Packaging News You Can Use

• Why These Complex Times Demand Simpler Packaging @ http://bit.ly/d83qO7
  Information overload. How many messages can we assimilate? Packaging is a primary way to get the word out why people should buy your product, but if they are confused you might loose them to someone that tells a better story.
  More on point: Does Simple Packaging Sell? @ http://is.gd/8Ep7g
• When social media goes anti-social Nestle has a Facebook mess @ http://is.gd/aUdbd
  The in vogue strategy is now to use a variety of social media methods to engage the consumer. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. One thing is for sure if you screw up the world will know it.
  More On Point: What Has Twitter Got To Do With Packaging?
• Packaging goes mainstream visibility when Seth Godin blogs about it @ http://is.gd/aX4SV
  It’s so rare to get good publicity for packaging. The leading pundits always want to rip it. Finally someone out side the “packaging” community that gets it!
  More on Point: People Against Packaging
• Cosmetics packaging as important as the product quality @ http://tinyurl.com/yf89zcs
  Sometimes the outside of the package is as important as what’s inside especially in cosmetics where premium products need premium packaging. Remember the perception thing a $90 product in a $.50 box won’t cut it with consumers.
  More on point @ Is What’s On The Outside Of Your Packaging What is Inside?
• PangeaOrganics Eco-friendly packaging http://nyti.ms/cosmeticsjar + plantable packaging: http://nyti.ms/plantablebox
  Pangea gets it and knows how to maximize their branding with the eco-friendly packaging. They have stayed true to their brand and expanding their offerings.
  More on point : Packaging “Greenwash” – Saving the Environment

Tags: cosmetics packaging, eco friendly, environment, greenwash, Nestle, packaging, Peter Clarke, plantable packaging, Product Ventures, Seth Godin, simple packaging, social media, society, sustainability, Twitter

• Clever positioning with packaging innovation can get you noticed both by media and consumers. Consider what’s currently hot and use it to your advantage. Popular innovations can get lots of crossover support.
• Plan your packaging around big media events. If you are “green” or sustainable packaging anything the next big media date is Earth Day 4/22/2010. This event grows bigger every year and its never to early to start. Read : Packaging Greenwash: Saving The Environment
• Me, I’m launching my new ebook “Is It Green Or Garbage?” and presenting a webinar for designing sustainable packaging 4/9 for Sustainable Life Media (time and session details to follow)
• Find the leaders in your field or industry. Follow them thorough social media and engage them for more visibility and more influence within your field. Be sure and follow me on Twitter to as packagingdiva. I’m considered the most influential packaging peep.
• Know your packaging “issues” and be prepared to defend them. Social media makes everything highly visible to all. If you have a packaging problem the world will know about it. In fact packaging problems make up a lot of the content on my packaging blog so be advised accordingly (LOL).
• For every opinion about your packaging there is opposite or opposing position. Worry about your core audience who buys your products not kooks or detractors. Read: Who Are You Packaging Your Product For Anyway?

Tags: Earth Day, green packaging, greenwash, package design, packaging, packaging innovation, social media, sustainability, Sustainable Life Media, Twitter

• Watch the packaging news tweets. Who’s in trouble and why. This will save you many heartaches and problems before they become issues.
• Other retail drivers besides Wal-Mart can impact your packaging requirements. You must marry their needs with your consumer expectations.
• External influences that you cannot control can impact success or failure of your product packaging. Knowing who and what they are can make a huge difference in success or failure.
• With all the packaging design alternatives choose carefully your optimal packaging solution. Don’t clone existing design either just because you like it. Create something uniquely and truly yours.

Tags: Consumers, copycat packaging, external influences, packaging, packaging design, retailers

Whether you know it or not there is a war against packaging: people who perceive that it’s too much or wasteful and the people who actually package the product.and the people who manufacture the packaging.

There are two sides to every packaging story and what’s going on behind the manufacturing and distribution scene that no one ever considers. Packaging is under attack and in most cases unjustly so. Plus there is a big contingent against any type of packaging. Simply put, no packaging is n impossibility unless you want to regress your lifestyle about 100 years.

Packaging had evolved from simple vessels that stored and protected food and beverages to the sophisticated packaging we see today. Depending upon the culture the packaging needs change. The more sophisticated and affluent the society the more packaging that is consumed. As income grows so does discretionary spending. Increasing demand for goods and services requires more products and packaging.

The media loves to criticize packaging. Phrases like the great “garbage patch” and “wrap rage” incite consumers into frenzy against packaging. As we move forward in the coming years packaging needs to be reconsidered from all aspects. Yes, it does contribute to 1/3 of the garbage in the landfills. Yes, many products are over packaged and the packaging can and should be reduced. Yes, the packaging industry needs to do a better job in resolving packaging problems and creating waste.

We need to look at packaging from a different perspective. Keeping all the primary functions in place: transporting, protecting, containing, securing, educating and informing the consumer about what’s inside. Yet, at the same time keeping awareness about what we can do to lessen the societal impact of packaging.

People want goods and products convenience isn’t going away, so how do we marry the two? Let’s consider the issue: consumers still want convenience yet at the same time less packaging an products packaged in more eco friendly materials. It’s up to the manufacturers and GPG companies now to solve the issue.

I’ve written before about the 6 R’s of more environmentally friendly packaging: Reduce, refill, reuse, repurpose, renew and recycle @ http://packaginguniversity.com/blog/2010/02/12/packaging-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-for-valentine%e2%80%99s-day/.

But this is just the beginning of rethinking the packaging paradigm.

What would you like to see or suggest that packaging companies consider?

More eco friendly materials;

Less over all product packaging;

Goods and services produced closer to home;

More paper less plastic;

More bio plastics and less of other materials;

Packaging that solves more problems?

This is just the beginning and with consumer support the packaging industry can solve these problems. So before you put on the gorilla suit for people against packaging give us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions about what you would like the packaging industry to implement to marry consumers wants and needs with today’s contemporary packaging.

Tags: bio plastics. waste stream, Consumers, eco friendly, garbage, great garbage patch, landfills, packaging, recycle, reduce, refill, repurpose, societal issues, wrap-rage

Meet the Packaging Diva sharing consumer packaging experiences in her presentation @ NCOF.com

Consumers are fickle and one bad packaging experience can turn them off from buying your product. This session will cover how to translate a bad packaging consumer experience into a successful outcome and how innovative packaging can sway a consumer’s purchasing decisions.

Learning Outcomes:

• How to turn an unhappy consumer into a satisfied returning customer through packaging.
• How creative packaging can build consumer loyalty.
• Why having the right packaging is more than just appearance.

Bonus:

Guest panelist sharing Disney packaging experiences.

Adam Spriggs from
Tailford Mitchell
830 N Summit St
Toledo, Ohio 43604
P 419.843.8852 x209

Details:

Tues, Apr 20 Disney World Swan & Dolphin , Lake Buena Vista , FL, 4:00-5:00pm
Register @ http://NCOF.com

Who Should Attend

People who are responsible for key areas of direct commerce operations, including Managers, Directors and C-Level executives in:

• Automated Systems
• Business Development/Business Solutions
• Call Center Operations
• Carrier Relations
• Channel Sales
• Customer Service
• Distribution Center
• E-commerce
• Fulfillment – Internet, Merchandising, Marketing
• Inventory Management
• Logistics
• Manufacturing/Production
• Material Handling
• Operations/Operations Strategy
• Protective Packaging
• Purchasing
• Retail
• Sourcing
• Supply Chain
• Transportation Management
• Warehouse Management

The Packaging Diva is proud to be sponsored for this event by WorldLabel.com

Worldlabel is a label manufacturer of Blank Label Sheets for multifunctional labeling applications including address, mailing, shipping, CD and media labeling, as well as general business office labeling requirements. Our labels are designed to format with label templates you are currently using in your popular label software and templates sizes, Windows® Mac® and Linux programs. Non-curl jam-free 8.5″ x 11″ label sheets with an emulsion acrylic non-ooze permanent adhesive (unless stated removable) suitable for laser printers, ink jet printers, and copiers. Please visit http://worldlabel.com

Tags: Amazon.com, Consumers, direct mail, Disney, distribution, fulfillment, logistics, operations, packaging, retail, shipping, sourcing, Terracycle, transportation