Packaging News You Can Use

• Who says it has to be aluminum?
  New non-aluminum foil packaging for food or drink products @ http://bit.ly/9CiDYa
  New materials are surfacing every day with better properties and attributes to protect your product better.
• Is there such a thing as an average shopper?
  Correcting Some False Assumptions About Today’s Average Shopper – http://bit.ly/a5nx7K
  One thing for sure, private label is here to stay and giving branded goods a run for their money.
• I found this interesting as so many of the causes are geared towards women:
  Men respond to cause marketing nearly as supportive for campaigns as women http://nyti.ms/bhi5r2
  Cause marketing for men has typically been geared towards sports. This might open some new marketing horizons.
• BPA is a big issue especially with Moms.
  Major producers to ditch BPA from packaging @ http://ind.pn/b43Ymt
  More on BPA and response back to me from Whole Foods @ http://bit.ly/dmf3I6

My Packaging Tips To Help You Package Anything Better

Too much or too little packaging consumers are weighing in with their opinions. Be ready defend how you package it! Someone will be watching.  A groundswell of public opinion can change the way people perceive your packaging. Once an issue becomes mainstream you will her from everyone.

Packaging makes it possible! What goes on behind the scenes is as important as what you see at the store. Pack Expo trade show is a good example of what consumers never know. They just think products arrive at the store delivered by the “packaging fairy.”

Tags: Advertising, branding, business, competition, consumer, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, entrepreneur, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, online community, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, product development, Rebranding, Repurposed, retail, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, social media, startup, sustainability, sustainable packaging

A lot of packaging takes place where the average consumer never sees it. What goes on in the packaging industry you never think about.

PackExpo this week reminded me that most people just think of packaging at retail.

In case you have never thought about it blood ships by common carrier just like all the other products. Of course its kept at a certain temperature. I know, I used to design packaging for blood shipped around the country. The most stringent criteria and specs of any package I ever worked with.

But here is a unique take on how to package it but commercially and aesthetically at the same time.

Blood Bank Packaging

Photos of Sweet Donation Bag (Via: yankodesign)

I had to throw this in too, very creepy but someone is buying it.

Strange Energy Drink Packaging

Seems to be a lot of spoon in one packaging applications recently.

This one is very recent.  Theory sounds good! Look appealing but from a manufacturing standpoint…..

Spoon and Lid In One

Designer: Yeongkeun Jeong

This was the first example I came across where the lid is the spoon in one unit.  Not doing all that well although the application is right.

SpoonLidz Packaging

Or this example

Snapsil® packages can also provide additional functionality through

an integrated utensil end.

The point is that a lot goes on behind the scenes in packaging innovation and design.

Most products never become commercially viable for a variety of reasons. (I can help you sort that out too).

If you need help bringing your packaging innovation to market I can help though branded social media campaigns. I tweet packaging and peeps listen. Email me for more details.

Tags: Advertising, branding, business, competition, consumer, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, entrepreneur, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, online community, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, product development, Rebranding, Repurposed, retail, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, social media, startup, sustainability, sustainable packaging

Hot Packaging Topics Include:

• Food Industry Announces Front-Of-Package Labeling @ http://bit.ly/c7AJyP
  This could have very serious impact on packaging design.
• ConAgra Foods, Heinz Are Tops In Banishing BPA. Whole Foods scores D+ @ http://bit.ly/aKVNyr
  Whole Foods responded back to me that this is not accurate information. Here is their take:
  “The survey used a very limited set of criteria that failed to recognize the industry-leading action that we’ve taken on BPA.” You can learn more about what we’ve been doing about BPA in our stores here @ http://cot.ag/bNkjRo
• Envisioning consumer packaging for pot @ http://bit.ly/bct89N
  Never dreamed I’d be posting about pot (LOL) I actually have a consulting assignment for packaging this.
• Change Way World Feels About Eating McDonald’s @ http://bit.ly/a37lav McDonalds a leader in fast food packaging.
• Another issue to follow is: Great piece on our KFC_Colonel campaign and why reusable is good and forests destruction is bad @ http://bit.ly/aoZupX

Packaging Tips That Will Help You Package Anything Better:

• For every product there is a package no matter how bizarre or unusual it might be. Bizarre, Weird and Strange Packaging: Part 1 and part 2 @ http://bit.ly/ciTsrl @ http://bit.ly/9H1l8y
• Not knowing packaging trends and regulations is not an excuse. Just follow the packaging peeps on Twitter to be informed. 200+ packaging peeps you must follow
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I still don’t get this (LOL) @ http://bit.ly/clh9gL
  The last word I would use to describe this is beautiful.

Need a social media packaging campaign? Upcoming events include Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Email me for details on how you can reach 100M+ people through social media.

If you run a packaging campaign ensure your message resonates with your target demographic.

Tags: Advertising, branding, business, competition, consumer, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, entrepreneur, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, online community, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, product development, Rebranding, Repurposed, retail, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, social media, startup, sustainability, sustainable packaging

Packaging is very controversial. Just read these tips and hot buttons and you will find out why. For every packaging issue there is a solution. That’s why you need to know the inside scoop on just how big the problem really is and how it might impact your business.

You can also follow me either though my blog here, or on Twitter @packagingdiva. The best option is for you hire me to help you keep abreast of the latest packaging trends technologies and innovations.

Packaging Tips:

• However you package it, consumers will be watching. Learn what influences them to make a purchasing decision whether to buy your product. Its true that with the right messaging you can compel them to pick up your packaging for a closer look.
• See who’s on your side of any packaging issue. Every issue has its pros and cons. Create a alliances that work to reinforce your brand. For every packaging group there is an association and many supporting organizations too.

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• Good housekeeping packaging seal of approval for the Twitter Age http://bit.ly/co4Se7
  Social media will be one of the hot packaging trends of the future. It remains to be seen which technologies will win out.
• Will U.S. Import France’s Eco-Friendly Wine Pumping System? @ http://bit.ly/a1GS51
  I love this concept.  A while back Tesco was testing refilling detergent but had problems with the machine. Juts think of all the packages you could refill at the store. The question is will the consumer make the effort?
• Packaging Lawsuits tomatoes and salt @ http://bit.ly/9pkE94 and @ http://bit.ly/chbouQ
  This can get tricky. Your packaging me be ripe for a lawsuit and you don’t even know it. Its critical that you investigate similar packaging before launching your packaging to ensure you are not infringing on someone else’s brand.

If there is an issue you would like to know more about or not sure how to navigate the muddled waters of product packaging? I can help. Just drop me a line with your specific question.

Happy Packaging

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What is packaging innovation anyway? We see lots of companies touting it that their packages are innovative but what is the reality? Is it true innovation?

My definition of packaging innovation is:

Packaging that changes the way we shop or what we buy.

True packaging innovation is very rare. It many cases it has created an entire new shopping category.

Good examples are Sargento’s reclosable zipper added to it’s cheese packaging and Mann’s Broccoli-Wokli MAP (modified atmosphere) package both of which created a whole new type of packaging.

How about this packaging concept?

Innovative Packaging

via babycarrots.com

I’ll admit it changes a traditional category into something fun and different.

The concept of moving something health into the snack category is right on target with today’s heath conscious consumer.

Will it induce more people to eat more carrots? I think at the very least it will bring it to the forefront of their minds.

Everything eco in the world of packaging is popular right now. I see dozens of new packaging concepts a week. Plastic in particular is getting a bad wrap so I found this idea innovative.

Innovative Packaging

via GreenerPackage.com

Ball Horticultural Co’s new SoilWrap® bio-based plantable, compostable plant container is said to completely eliminate 100% of the environmental impact of the package.

Will this be the end of plastic pots? I know I save mine and use the over and over. I’ve seen other biodegradable paper based pots too that you just plant pot and all. Will this change what you buy? It depends upon how mainstream it becomes.

Shipping is a huge part of online sales. Its it any wonder that companies like Amazon and eBay are getting into the fray.

Innovative Packaging

via eBay

According to eBay it’s giving away 100,000 shipping boxes to eBay sellers, and encouraging reuse. If each box gets used five times, the program could protect nearly 4,000 trees.  Will people reuse these boxes?

On paper it looks good but is the reality fact or fiction? You decide.

But one think to consider is just because its innovative doesn’t mean the consumer will buy. That’s where I come in to the play helping you sort out the bigger picture (that is does consumers really want it)?

So before you make a packaging mistake like these Bizarre, Weird and Strange examples why not give me a call or email me.

Tags: Advertising, BabyCarrots, branding, business, competition, consumer, ebay, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, online community, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, product development, Rebranding, Repurposed, retail, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, Soilwrap, startup, sustainability