We all know the adage that we should never judge a book by its cover. But, the fact is that we do and will continue to do so!
Our initial appearances make lasting impressions. An unattractive book cover will lead that book to remain on the shelf and gather dust.
The same goes for product packaging. When a product has an attractive package design, this can lure in the customer. Businesses must remember that the customer has to be convinced that the product is worth their time. The only way to do this is to first bring them into the shop.
This guide will help you understand what is product packaging and how to make the most out of product packaging for your business.
Why Product Packaging Matters
Product packaging refers to the enclosure that a product gets placed in. Cereal gets kept in vertical rectangular boxes. Necklaces and bracelets get kept in horizontal rectangular boxes. Watches and rings get kept in small cubic packages.
We may not think about it, but we expect to receive our products in a particular type of package. These packages are also crucial for displaying the features of a product.
If you place a ring in a horizontal rectangular box, it doesn’t bring out the features of the ring. By placing it in a restrictive small cube, the customer’s attention gets drawn to the beauty of the ring.
The design on the box also matters for selling the product. Recall the familiar faces of the Flintstones, or the Captain, or the Leprechaun. These faces cause children to urge their parents to buy Cocoa Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch, and Lucky Charms. As a result, your business should consult with product packaging design companies to create designs for your product’s packages.
In the digital age, product packaging also refers to how products get shipped. If a business neglects the product packaging best practices they can lose customer loyalty.
Product Packaging for Shipping
Packaging products also refers to protecting the product, particularly during the shipping process.
For example, if you have a fragile product it’s imperative that you indicate this on the shipping box. You also want to make sure that you protect the shipping box with sturdy tape.
The inside of the box should have material such as styrofoam peanuts or bubble wrap. This is a precaution to prevent your products from moving around while they get transported.
Even if your products don’t get damaged, a customer will pay attention to how their order was packaged. If they notice that it was packaged without care, you can expect a complaint.
If you don’t receive a complaint, then the customer might have decided never to order from you again. A business cannot take the risk of not protecting products when they get shipped to the customer.
After all, your product is one of quality. There’s even a set of best practices on how product packaging helps you show off the quality of your products.
Product Packaging to Show Quality
The way you package your products can also show their quality. One method is what was discussed earlier in this guide. The packaging of jewelry items helps show off their quality.
But how do you bring out the colors of a product? How do you draw attention to specific features of the product?
For example, let’s suppose you have to sell a 22 karat gold ring with a white diamond embedded in it. When you display this item in your showroom, you want a customer to immediately notice it.
You might want a minimalist case that has a neutral color. If it’s black, grey, or beige then it doesn’t draw attention to itself. You want the customer to notice the ring, not the case.
The inside of the case can be coated with a black velvet cloth. This neutral and dark color emphasizes the luster of the ring. On the other hand, if you choose a bright red velvet, then it distracts the customer from the ring. The brighter colored velvet clashes with the luster of the ring.
What if you hadn’t chosen velvet at all? If you chose a lesser material such as wool or cotton, this doesn’t emphasize the luxury of the ring. If you were to show a product in a wooden box, what type of wood should you choose?
These are questions to ponder when you package your products to display them. Finally, let’s have a look at how packaging informs your customer.
Product Packaging to Help Customers
Some companies use product packaging boxes as part of the product experience. For example, any Apple fan will tell you there’s a certain joy felt when they unbox a new Apple product. The boxes are white and give a clean experience that doesn’t overwhelm the customer. The choice of white also draws immediate attention to the product.
With some Apple products, such as an iPhone you are immediately presented with a small booklet. This booklet gives succinct directions on how to set up your iPhone. This makes it easy for a non-technical customer to figure out how to use their new device.
This is also employed by Ledger, which makes hardware cryptocurrency wallets. Once you open the small box, you will have instructions on how to set up this unique device. Some companies might even print their instructions directly onto the packaging!
Let’s return to the example of selling a jewelry item. If you sell a luxury watch, you might wish to include instructions on how to set the time. You might want to include a small cleaning cloth for the customer’s convenience.
The product’s package can also serve as a carrying case for the product. Instead of your customer having to buy a separate case, they can keep the package and use it to carry their product when they travel.
Find the Best Product Packaging
Now that you know the importance of product packaging, you can follow these steps for your business.
These product packaging ideas will help you package, ship, and present your products to your customers.
Make sure to share this guide with your fellow entrepreneurs. You can find more great business tips on our website!
