Young businesswoman preparing deliveries in small office
Product development might be exciting for a new company, but getting your product packaged will truly bring it to life.
And good packaging is a significant factor in your marketing. According to IPSOS, 72% of Americans shape their buying decisions on a product’s packaging.
Are you ready to start designing the packaging for your product launch? Here is our short guide on choosing the best packaging for your small business.
Set a Budget
Before choosing your packaging, you’ll need to open a spreadsheet and work with some numbers. Your product packaging will impact your profit margins, but that doesn’t mean you need to go for the cheapest option.
Play around with the figures and find a lower and upper limit that will give you some guidelines when you start shopping for packaging. You’ll need to weigh up costs against branding, material, and quality factors.
Consider Logistics
Logistics will be part of your overall packaging costs. But there is more to logistics than the expense you’ll incur as a business.
You’ll need to think about practicalities, such as how long it will take to transport your packaging and restock critical components.
Another vital aspect is going to be how you store your packaging. You’ll need to think about the amount of warehouse space and any special considerations such as water and damp proof areas or refrigeration units.
What’s the Environmental Impact?
Nowadays, sustainability is more important than ever and will be a factor in whether some customers buy from you or not. Do you have a product that you can package in recycled material?
Can you keep these parts to a minimum if you need to opt for some packaging components that aren’t easily recycled, like some types of plastics?
If you go for highly sustainable packaging, label it well to use it as a selling point. Provide instructions to your customers on correctly disposing of the packaging when you ship your goods.
Choose Your Preferred Material
List your priority features for your packaging. Do you need something sturdy?
Do you need protective layers to avoid potential breakages? Do you need parts packaged separately, and do you need a presentation box for your brand?
All these questions will help you determine the suitable material for your custom packaging and help you find the most appropriate packaging companies.
Most of your outer packaging will probably be corrugated cardboard. So head here for some further information about corrugated packaging companies.
Branding, Design, and Quality
Packaging is the first thing your customer will see, and as we all know, first impressions count!
Your final packaging ideas will reflect your overall brand image and help your customers decide if you offer value-for-money quality products.
Think about the printing and labeling you’ll need for your packaging and whether you can order this as part of your packaging or if you need a separate supplier.
If you opt for simple labeling (like stickers), you could even do it in-house to cut costs.
Get a professional designer to mock up some ideas for customizing your packaging to make it attractive and appealing to customers.
The Perfect Packaging for Your Small Business
Don’t spoil a fantastic product with disappointing packaging. By doing some research upfront, you can find the perfect packaging for your small business that will be cost-effective and fantastic for your brand.
Head to our money and finance section for more practical tips for your small business.
