Most people don’t think about the power of packaging. Not only do these outer hulls defend our goods, but they also inform us and entice us. Packaging well is an integral skill essential in shipping and marketing products. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen a failed packaging design or two, which always results in wasted product and money. To steer clear of these pitfalls, it’s essential to understand these common mistakes when packaging products.
Package It Right, for Safety Reasons
There’s more to a package than just some stuff to slap a brand logo on. The package is the essential transmitter of your company’s creation. As such, the type of packaging around a product matters. While most anything can get tossed in a box or bag, doing so leaves a lot to be desired. Improperly packaged goods can also pose a liability threat as the product may become damaged or contaminated.
There’s a very serious reason why pharmaceuticals only go in healthcare-grade packaging, food in food-safe packaging, and other products in completely different packaging. Packaging a product means considering many important factors—the material, the grade of the material, tamper-proof measures, and the nature of the seal the product needs to stay fresh.
Package for Your Market
One of the most common mistakes when packaging products is forgetting to match packaging to a market. Every store and platform has a different style and approach. Understanding how your product meshes with these details can mean the difference between a featured spot and merely sticking the product wherever it happens to fit.
For instance, big box stores like big packages that stand out as well as stand up, or ones that are thoughtfully tamper-proof. When selling online, a package that’s big or hard to get into means higher shipping costs, unnecessary waste, and frustrated customers.
Missing the Hype Train
Products that feature dead memes, outdated references, and overly quirky phrases are always going to miss the mark. Remember, you are packing for the current market and up-to-date customer. Find ways to appeal to each new fashion wave by keeping up with what’s fashionable and how others in the market are tapping into new interests.
Colors, textures, materials, and accessibility features are all constantly changing hype areas that can make just enough difference to sell your products. Consumers’ attitudes and sense of humor are constantly evolving. You’ll get a huge advantage by using slogans and styling that reflect the biggest mood of your clientele.
Infographic created by Herrmann Ultrasonics, an industrial plastic welding company