Saturday, 15 November 2014

The Effects of Cosmetic Packaging on Consumers

For a lot of people, packaging matters. Did you know that there was a recent study that looks at the different types of effects of this? While the study is over fifty pages, the methods that are used are important. Here, we’ll go over the most important part of this. Let’s first begin with the themes that are there. The biggest one is a study that shows there is a large relationship between the packaging, the cost of it, and the quality of an item. The survey actually showed that consumers are able to identify a retail environment for a product, along with the primary packaging that’s associated with her levels of quality. 



Elements and Images 

From this as well, they also found that the participants were able to notice the materials, dispensing mechanism, opacity, even the creativity of the design in order to identify these products. Plastic packaging that was clear and cheap looking burned a perceived image that the items were on the lower end. If you used metal, or even unique forms of design, this led to higher level types of products. 

Images also played a part in this too. People saw images of products, and they assumed from this that they were on the higher end due to the high quality of the images.  This of course, built on the idea that those that looked more professional were higher cost products. 

Quality of Packaging Improves the Product Perception inside. 

There is also an association between the packaging quality, and a better satisfaction with the cosmetics within. 



Some people have admitted that choosing different products based on pleasing packaging was the way they went. They highlighted emotional connections between cosmetics, and the packaging that’s within them. 

Packaging is a Silent salesman 

What people don’t realize, is that through this study, that the packaging is ideally the salesman for most of this. 

What that means is that they’re the ones providing the first impression, and also will get people to buy it. 



Below are some of the key factors that we want to mention, especially since they played a part in the research overall: 

  • Focus on the looks. The shape, the color, packaging, and the design will get one’s attention. Bright images make products stand out, and unusual wines are perfect for improving curiosity. 

  • The touch and feel of an item is something that makes a huge difference. Make sure that you give your products texture and weight to give a feel for quality that’s inside. 

  • Make them functional. You don’t want something that’s hard to open up. Packaging that’s convenient, and easy for you to do will always win. If you do utilize this without any sort of hassle, you’re also highly likely to buy this again. 

  • You also might want to look at the messaging from the brand. The design is what gives the overall idea of the brand and the message within. For luxury packaging, the packaging does impact the brand, as this gives it a high quality and good message. 

  • You also want to go green. In this day and age, you want to be better to the planet. Packaging that’s eco friendly is a huge deal. If you’re looking to improve the brand packaging, consider something that’s environmentally friendly. this is a huge point for a lot of shoppers. 

  • Consider all of these factors, and you’ll see for yourself the difference this makes at the end of the day, and also the impact this has on your packaging overall.

Saturday, 25 October 2014

Bio-Packaging: the Future of Packaging

Bio packaging, or bio-based packaging is the future of the packaging world. These days, we’re all looking for new, innovative ways to ensure that we’re not wasting all our money on packaging, or destroying the planet.

This type of packaging is our answer. It’s basically packaging that uses some materials which come from fungi, plants, and other resources that are renewable, which means when you use them, it’s not something finite on our planet.

This is a good alternative to fossil fuels, which have plagued the packaging world for so long that a lot of people are looking for an alternative. Guess what, this is the alternative, and for many people, could be exactly the answer that they need.



What goes into Bio-Based Packaging 

This type of packaging is, of course, plantlike. But what types of plants are used for this.

Cornstarch is one of them, because corn is definitely an easy and renewable resource to work with. Same with algae, which is abundant in our waters, and can be used for all sorts of packaging. Even food packaging can benefit from this.

Soybeans is another one, and just like with cornstarch, also comes from plants in the ground and is used especially for inks and dies.

There is also mushroom packaging, or mycelium packaging, which means that the packaging itself is derived from mushrooms.   This is a novel sort of packaging and might not be used often, but still works to create sustainable, and useful bio-based packaging.



The biggest thing that bio-based packaging has going for it, is that it’s sustainable. You’re getting this all uniquely sourced and processed from these plant materials. This type of packaging is reasonably sourced and done in a manner that’s beneficial to many. What that means as well, is that when you do source these, you get them from areas that are sustainable, and also won’t negatively impact the future environment when you do this as well. 

The benefits of this bio-packaging 

Bio-packaging might not seem like the answer immediately, but it’s really good.

The biggest reason? It's because it creates sustainability.   When you sustainably source and process these bio-based materials in a manner that’s healthy for the plant, it reduces the need for petroleum-plastics and also decreases the packaging waste in landfills. This of course, creates less of an impact on the planet.

It also saves you a ton of money too. companies that do this will not have to shell out a lot for packaging that isn’t easy to reuse again and again. Once you have a bio-based plastic set up, people will flock to it.

And boy they will flock. Many people will choose the company that’s more sustainably sourced, and will also be happy to support a business that’s taking care of the planet. Some companies will choose that over other companies. 

Drawbacks? 

There are some downsides that come with this type of packaging.

First, the packaging is very new.   It’s definitely something that will cost a lot more to source early on, especially if you don’t have the resources. Getting packaging that will be able to be reused again and again without burning a hole in your pocket can be the first and biggest challenge.



The second thing is also encouraging customers to actually dispose of these sustainably. If the packaging can be composed, tell them, but that doesn’t always mean that they’ll listen. Overall, it can take a bit of work but if you’re a brand that’s already priding themselves as sustainable, this is a good option for you to have as well. 


Saturday, 19 April 2014

Packaging Fragile Items

Packaging items that are fragile in order to ship them is important. And that also means that there might be a difference between the item reaching the destination, versus it being so badly off that you need to replace it. Items that are fragile do demand the most care when you’re shipping them. That, or else you risk items that are broken and damaged, harming the reputation of this. While the item type does dictate the protective supplies that you need to be able to use, you’ll want to make sure that you get the highest quality materials

Here is a guide to determine what’s fragile, what’s not, and the best ways to pack it.

The items that are Fragile.

It’s important to consider that some materials are fragile by some standards. 

Fragile means anything that breaks easily, or even shatters too.

This also includes anything made from materials that are delicate, such as paper. Remember, this does tear and crush quite easily. This can include décor for the house, glass, crockery, picture frames, and even crockery and musical instruments too. 



Some of these are also of higher value and usually, they might be exposed to air and some force, ruining them. Electronics and screens also fall into this.

Now that you know what they are, here is a guide on how you should pack these.

Choose your best product Solution for the Product 

The best way for you to determine this, is to also make sure that you have the right materials. 

Some items require different types of protection than others. 

For instance, when you transport some items that are made of glass, you’ll want something more robust in terms of protection. That’s because these break easily. If you’re transporting different items that aren’t able to be bent, like documents and whatnot, you might need different types of protection for this.

Get a Box that’s Slightly Larger 

You want something that’s slightly larger than what’s necessary.

This is because you can add the material in there to protect it from shock. If the box gets too small, then you won't have enough material to protect it. You do risk it possibly getting damaged while it’s being transported.

Choose Cushioning Materials 

You want to choose a cushioning material that works. Air pillows, crinkle paper, and bubble wrap are good for the needs of a product.



Add a Label for Fragile Products 

This is the final step, but you want to make sure that you add a label for fragile items.

While it won’t protect the items that are inside, it signals to most people who can see the label that they need to be a bit more careful for you to send this from one way or another. 

Void Fill is key 

You want to make sure that you use void fill to keep things safe. This is really important for glass, and also anything that’s super breakable. This is usually made from different items, and they now have eco friendly options too. Packaging peanuts for example are a great item. 

You want to make sure that you include void fill for anything that does have gaps. This provides it with the ideal cushioning that’s needed for this, so that everything can be protected from the impact that they’re feeling. This is great too.



You want to make sure that you use different items, including mailers that are bubble or rigid depending on your needs. 

Either way, you need to be smart with the type of items that you pack, and when you pack these correctly, use your discretion to make sure that they’re packed right.