Custom packaging is the perfect way to tell your story and establish a special relationship with customers. It can also serve as a promotional tool for future purchases.
Brands use their packaging to tell a story about their product and attract customers, so it must be eye-catchy. Here are a few tips to help you create outstanding custom packaging.
Colors
Color is an essential part of creating custom packaging that stands out. It can help you separate your product from similar products and connect with customers emotionally.
First, choose your colors carefully. You want them to convey the message you want to send your buyers, whether it’s comforting, fun, or conservative.
For example, if you’re selling a product for health and wellness, use green packaging to reflect your brand’s eco-friendly values. Alternatively, if you’re selling a fun food product, use red or blue to communicate its energy and youthfulness.
Another way to use colors is to match your brand’s logo and color scheme. Then, ensure your packaging’s graphics and shape stand out from the rest of the competition.
You also want to ensure your fonts stand out, too. Choose a bold and bright font using your brand’s colors.
Blue, for example, is a safe choice regarding color psychology. It’s associated with trust, honesty, reliability, and strength. This makes it a good choice for marketing agencies and businesses wanting to build client confidence. Lighter blues evoke serenity and relaxation, while darker ones suggest professional quality. Lastly, red is a rousing and attention-grabbing color that evokes love, excitement, and passion.
Materials
Using suitable materials for your custom packaging for small business is the key to creating custom packaging that stands out. The material you choose will depend on a few factors, including your product, its use, and the printing method you want to use.
For example, if you’re selling a subscription box, you may have a specific theme for your packaging. Companies like BarkBox and FabFitFun use different packaging styles for each delivery to keep their branding consistent and give customers a unique experience every time they receive a package.
Another way to make your packaging stand out is to include additional information about the product inside. This can be a date, batch number, or product type (like foods or cosmetics).
Durable packaging is also essential. The last thing you want is for your customers to receive damaged packaging and have to return their purchase. Ten percent of e-commerce packages arrive damaged.
A solid, sturdy package can help prevent this from happening. An excellent choice for this type of packaging is corrugated fiberboard.
Cardstock is another option for custom packaging. It’s lightweight, durable, and can be shaped into various shapes. It’s commonly used for single-item retail packaging or in-store displays. It is also available in a variety of colors.
Texture
Custom packaging can be a potent tool in your marketing arsenal. Not only does it show off your products, but it can also set you apart from your competition.
The texture is a crucial component when creating custom packaging that stands out. Adding texture to your packaging can enhance the unboxing experience, communicate your brand values, and give a high-end feel to your products.
Texture can be used to simulate a variety of organic structures, such as raindrops or wood grain, or it can create an abstract pattern that reflects your brand’s style. Depending on the material, texturing can be done using 3D modeling software or by hand.
To find the right texture for your brand, define your visual style. Use helpful design descriptors like “natural,” “organic,” “woody,” or “earthy” to search for patterns that will reflect your aesthetic.
Once you’ve found a pattern that fits your style, you can use it in your packaging design. You can use the texture as a background or add it to other design elements to make them pop.
In addition to finding the correct pattern, it’s essential to ensure your custom surface isn’t too close to the edge of the box. If it’s too tight, it may shift during the printing process. To avoid this, always ensure your image is at least 5mm from the edges of your custom packaging.
Printing
Custom printing can make your packaging stand out from the competition. It can also help your brand build trust with potential customers and encourage them to buy again.
If you’re thinking about printing your product packaging, there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started. First, consider your budget. You’ll want to set up an account with a printer to obtain pricing estimates and discuss your print needs. You’ll also want to check on one-time costs and per-item costs.
Having those details ready will make the printing process go much more smoothly. It will also make it easier to prepare the files for your designer to work with.
Knowing what information you want to include on your packaging is also essential. For example, if you’re selling food or cosmetics, adding expiration dates or batch numbers may be helpful so customers can quickly identify what’s inside.
Finally, think about the message you want to convey with your packaging. It should be clear, evocative, and memorable.
Ultimately, your packaging aims to communicate the story behind your business. Your design will be the story your customers will remember, so choose wisely!
