People make a food product and put their heart and soul into it. They make sure that they use the best ingredients with the best quality. They make sure they follow all the health guidelines. But still, their product doesn’t do well, and many blame the packaging.
So a question arises. When it comes to food products, does attractive packaging really matter? The answer is yes! In fact, apart from the quality, the packaging is one of the most important aspects of a food product. A well-designed package will always sell better than a mediocre one.
Facts say that people take less than a second to make a decision when buying a product. So you need to design a package that attracts customers in a millisecond.
There are many approaches to designing food packaging, and the right one depends on the type of audience you cater to and the type of product you are selling. This article will discuss the importance of attractive packaging for food products and provide some tips for creating an effective package design.
When grocery shopping, consumers are bombarded with thousands of different products. Your product must have a product-specific, informative, and eye-catching package to stand out on the shelves.
An attractive package will grab the attention of potential customers and encourage them to pick up your product. Once they have picked up your product, you have a chance to make a sale.
However, if your packaging is dull or unappealing, shoppers will likely pass over your product in favor of something that catches their eye.
Not only does packaging play a role in getting potential customers to notice your product, but it also influences their purchase decision. Packaging can be used to convey important information about your product, such as what it contains, how it should be used, and where it was made.
This information can be critical in convincing a shopper to purchase your product over another. In addition, packaging can be used to create an emotional connection with the consumer.
For example, if you are selling a health food product, you may want to use packaging that conveys healthy and natural vibes, such as paper food packaging.
On the other hand, if you intend to sell a luxury food product, you may want to use sleek and sophisticated packaging. Glass food packaging is often used for luxury or premium products.
Things To Keep In Mind When Designing Packaging For A Food Product
When designing your food packaging, there are several things you should keep in mind. Here are a few pointers for you help.
1. Your Target Audience
When you are designing your food packaging, ask yourself a question. Who are you designing it for? Who are the people you are trying to reach for your product? This will help you pinpoint your target audience and design the packaging better.
To exemplify this, if you sell healthy food products, your packaging should convey healthy pictures and natural vibes. On the contrary, your packaging should be sleek and sophisticated if you sell luxury/ gourmet food products.
But remember that no matter your target audience, your packaging should always be eye-catching. This is a point that’s always constant.
2. The Type Of Product You Are Selling
Another important factor is that the packaging should be product appropriate. This simply means that your packaging should signify and specify things about your food product.
For example, if you are selling fresh fruit, your packaging should be able to protect the fruit and keep it fresh. If you are selling packaged goods, such as chips or cookies, your packaging should be designed to attract attention and encourage impulse purchases.
3. The Level Of Quality Of Your Product
Your packaging should also be able to showcase your product’s quality. Your packaging should be high-end and luxurious if you sell a premium product.
Similarly, your packaging should be more straightforward if you sell a budget-friendly product. This will help shoppers understand what they can expect from your product.
4. Your Brand Identity
I feel a bit obligated to mention this, even if this one’s out there. Your packaging should be, scratch that, must be, an extension of your brand identity. Everything from the colors, logos and images to the fonts should align with your brand’s image.
For example, if your brand is fun and youthful, your packaging should align with that and be playful and colorful. On the other hand, if your brand is more posh and sophisticated, your packaging should reflect that. This will help shoppers easily recognize your product on the shelves and associate it with your brand.
5. The Trends
Keep an eye on current design trends when designing your packaging. You don’t want your product to look outdated or out of style. However, you also don’t want to jump on every trend that comes your way or gets viral.
Changing your packaging with every trend makes your brand seem volatile. Use trends sparingly and only if they make sense for your product and brand identity.
6. The Message You Want To Convey
What are you trying to say with your packaging? Understand that and try to incorporate it into your packaging. Your packaging should communicate the key benefits of your product and what makes it unique.
Be clear, concise, and easy to understand. Also, throwing in generic lines ensures you get your point across.
7. The Competition
When designing, it is always crucial to factor in your competition. Take a look at what other companies are doing with their food packaging. You don’t want your packaging to be very similar to anyone else’s. Instead, you want it to be unique and stand out from the rest.
However, you also don’t want to be so different that your shoppers get confused instead. Use the competition as a starting point and add your unique twist.
8. The Cost
While lost in glam and glitter, don’t forget to chime in the packaging cost. There are a lot of costs that go into your packaging, like materials, graphics, and design. You don’t want to spend too much on the packaging because it will cut your profits.
However, you also don’t want to skimp on quality, which could backfire and reflect poorly on your product and brand. Find a balance that works for your business and budget.
9. The Environment
More and more shoppers consider the environment when purchasing. If you want to appeal to these eco-conscious consumers, ensure your packaging is eco-friendly.
This could mean using recycled materials, investing in biodegradable packaging, or even going completely plastic-free.
10. The Legal Requirements
The last point of consideration is the legal liabilities and requirements of the packaging. There are certain legal requirements when designing your food packaging. For example, all food products must include a nutrition label.
Also, make sure your packaging is durable and tamper-proof. Be sure to do your research and consult with an expert to ensure your packaging meets all the necessary requirements.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that attractive packaging does matter for food products. Your packaging should be well-designed, reflect the quality of your product, and conform to all the necessary legal requirements. Keep these packaging tips in mind the next time you design or think of redesigning your packaging.
I hope this article helps you. Let me know in the comments how much this article helped you. I’d love to hear from you. I’ll see you another time. Until then, happy packaging!
