The customer is the king/queen. We’ve all heard the mantra. It’s up to you, the supplier, to prove it. With these ten tips, you’ll be one step closer to proving that you’re on top of industry trends and technologies in the packaging industry. 

  • Know how to use the package. Families no longer sit down to eat at the same time as everyone else. Most families have special dietary requirements or general dieting. It is not uncommon to serve different meals to different people. Package sizes will change accordingly. For example, frequent travelers will buy samples or trial packs because they are small and easy to handle.
  • Know your customer. The problem today is that one package may not meet the needs and requirements of all buyers. There are many niche markets that require specialized packaging. Therefore, if you are targeting one of them, do your research first. What works for one target market may not work for another. For example, it is almost impossible for someone over 50 to open the cap of a medicine bottle intended for children.
  • Competition for various packaging materials is becoming more intense. With the ongoing merger and acquisition boom in readily available imported goods, stay aware of the globalization of your supply chain. Certain products, such as plastic bags, once the backbone of U.S. manufacturing, have now gone overseas. Ethical diversity in here and abroad requires all packaging to be multilingual.
  • Keep pace with the “hot button” packaging issue. This also includes legislation. There is real concern about the environment and the amount of excessive packaging. Steps are being taken to expand the amount of plant-based plastic materials used in food packaging. If packaging consumers approve of these products, they will look for other new products. Legislation can change packaging requirements overnight. There are “bottle bills,” surcharges, and bans on certain types of packaging that prohibit the use of certain packaging. For example, several fast-food companies are test-marketing corn-based plastic packaging materials. For example, Maine has banned juice boxes.
  • Competition for various packaging materials is becoming more intense. With the ongoing merger and acquisition boom in readily available imported goods, stay aware of the globalization of your supply chain. Certain products, such as plastic bags, once the backbone of U.S. manufacturing, have now gone overseas. Ethical diversity in here and abroad requires all packaging to be multilingual.
  • Packaging safety is becoming increasingly important. This will continue to be a concern as more and more people become concerned about the integrity of their products. A major safety scare could force everyone to change their packaging methods immediately. Look for new anti-tampering and security devices that can be integrated into your packaging. Cost-effectiveness is now making many of these devices more affordable and will soon become mainstream.
  • Find out which packaging attributes appeal to your target customers. If it’s a busy housewife shopping for your product, then ease of use is best placed at the top of the list. People over 50 are also looking for convenience, but issues such as print size and ease of use on the package are at the top of their list. Make sure your packaging uses features that appeal to your target market.
  • Keep up with new packaging technology. Creative new products have an advantage in the marketing world, even if their technology is not new, but the applications are. A few years ago, Metedent took the world by storm with its two-hole dispensing mechanism. Recently, many new cleaning products have renewed interest in this dispensing method. Look for innovative ways to combine two products into one package. 
  • External influences from power players. Large retailers are driving packaging procedures and policies in the retail industry. These companies’ mandates, such as RFID tracking, are still in their infancy. This type of requirement could become mandatory overnight. If you want to do business with companies like Home Depot and Walmart, you need to include the design and selection of packaging materials.
  • Understand your customer’s current buying trends. A few years ago, we went through the mega phase. There is still a lot of oversized packaging, but the buying trend, in general, is shifting to smaller sizes. Smaller packaging does not mean less profit, in many cases, it means more. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for convenience, ease of use, and smaller quantities. For example, the price of a package of 3 premium baked potatoes is almost the price of a 5 lb. bag. If you live with just one other person, do you really need 5 pounds of potatoes?

Remember, customers, depend on you, the manufacturer, as a resource. They expect you to keep up with packaging trends and technologies and to provide the latest and greatest innovations the industry must offer. 

We are a professional packaging machine supplier involved in design, research, manufacturing, and marketing. Our products cover a full range of packing machines and supporting equipment. And we have highly skilled staff to make sure fast delivery and good performance.

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