Many companies hold off on even thinking about packaging until the last minute.  Before you know it, it’s time to get the product on shelves and packaging becomes a rushed afterthought. It’s no wonder so many packaging suppliers are able to keep the lid shut on the five secrets below. Keeping quiet makes the supplier’s job easier — but it can cost your brand a ton to pick up the slack. 

In a vacuum, most brands would claim that they want to use “unique packaging ideas” that will pop off of the shelf.  But do they, really?  Do yourself a favor and research the competition. Let’s see whether they’ve actually succeeded.

It’s easy for a seemingly simple discussion about packaging suppliers to snowball into a broader debate on price point vs. quality (Margins are everything! You get what you pay for!). For this reason, any packaging brokers who are preparing to compare packaging suppliers should start with some clear goalposts.

Many packaging brokers specialize in just a few packaging materials or styles. This is all well and good—we ourselves specialize in the flexible pouch format—but there are also a few essential materials and styles that buyers will want access to as a part of their relationship.  That’s why we also offer a wider range of unique and innovative packaging styles. These formats are in demand with consumers, are known to reduce costs, and will make your product stand out on the shelf. 

There’s no one definitive rule about the time to update your retail packaging, but there are plenty of red flags. Some of them will be about you. Some are about everyone else. All of them have the potential to sink sales and damage your brand if they’re ignored.  Packaging has a serious impact on consumer behavior in the aisle—and you want it to be the positive kind.