Remember the feeling when you bought your iPhone? Well after removing the plastic seal the first thing that must have caught your attention would be the meticulously designed sleek white box. Apple designs custom packaging boxes in a way to ensure that customers feel the product or the device they are getting is highly competent and of good quality. It is very evident that packaging enhances the perceived value of the encased product. The packaging industry has been revolutionized over the years by the inventions of modern machinery and the latest techniques. Packaging has now become far more important than just a protective covering around the product. But the question that arises in the mind of many people is what packaging is and how it benefits the product it contains. Well if you are also stuck with this question then this article will solve many of your packaging-related questions. Let’s see what packaging is and how it enhances the product and customers’ experience.
What are the Packaging Means?
Packaging means a protective wrapping around the product that keeps it safe from damages during transit and storage. Without good quality packaging, the Product cannot be stored or moved from one location to another. Packaging practically helps in storing, handling, transporting, and display of the product. It helps to identify the product. Boxes are the most commonly used type of packaging due to their durability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to stack.
What Does Custom Packaging Means?
Growing competition between the brands has created a big place for custom packaging. In today’s hypercompetitive industries, every brand wants to make its products look unique so it can grab customers’ attention. Custom packaging is packaging that is specifically tailored from scratch according to the product and company-specific packaging needs. Unlike premade boxes, custom packaging boxes are made according to the product size to give a perfect fit.
Selling a product in a market without custom packaging is a very difficult process because you will have a hard time standing apart from your competitors and will get a very low response from the consumers because they won’t be able to differentiate your products from the rivals. Custom boxes help to give your product a unique and special appearance that attracts every passerby’s attention. Custom packaging boxes can be printed with a business logo to help the consumers identify their favorite brands. Such boxes leave a never-ending imprint on consumers’ minds, which increase your product’s visibility in the market.
Packaging is the first thing that customer notices about your brand and therefore you should bring different custom packaging ideas together to ensure that your packaging is captivating enough to touch the customer’s attention. Have a look at some of the ideas that you can incorporate into your product packaging to make it look unique.
- Colors are good emotional influencers so choose a good color palette that also matches your product and brand personality.
- Choose clear and concise typography for your brand identity so it can be easy for the consumers to read. Information printed on the packaging box develops clients’ trust on the brand which uplifts customer’s moods and the personality of your brand
- Choose a unique logo for customers no businesses by their logo. For example, if you see a big yellow M everybody knows it’s going to be McDonald’s somewhere around. Your logo is the visual representation of business, therefore, making it look unique.
- Use creative designs on custom boxes after doing detailed market research on what customers expect from your brand.
Just remember that custom boxes do not always mean that it’s going to cost you an arm and leg. If you are an entrepreneur or running a small business you can also take advantage of custom packaging. Look at some of the packaging ideas for small businesses that can benefit your product.
- You can get fully custom packaging boxes and add your logo on the top to create an unforgettable experience for consumers.
- You can get printed stock boxes or just simply use a sticker of your logo on the top of boxes to create a unique packaging experience for your customers.
- Paper bags with logos are also cost-effective and excellent branding options for your product.
- You can also insert Custom notes inside the box to make UN boxing special for your customer.
- Add handwritten notes and discount cards to grab a huge chunk of the audience.
How Many Types of Packaging?
It is quite evident from the above article that packaging plays a huge role in the perceived value of a product and helps a business to make sales more quickly. Let’s take a look at different types of packaging that businesses can be used to enhance the product value and provides customers with a satisfactory experience.
Corrugated Boxes
A corrugated box is simply referred to as one of the strongest boxes used in the packaging industry. This box is consist of three layers; an outside liner, an inside liner, and a flute that runs between the layers. The fluted liner gives strength and rigidity to the box. The strength of these boxes is adjusted according to the product protection needed. These boxes can be modified into any shape and printed with different designs to give a custom touch to the product packaging. Corrugated boxes are considered perfect for long-distance shipping due to their high strength.
Kraft Boxes
Kraft is a natural biodegradable material. It is made from natural wood pulp. At sunrise, the form is usually brown but can be bleached or died with any color the business needs. These boxes have good strength and are highly cost-effective. With the growing environmental pollution now people prefer craft foxes due to their eco-friendly nature.
Plastic Boxes
Plastic boxes are much more durable than Kraft boxes. Plastic boxes preserve the product and keep contaminants away. Plastic boxes however are not eco-friendly which is why they are often discouraged by an environmental socialist.
Rigid Boxes
Rigid boxes are made up of condensed paperboard that is held thicker than the normal paper board or standard carton. Many big and luxury brands like iPhone, Rolex, Tiffany, and co. use rigid boxes for their products to give the product an expensive and important look. Rigid boxes are more expensive than Kraft, cardboard, and corrugated stock.
Chipboard Boxes
Chipboard has various densities and strengths. It is made from reclaimed paper stock and is usually used in the electronics, medical and cosmetic industries.
Poly Bags
A thin plastic film fabric bag is called poly or plastic bag. It is most commonly used for waste, magazines, food, and other such items.
Businesses can use any type of packaging they want but always keep customers’ expectations, your budget, and your business personality in mind. Packaging and printing industries help the business in getting custom packaging so they can create their product’s unique identity which will help to elevate the profits.
Packaging with Recycled Materials
Recycling packaging is a modern trend and need. Highly elevated levels of global warming and polluted landfills now require businesses to switch to sustainable packaging options. Customers now prefer to buy from eco-friendly brands as everyone is aware of the damages non-eco-friendly packaging brings to our mother earth.
Packaging with recyclable materials saves landfills and minimizes the use of new materials and also reduces your packaging cost.
There are different types of materials that can be used and recycled. Let’s explore a few of them.
- Metal-based packaging like aluminum and steel can be recycled.
- Traditional paper-based materials like Kraft, Corrugated stock, and cardboard can be recycled.
- Glass packaging can be recycled content with no drop-off in performance.
- Plastics either LDPE(low density), HDPE (high density), or polypropylene can be recycled but contain health risks when used for food packaging
Packaging Process
Since by now we are clear about the packaging benefits and types, let’s see the different phases that make up the process of custom packaging;
Step 1:
The most basic step towards getting custom packaging is deciding the type size and design of packaging you need. What type of packaging you will need and how it will save you money and your product from any mishap? You can also take different quotations from companies that provide packaging.
Step 2:
Once you have decided on your packaging type and completed the next step is to create a prototype of how you want your packaging to look. You have to make necessary approvals regarding THE color typography design logos that you will include in your packaging. All these factors influence the consumers buying patterns. You can add information about your product on your packaging to make customers aware of your product and it will help them in their purchase decision.
Step 3:
Once you have proof of all the changes and designs then the production phase will start for your box and the packaging company share a sample before beginning production to ensure you know how exactly your box is going to look after production.
Step 4:
Once the boxes are made, you will be notified when your order will be shipped, and you can review the boxes you are ready to own the market with your unique packaging boxes.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, custom packaging is a tailored solution to meet specific product needs, encompassing various types like retail, industrial, and eco-friendly options. Its benefits include enhanced brand identity, improved product protection, and sustainability. Adopting custom packaging empowers businesses to stand out in the market, ensuring both customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility.