Competition is tough and package designers are struggling over how to differentiate there products from the others. Some times in the creative wars it might get a little far afield.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am a sucker for great packaging design. Package design is one of the ways to capture the consumer’s interest. But designers can also lose their perspective when trying to create something new, different or unique. It’s definitely and uphill battle.

There are many niche markets out there so perhaps these examples are specific to them.

In any case I find them bizarre, weird and packaging.

Who remembers all the novels or literature they read in school? One needs to be well educated to make these connections with this packaging. And this is perfume packaging. Oh my!

Bizarre Packaging

via Packaging Of The World

I guess this company thought that cigarette packaging would make their books more appealing.

Kind of strange now that smoking is on the wane. Most countries are now relegated to plain cigarette packaging too.

Strange Packaging

via Huffington Post

I guess in some countries this is considered appealing. Purple pink don’t make it in my book, especially for pizza.

Weird Packaging

via PackagingNews

The alcoholic beverage industry has fierce competition. While the aesthetics are nice who wants to go to all this trouble?

Weird Packaging

via Core77

I used this example before in packaging examples using skulls. This might be all right for Halloween or Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) but who wants this in their liquor cabinet?

Weird Packaging

A collagen ball to eat and the green too! This is plain Yuckk!

Bizarre Product and Packaging

via kidcrave

The King himself is very strange. Just watching him on TV gives me nightmares (LOL)

But can you imagine allow your kids to play with this?

Strange Packaging

via the DieLine

Got some strange packaging you want to share? Drop me a line, I’m always interested in learning how bizarre, strange or weird packaging can help you build your brand and how to capitalize on creativity.

So how do you combat the latest whims of the fickle consumer? You follow me either though my blog here, or on Twitter @packagingdiva or you hire me to help you keep abreast of the latest packaging trends technologies and innovations and how it will impact your business.

There is so much happening every week in the wide world of packaging. Not all of it is relevant to your business but these insights will keep you in touch.

Packaging Tips:

• Sometimes visibility or awareness of your packaging brand comes from the most unusual places. Be prepared to seize them. So many opportunities so little time. You Shopped Where?
• Packaging is viewed from many lenses. You may not be able to satisfy them all. For every package there is a critic. Dumb Packaging Critics
• Sometimes best the packaging ideas fail. Could be for a variety of reasons: too innovative, too early or misunderstood by the consumer. Or in this case problems not caught before shipping in Packaging Eyeballs
• There are many ways to resolve the same packaging problem. Marry the need with the right packaging outcome. These tips will help you overcome Packaging Snafus and Problems

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• Focus on ingredients overlooks sustainable packaging @ http://is.gd/eroCg. Sustainable packaging is a huge issue and growing all the time as you will find out in Green Is No Longer On The Fringe
• 1st Annual Packaging Jingle Contest A Social Success @ http://is.gd/eoTut. What do 40,000 peeps know. How important social media can be. Find out how to get started in 10 Packaging Lessons I Learned From Twitter
• What packaging is compostable? It’s complicated. One of many explanations @ http://is.gd/ekxQY. I cover compostable packaging in more detail in Sustainable Retail Packaging Design

Click here to view the embedded video.

• Why China’s Days as Manufacturing Outsourcer Are Numbered @ http://bit.ly/cTlPSA. Learn more about Packaging: The Hidden Power Player In A Global Society

Thank you peeps who took time to create a packaging jingle (packaging is 3rd largest US industry)

The jingles represent an awesome display of creative talent @ http://is.gd/e2uKo

Over 60 packaging jingles were submitted for the 1st annual competition. So it was hard for our judges to decide who’s jingle was the best but they did pick a winner.

And the Twitter Packaging Jingle winner is @eheebs Elizabeth from tailfordmitchell.com

You can learn more about her @ http://www.tailfordmitchell.com/pdf/Elizabeth.pdf

and Paul Bernard from tailfordmitchell.com

Her jingle was judged to be the most creative to the point and exactly 140 characters.

Drum Roll please:

A package ain’t just a bag or box, to hold your nuts or sell your socks. It must make friends in the store, so people want your product more

and the Twitter Packaging Jingle award goes to Elizabeth for use for 1 year.

Honorable mentions include #41 Cheri Allbritton, Twitter ID @ArveyColumbus #46 Todd Gasparik Twitter ID @smartplanettech and Amrik Tatla #47, all of which can be read at @ http://is.gd/e2uKo

Some jingles were really good but they exceeded the amount of characters allowed by Twitter. Also some people didn’t have a Twitter ID so getting publicity for their participation was moot.

But in any case special thanks to all packaging jingle participants for making the 1st annual packaging jingle contest a success.

Our judges:

Brad Shorr Director of Content Marketing for Straight North, blogger, and packaging industry marketing specialist Brad Shorr. More about Brad can be found @ http://www.straightnorth.com Twitter ID @BradShorr

Mark Spaulding editor of The Converting Curmudgeon Blog, 25+ years of packaging journalism, package-printing industry bon vivant…and dog lover. Twitter ID @CnvCurmudgeon

Award designer Miguel Elasmar Twitter ID @24KLogos
More about Miguel: Miguel E. Elasmar is a results-driven, creative consultant, designer and branding strategist located in the Orlando Florida area, serving the continental U.S., Canada and Latin America.

So until next year keep those creative thinking caps on and keep tweeting.

So how do you combat the latest vagaries of the fickle consumer? You follow me either though my blog here, or on Twitter @packagingdiva or you hire me to help you keep abreast of the latest packaging trends technologies and innovations and how it will impact your business.

There is so much happening every week in the wide world of packaging. Not all of it is relevant to your business but these insights will keep you in touch.

Packaging Tips:

• Just because you hit your market the 1st time doesn’t mean you will the next. Your consumer is a moving target and its up to you to stay in touch.
  2010 Packaging Trends Impacting What Consumers Will Buy
• Package yourself like a product. You never know who might be looking for or at you (LOL)
  For more help read Packaging Yourself As A Brand
• A package is more than just a conveyance. It plays many roles make sure your packaging encompasses them all.
  5 Things Every Business Needs To Know About Packaging
• Off the wall packaging ideas can inspire reality based packaging that works.
  More packaging that WORKS

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• Give Water’s packaging draws attention line’s charitable mission @ http://bit.ly/c9pJT
  More on using charitable causes on your packaging:
  Is Your Packaging In The Pink?
• Consumers really are making a difference in beverage packaging industry @ http://bit.ly/cb20aM
  Look at all these innovative water bottles
• The Importance of Packaging Design 4 Successful Marketing Campaign @ http://bit.ly/bmD40p
  How To Tell If Your Packaging Will Sell Your Product @
• Universal Pkg System (UPACKS) conceptual packaging system @ http://is.gd/earbd
  More packaging innovation that shapes our daily lives:
  http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2010/07/22/innovative-packaging-shaping-our-lives-wo-712/

  http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2010/07/13/innovative-packaging-shaping-our-lives-wo-75/

Think some other tips related to this week’s news are important? How about your comments on these insights? Please let me know what you think and how we can turn packaging problems into packaging success.

And, if you care about packaging, how about  “liking” this post please. Thanks…

I love packaging there is no doubt about it. I live and breathe packaging and sometimes dream about it too when I tweet in my sleep. When I go shopping I’m not there to buy I’m there to look at packaging. Or when I go to a trade show I’m forbidden to come home with more than I left with (a second suitcase full of packaging.)

But I’m not blind to the problems the packaging industry faces. All one has to do is look at the news where packaging is constantly under attack. Phrase like “great garbage patch” and “wraprage” capture the media interest far more that the good things packaging does.

Great Garbage Patch Packaging

Part of it is our own fault as we do little to educate the consumer about the role of product packaging. We take it as a given not realizing or understanding the reasons behind consumer negativity. And it’s a huge problem. One that we have to understand and address realistically.

Supermarket packaging via MyZeroWaste.com

I’ve sort of become a champion for the cause but without blinders as I try to point out the realities of true packaging innovation and solving packaging problems. Just saying packaging is bad or get rid of it doesn’t solve the issues either. People want THINGS, and packaging makes it happen. Without it the very fabric of our daily lives would be vastly different. While other countries are looking to create more stuff we are trying to reduce it.

Things are packaged the way they are because consumers demand them. Single serve gets a lot of flack yet at the same time consumers demand more of it. Ever seen how many single serve prunes that have sold? That’s not people concerned about packaging.

Single Serve Packaging

This product couldn’t exist if people didn’t want it.

Single Serve Packaging

And we want more and more convenience despite the fact that it uses more packaging.

Convenience Packaging

(Photo: Gloria Dawson / The Daily Green)

But seriously we do have packaging issues:

Too much or overpackaging products that can use less materials;

Packaging that can’t be disposed of or put back into the waste stream;

Lack of true environmental awareness about the role of product packaging in modern society.

But look at the issues that arise without packaging:

• Broken or damaged contents (smashed potato chips and broken crockery).
• How many servings are there?
• What temperature do I cook it?
• Where and how do I plug it in?
• How do I put it together?
• Will it color my gray, help me lose weight quickly, or attract the opposite sex (just kidding)?
• Can it be cooked in the microwave? What’s for dinner, Ipod anyone?

Now who’s the packaging addict? Sorry to say but there are some real idiots out there. Sure packaging contributes to the waste stream, and yes some things are over-packaged or hard to open but think through your day from the time you get up to your last bedtime snack. How many of those things could you use, do or accomplish without packaging?

So think before you rant. Understand before you condemn product packaging as the bane of your existence. You can’t have a product without a package. Most importantly, packaging is our friend.

For more ways to utilize packaging branding, innovation and marketing concepts to “connect” with your consumer contact me @ http://packagingdiva.com. You can also subscribe to the complimentary newsletter “Packaging News You Can Use” at the same address.

There is so much happening every week in the wide world of packaging. Not all of it is relevant to your business but these will keep you in touch.

Packaging Tips

• Separate gimmicks from reality. What looks good on paper or in theory may not be so great in actuality. When it’s clever it might get some short term buzz but staying power is what its all about. How can you accomplish this? Read Packaging That Sells
• Do your own research on packaging claims. Everyone says theirs is the best. They can’t all be true. On every claim there is someone say the opposite. You have to examine what’s best for your business model. Just remember there are two sides to every packaging story
• When you embrace a packaging path be sure it’s the same one your core consumer is on. Packaging can mean many things to different peeps. The question is what does it mean to your customer? Who Are You Packaging Your Product For Anyway
• You can package anything: your business, products or even yourself. Integrate them together in one brand. Keep in mind that Your Brand Is Your Personal Package

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• Packaging Performs in the Marketing Mix @ http://bit.ly/bj95RW
  How To Use Packaging As A Marketing Tool
• Congress demands answers from Kellogg for tainted packaging recall @ http://bit.ly/djL07y
  BPA debate rages on. Germany says it’s ok, US says it’s not @ http://bit.ly/97tonA
  Big Brother IS watching and doing something about it
• Building Strong Shelf Impact and Better Relationships @ http://dlvr.it/3L48q
  In social media What Does Twitter Have To Do With Packaging
• New Labels for Light Bulb Packaging. Labels Will Emphasize Lumens, Not Watts @ http://is.gd/dYRQt
  Education is a good thing and one further reason why Packaging Is Our Friend

Think some other tips related to this week’s news are important? How about your comments on these insights? Please let me know what you think and how we can turn packaging problems into packaging success.

At the very least show me that you care about packaging by “liking” this post please.

Read anything in the news lately about childhood obesity, packaging shrink, misleading labels or fat free foods? It’s every day that one of these topics is in the news. So what can you believe from the printed words on the product packaging?

If only we lived and shopped in a pure world where labels told the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But while consumers rely on labels to make wise purchasing choices, food manufacturers use labels to sell their product. Remember when we used to actually read the label before making an informed purchase decision? Its exceptionally important now.

The two functions of a label — providing accurate information and enticing someone to buy the product — conflict and send mixed messages. One the one hand we read buy me and on the other is this product good for me?

Labels can be misleading, especially if you don’t learn to read between the lines and examine the fine print. Today’s labels are very complex with statements that make claims or tout benefits that may not be true. Knowing what the words on the label really mean is a big step in learning to make informed and the right choices at the supermarket.

Through the years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has attempted to make sure that the food products made available to the American public are safe for consumption. The FDA also closely monitors claims made on food labels are not misleading. Look at some of the recent cereal claims.

Misleading Label?

Eat this and become heart healthy?
The FDA weighed in on this one and said no!

But’s fine line that manufacturers can use deceptive wording to trick individuals without actually providing false information.

One campaign against so called “Smart Choices” lead to all the packaging being changes after consumer objected to what they considered good food choices.

Misleading Label?

Was this label telling the truth?

For most part, the likelihood of suffering a food or drug related illness from mislabeled packaging is remote. That was until bio-terrorism threats reared its ugly head. Which no one can predict.

Yet, for those with specific food allergies or unique health conditions, proper labeling on products is imperative in order to avoid potentially dangerous situations. The addition of supplements and additives to food products poses another risk to consumers if it is discovered that the substance in question is harmful. Just look at what happed to Kellogg’s with its tainted packaging recall on cereal @

Packaging Recall

via Consumer Reports

Kellogg’s recalled 28 million boxes of cereal after consumers were sickened by an off-flavor and smell coming from package liners

It is therefore extremely important that consumers are made aware of specific dangers associated with food and food products, through accurate labeling, published warnings and their own investigation. Think about all the food products that have been recalled due to mislabeling at the manufacturers (especially allergy related). You can see a list of current recalls @ http://www.recalls.gov/rrusda.asp

Here are a few popular product statements to consider is this label telling the truth?

No sugar added or low carb?

The FDA has rules about labeling claims that specifically bar the use of “low” such as low-carb yet it has not established a standard for “low” for an ingredient or nutritional element (such

as the standard for low fat) So claims of low-carb on labels right now is actually illegal.

Have you seen must of the so called frozen diet entree’s (loaded with hidden sugar).

No MSG?

MSG is sometimes hidden in food with labels that say “No Added MSG” and “No MSG.”

Find out more at http://www.truthinlabeling.org/

Got Milk?

Well, is it really all its cracked up to be? The latest claims are touting drinking milk as a way to lose weight. See http://www.stoplabelinglies.com/ and decide for yourself.

100% natural! Natural what?

A product label will state: “made with 100% natural ingredients,” or “made with 100% organic ingredients.” The “100%” claim often refers to one or two ingredients, which are “100% natural” or “100% organic” even if other ingredients are synthetic. So the bottom line is what is “natural” when it describes a product?

“Unscented”

Yeah right, ever use any of these products? That unscented product is many times worse that the scented variety. Anyway unscented is a misnomer — it does not mean “without chemical fragrances.” If an item is labeled “unscented,” it may contain a masking fragrance (which is a chemical fragrance designed to “block” the smells of other chemicals in the product) and additional toxic chemicals.

So the question remains — When is a product packaging misleading in its descriptions and are the manufactures deliberately deceptive? No one knows for sure. Let the buyer beware! It’s up

to you the consumer to read the labels and make an informed decision as to the true benefits of a packaged product. Remember most products carry an 800 number on the package that you can call and ask about the product itself.

Think some other tips related deceptive labeling are important? How about your comments on these insights? Please let me know what you think and how we can turn packaging problems into packaging success.

At the very least show me that you care about packaging by “liking” this post please.

There is so much happening every week in the wide world of packaging. Not all of it is relevant to your business but these will keep you in touch.

Packaging Tips:

• Never overlook the consumer when designing packaging. It’s their opinion that counts the most. Some many designers loose sight of that fact. Tropicana learned that costly lesson too in Key Elements For Great Packaging Makeovers
• Many new marketing tools (gimmicks) for packaging surfacing. Use what makes sense to your core consumer not just what’s in or cool. Here are some examples to use in Packaging Lessons Learned From Nature
• Be careful what you wish for. Somebody just might create it. (LOL) As you can see in Bizarre, Weird And Strange Packaging
• Sometimes a particular packaging issue can overwhelm the systems. What seems trivial at the outset can have long term effects. Other issues are just what’s on the hearts and mind of your consumers

Packaging Hot Buttons

• Packaging Designed by Customers @ http://ow.ly/2iiwP I ♥ this pooch on the package. It makes and immediate connection. Its one of the important lessons in How To Brand Your Product With The Right Packaging
• Creative Panasonic earphone packaging @ http://bit.ly/d7mAHj
  Was my one of my innovative packaging picks too @ http://is.gd/dRtTR
• CO2-based plastic flagged up as bisphenol A alternative @ http://is.gd/dOIXg This is one of the hot buttons to watch. Not only do you have the regulatory agencies on the case its a Mom’s issue too. Never overlook the power of the MOM factor. Here are a few tips in How To Package Your Products For Moms.
• ‘Design to annoy’ might actually be employed in order to discourage consumers from bad habits @ http://is.gd/dMVoG The concept sounds intriguing and it might work another thought is portraying diseased lungs as you see here
• Wal-Mart raising privacy concerns @ http://ow.ly/2gz0n Would you want someone tracking your underpants? This could easily become reality as Big Brother Is Watching

Think some other tips related to this week’s news are important? How about your comments on these insights? Please let me know what you think and how we can turn packaging problems into packaging success.

At the very least show me that you care about packaging by “liking” this post please.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am a sucker for great packaging design. Package design is one of the ways to capture the consumer’s interest. But designers can also lose their perspective when trying to create something new, different or unique. It’s definitely and uphill battle.

There are many niche markets out there so perhaps these examples are specific to them.

In any case I find them bizarre and weird packaging.

This tops my list of bizarre. But what makes it even stranger as it’s sold out at a hefty price tag too

A £500 a bottle super-strong ale is to be sold inside the bodies of dead animals.

Photo: Universal News And Sport

Kind of clever but also strange. I guess it appeals to the younger generation.

via Popsop

I know who this appeals to but how big is this market?

What’s in a name? Clearly this is a marketing gimmick. Would you want people knowing you wear Konvict cologne? I guess in some circles its considered cool.

This is a little too “cutsie” for my taste. It might make a fun gift but its still strange.

via Trendhunter

This package fascinates me. A two-headed bottle. What’s the point?

Even better how does it stand up?

via thedieline

This is too weird “beer pouches” and a little suggestive too. I guess that’s akin to the wine bra.

Last but not least this lascivious packaging is intriguing but it’s supposed to be candy for goodness sakes.

Got some strange packaging you want to share? Drop me a line, I’m always interested in learning how bizarre, strange or weird packaging can help you build your brand and how to capitalize on creativity.

• External influences outside your control can dramatically impact your packaging. Watch regulatory agencies closely. Even agencies that you might have nothing to do with can be regulating how and what you do your with your product packaging.
• Don’t believe everything you read about product packaging. Some of its bad some good but There Are Two Sides To Every Packaging Story as you will find out
• Packaging can be bad or packaging can be good depending upon a point of view. An educated consumer is the best defense . But people still criticize packaging they no nothing about. Good examples of this are in Dumb Packaging Critics
• For every package there is someone who will buy it. The question is how many peeps will it be? Just remember Who Are You Packaging Your Product For
• Some weird, bizarre or very strange packaging can get as much mileage as a great packaging design. The important thing is to recognize that When Packaging Is In The News Capitalize On It

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• Better read this about definition of “reuse” as a sustainable packaging goal @ http://is.gd/dC6pL.
  I find this definition very troublesome. It removes (in theory) a whole category of “reusable” packaging and eliminates the opportunity for Repurposed Packaging
• Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 facilities making, packaging or distributing cosmetics must register .
  Yikes, this is scary, more and more regulation just like I predicted in Big Brother Is Watching
• 6 Least Green Types of Packaging @ http://is.gd/dznjx.
  Some of these listed are very debatable in fact simply not true. Despite what you read Is It Truly Green Or Just Green Packaging Noise
• Roadkill gets second life as beer packaging @ http://bit.ly/9btcgv.
  A package that will give you nightmares (LOL) but the strangest thing it’s already sold out despite the outrageous price and bizarre packaging. Remember you can package anything