When it comes to marketing strategies, most people think of ads, social media campaigns, and promotions. However, the packaging is a core part of a successful product. Several studies point out that packages have a direct impact on customers’ purchase decisions. Indeed, the package is a product’s last chance to grab the attention of customers on shelves filled with options. Here’s how companies can make the best out of their packages.
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Unpacking Business Growth
The design, shape, and colours of a package can tell a lot about a product. Typical snacks have little nutritional information on the label, as they don’t have very much to say on that end. Still, they need to be convenient and appealing, such as pocket-size chocolate bars and sweetener sachets. This means that the stick packing machine is also part of the marketing effort.
Conversely, it’s very simple to discern healthy snacks from others on the shelves. Typically, such snacks have a clear design with natural products on the label that state their health benefits. Stick packaging machines play a vital role here, shaping packages in convenient formats.
Indeed, there’s a whole psychology behind the choice of product colours. Several studies have shown that customers tend to associate colours like yellow, orange, or red with excitement, warmth, and energy. In contrast, packages in blue or green give the impression of reliability, calmness, and the use of natural products.
Once again, it’s up to the stick packaging machine to deliver vivid colours and the right design. Angular shapes tend to give an impression of strength, while curvy packages look much more approachable and soft. However, the human brain prioritises colour over shape in the first 5 minutes of analysing a product, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine.
Top 3 Tips For Creating Striking Packages
While brands must consider many factors before creating their packages, it isn’t rocket science. It all boils down to three important features, as explained below.
Convenience
Food packaging does more than protect its interior from exterior contaminants. Convenience and functionality are also key aspects. How will this product be stored? Is it a snack to eat on the go or a microwavable meal?
Brand Aesthetics
Colours and designs do more than present a product; they must also reflect brand aesthetics and values. Indeed, they’re a key aspect of brand identity, and they shouldn’t be overlooked. In this context, colour schemes, fonts, and cultural elements all come into play.
Information
Customers have the right to know what they are buying. This means that food packaging must always contain accurate information about the ingredients, nutrients, and expiration dates. Such information must be displayed in a clear and organised manner to inspire trustworthiness in customers.
Common Risks and Mistakes
Just like customers are attracted by appealing packages, they can be driven away by poorly designed ones. Additionally, conscious customers are unlikely to buy products with labels that fail to provide the ingredients or the full nutritional information, for instance. Here are other mistakes companies make that can actually put customers and also their businesses at risk. All of them can be avoided by using a cutting-edge stick packing machine.
Contamination by Ink
A malfunctioning stick pack machine can contaminate its content by transferring ink to its interior. The contamination happens with the surface-to-surface contact when exterior ink leaks inside the package. That’s why companies can’t just use any ink on their packages and must make sure that all machines are working properly.
Chemical Contamination
Chemicals in food packages can also contaminate the interior. Some packages were found to contain over 4,000 chemicals, which end up in the food they’re supposed to protect. Worse still, some of these chemicals are linked to increased risk of cancer, lower fertility, and endometriosis. The only way to avoid such risks is to ensure that only food-appropriate chemicals will touch the product.
External Contamination
Poorly sealed packages expose their content to external contamination. However, external contaminants can also be a threat during the packaging process. Even the air used for applying film covers must be filtered, and the same goes for the water used in the process, preventing microbial contamination.