Where can I get packaging for my products?
For those new to a business, it can be difficult to know exactly how to go about packaging your product. Ideally, you want to opt for packaging that displays your product to its full advantage and demonstrates its features and other main selling points, but you also want packaging that is still affordable to produce. Although it can be overwhelming to start packaging your product, knowing the basic steps of the process will simplify it for you.
Step 1: Examine the Competition
Your very first step is to take a look at your competition. If, for example, you make soap, then you want to examine the other soaps on the market and pay attention to their packaging. Look at products from a range of brands as well as those sold in a range of stores of all sizes. Pay particular attention to major brands as they have already determined what works well and what doesn’t through their market research. Although you will use these products for inspiration, be sure you do not copy them exactly as your product simply won’t stand out.
Step 2: Define your Packaging Goals
Product packaging is an often missed opportunity for marketing to your target market. For example, with paper boxes, there is the opportunity to tell your company story, showcase your brand and logo, tailor messaging that truly speaks to your audience, and share about all the differentiators of your specific product. In step one, you looked at the marketplace and you found designs that stand out. Take this information and decide what you would do differently and identify what’s missing. How can you make the best even better?
Step 3: Select a Packaging Material
The type of packaging material you choose is very important and will dictate how you can customize it. If you want the product visible, you will need packaging with at least some plastic. Paper packaging is versatile enough to work with boxes, tubes, canisters, bags, and more. Take a look at various packaging companies to see the materials that they typically use and which ones will work for you. You may also want to consider going with eco-friendly material.
When selecting your material, also consider the storage needs of your product. For example, do you need a thicker more durable packaging material because your product is breakable? Products that are in glass containers such as perfume or are fragile such as DVDs may require more durable packaging to keep them from breaking during transit.
Step 4: Minimize Your Retail Footprint
The retail footprint is the amount of store shelf space your product requires and you should do your best to minimize this footprint while maximizing the overall size and appearance of your product. Keep in mind the smaller your retail footprint, the more of your product will fit on the shelves, encouraging vendors to purchase more. This is when you want to truly look at the various types of packaging available in terms of style and shape. Pay particular attention to the designs specific to your industry, and many packaging firms will organize their products by industry to make it easier for you.
Step 5: Find a Packaging Company
Once you have thought about shape and material, you are ready to search for the right packaging company. You want a company that will be able to customize the products to meet your exact needs. It should also have experience in the industry, competitive prices, and a quick turnaround.
Step 6: Test with a Short Run
Once your package design is ready, consider first testing it with short-run packaging. This means ordering only a few hundred of your packaging material to test it out. During this test, you will evaluate the overall design with your prospective customers, test how the product performed during transit and what it looks like on the shelf, and ask for feedback from potential vendors. This allows you to evaluate your design and see how well it works and whether customers like it before making a larger commitment or order.
Step 7: Evaluate and Continue
After your short-run packaging tests, consider whether you need to change anything and ask for customer feedback. When you are done, go back to the packaging company you worked with, make any necessary changes, and order a full supply of the packages to get your product on the market and available to the general public.