The ultimate guide to choosing the best packaging for your products
Everything you need to know about choosing the best packaging for your products.
The type of product you sell, where you’re based, and how your customers use it all play a part in deciding the best packaging for that specific item. Some products need high-quality protective packaging, while others can make do with more cost-effective options. It’s important to consider the visibility of your brand and that of your product because this will help potential customers recognise who you are and what you sell.
This article will cover the most important aspects of choosing the best packaging for your products. Read on to be enlightened.
1. Ensure that there are sufficient padding materials to protect against knocks and bumps during transit
Above almost everything else, your packaging should offer protection to your product. So, have this in mind pretty early in the decision-making process.
If you’re planning on selling your products through online retail stores and shipping is going to be involved, then it’s even more important for you to consider using a packaging material that offers sufficient padding to protect your products from damage while they’re in transit.
Biaxially oriented polypropylene bags (BOPP bags) are some of the best packaging materials you can choose as a business. Just make sure all of the BOPP bags manufacturers you’re patronizing also make them resistant to UV lighting in case your packaged products are ever exposed to the sun before reaching their intended destination.
2. Get competitive quotations
Once you’ve selected a packaging supplier, ask them for a complete list of all the different types of BOPP bags that could be used to package your products. Be sure to mention restrictions or other special requirements you may have, and give suppliers enough time to find out what would work best for your specific needs. For example, BOPP packaging can perfectly clear BOPP bags with BOPP printing. BOPP packaging also offers an innovative BOPP handle tie solution, which is perfect for packaging products, like bread rolls and baguettes, that need to be lifted by their handles, without spilling any crumbs or damaging the product.
3. Base material considerations
You also need to consider the materials used in the production process, which will help determine how durable they are and whether they might be susceptible to damage. Doing so can play a major factor in the type of packaging you choose. For example, if your item is likely to crack or shatter, it may be advisable to go with a sturdier option.
4. Product protection factors
Wherever possible, try to prioritise protection against leakage and breakages as this can annoy customers and cause significant financial loss. Therefore, it might be good to use air-tight and sealable options, such as screw-top lids and child-resistant caps, especially if your product is prone to spillages and cracking. The more severe the risk of breakage or contamination, the more you should consider choosing high-quality packaging, like injection moulded tubs with high-impact resistance.
5. Packaging material availability
One of the key factors to consider is whether you‘ll be able to source packaging that fits your needs and meets all your requirements. You want to make sure that you’re happy with the price, quality, durability, and quantities available before placing an order. It can be frustrating if you end up wasting time waiting for the stocks because they didn’t arrive on time; worse, there are no alternatives available.
6. Ensure it’s sustainable and user-friendly
Ensure that your packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible, and is easy to recycle or dispose of. This won’t only benefit the environment, but can also help you gain some brownie points with environmentally conscious people. This group includes a surprisingly high number of consumers. In other words, this brings forth benefits to both the business and the environment.
7. Packaging design considerations
Using a bespoke package design will allow you to prominently display both graphic designs and branding information, which, in turn, helps customers find out who makes your products—after all, this is one of the main reasons that packaging exists.
You should, therefore, include product information, such as the item’s name and logo, alongside any special offer or promotional message that will help boost sales. If your items are likely to be used in a certain environment, then, it may also help if you’ll use a type of packaging that’s specially designed for its specific needs. For example, if they’ll be sent out to outdoor locations, you could use extra durable containers with UV resistant coatings.
Read here for: How to get the most out of customised merchandise
8. Product availability considerations
Whether or not you want your items to be available in different colours when they’re packaged could impact what materials you choose. For example, if you wish for the packaging to have clear sections so customers can see the products inside before they buy them, this means choosing transparent materials, like plastic or glass.
9. Shipping & storage considerations
The type of storage and shipping methods you employ will determine how safe your products will be packaged before distribution, so always consider the environment in which they’ll be kept. It can also impact the amount of packaging required for each order, as well as the size and weight of your containers, so it’s important to come up with a coherent plan before ordering any item—ideally, one that considers all the possible outcomes.
10. Product cost factors
When coming up with a budget for your product and associated packaging, you need to work out how much money you require for overall expenditures, such as production and marketing costs, not only those directly associated with creating new packages, but also for shipping, storage, and returns distribution, too. The more you can reduce these costs, the better, but making these savings, sometimes, means compromising on quality or functionality.
11. Consider the durability and how easy it is to open and close
When choosing your product’s packaging, you’ll need to factor in the ability of your packaging to perform given its intended usage. Will it be able to keep your product packaged for as long as it’s needed?
The packaging needs to protect the product for extended periods, without being too difficult to remove from its container in one go. If people have difficulty simply getting into your package, then, they could end up damaging the contents inside, which can leave them less than satisfied with their purchase.
12. Target your demographics
Always develop packaging with your demographics in mind (not only existing customers but, also, new ones. What do they want? How will you attract their attention most effectively based on who they are and what they’re looking for? You need to consider all of these factors when choosing the best packaging for your products.
Conclusion
In short, research is your best friend when choosing the best possible product packaging for your business. Whilst there are a lot of suggestions out there, by following these, you can make sure that your customers would feel like they’re getting their money’s worth whenever they choose to purchase your products.
