Packaging News You Can Use

I’m not the only one that writes about packaging and its role in society.

Neil Kozarsky of THEM Takes a Look at Packaging Professionals and
…
PR Leap (press release) – Chula Vista,CA,USA
… Not that we should grab people by the arm and say, “Wait, wait…imagine a world without packaging. What would a Kleenex be without a dispensing carton? … 
 
Even the government is not immune from packaging woes.
New US Mint Buffalo Coins Packaging a Nightmare
Gold Seek – USA
… With the present packaging, it is unlikely the Mint will capture much … design, undoubtedly Buffalos will remain favorites of collectors and people looking for … 

Remember making a “connection” though product packaging?
This doesn’t Gee Haw in my book Nestle Does Dipsy-Doodle To Diet Market
The Common Voice – Greenville,SC,USA
… As long as you slap “fat-free” on the front of the packaging, who cares … fatten the wallets of these companies that hope to keep on fooling people into buying …

I mentioned “smelly” packaging in my special reports too. This latest announcement Packaging infuses product with aromas

FoodProductionDaily-USA – Montpellier,France
… packaging can infuse aromas into food and drink products without changing a its composition, developers claim. The technology may revolutionise the way people …

Do you think tools like this are going to become more crucial as suppliers are being forced to relinquish more control to retailers? Respond back to me at PackagingDiva@aol.com and I’ll compile the responses.

Back from Las Vegas and suitably toasted. I’m from the South and its hot here but not 115 like Vegas. I think my brain is cooked so I’ll make this wrap-up short and sweet.
 
For those of you that couldn’t attend, Cosmoprof was great. Its the first time I have been to the show but it was very busy.
 
There was even a packaging pavilion for the beauty industry and I met some great cosmetic companies and industry giants such as P&G that came to hear me speak.
 
I had a great turn out for my presentations. Some people even came to hear both: “Does Your Packaging Speak Human?” and “Smart Consumer Vs Dumb Packaging.”
 
These presentations are not about packaging cosmetics, toiletries or wellness products even though that’s who is the conference audience. Its about packaging innovation, looking outside your industry for packaging that works, solves a consumer problem and
“connects” with the customer. then how to translate it back for your specific industry.
 
The bottom line is that in both presentations the questions and issues raised by the audience were the same:

• What was my take on the “current” environmental movement as relates to product packaging?
• Where was RFID going, what were the latest innovations and will it become mainstream?
• What are the big differentiators in packaging between the mass and specialty retail markets?
• How does one determine colors that appeals to target demographics?
• What technologies do I see that are new and innovative?
• How can we resolve the consumer dissatisfaction with the plastic clamshell?
• What’s the most important issue when packaging products for the 50+ generation? 

Most of the above topics have appeared in my weekly newsletter “Packaging News You Can Use.” A lot of my insights are compiled into two great reports. Find out more at
http://packagingcoach.com/everythingaboutpackaging.htm

Ian says:

“I just read one of your articles (Smart Consumer Vs. Dumb Packaging) this morning and have to say after reading release upon release concerning the packaging industry; it was nice to read something entertaining.
 
I am excited about all of the coverage lately concerning the point of purchase value in packaging. However, with Wal Mart announcing that they will be requiring suppliers to submit their packaging for approval I wonder how much of this value could be lost. I am not familiar with what exactly Wal Mart will require but it seems that this could ultimately lead to some fairly homogenous packaging”