Product packaging is a fine way to give your brand the boost it needs. In a world dominated by online sales, product packaging becomes a key way to establish a positive first impression with customers. If they receive something that’s packaged well – or includes some innovative features – then they’ll think highly of your brand.
It gives you a much-needed reputational boost that can lead to a host of positive reviews and repeat purchases, both of which may also cause an influx of new customers. Some brands see packaging as an afterthought, but it needs to be at the forefront of your mind. Here are some of the biggest product packaging trends that are worth trying to give your business a boost.
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Branded Mailer Boxes
Some brands will have excellent product packaging that gets hidden beneath a standard mailer box or bag. It’s like when you order something from Amazon and it arrives in an Amazon bag with the company’s packaged product inside. Brands do this to save money, but the trend is shifting towards the concept of branded custom mailer boxes instead.
You can create a mailer box or bag that’s equipped with your branding. It’s a better way to make a killer first impression because the outer packaging is the first thing people see when their product arrives. Plus, if people see the packaging in a delivery person’s van, then you’re boosting brand awareness.
There’s another advantage to branded mailer boxes; it creates more compact and minimalist packaging for your products. Those of you who’ve scanned ahead will notice we’ve got a section dedicated to that concept, so we’ll discuss the benefits there.
Personalized Packaging
It is far cheaper to mass-produce product packaging for every order. However, there are times when it’s more beneficial to personalize your packaging. When does this make the most sense? It’s generally only advisable when you truly want to show off your brand. For example, if you’re working with influencers and sending out PR packages.
That’s the prime opportunity to go the extra mile. An influencer receives a personalized package with their name on it, which immediately means they’ll have a positive reaction. You could get them to do an unboxing video on their Instagram or TikTok, and they’ll be surprised by how personalized the packaging is.
Again, it’s all about generating great first impressions. When an influencer has a good first impression and displays that to their audience, then their audience will probably follow suit. You’re also making it more likely that the influencer recommends your product/brand to their followers, which will always create positive results.
Another reason you might implement personalized packaging is that you run a very small business with made-to-order products. You don’t get masses of orders every day because it’s not part of your business model. In scenarios like this, you have the extra time to personalize every piece of packaging for your customers. It’s a really nice touch that can add some class to your brand.
Recyclable or Reusable Packaging
You’d have to be living under a rock not to notice the shift towards recyclable and sustainable packaging. Businesses are actively encouraged to cut down on plastic packaging and switch to more eco-friendly alternatives. It’s one of the simplest ways to gain green credentials and earn a solid reputation with consumers. People don’t want to deal with loads of plastic bags or boxes that can’t be recycled for whatever reason. It makes their lives more challenging, as well as having obviously detrimental effects on the planet.
Paper is the most commonly used recyclable packaging material, closely followed by cardboard. Both are openly available and should form the main part of your product packaging. You can also go one step further and create packaging that people can reuse for different purposes.
Perhaps they reuse your boxes to package things and sell online themselves? Or, what if you made packaging that can be composted and used to help people grow things in their backyard or allotment? The more you think about it, the more creative you can be with reusable product packaging ideas.
Interactive Features
Adding interactive features to your product packaging can be a brilliant way of making your business stand out. We’re mainly talking about QR codes here; customers can scan the code on your packaging to be taken to a specific web page.
This page can include instructions on how to use your product, a special discount code if they provide their email, or anything else you can think of. It helps you increase engagement and make your brand seem more forward-thinking. First impressions are bound to improve because people think your company is quite quirky and innovative.
Compact & Minimalist Packaging
Remember when we spoke about custom mailer boxes and bags? They’re a form of minimalist packaging because they remove the need for two types of packing materials. You forgo the outer packaging and provide products with just one layer of packaging for customers to deal with. It makes their lives easier and cuts down on packaging waste, which is good for the planet.
Compact packaging refers to packaging that fits the product as best as possible. For instance, you don’t pack things in a massive box that ends up with loads of empty and wasted space. Compact packaging makes it easier for packages to be delivered to customers and can also reduce the delivery costs.
How? Smaller and more compact packaging weighs less and takes up less space in delivery trucks. Therefore, shipping companies charge less to ship them, which means you can charge customers less money, too. Everyone wins in this scenario!
Do you need to implement all of these product packaging trends? No, but it’s a good idea to pick a few of them. Some will be more feasible than others based purely on what you’re packing and selling. Regardless, always keep this in mind: your packaging can help you set a good or bad first impression, depending on what it looks like and how easy it is to open or get rid of. Don’t treat it as an afterthought; make it a core part of the product development process.
