Blog

In today’s competitive age, you have to do whatever it takes to stand out. Sometimes, focusing on the details that other stores overlook can mean the difference between the red and the black for your company.

Stuck on ideas? One area you may want to consider reevaluating is your custom retail packaging.

But Wait…What Is Retail Packaging?

Retail packaging is everything that “wraps up” your products, from the tissue paper you first use, to the shopping bag or shipping box you gently pack merchandise in for customers. Though you’re probably familiar with standard retail packaging, maybe you haven’t considered that there are literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of customizable options that can take your branding experience to the next level and really let you stand out from the competition.

And…….Why Do I Care?

The cost of running a business continues to rise, and many small businesses today have taken marketing and advertising into their own hands. With the influx of influential social media platforms, especially Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, many brands are taking control of their image by creating their own accounts and updating them several times a day. They post pictures of their merchandise, customers, and, you guessed it, their packaging. Now, when one customer snaps a pic with your shopping bag, you truly don’t know how many eyes are going to see it. It could be one pair; it could be 50,000 pairs. Creating packaging that’s social-ready, that clearly communicates the message of your brand, and that is creative and innovative enough to keep people talking – and tagging – your brand is essential. The advertising “campaign” of custom retail packaging is twofold: first, you print promotional and location information on the bag itself. Then, you make sure it looks good enough to be “shareable.”

Ways to Switch It Up

It doesn’t matter whether you make a drastic change to your package design or if you’re just doing a few tweaks more for fun than for function – the fact is, constantly updating and reevaluating your packaging for your market, products, and branding strategy is crucial to the success of your store. So how do make these subtle, but wildly effective changes?

• If your bag pattern is adorable but lacks any text, consider hot-stamping your logo or store address and phone number onto it for a sleek, embossed look.
• If you have all the important information on your bag, but realize it looks a bit outdated, consider revising your colors, layout, fonts, or overall design for a fresh revamp. 85% of consumers have said that color is a number 1 reason they’ll buy a product. Need help getting started? Pinterest is a great source for inspiration.
• If you have started stocking heavier products, it’s probably time to reevaluate the strength and reinforcements of both your shopping bags and their handles. Consider ordering stronger, more durable bags and boxes to use for those heavier products.

Don’t Box Yourself in

Don’t think these tips apply exclusively to retail shopping bags. If you have an online presence and ship products, retail boxes have huge marketing potential. They’re like a 3D, 6-sided blank canvas that you can use to really market your brand…get as creative as you want! How else are you going to show the same attention to detail to your customers who shop online and have items shipped to their homes? Custom boxes, whether you’re shipping them to clients or just find them to be a more efficient way to sell your products, matter just as much as shopping bags. Plus, they give you the opportunity to include fun, festive “freebies” and even promotional materials. For brand consistency and image, try to incorporate patterns, logos, and store colors just as you do on your shopping bags.

Remember to Think Outside the Box

Don’t stop at just the exterior! Some of our favorite box designs use the interior of boxes as valuable real estate. Often, there’s space to include more about the company and the people behind it – why not include tips and tricks to enjoying the purchased product? There’s unlimited potential to how much you can make your boxes work for you! If you have the extra space of a box to advertise on, you should certainly use all of it.

No matter how you choose to put together your packaging materials, be sure that they complement and are consistent with your brand.

Custom retail packaging of any kind is so important – it can elevate your business and store beyond your wildest imagination. No matter what you’re selling, your products and brand deserve to be well-presented. Retail packaging is a crucial part of the shopping experience that really lets companies show their personalities. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with your customer base and build brand loyalty.

The only other question is: are you ready to stand out from the competition with your retail packaging? Let’s get started today!