Packaging News You Can Use

Each week I see a lot of packaging news some good some bad. This summarizes what you need to know in the world of packaging for the week. You can also follow me either though my blog here, or on Twitter @packagingdiva or the best option you hire me to help you keep abreast of the latest packaging trends technologies and innovations and how it will impact your business.

Packaging Tips:

• Sometimes creative packaging ideas can be a stretch. Don’t assume your customer can make that leap. Here’s a good example of how packaging designers for Tropicana missed the mark
• The word “packaging” encompasses many things. Be sure of the definition as it applies to your business. I get so many pitches that have nothing to do with product packaging. If I’m confused so are consumers. Try to clarify in your core message what your packaging is all about.  When Packaging Is In The News, Capitalize On It
• Just got a press release I would have tweeted but no picture of the packaging was with it. If you want me to see, review or talk about your packaging don’t make me work for it!
• One company says make it bigger other says make it smaller. Consumers want value and trust in product packaging regardless of size. Don’t get caught like these companies in
  Oh Where Oh Where Has My Packaging Gone?
• When there are two sides to same packaging story what’s a peep supposed to do? More research of course and follow Twitter and LinkedIn packaging peeps for help. But just in case here are some insights in
  There Are Two Sides To Every Packaging Story

Packaging Hot Buttons:

• eBay Box an idea who’s time has come??? Lots of online competition @ http://is.gd/eTmkA The returnable packaging business has been around for a while. Does it take someone like eBay to get it noticed? Here are some innovative packages capturing the publics eye
• Packaging makes it possible.
  Baby carrots take on junk food with hip marketing campaign @ http://is.gd/eM3ep Will this carrot packaging change the way and what you buy? Read what happens with toothbrush packaging.
• More packaging tips to share in Key Elements For Great Packaging Makeovers
• Who Picked Your Veggies? Using Pkg 2 Recognize Farmer http://bit.ly/amH1Tk Great idea-making packaging connect. Want more ideas? Here are some tips in   Packaging That Sells Product, Or Not
• Why is vodka packaging so avant garde? Long answer for @ http://wp.me/pIbS2-fb
  I’ve always been fascinated by vodka packaging. The bottles are so creative as you can see in examples
  here, here, and here
• Nine West is 1st company 2 use JAGTAGs on product packaging @ http://bit.ly/deUQgU I predicted in my 2010 annual packaging trends we would see more of this inter active packaging.  You can see other examples of packaging of the future in Your Packaging Does What?

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.

Tags: Advertising, branding, business, community, competition, consumer, contest, entrepreneur, Indie, innovation, LinkedIn, marketing, media, microbusiness, onlinecommunity, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, socialmedia, socialmediamarketing, Twitter

People love weird and interesting stuff so it got me thinking about more unusual packaging I have seen.

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.

Tags: Advertising, bizarre packaging, branding, business, competition, consumer, DIY, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, entrepreneur, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, mompreneur, 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, strange packaging, sustainability, sustainable packaging, Twitter, unusual packaging, weird packaging, WHAM's

What started out as a fun experiment had an outreach of 40,000+ readers. Between the participants and the tweeters a large segment of the packaging community and interested parties was touched (tweeted) making the 1st annual Packaging Jingle Contest a social success.

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.

Tags: Advertising, branding, business, community, competition, consumer, contest, entrepreneur, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, onlinecommunity, package design, packaging basics, packaging design, packaging expert, packaging help, packaging innovation, packaging insights, packaging tips, packaging trends, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, socialmedaimarketing, socialmedia, Twitter

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 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.

Tags: Advertising, bizarre packaging, branding, business, competition, consumer, DIY, eco friendly, eco packaging, engagement, entrepreneur, green, Indie, innovation, marketing, media, microbusiness, mompreneur, 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, strange packaging, sustainability, sustainable packaging, Twitter, unusual packaging, weird packaging, WHAM's

• Going Green: Life Box: The Seedy Side of Packaging @ http://is.gd/drC4l This is clever marketing. I’m not sure how mainstream it will become as cost to impregnate the seeds will be a factor. Most brown boxes are priced as commodities.
  But renewable resources are one way to go greener with your packaging. More tips in Is It “Green Or Garbage” 6 steps to a greener package
• Sustainability + Shelf Impact = Profits @ http://is.gd/dqxjI It’s tough out there and competition is fierce. Any marketing advantage can translate into additional profits. The problem is what do consumers really want from environmentally friendly packaging? Is it truly green or just green packaging noise?
• If Most Packaging Could Be Re-Purposed Like Philips Activa Fitness Monitor @ http://bit.ly/91TFiR iPod packaging concept that doubles as a charger @ http://is.gd/dsQd4
  One of the 6 eco packaging R’s: Reduce, reuse, refill, renew, recycle, repurpose. I need to add these examples to my list of repurposed packaging

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, political packaging, product development, Rebranding, Repurposed, retail, Small Business, smallbiz, smallbusiness, social media, startup, sustainability, sustainable packaging, Twitter