Packaging design has been playing a huge role in product marketing in the past few years. The concept isn’t just about good packaging but creative ones. The more creative you pack the products, the more customers it is likely to attract. Packaging is also the last point in marketing products. With several different brands placed across the shelf, it is the packaging that would distinguish one from another. For smaller sized businesses, packaging design is also among the few platforms to market the product. So what exactly should be the manufacturers looking at? Conventional designs aren’t going to survive the competition for a long time. Here are some tips to make your packaging look different.
Handmade looks
Personalisation has huge impact on product selling. It does not just impresses upon the client that each packet has been given individual attention rather than commercial mass production but also adds a unique personality to the product itself. A good example would be the handmade tea bags sold by Tea Forte. The package is more than containers but a work of art – something that demands and receives attention of all.
Sustainable approach
There have been huge talks on the need of sustainability of resources and the modern consumers have reacted positively to the required change. People would be glad to pay a dine extra for packaging that is organic, made of recyclable material, environment friendly, has a ‘green’ message or contributes to the society. Both organic and inorganic products are being passed on in an ‘environment friendly’ and/or ‘socially worthy’ packet. Popular packaging materials in this aspect include mulberry paper, hemp paper, wild grass paper, recycled paper, etc.
Creativity in shape and material
If you have come across Note headphones or Whitebites dog snacks, it reveals how packaging can itself be a part of the product. Rather than selling fruit and vegetable puree in a conventional pep pack, Kiss integrated a packet shape that allows the user to actually ‘kiss’ the cartoon to drink the contents. Shape and material design has a strong impact on the customer’s perceived value. A distinct shape, made out of unconventional materials can allow it an edge over the rest of the competition on the shelf.
Added functionality
Packaging can add a lot of functional value to the purchase. The “City Harvest” grocery bag or the Tea Hangers don’t just present the product for a one time use but also take care or product storage and use. For brands looking into functional packaging designs, it would be advisable to look into the competitive offerings. This way, the packet/package doesn’t just allow added functionality but also encourages a repeat purchase.
Telling a story
“Honey Made” by Bees is one of the cleverest packaging that has ever been made in this category. It doesn’t just presents an attractive package but also presents a story that takes the product closer to the natural alternative. There are several brands that have been able to craft a playful way of presenting products. Done in the right way, it can immediately become a bestseller.
To make a compelling packaging design, manufacturers need to think “out-of-the-box’ and present a unique perspective of their own. It is the ‘different’ that attracts all the attention. With competition increasing, packaging design is a strategic tool to invest in.
