How you package your product can make or break a sale before the customer has even had a chance to use the product.
To stand out in a highly competitive market, even the highest-quality products need appealing and functional packaging—think about Apple’s products. As per a report by international packaging authority Smithers Pira in 2019, the global packaging industry is forecasted to grow to US$1.05 trillion by 2024. This should tell you that companies are spending more and more money on designing the best packaging for their products, and you don’t want to fall too far behind.
Product packaging does more than keep your product safe and sound during transit—it helps your product to leave an outstanding first impression on your customers. From brand aesthetics and practicality to eco-friendliness, everything down to the smallest detail, like how to provide the simplest unboxing experience, should be on your checklist when brainstorming the best packaging for your products, from brand aesthetics and practicality to eco-friendliness. Here are five smart packaging ideas that will help your product make a great first impression:
1. Use eco-friendly materials
Packaging is one of the biggest sources of environmental pollution. Traditional packaging materials (glass, metals, aluminum, foils, paper, paperboard and plastics) can harm the environment. They often contain toxic chemicals that can leach into soil and groundwater and take centuries to decompose. As a result, many companies are looking for eco-friendly packaging solutions.
By choosing eco-friendly packaging materials for your products, you can do your part to reduce your company’s impact on the planet. These materials decompose rapidly, making them much less harmful to the environment than traditional plastics. These are a few eco-friendly materials that you can use to package your products:
- bamboo—a sustainable resource that can be used to create strong and durable packaging;
- bioplastic made from hemp fiber and jute; and
- recycled paper and cardboard.
Not only is eco-friendly packaging better for the environment, but it can also be a major selling point for customers looking to support green businesses. As more consumers become eco-conscious, packaging your products with eco-friendly materials is a great way to show them you care about the environment and your brand is committed to sustainable practices.
2. Get creative with shapes
Another great way to make your product packaging more imposing is to get creative with its shape—think outside the box! Instead of using traditional rectangular or square shapes, experiment with something more unusual, like triangular or oval-shaped packaging. Unique and unusual shapes will help your product stand out on store shelves and in people’s homes.
Some of the most successful packaging designs make use of simple yet clever geometric shapes. The Toblerone chocolate bar, for example, is instantly recognizable due to its distinctive triangular shape packaging. Similarly, the teardrop-shaped Kikkoman soy sauce bottle was created with the simplicity and elegance of classic Japanese design in mind, symbolizing “the real Japan”, as per its designer Kenji Ekuan. By bringing creativity into play, these companies have created compelling and memorable packaging.
3. Use bold colors
Bold colors are always eye-catching, so don’t be afraid to use them in your product packaging. Bright colors will help your product catch customers’ attention and convey particular messages about your brand’s identity. For example, if you want your brand to appear fun and youthful, consider using bright primary colors like red, blue, and yellow. On the other hand, if you want your brand to be seen as sophisticated and luxurious, consider using dark jewel tones, like emerald green, ruby red and sapphire blue.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what colors best represent your brand identity—just make sure they’re bold! However, using colors wisely is essential, as too many bright colors can be overwhelming. Also, make sure you keep your brand color consistent to help leave a recalling image of your brand in your customers’ minds.
4. Incorporate textured materials
Specialty papers and textured plastics are always noticeable because they add a layer of dimensionality to your product packaging. Textured materials can also emphasize your brand’s essence. For example, metallic papers can give off a luxurious vibe, while matte papers can appear more down-to-earth and approachable.
No matter what message you want your textured materials to convey, one thing is for sure: they will capture attention thanks to their unique appearance.
5. Utilize technology
Technology is constantly evolving, so there are always new opportunities for brands to incorporate it into their product packaging and make it more appealing. For example, whiskey brand Jack Daniel’s put a QR code on the package where customers can scan and take a virtual tour of the Jack Daniel Distillery powered by augmented reality (AR) technology and learn about the whiskey-making process. Also using AR to engage with customers, hair product brand Herbal Essence created an app to offer customers interactive AR experiences. Upon scanning the packaging of its products in the app, users can enjoy AR experiences where they can learn about the brand’s stories and “clean up” plastic waste in the ocean.
You can also use quick response codes (QR) to display additional information about the product or company or interactive elements, such as inviting your customers to play a game or solve a puzzle to get a reward.
Simply put, when designing packaging for your products, you need to think from the customer’s perspective and ensure they will have a positive experience with your product from start to finish. Fortunately, the sky’s the limit when it comes to innovation and creativity. If you don’t know where to start, just put some of these ideas into action today and give your business the boost it needs!
Also read:
- Sustainable Packaging
- What Is “Shrinkflation” and Why Opting For It Isn’t Companies’ Only Choice
- Brand Loyalty Helped This Company Survive for Over 50 Years
Header image courtesy of Freepik
