all perspectives.
The first thing to realize is that packaging must scream its content quality within those precious seconds when someone is eyeing the shelves. To make that happen, you should know what to focus on during the design process.
Identify your customers and their wants
The first rule of packaging that sells is knowing who your target audience is and what they expect from your products. People shopping for, say, CBD gummies don’t expect their favorite treats to look like a pack of chips. Your packaging should reflect what your customers really care about, like beautifully visualized effects or the strength of gummies.
Design with helpful and compelling elements
That’s how to make product packaging meaningful. Let it tell a story about what goes inside. Use catchy phrases and eye-popping visuals that highlight what your product is, including its benefits and the experience it creates. You can also weave in your brand’s values and personality. When the right emotions are involved in the consumer’s decisions, this can positively impact your bottom line.
Don’t sacrifice practicality
Good design goes beyond the looks. It makes a package work for your product and your customer. Do you sell liquid items? Give your package a spout. Is it something people will dip into again and again? Make sure it’s easy to reseal. And always keep important details – like allergen warnings – clear and bold. No one wants to play hide-and-seek with the information that matters most, especially regarding what they eat or drink.
Test, test, and test
Gather feedback if you’re still pondering how to package your product properly. Let people see and touch your packaging so that you can make appropriate tweaks based on real-life findings. Before your items appear on retail shelves, you can run multiple testing cycles to ensure your boxes or pouches hit the bull’s eye and are beautiful, practical, and perfectly aligned with your audience’s expectations.
Why does it matter so much?
Your packaging is a true multitasker that both protects and promotes your products. An item that’s simply wrapped in nice paper or cardboard won’t work as well as a smartly designed package because it has to be a:
- Brand representative. Your packaging performs tons of representation functions. If you’re an eco-friendly brand, it should shout “green” to emphasize your social responsibility. If you’re selling high-end items, sleek designs and premium materials can form associations with top quality as a distinctive feature of your brand.
- Silent consultant. Your packaging doubles as the customer’s go-to guide, dishing out essential information like ingredients, expiration dates, and how-to’s. Failure to include this information increases risks of item returns, bad reviews, and compliance fines. Plus, featuring this on the package saves your customers from putting an extra effort to look it up.
- Dealmaker. Before the consumer tries your stuff for the first time, it’s often a matter of how decent your products are packaged that results in a sale or an off-putting effect. A flimsy box or pouch may downgrade even the best item, while a well-designed one can make everyone want your product in their carts.
- Ad opportunity. In a crowded market, self-promotion is everything. Design your packaging to be your best ad – just like Coca-Cola’s iconic bottles that have immense advertising power directly on the shelves. This may be hard to achieve, but it is always worth the shot.
Does it seem like cramming this information and ad phrases into a single package may wreak havoc on its appeal? No way (if you do it right). You shouldn’t clutter the whole free space with explanations and terms. Instead, you can experiment with imagery and QR codes to make your packaging helpful and visually balanced.
The colors you choose can also be impactful. This is especially true in the food or cannabis industry, where flavors are often tied to certain tones (like blue for blueberry). But if you’re unsure about the color palette or how much space to occupy on the package, you’re better off contacting MYLARMEN to discuss how to get packaging for a product that strikes a chord.
Legal things to consider
When it comes to packages for edibles, supplements, or anything cannabis-related, you must play by the rules. These product categories have their own set of regulations, and your packages must check all the boxes.
For instance, a box of cannabis gummies must uncover potency information right off the bat. For cosmetics or other beauty products, you’re obliged to detail ingredients.
If you’re clueless about how to create packaging for a product with legally required elements, MYLARMEN can help. Our team of designers does the job for you and makes your items eye-catching, functional, and compliant with FDA and other regulations.
Final thoughts
What’s on the outside can be just as crucial as what’s inside. Great packaging is your brand’s secret weapon that makes a killer first impression and drives sales. Whether you’re rolling out a new flavor or giving your bestsellers a makeover, you should be well aware of how to make packaging for your product in a professional and results-oriented manner.