Paketera 101

Känsla förkrossade prövas stunder för att framkalla en paketera för din produkt? Inte-förvånad förmiddag I. Att paketera är den tredje största branschen i landet. I faktum finns det mer än 10.000 paketera tillverkningar i USEN bara. Spridningen av materiella val och försäljare är omfattande. Att börja dig ska måste att begränsa resursen och det materiella universum, för du paketerar något. Det är din första steg, därför att du inte kan ha en produkt utan en paketera.

Är vilken försäljare höger för dig? Är vad ditt paketera som är materiellt av primat? Förstår du skillnaderna mellan varje som är materiellt, och värderar vad ska varje kommer med till att marknadsföra din produkt? Hur siktar du till och med moundsna av information och resurser till uppsättningen som startas att paketera din produkt?

Är här lätta 5 härskar för att få dig startade.

1. Gör din läxa? För du avgör hur du önskar att paketera din produkt, behöver du att se och förstå vad är redan tillgänglig i marknadsplatsen. Om även din produkt är den mest stora nya uppfinningen ut där, ska du har fortfarande konkurrens av något att sortera. Starta, genom att kontrollera det ut först. Besöka uttag som bär liknande produkter eller produkter i den samma kategorien. Till exempel om du har en housewareprodukt, bör du kontrollera ut förlägger som marknadsför housewares. Välj inte precis ett uttag. Gå till en variation av diversehandel. Du önskar inte att framkalla ett stort nytt paketera begrepp endast för att finna någon annars gör redan det samma tinget. Mer som ser du det bättre informed dig, ska blivet. Var försiktig att inte gå in i informationsöverbelastning, genom att besöka varje återförsäljareuttag ut där. Detta ska endast serve att förväxla din beslutsprocess.

2. Välj ditt paketera som är materiellt?This isn’t as simple as it sounds because there are many external factors influencing why products are packaged in certain types of materials. Certain products lend themselves special merchandising. Some products can only be merchandised in certain materials. How the product is merchandised may dictate what type of package material you use. For example, if you need clarity to see the entire product then you are probably going to want plastic. The choice of material may also be dictated by availability.

Packaging materials are classified by their primary raw material. Two simple examples are paper and plastic. Within in each material type are numerous sub categories of different types of packaging. If you chose paper packaging it might be a box, a bag, a drum, a tube, a canister and so on. See the variety of choices? It’s easy to become inundated with options and hard to figure out what is the best choice. As products lend themselves to several different packaging materials, it?s best to start with what you know is working with similar products. Even if you choose the same material as a competitive product the package doesn’t necessarily need to look the same.

3. Optimize Your Package Profile?This is what is called the retail footprint, i.e., how much space will your product take up on the shelf. Your goal is to have the smallest size or amount of packaging you can while optimizing the shape and design of the package. It’s important to understand the concept of the retail footprint. Retail space is at a premium so the smaller amount of space you use the happier the retailer will be. They may even specify that your product only be allowed so much shelf space. In any case, you need to understand the concept and incorporate that in your sales pitch to retailers.

Many times you can package your product in variety of different ways. This is where creativity comes into play. Your product doesn’t just have to sit on a shelf in a box. It could sit upright; it could hang or be displayed in a floor stand or similar merchandiser. There are many unique ways to merchandise any product. You just have to think outside of traditional ways of doing things. Look at other products from different industries. See if you can’t incorporate design ideas into your own product packaging.

4. Be Prepared To Take Advice?I know you are in love with your product and you are sure you have ALL the answers, but you can’t be an expert at everything. Listen to what other people have to say about your product packaging. Don’t get so caught up in your own ideas that you make design mistakes or mistakes in merchandising. Get a reality check from someone who knows nothing about your product. See if your packaging concept is compelling to an outsider. By that I mean that they are interested enough to pick your product up off the shelf.

There are many resources available to you at little or no cost. Many vendors provide design expertise as part of the order. There is an unlimited amount of resource materials that can give you basic information that can save you many hours and costly mistakes. Be sure and spend time checking them out.

5. Think Big, But Be Prepared To Compromise?I know your product is fantastic, but you may need to start out on a smaller scale than you envision. One of the largest obstacles might be finding a vendor. In general, custom packaging is relegated to large volume orders and you are probably not there yet. But don’t despair.

Look for stock items that can be customized. The stock container market has improved dramatically with innovation and new designs. In fact there are many companies now that provide only stock containers. You can customize stock on a smaller scale. With a simple label change, your package may there. Also ordering in a limited quantity allows you to change and modify your packaging as your sales increase. You don’t want to have 10,000 old packages on hand when you have a design change or need to change what’s on the package due to some regulatory issue.

The important fact is to understand that packaging is not static it evolves and changes with consumer needs and demands. It can even change because you have more business and can order in larger quantities. What worked in the past may not work tomorrow. You need to be innovative and creative in your thinking. Look for guidance and expertise in outside resources. Keep up with packaging changes and materials. Don’t get caught ordering too much stock that you can never use. Think big and start small.

Don’t wait until it?s too late. Make packaging your first thought, not your last.

I get hundreds of inquiries a month asking how to package products. Most of the time, they are in crisis mode because they did not think about the package until crunch time. I just got a call from an entrepreneur whose packaging was a disaster. She never thought about the role packaging plays in her product?s success until her retailer said “NO WAY” to her product packaging. She had to start over. As a result, she lost a great deal of money in the process.

To help others learn that lesson before it is too late, I have come up with a basic workshop offering education on packaging products to sell. Whether you are an entrepreneur, inventor, work from home mom, or a small business person with an idea or product it is imperative to understand the role packaging plays in a successful product launch. Packaging 101? it is simple and offers the basics of what you need to know.

About the Author:

JoAnn Hines is the Chief Executive Officer at J.R. Hines International, a firm providing consulting services in the packaging industry. For over 30 years, Ms. Hines has been engaged in packaging trends, forecasting, ideation/brainstorming and implementing innovative new packaging technologies.

Need insights on packaging trends that can impact your business? Get the Packaging Diva on your team. Visit PackagingUniversity.com to find out about the latest packaging innovations.