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Brian Pankratz

~ Let's Talk Packaging

Brian Pankratz

Tag Archives: packaging digest

CUSTOM THERMOFORMING IN REVIEW

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by Brian Pankratz in Consumer Satisfaction, Info for Buyers, manufacturing, Marketing, Packaging Design, Product Development

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blister, blister pack, clamshell, custom thermoforming, packaging, packaging and containers, packaging blog, packaging companies, packaging design, packaging designs, packaging digest, packaging news, Packaging solutions, packaging supplier, thermoforming, thermoforming companies

The consumer packaged goods (CPG) market averages 30,000 new product releases each year. To put that into perspective, a typical big box store like Walmart, is comprised of approximately 120,000 items. With so many choices, custom packaging has the ability to help you stand out from the crowd. You may choose the path of least resistance and select an existing stock clamshell in order to keep your initial investment low. This decision can lead to serious consequences in lost sales and inability to get advantageous product placement as well as shipping costs for packaging that does not properly fit your product

Cost
The main reason people choose stock packaging, is the cost associated with tool investment. Oftentimes, the upfront costs of a custom tool seem prohibitive. While there is a cost for a custom tool, it is minimal over the life of a product and a cost that can and should be planned into the overall cost of the project. There are many factors with stock packaging that can lead to overspending and quality issues. Knowing what these factors are can help to reduce any unforeseen issues as your product volume increases.

Volume
Volume is one of the main factors that helps to determine whether it would be advantageous to choose custom packaging over stock packaging. Larger parts will quickly justify the initial investment of custom packaging. The way to determine where your cost benefits are, is to discuss your options with a custom thermoformer, such as Mercury Plastics, who understands the market and can guide you through the costs associated with custom packaging.

Design and Appearance
Packaging design matters to the consumer. We have all bought products merely based upon unique packaging.  Custom packaging helps your package stand out allowing you to sell more product, which lowers costs and increases revenue. We understand that your product is special, the packaging should reflect the care and attention to detail and countless hours that you have put into development. There are many details that can be added to a custom thermoformed package in order to get the consumers attention. Adding unique features into a custom thermoformed package can be done with little to no additional cost to the piece price.  Take the time to talk to someone that can help you with your design options.

Custom packaging allows for a better fit, can use less plastic creating a lower price point, and can also yield a higher sales volume. Know your options and how custom thermoforming can benefit your product.

Like to know more about custom theromoforming and understand the costs for your product.  Contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc. to learn more, bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

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Reasons Why Packaging Designs Fail – Design

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Brian Pankratz in Marketing, Packaging Design, Product Development

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advertising, Ameristar, Ameristar Award, blister pack, blog, branding, brian pankratz, brianjpankratz, cost savings, Design, designs, Display Pack, holiday packaging, Holiday packaging ideas, Innovation, Marketing, New packaging designs, packaging, packaging and containers, packaging articles, packaging assembly, packaging blog, packaging companies, packaging designs, packaging digest, packaging news, Packaging solutions, packaging supplier, packaging world, pankratz, printing, product development, Product Packaging, retail packaging, single source, Supplier, sustainability, thermoforming

Blue printThe next three posts are going to be dedicated to defining the elements on why certain packaging designs fail. If you want to get the next post sent directly to your inbox, subscribe at http://www.brianpankratz.com.

Ego Check
Before we get started talking about why some packaging designs fail, we all have to come to the realization that somewhere just under our ego is opportunity for improvement.  It’s pretty tough to admit failure, but it becomes even tougher when we don’t admit it and learn from it.  Another thing to understand is that there is a level of opinion that goes into what makes a design a failure or success.

Areas to consider
When we talk about packaging design, there are three different areas to consider; design, structure, and marketing.  We are going to talk about the design aspect in this post, and then cover structure and marketing in following posts.

Define Design
It’s important to understand what we mean when we talk about design.  The word design could have several different meanings, one could argue that the whole make-up of a products packaging could be its design.  I would like to define design as simply, how you have decided to package your product (stock clamshell, carton, blister pack, etc.)

So, let’s start with design, what factors of the overall packaging design can contribute to failure?

1. Packaging costs – Start with an understanding of what the cost of your packaging should be.  Understand what equipment is necessary to assemble each style.  There are many factors that affect the overall cost of packaging your product.  Make sure to review all of them.  Not doing this could result in higher costs and make you uncompetitive in the market.

2. Poor Protection – Packaging has multiple functions.  It needs to help sell the product, but it also has to successfully transport the product to the consumer without being damaged.  Nothing screams, “Don’t buy me,” more than damaged or worn packaging.

3. Where’s the product – Very few products should be kept out of view from the consumer.  When possible, you need to show the product.  The more creative way you can show the product, the more attention it will gain.  Hiding your product in the packaging will make it harder to locate on the shelf.

4. Easy Access/Easy Open – Know your target audience and how they use your product.  Some consumers will avoid certain products due to hard-to-open packaging.  Understand the security aspects that are required and build in easy open features when you can.

5. Lack of Creativity – There are many options for creating attention in the simplest of packaging designs.  Plain packaging designs may be overlooked and run the risk of never being found.  Understand the different design options that are available at no extra cost that can and will draw attention to achieve added sales.  There are several companies out there (including Mercury Plastics) that offer free packaging design evaluation.  Do your homework and ask questions!  Be creative!

The Goal
The goal of every packaging design is to match the needs of the consumer with the abilities of your product.  Good packaging should attract attention and then explain what makes your product unique and better than your competitors.  Not doing so can result in a level of packaging design failure that could have been avoided.

For more information on how you can creating winning packaging designs that create attention and resist failure, contact Brian Pankratz, bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

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Mercury Plastics, Inc

Recent Posts

  • Plastic Prices Rising
  • PVC Clamshells Are Out!
  • CUSTOM THERMOFORMING IN REVIEW
  • Mercury Plastics, Inc. Expands Operations
  • Questions to ask when designing packaging: Determining how to package
  • Questions to ask when designing packaging: Understand the product
  • Reasons Why Packaging Designs Fail – Marketing
  • Reasons Why Packaging Designs Fail – Structure
  • Reasons Why Packaging Designs Fail – Design
  • The 4 steps to every consumer purchase – Week 4

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  • Cost Savings
  • Info for Buyers
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