A package is the first thing a customer sees and touches when buying your product. Packaging also plays an important role in improving brand image, marketing, and sales. Hence, picking the right packaging is a crucial step for any business. However, it’s not as simple as choosing between a box and an overlay. There are numerous factors to consider before selecting the perfect packaging for your product. Even if you have no background in design or marketing, there are some fundamental considerations that will make your job easier when choosing the right packaging for your product. After all, it’s not just about what looks good but whether it serves its purpose too. Here’s how you can pick the best strategy for selecting your packaging:

What to Consider When Selecting Your Packaging

There are several factors to keep in mind when deciding on a packaging strategy. These can be broken down into several categories such as branding, durability, target audience, etc. Let’s take a closer look at each of them: Design – This is the visual aspect of packaging and encompasses colour, graphics, and text. The design of your packaging should be consistent with your brand image. Durability – Do you need a packaging that is reusable or disposable? How often will the product be exchanged? What are the storage conditions? These are some of the factors that determine the durability of a packaging. Safety – Is your product likely to cause harm to the consumer? If yes, you’ll need an appropriate packaging. Cost – Which materials are more cost-effective? Should you consider hiring a custom box maker? How many pieces are needed?

The importance of branding

Branding applies to every aspect of your business, including the packaging. Your brand strategy is the visual expression of your company’s unique value proposition, your unique selling proposition, and your core message to potential customers. It helps you to stand out from the crowd. Hence, when selecting a packaging strategy, make sure it aligns with your brand. If your brand resonates with people, they’ll be more likely to purchase your product. Keep in mind that your brand strategy should be flexible enough to adapt to any packaging strategy. This is particularly important if your product is seasonal or if you’re trying to expand in different markets. Make sure your brand is always consistent, no matter which packaging you choose.

Target audience

The target audience depends on the type of your product and how you plan to sell it. Consider the following when picking a packaging strategy: Age – Teenagers or young adults like bold and bright colours whereas middle aged adults prefer something more subtle. – Men and women have different preferences when it comes to colour and brand design. Cultural background – People from different cultures have different preferences when it comes to packaging. Experience – People with no experience in purchasing the product you’re selling are unlikely to understand the packaging. Goals – What is your goal with the packaging? What do you want to achieve by using that particular packaging strategy?

Product durability and weight

What’s the average weight and size of the product? Will it be boxed or loose? Will it be shipped via air or sea cargo? These are some of the questions to ask yourself when selecting the right packaging for your product. Make sure the packaging is strong enough to withstand the journey without breaking. In some cases, the packaging might be opened by customs officials. If that’s the case, make sure they can reseal it after inspecting the product. If your product is delicate and fragile, you’ll need a more appropriate packaging. Before you decide on a packaging strategy, consider the following: Fragility – What is the fragility of your product? Is it extremely delicate or breakable? Size – Is the product large or small in size? Weight – How heavy is your product? Volume – What is the volume of your product?

How to ship the product

The packaging strategy you choose will depend on how you plan to ship your product. If you’re shipping the product via air cargo, there are certain regulations you have to follow. You also have to consider certain things such as the number of units, their dimensions, and their gross weight. You might have to use airworthy packaging for your product depending on its nature. If you’re shipping the product by sea, you don’t have to worry about customs regulations. However, you do have to worry about fitting the product into a standard shipping container. Find out if there are any restrictions or guidelines when shipping your product by sea or air. For example, marine vessels have restricted dimensions for loading containers. If you don’t follow these guidelines, your shipping costs will be unnecessarily high.

Consumer behaviour and expectations

There are certain things you can do to understand your target audience. Conduct customer surveys and interviews to find out more about their preferences and buying habits. You can also use social media to conduct market research and gather valuable insights. This will help you understand your customers better which in turn will make the process of selecting a packaging strategy much easier. If you’re selling baby products, you’ll have to take the safety factors into account. Choosing a packaging that is not safe for children is not only a violation of marketing regulations but it could be a serious hazard to the child as well.

Bottomline

Choosing the right packaging is crucial to the success of your business. Make sure you understand your target audience and their preferences before you decide on a packaging strategy. Once you’ve selected the right packaging strategy, you can start designing your packaging. Pick a box that is branded with your company name and logo. Make sure the box is sturdy and large enough to accommodate your product. It should also be easy to open. Go for a box that allows your product to be displayed in a way that makes it appealing to the customers. Remember, the first impression is always the last impression. So, make sure you pick the best strategy for selecting your packaging.