In many ways, packaging amounts to a whole lot more than just another piece of plastic or cardboard. It's a way to protect a product, educate consumers and immediately offer end users the most pleasurable experience possible - all at the same time. Because of this, paying careful attention to packaging design, selection and procurement across ALL stages of a product's lifecycle is of paramount importance. With that in mind, there are a few key packaging mistakes to avoid in particular that are more than worth exploring.
Steering Clear of Packaging Missteps
Perhaps the biggest packaging mistake to avoid involves failing to consider all of the disciplines that this single decision has an impact on - both inside your organization and out. As an industry leader, you must establish a multi-focus approach to packaging. Consider with (and address) dilemmas at all stages including in raw materials, in terms of packaging suppliers, manufacturing, storage, distribution AND users in order to maximize value throughout the chain and avoid disappointing results or unexpected costs as well.
Another major packaging mistake to avoid involves failing to understand packaging's role in the actual sale of your product. Human beings are incredibly emotional in nature and any emotive features that you can add to your packaging (in addition to those aimed at goals like protection) can and will influence purchasing decisions in a positive way. Look for opportunities in packaging to create a sense of joy, satisfaction or interest - all of which will contribute to both higher perceived quality and user adoption as a result. Packaging can also be an excellent opportunity to re-inforce your company image if designed properly.
Another major mistake that far too many people make involves failing to consider the legal requirements that a package has to adhere to in today's modern era. Hazardous materials, for example, require packaging that has been properly tested according to UN regulation. If you're going to be selling and shipping food, you need to make sure that the proper food safety compliance issues have been addressed. Pharmaceutical products will open up a whole world of factors in terms of hygiene. The list goes on and on.
When you consider all of these factors as early on in the design, development and selection processes of your packaging as possible, they can and likely will become an organic part of the product itself. Failing to think about these issues until the product is ready to go out the door at best will lead to haphazard implementation and at worst will send you back to the drawing board during a period where time is of the essence.
Finally, one of the most essential top packaging mistakes to avoid involves failing to use everything in your power to reduce the environmental impact of your packaging. When making an effort to reduce the environmental impact of your packaging materials, you aren't just doing your part to help make sure that we leave this planet in a better condition than it was in when we found it. Today's consumers actually place a high priority on environmentally friendly practices and this could easily become another marketing tool to add to your arsenal at the exact same time.
Contact Atlas Container Today
At Atlas Container, our number one priority involves helping you make the best and most informed decisions possible regarding packaging and procurement - both to help keep costs down by eliminating inefficiencies and by maximizing the value you provide to your end users at the same time. If you have any additional questions about packaging mistakes to avoid, or if you'd just like to discuss the topic in a little more detail, please don't delay - contact Atlas Container today.
