Creating an Advantage with premium retail packaging and placement strategies to boost revenue

Four things to focus on to improve your position in the store

Competition for shelf space is fierce, perhaps greater than ever. New technology and lightning-fast business development are allowing more small businesses a faster track to produce more products. That means more competition for the same shelf space.

How can you stand out? And how can you get the retailer excited enough to make a change?  In our fifteen years in business helping small business owners with small business packaging projects, we’ve learned some strategies that can help you generate more and better shelf space to enhance in-store product sales.

1. Strategic Product Placement:

Market research can help you understand where target customers will likely notice your products. When you know this, you can vie for more space and more targeted space. Two potential decisions you can make include:

1. Eye-Level Placement: Be thinking about your target audience's age. Aim for eye-level placement. Sometimes it’s better to be down low, especially if your target audience is young or old.
2. Complementary Pairing: Determine where your competition is gaining shelf momentum, and steer towards them. People like to have choices, and being on the same level with a similar product puts you in the game.

2. Effective Merchandising Techniques:Bredog

Here we discuss packaging, visual appeal, and signage or display. A store wants to sell your product, so they are looking for products that will sell. The packaging has to look good and give good reasons to buy.

1. “Same but different”. Work on a tagline that tells the differentiation story in a few words. The retailer will be moved, just like the customer will.
2. Visual Appeal: Vibrant colors, attractive designs, and unique shapes can help your products catch the shopper's eye even against larger more well-known brands.
3. Display: Shelf space is nice, but a well-designed display can make an impact. You’ll stand out, and you’ll attract attention. Be sure your display is well constructed, sturdy, and easily stocked so the retailer will feel good about putting your display in the aisles.
4. Establish open lines of communication with your retailer and be ready to shift on a dime. A smaller, more flexible packaging supplier, like Ashtonne Packaging can work with you when you need them.   Here is an article about flexibility and getting to market faster: "Launch to market with MVP".

3. Consider pricing and incentives:

Let your retailer/store buyer know you’re serious about moving the product. You’ll create an environment of urgency which will attract more customers, and make the store look good too! Important note: Don’t just discount the product. If your product is superior, or you want the brand to be, then people should expect to pay more. The store may desire a higher-end option to their current product lines. It’s a win/win way to differentiate your product and increase profit margins.

1. Build in a QR code or a coupon offer on your display to attract attention and increase sales provide retailers with incentives such as discounts, promotions, or exclusive deals to encourage them to allocate more shelf space to your products.
2. Be ready to explain to the retailer why your price is the way it is. They’ll appreciate your market research and can make room if it helps them diversify their options.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making:

Consider package and marketing testing flights. Let your buyers know what you’re up to, and share those results. Let them know you are in this for everyone’s benefit, and they’ll be more likely to want to play a role in your success.

These strategies rely on one major concept: Open and Real Communication. Launching a new project, or increasing shelf space requires a commitment on the buyer’s side. They’ll be more willing to take a chance if you’re communicating your willingness to be flexible, proactive, reactive, and strategic, with the end goal being more sales for the store.

We’d love to help you get creative and strategic. It’s always good to have someone to bounce ideas off of, and an expert to rely on for experienced advice. All of us at Ashtonne Packaging agree that is why we are here.

From a new idea to the next expansion, Ashtonne Packaging has been helping both large and small businesses launch new products and expand product lines with product packaging and display strategy, design, and development for over 15 years. Call us at Ashtonne Packaging at 877-522-6937 for expert advice and services, and a true partner towards your success, a company who cares about your services. We will be a reliable partner who cares about your business.