New Product Ideas: How to
Know You’ve Got One and How
to Take it To Market
Why Shortcuts can cut short your product rollout success
Great ideas. Sometimes they just happen. Lots of folks report doing their best thinking in the shower, or maybe they wake up with a brainstorm in the middle of the night. Sometimes, great ideas are the result of necessity, to improve revenues or meet an urgent need. And sometimes, great ideas aren’t great ideas at all, and either end up on the production room floor or left unsold on the shelves.
Great ideas are usually visual. They “look” like great ideas! Packaging and packaging suppliers, logistics packaging design, online commerce sales, and more all play a role in success. It’s common to get excited about the rollout.
In our 15 years as small business packaging experts, we’ve learned a thing or two about launching successful products, product lines, and expansions. We’ve learned to help many of our clients with more than packaging at the end. We help with planning from the start.
Here is a checklist of things to consider before you take one more step in development:
- Market Research: The biggest thing we’ve seen as a small business packaging partner is the lack of complete market research. Don’t stop when you get the first green or red light. Dig deeper. We’ve seen great ideas derailed, and bad ideas moved forward when a small business product development project ends the research too soon.
- Quality Control: It’s not just about the product. Display stands need to match the product brand for quality, and stand up in the aisles at the store. Or if you plan to ship your project, consider packaging that ensures your product arrives at the store or is delivered to the customer in one piece.
- Distribution plan:Where will you sell your products? These are your first target customers and you need to impress them with your product and brand. Will your product be available online? Then you’ll need e-commerce packaging that wows the customer when it arrives. Will you focus on smaller local stores or large corporate chains? Not only can we help you with packaging and display stand design and creation, we can help you decide what approach is best for your new product.
- Budget: Don’t underestimate your costs. In our experience, especially in today’s economy, you’ll likely spend more. Or, you may wish you did. Branding, packaging, warehousing, and shipping all have different levels, and you’ll want one that matches your expectations for success.
- Flexibility: Imagine sinking every dollar you have into Plan A, only to realize that Plan C would have been cheaper, and better received. Anticipate change. Make sure you’re working with a partner, especially one who can make quick changes to the look and durability of your package to ensure success in any product improvements you need to make.
- Bonus Tip: While none of these steps should come as a surprise to you, each of these steps can be, in our experience, overlooked or under-appreciated. Shortcuts here can cut short your opportunity for success. No matter how much experience you have, call on a partner to take a second look to see things from all sides before you move forward, and along the way.
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.
Product Concept and Design: 
Budgeting: 
Materials: 
Logistics: 
Launch strategy: 
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 877-522-6937 for expert advice and services, and a true partner towards your success, a reliable partner who cares about your business.
