There are a lot of growing pains that come with scaling up a business from a mom-and-pop shop to a large retailer. Not only do you have to worry about meeting the demands of your customers while keeping costs down, but you also have to maintain the same level of quality. On top of all of that, you also have to start thinking about bulk package design.
If you’re new to the world of commercial packaging design, you probably have some questions about how to successfully pull it off. That’s what we’re here for! Read on to learn the dos and don’ts of bulk packaging design.
Do Think About Your Customer’s Perspective
The first thing to know about package design is that you need to design it with your target customers in mind. This can include thinking about things like their age range and generalized likes and dislikes. When you know all of these factors, you can start to design your product packaging around the elements that are favored by people in their position.
For example, Millennials and Gen Z shoppers are much more likely to reach a hair care product with vibrant and edgy packaging. If you’re targeting retirees for your hair care product, then it’s better to opt for classic design and upscale styling.
Don’t Use the Wrong Materials
All the product packaging design aesthetic tips in the world won’t do you any good unless you’re using the right materials.
When you start your design process, you first need to determine which materials work best. After all, you wouldn’t put lightbulbs in a plastic bag, would you? Think about which materials will do the most work in order to get your products to your customers in the best possible condition.
Do Use a Consistent Color Palette
Think about your favorite brands. How do you recognize their products when you head to the store? Most popular brands utilize a consistent color palette and strong logo design in order for customers to instantly recognize their products and know that they’re getting something of quality.
As your business scales up, take some time to think about how you want your customers to recognize your products. Then, be sure to make the design on all of your products consistent. That doesn’t mean you need to make everything look the same, but your product packages should share similar elements.
One of the most helpful tools to make this happen is product package design software. If you don’t already have one in mind, then you should definitely get more info.
Don’t Skimp on Functionality
Just like you want your product packaging to be made of the right materials, you’ll also want to make sure that the packaging itself is fully functional. There are tons of different ways that package design can serve you.
For example, if the product you’re creating is pricey and a common target of thieves, you might want to consider packaging that makes it difficult for people to steal. Want to protect your delicate product? It’s not enough to use strong packaging materials, you also have to make sure that it’s designed to stand up to the toughest of conditions.
Do Be Honest About Your Product Portrayal
We live in a world where people love to apply different filters to photos to make them appear as attractive as possible. It’s understandable that you would want to make sure that your product packaging does the same for your products.
When it comes to package design, however, it’s important to carefully walk the line between enhancement and deception. If you don’t navigate this properly, you might find yourself with customers who are unhappy that they didn’t get what they thought they were going to get. In today’s world, you don’t want the bad word of mouth that can bring.
Don’t Overload Your Design
Consumers are hit with a ton of information when they head to the store. You want your product packaging to draw your target consumer’s attention, but you don’t want it to be so busy that it overwhelms them.
Pare down unnecessary fonts and graphics to make it easier for your customers to understand what your product is and what it does. Stick to design elements that reflect your product and its origins. For example, natural products are served well by product packaging that contains natural colors and design elements.
Do Avoid Excess Packaging
People today are much more conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases. One of the worst sins a product manufacturer can make is to sell products ensconced in far too much packaging. It might look really cool to suspend a small product in a large amount of hard plastic and cardboard, but it has the potential to spark the ire of your customers.
In addition, excessive packaging is just bad for your bottom line. The simpler the packaging, the lower your overhead, and the happier your customers.
Don’t Leave Out Important Information
When a consumer buys your product, they look to the packaging to understand how they should be using it. They also look at the packaging to learn just what they’re buying. This means that it’s important for your product packaging to contain enough information for your customers to feel like they’re making an informed decision.
Leaving off critical information, like if batteries are needed or included, can spark dissatisfaction.
Use Bulk Package Design Concepts to Your Advantage!
If you don’t have a lot of experience dealing with commercial packaging, the concept of bulk packaging design might feel a little overwhelming. Thankfully, if you follow these dos and don’ts, you’ll be well on your way to creating a compelling package design that’ll capture the attention of your target customers. Happy selling!
Are you looking for more awesome ways to make your business and its products stand out amongst the crowd? We can help you with that! Scroll through the rest of our blog for tons of great ways to make an impact!
