Retail-Ready Packaging: It’s Important for Retailers and Consumers
Operational costs at retail stores come in all shapes and sizes, and retailers are always trying to find ways to trim those costs, wherever possible. Retail-ready packaging could be the answer.
In the past several years, retailers have started catching on to an area where operational costs can be significantly reduced – costs such as labor hours spent restocking and “facing up” products on the shelf.
Now companies everywhere have been making the switch to retail-ready packaging (RRP) to meet retailers’ requests. By definition, retail-ready means there is little preparation the retailer has to do to get the package ready for display and sale. But it’s a bit more than that. It also means the packaging is a selling tool and is appealing to consumers. Below are the top characteristics that align with retail-ready packaging:
– Easy to find
– Easy to open
– Easy to shelve
– Easy to dispose of/recycle
– Easy to shop
The shift to retail-ready packaging presents multiple advantages that benefit both the retailer and the brand.
It Forces You to Think Holistically
Primary package design – the packaging a product goes in for display – has an impact on secondary packaging and on pallet optimization. By choosing a top packaging company that considers how the packaging will hold up throughout its journey from warehouse to shelf, retailers can avoid costs later down the line in terms of product damage.
Avoiding Stockouts
A stockout is when an item is out of stock at a retailer. They are dangerous because they can cause customers to walk out of the store and ultimately not buying your product or anything else. When a product provides quick and easy loading onto the shelf it helps retailers avoid stockouts. Plus, the less time a staff member spends in front of your product restocking means more eyeballs on your brand.
Decreasing Waste
Smart packaging that aims to decrease waste means you spend less on material in the first place, and retailers spend less time and money when disposing of material at the end of the life cycle.
Augmenting Product Presentation
A product’s packaging is a part of the product. Designing your product to be sturdy and stackable on the shelf ensures your product won’t lose aesthetic integrity. Having packaging that supports this is key because you avoid your product becoming a jumbled heap as your product sells down.
Customer Satisfaction
When products are stacked neatly and without empty gaps, it makes it easier for customers to see all of the products on the top and bottom shelves. This creates a psychological perception to the consumer that the company is well-organized, efficient, and well-staffed. That positive feeling will encourage them to patronize the business again and become repeat customers. Having a neat and full shelf also discourages shoplifters from stealing those products. A disheveled shelf might be perceived as an unsupervised store where shoplifting is easier. In addition, removing the product from a full and organized shelf would leave a noticeable space showing that a unit is missing.
If you haven’t already considered changing up your packaging design to be retail ready, you may be a good candidate to do just that! Contact us today to see how we can help make your product retail-ready.
Want to learn more about designing the best packaging for your retail product? Read our online guide – The Complete Guide to Product Packaging.