When shopping for new products, it’s always the packaging that will first catch the eyes of the buyer. For consumers who are yet to try what’s inside, the packaging is often what influences their decision whether to buy it or not, which is why you need a product packaging checklist.
Likewise, when shipping products, the packaging should also be secure enough to withstand the shipping journey. If your products aren’t packaged securely, chances are they’ll end up damaged in transit. Not only will it be detrimental to the buyer’s customer experience, but you’ll also have to cover the costs of a replacement, which includes an additional shipping process too, all at your expense.
If this happens too often, it’ll eventually eat up your revenue.
So if you’re selling products, taking the time to plan what goes into your packaging and what it should look like is just as important as having a high-quality product. After all, a product can only be really called high-quality if both its packaging and contents are indeed of exceptional quality.
To get you started, here are four things you can add to your checklist when planning for your product packaging:
1. Durable Materials
For the actual product packaging, consider first how delicate your products are. For food products, sealed glass bottles and plastic pouches will help preserve freshness. PKGmaker is one of the best companies where you can submit your own design to create a flexible stand-up pouch being made with the best quality materials with the best design. For non-perishable items, boxes and resealable plastic bags are good options.
When building your packaging’s structure, it’s always recommended to go with a material that can be opened easily. If the packaging is difficult to open, your customers may end up tearing everything apart. However, it should also be strong enough to hold the products securely especially while on display. If you have multiple items in one packaging, use compartments to keep them neatly apart and presentable. Also, consider using paper or plastic bags for shoppers.
As for the outer packaging materials for shipping, the best ones to use are corrugated boxes and tear-resistant, self-sealing satchels. Industrial lamination options like those from graphic finishing partners can also be used to give your packaging a more personal look while enhancing its resistance to the elements.
Don’t forget protective inner packaging materials like air pouches, bubble wraps, void fillers, and foam wraps. You can find these from packaging experts like Stanley Packaging.
If you can, go for eco-friendly materials like biodegradable and compostable plastic materials. Another excellent solution would be reusable packaging, and BOPE film pouches make great high-quality, recyclable options.
More consumers are now becoming more conscious about the environment and would gladly choose eco-friendly products and packaging materials.
Additionally you want to ensure that you have child-resistant packaging for the appropriate products.
2. Eye-Catching Design
Choosing the design is perhaps the most exciting part of the planning process. This is where you get to play with graphics, colours, and texts. However, you may find the process overwhelming especially once you’ve seen all the options you have when you start creating your very own designs.
There are only a few things you need to remember to narrow down your options. First, thoughtfully plan the design with your target market in mind. Although it’s tempting, avoid using your own preferences. For example, using your favourite neon colours on the baby products you’re selling just because you like them is probably not a good idea. This is important because your design will be useless if it doesn’t even appeal to your buyers.
Next, your design should be distinct enough to stand out in a good way. Your goal should be for consumers to be able to tell your brand just by the packaging. When your product is placed on store shelves, it will be competing against dozens of other creatively packaged products. If your packaging manages to stand out in a sea of similar products, you’re already a step ahead of the competition.
Lastly, use your logo creatively and place it strategically on the packaging. It should be the centrepiece that brings the rest of your design together. This also brings us to the next item you should have on your checklist.
3. Label Details
Once you’ve caught a buyer’s attention with your packaging’s design, the next thing they’ll check out is the label. If anything, this is your chance to convince them to buy your product, so don’t treat it like an after-thought.
Aside from the product name and logo, here are the most important details your label should include:
- Selling points or product benefits
- Usage directions
- Ingredients/Materials
- Nutritional Information (for food)
- Production and expiration dates
- Bar code
- Association marks
- Product certifications
- Manufacturer info
These are also details that answer the typical questions of new buyers, so they should be clear and easy to understand. Use font styles that are easy to read and keep the language simple and straightforward. Think of the details as a way for you to introduce and promote the product to consumers who haven’t tried it yet.
It’s also worth noting that detailed labels are more trustworthy than products that don’t have much information on their labels. It shows transparency and more importantly, the brand’s confidence in the products.
4. Practical Size Range
One of the most common dilemmas when planning for packaging is the number of sizes to use if you have a range of products with varying sizes. Most sellers would simply go for small, medium, and large sizes, which is indeed a good starting point. If you’re new in the market, it might be a good idea to start with just a few stocks of each size first.
Then as you make more sales and do your inventory, you can then decide which sizes you need to buy more depending on their frequency of use, which is essentially based on buyer demand. You may also want to keep a few stocks of extra-large sizes for high-quantity or bulk orders.
Another thing you need to take into consideration is the shipping costs since the overall weight including the packaging is a major factor. When your packaging is more compact, the overall packaging and shipping costs are much cheaper than those with loose packaging.
Hence, if you’re looking to save more money on your product packaging in terms of its size and other factors, then you must learn how to choose the packaging wisely.
Wrapping Up
The quality of the packaging can make or break a product. A well-thought-of, high-quality packaging that considers its consumers are more likely to attract even more buyers.
Your product’s packaging, especially its label, should reflect not only the quality of the product itself but also your confidence in it as the producer and seller.