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Monday, June 1, 2009

Five packaging must-knows

Here are 5 vital things you need to know as you start on your journey that packages your product to sell:
  1. You can't have a product without a package. Just think about potato chips and eggs for example. How could you sell them unbroken and undamaged without a package?
  2. The package could cost more than what is inside. The rule of thumb is that the package should be 8-15% of the total cost on average. 10% of every dollar spent at retail is directly attributable to packaging.
  3. Your package has to sell the product not just protect it. The average consumer spends just 2.6 seconds making a decision whether to pick up your product or not. So your packaging better be on target to the right audience with the right message.
  4. Most packaging materials suppliers like large quantity orders. It's hard to find a supplier for small quantities. The double edged sword is that you don't have large orders when getting started.
  5. Packaging trends and innovations can influence whether your product will ever get onto the store's shelf. The secret is in knowing what is going to be the "issue" of the future or what might be mandated as a "must have" in your product packaging.
Adapted and Condensed from (used with permission):
5 Things Every Business Needs To Know About Packaging
JoAnn Hines, The Packaging Diva
www.packagingdiva.com
Posted by Keith McCauley at 8:57 AM
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5 comments:

  1. I have to tell you that I got to speak with JoAnn Hines The Packaging Diva on the phone ... and I've got to tell you that not only is JoAnn a delightful person, but she knows what she is talking about. We follow a couple of her blogs, this one's my favorite though: packaginguniversity.com/blog.

    I just also wanted to follow up on this post because I want to stress item 2: the package could cost more than what's inside. Don't stress about this! The packaging is part of the whole package. Don't be afraid to spend what it takes to make the whole package (packaging + product) compelling.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, thanks for this informative blog!

    I was wondering if you know the best way to print or stamp images on a jar without using a sticker?

    Emily's Edibles sells mason jar canned cakes and brownies --

    http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7675992

    I would like to create themed jars (e.g., Spiderman, Obama, Congratulations, wedding showers)... Right now I just buy mason jars and bake in them, can them, and decorate with simple materials (see pix in my shop). Is there a way I could stamp or print at home, or would I need to contract out? I am a very small startup right now, a one-woman op.

    Thanks!
    -Emily
    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Emily! Thanks for the comment on our blog. I checked out your website and I love your concept.

    So you're wanting to decorate your glass bottles without using stickers or labels. There are a couple of different processes that you can use to get a print on your jar, but they typically require treatments that are a tad inaccessible for at-home. For example, special inks have to be silk screened to glass and then heated to a specific temperature before the ink will adhere properly.

    That said, silk printing costs may not be as bad as you think. You should definitely check it out. Typically you have to order around 1,000 of each print as a minimum, which may be a bit steep for a one-woman op. But you ought to check it out and see. Call and talk to one of our sales reps and they could quote you on what it would cost. 1-800-473-4144.

    I also wonder if your local craft store might have a glass-friendly paint. You could build stencils and paint directly on the surface.

    One final thought is to print the lid. This might be less expensive than the jar and would give you a good location to put your name, logo, and contact info.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi ,

    I am a start up skin care company and bit lost i what is best for me my line is natural organic so was thinking about glass wiht pum cover . I need to know what is the minumum order and also what is the minimum for decoration as I can not leave the glass bottle just the way it is . please direct me I am a bit lost ( need help and ideas )

    many thanks all

    isabelle
    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Isabelle. Thanks for contacting us through our blog. I apologize for the delay in responding to you. I was on vacation last week. First off, we LOVE start up skin care companies. This is one of our specialties. Glass is a good option for skin care products. Glass is heavier than plastic and consequently has the perception of being higher quality. It can also cost more to ship because it is breakable and heavier. Glass can also be recycled and reused. It is typically more expensive than plastic, which is why a lot of companies choose plastic. It's lighter, doesn't break, uses less material, and can be recycled.

    Both glass and plastic can be decorated: labels and/or silk screen printing.

    Give us a call and we can talk you through some more of your questions. 1-800-473-4144.
    ReplyDelete

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