WARNING: The 5 Packaging Mistakes That Ruin Your Business!

Packaging mistakes, especially those common but very fatal packaging mistakes, we have concluded and listed out for you. As Mr. Charlie Munger often emphasizes the power of not making stupid mistakes, it is very useful and important to read below price paid mistake experience and try to avoid in the future. If you are a beginner, that’s even better.

Packaging Mistake No.1: Insufficient Awareness Of The Importance

Good products are of course the most critical factor in a successful business, but good packaging is also inextricably linked, especially when we do business in the brick and mortar industries. Nowadays competition is super fierce, supply exceeding demand, millions of similar products on the market, crazy-growing e-commerce. The question is how to stand out on the display shelf and stand out from our peers?

Obviously, the packaging is the first step, because this is the very FIRST impression to our audience. We should be aware of the importance of the right and good packaging for our business. Dears, let us work harder on the packagings.

Packaging Mistake No. 2: No clear goal

One clear goal/target/purpose is needed for the packaging solution designer and supplier to know. 

This second mistake does not indicate our partners are not willing to share. On the contrary, all of our partners are nice and willing to share many things with us. The key point is our clients are not sure about the ONE TOP GOAL for each pouch packaging campaign. Too much information and targets are involved in the packaging pouches, no focus and at the end leading to attention distraction. 

When we have a clear goal, we can achieve anything. But be sure to remember, we’d better just set ONE top goal a time. Too many goals will only reduce the effectiveness of the solution. 

It is like printing the packagings, the smart supplier will surely try best to offer you as much effective printing area as he could. But limits exist, if you are after the Christmas promotion sales, please don’t expect to get the same big panel for you to put company visions on the packaging pouches. 

Packaging Mistake No. 3: No ideas of budget 

The budget setting depends on the historical data or anticipations based on the correct information source. 

If you have the experience, please analyze how different the packaging needed for this time. And if you are a beginner, here is something you need to check in advance. 

Steps for beginners to have ideas on the potential costs on the packagings.

Firstly, google out, with product keywords, the top 1 dealer in your trade and another 5 competitors similar to you. 

Secondly, outline the features and elements they use on the packaging. 

Thirdly, think and analyze what is good and what is bad about their packagings. 

Fourthly, mark down the advantages we can refer to and solutions we come out with to improve the shortages. 

Finally, go to alibaba.com and talk with 1-3 professional suppliers like us in China. This is when you have some initial ideas of the budget now. 

Packaging Mistake No. 4: Not enough attention to the changing roles in different product life stages

Before production, don’t buy un-foldable packaging materials

Packaging pouch bags, cartons are stored in inventory. When possible, we should consider those flexible and foldable packaging products to save space in the warehouse. Or we choose those short-lead-time packaging pouches to improve financial cash flow and decrease input. 

During Packing, don’t buy low-quality accessories for packaging materials

If we go with the traditional way of manual packing, easy-open ziplock pouches should be taken into consideration because some defective zippers are either too tight nor too fragile. If we go automatic way, packing machine operation parameters are better to be offered to the supplier in advance to match and make sure a smooth flow during packing. 

One more tip is don’t forget the operating temperature when the content goes inside the bag pouches. Sometimes the products are hot and high-temp-safety materials should be used.

In Transportation, don’t over-packing

Surely we understand we need to keep the products inside safe and well. But over-packaging will bring you increasing logistics costs. Let’s check the history data of damage cost that happened in transportation and find out the balance point. Then spend reasonable money on the packaging upgrading.

On the shelf, don’t forget the aging of and products

Do you know how long your products can be sold out in the supermarket? If the turnover is quick, we may give the product a light but nice glossy dress. If the turnover is slow, we may need to consider a “jeans” materials to be rigid and durable, keeping the products tidy and attractive all the days until they are taken home 4 months later.

Pouches, bags, cartons are aimed to firstly keep the inside product safety and health. If UV resistance needed, it is better to give up the window on the packaging. 

One more tip is don’t forget some products are packed to be frosted while some others are going to be microwaved or resined. Do use low-temp safety and microwave safety material films.

Packaging Mistake No. 5: Ignorance of user experience

The packaging is a part of your product so don’t forget to improve the user experience on the packagings also.

Who is your customer? How will he use this product? For example, um, you don’t expect a kid to open the cannabis pouches in the drawer, right? A child-resistance tab should be equipped. Or the liquid detergent bottle aging and color-fading too quickly in the sunshine before a housewife finishes it with laundry. She is very likely to turn to another brand later. Or a bag of 10kg rice, there is not comfortable handle on the packaging pouches. 

The packaging is application-related. There are a lot of details we can work on and provide our end-user a very considerate experience when buying your product, use your product even throw your product. Who knows, maybe your product packaging pouches are so good and they decide to keep for other stuff. Think about this, your brand will stay in your audience’s home for a very very long time. And every family member will see the brand in daily life again and again…

Conclusion

Above are some common and fatal packaging mistakes we gather from our existed clients and these are the words they would like us to share with everyone, especially business beginners. We sincerely hope they are useful information for you and if you have further questions regarding pouches packagings like printed stand up pouches, coffee bags, pouch bags for food, please don’t hesitate to leave messages below or contact us directly.