In the highly competitive retail world, packaging is not just a thing to hold your products. It has everything to do with creating your brand’s identity and credibility. That’s why smart businesses have started taking packaging as one of their priorities.
So, to stand out in a crowded market, consider impressing your customers with your packaging. But how to get packaging for a product that does the job without costing you a fortune?
In this article, you will learn about the importance and ingredients of good packaging and how to get it the right way. We will also share a few useful tips about choosing the right packaging for your products.
Let’s start by revisiting the importance of packaging.
Importance of Packaging for Product Sales
Packaging is the first thing your customers see. How you pack your products tells how important your products are for your company.
Let’s discuss the factors that make packaging important for sales.
Pre-Sale Influence
Your product’s packaging can influence your potential customer’s decision about placing an order.
Most online shoppers thoroughly check the details of the products they want to buy. Their research includes checking out products’ pictures and reviews.
Seeing bad product packaging in the reviews negatively influences their decision to place the order.
Product’s Protection
Protecting a product is the mainstream function of every packaging. If you use good packaging, your products will reach your customers unharmed. Otherwise, you may have to face returns and refunds.
Brand Recognition
Packaging serves as a powerful tool for brand recognition. A branded product with a visually appealing and recognizable packaging design can leave a lasting impression on consumers and increase brand recall.
Customized packaging has more chances to be recognized more easily by your customers.
Brand’s Reputation
Packaging helps build a brand by conveying your brand’s ethics and values. It creates a tangible representation of your brand and allows you to establish a connection with your target audience.
Good packaging is a source for your customers to relate to your brand.
Competitive Advantage
In a saturated market, unique and eye-catching packaging helps your products stand out from the competition. It captures attention, generates curiosity, and encourages potential customers to choose your products over others.
Many reputable companies have been inclined towards showing social responsibility. They do this by telling their audience that they pack their products in eco-friendly packaging.
Some companies take sustainability quite seriously by using compostable packaging materials. Compostable packaging is safe for the environment and also helps the plantation to promote a greener planet.
Means to Interact with Your Customers
Packaging provides you with a chance to interact with your customers. Your packaging naturally reveals many truths about your business.
You can use packaging strategies like packaging inserts to communicate with your customers.
Collect Positive Reviews
Impressive packaging helps get positive reviews from your customers. While most sellers strive hard to convince their customers to leave positive reviews, unique packaging can naturally make customers praise it in the reviews.
Referrals
Good packaging may even act as a natural referrer for your business. When people from your customer’s social circle notice your unique packaging, they will also know about your brand even without buying your product.
Cross-Selling and Repeat Orders
With thousands of sellers selling similar products in ecommerce, customers find it hard to choose between them for their next purchase.
If your packaging has made a positive impression on your customers, they will most likely buy from your company in the future.
Effects on Shipping Costs
Shipping costs depend on the actual or volumetric weight of the parcels. So, your packaging’s shape and weight will also affect the shipping costs.
The Anatomy of Great Packaging
Designing perfect packaging for your products is not as easy as it may seem.
Consider the following essential elements of great packaging if you want your packaging to resonate with your business objectives.
Packaging Materials
Raw material is crucial in packaging. The final shape of the packaging, including its protection capabilities and even its environmental effects, depend on raw materials.
Common options include poly bags, cardboard boxes, and custom boxes. Poly bags are lightweight and cost-effective for small, non-fragile items, while cardboard boxes offer more protection for larger or delicate products.
The use of biodegradable packaging materials is quite in vogue recently. Businesses use eco-friendly materials in their packaging to promote sustainable ecommerce.
Custom boxes allow you to tailor the packaging to your product’s specific requirements, offering a unique unboxing experience to your customers.
Visual Appearance
Visual appearance is the major portion of the packaging. Great packaging attracts attention with its visual appeal.
You should ensure to use the printing part of your packaging wisely. Choose colors, fonts, and graphics that align with your brand identity and appeal to your target market.
Another important factor of visual appearance is the shape and size of your packaging. You have to decide what shape and size your packaging will have in its final form.
Some products require special shapes from the inner side to provide a firm grip and make the product inside the packaging stay in place.
You would focus on visual appearance if you consider packaging as a tool to represent your business to end-users.
Brand’s Elements
Packaging also includes the brand’s important elements. A good company incorporates its brand elements, like logos, taglines, and brand colors, into the packaging design.
Consistency across all packaging materials helps reinforce brand recognition and establishes a unique brand identity.
You should get packaging for your company that sticks to your customer’s minds.
Information and Product Details
Typical packaging has clear and concise information, including product name, description, quantity, etc.
You can also include packaging inserts inside the packaging along with the product. These packaging inserts may be instructions, safety information, brochures, etc.
Some companies also use packaging inserts to greet their customers.
Adhesives
Adhesives are also important in packaging to bind it together. You may use glue or tape to stick parts of the packaging.
You would also need adhesives to stick information like the shipping address and handling instructions.
Packaging Fillers
Packaging may also include fillers and other elements to provide additional support to products. In addition to support fillers, you may also decide to include your company’s special promotions or other material for your customers.
All such fillers are also a part of the packaging.
How to Get Packaging for a Product?
You can get packaging for a product in the following ways.
DIY Packaging
If you have the necessary resources and expertise, you can make packaging yourself. This allows for greater control over the packaging process, customization options, and cost management.
However, it requires an additional investment in equipment, materials, and skilled staff. Plus, in-house packaging would be an extra hassle if you have never designed or made packaging.
Packaging Suppliers
Working with packaging suppliers or manufacturers is a popular choice for retail ecommerce businesses. These suppliers specialize in producing and customizing packaging solutions based on your specific requirements.
They offer a range of packaging options, including cheap and expensive packaging solutions.
You can easily find packaging suppliers in China. Just explore B2B ecommerce websites like Alibaba and DHgate, and you will have a lot of options.
You can use Alibaba RFQ to get many packaging offers from Chinese manufacturers. You should research and select a reliable supplier that aligns with your budget, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.
Sourcing Agent
Thanks to ecommerce revolution, the packaging is abundantly available in the market. But with so many packaging suppliers, it seems a never-ending task to find the best packaging supplier.
This is where a sourcing agent comes in. As China is the preferred source for most products, it may be daunting for you to search for the right packaging supplier for your business due to communication gaps and multiple other factors.
A professional sourcing agent, like NicheSources, helps businesses overcome these issues. We already have a lot of packaging manufacturers in our loop.
You just have to share your packaging requirements with us, and we will do the rest for you. We will make sure to find the best packaging manufacturer in China at the most competitive prices.
Tips for Choosing the Right Packaging for a Product
Here are a few professional tips to help you choose the right packaging for a product.
Understand Your Product
First of all, you must understand the nature of your product. Consider its size, shape, weight, fragility, and special handling requirements.
This will help you determine the appropriate packaging materials and design elements needed to protect and showcase your product effectively.
Know Your Target Audience
Consider the preferences and expectations of your target audience. What kind of packaging would resonate with them?
Is it sleek and minimalistic or bold and vibrant? Understanding your customers’ preferences will help you design packaging that appeals to them and creates a positive brand experience.
Check Out Your Competitor’s Packaging
Don’t forget to check what type of packaging your competitors are using. Instead of designing your packaging from scratch, just do a little better than your competitors to stand out.
Consider the Unboxing Experience
The unboxing experience has become increasingly important, especially in ecommerce. Think about how your packaging can create excitement at its first look and enhance your customer’s overall experience.
Consider incorporating unique features like stickers, logos, or special inserts that surprise and delight customers when they open the package.
Balance Functionality and Aesthetics
While aesthetics are crucial, don’t overlook the functional aspects of packaging. Your product’s packaging should provide adequate protection during shipping and storage while being easy to open and handle.
Balancing functionality and aesthetics ensures that your packaging looks great and fulfills its primary purpose of safeguarding the product.
Customized Packaging
Customized packaging is another great tip for choosing the right packaging for a product. Your products may require different storage and shipping condition.
Customized packaging gives a unique look to your products and leaves a long-lasting impression on your customers.
Consider Sustainability
With growing consumer awareness about environmental issues, opting for sustainable packaging solutions can be a strategic choice. Look for recyclable packaging materials, biodegradable, or made from renewable resources.
Communicate your commitment to sustainability through your packaging, as it can resonate with eco-conscious customers. Don’t forget to mention your company’s efforts towards sustainability on your website.
Design Flexibility
It would be great if your packaging is a bit flexible, allowing you to make minor modifications.
For example, if you want to beautify your packaging by pasting your company’s logo or branded tape, the packaging should be flexible enough to accommodate it.
Regulatory Compliance
Familiarize yourself with packaging regulations and requirements specific to your product category and target market. Ensure compliance with safety, labeling, and environmental regulations to avoid legal issues and penalties.
Ensure that your packaging provides all the necessary information required by regulations, such as product name, ingredients, warnings, and country of origin. Clear and accurate labeling builds consumer trust and prevents misinformation.
For example, if you are an Amazon FBA seller, you would have to comply with their standard packaging and labeling guidelines to avoid rejections from Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Cost Considerations
While it’s essential to choose packaging that meets your product’s needs, consider cost-effectiveness. Evaluate different packaging options and suppliers to find a balance between quality, functionality, and affordability.
If you anticipate future growth or changes in your product line, consider packaging solutions that can accommodate scalability without significant design or cost modifications.
Test and Iterate
Before finalizing your packaging design and materials, conduct test runs and gather feedback. This can involve sending samples to focus groups or conducting surveys to gauge customer reactions.
You may also need to get into your customer’s shoes. Analyze your packaging from your customer’s perspective and ask yourself how you would have reacted with your packaging if you received it as a customer.
FAQs about How to Get Packaging for a Product
The following answers to the most frequently asked questions about how to get packaging for a product will address potential queries in your mind.
Can a Small Business Make Its Own Packaging?
Yes, a small business has the option to make its own packaging, depending on the resources, capabilities, and specific requirements. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.
- Determine if you have the necessary machinery, tools, and skilled personnel to create packaging in-house.
- If you have an in-house graphic design team or individuals with design skills, they can create packaging designs that align with your brand identity and product specifications.
- Identify and source the appropriate packaging materials needed for your products.
- Establish procedures for testing and quality control to ensure that your packaging meets the desired standards.
- Evaluate the costs associated with making your own packaging versus outsourcing it to a professional packaging supplier.
- Check if in-house production can handle increased demand or if outsourcing to a packaging supplier would provide the necessary scalability and flexibility.
- Consider the time and effort required to develop and produce packaging in-house versus outsourcing.
What Are the Cost-Effective Ways to Get Packaging for a Product?
- Get standard packaging options that are readily available and mass-produced.
- Avoid buying customized fancy packaging. Check with the supplier if he can make small tweaks at a little extra cost.
- Place bulk orders for packaging materials to take advantage of economies of scale.
- Choose cost-effective packaging materials without compromising quality and functionality.
- Opt for a simplified packaging design that reduces complexity and material usage.
- Consider working with local packaging suppliers or manufacturers to save on international shipping costs.
- Collaborate with other businesses that require similar packaging needs.
- Request quotes from multiple packaging suppliers and negotiate pricing based on your requirements and order volumes.
How to Check the Quality of the Packaging?
You need to communicate clear specifications to the packaging supplier. After placing an order, request samples for evaluation first. Ask your supplier to make the required changes, if any.
You must maintain open communication with the supplier to promptly address any concerns or issues.
Conclusion
Packaging is a critical aspect of retail ecommerce businesses. By understanding the importance of packaging and considering the elements that make up a great packaging design, you can create packaging that earns you loyal and long-term customers.
Remember that packaging is an ongoing process of refinement and improvement. Make sure your packaging is truly valuable for your customers instead of being a piece to be trashed right away.
We hope this article has made you better equipped to get the right packaging for your business. Do you want us to provide quality packaging at competitive prices from China? Ask for a free quote now, and one of our packaging experts will contact you right away.
