TOP PACKAGING TRENDS OF 2019:
BRANDING- Custom-designed packaging, for all businesses, focusing on branding, is essential for eCommerce and retail consumers, especially if you are a small business. Amazon has pushed the envelope for online shipping, along with the expansion of social media, forcing businesses to ensure they have a presence that brings repeat business and establishes credibility for their products. Custom branding, with bold graphics, allows your company to show who you are and focuses on making a memorable unboxing experience with a dramatic moment of reveal for your customers! Branding is essential in today's business world, especially if you want your products to stand out in the crowd and generate repeat business!
SUSTAINABILITY- Whether it's waste or pollution or over-packaging, the trend will be to make packaging easier to open, with less waste, reusable, with less fillers and no extra packaging. Last year’s World Economic Forum saw over 250 companies pledge to use 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025. Companies will need to decide what components of their packaging are required to ensure customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, without impacting the environment in a negative fashion, and reflecting on the supplier's concern for the environment. Less can be best as long as the packaging withstands the supply chain rigors. Simple is good too and that doesn't have to mean cheap or plain. Consumers will look for companies that follow these concerns. Amazon is leading a charge to use ONLY suppliers that use 100% recycled packaging, this in their "frustration-free packaging" program. in August, they will start penalizing those non-compliant suppliers. Amazon is also insisting on the packaging that is easy to open with no extra fillers.
MULTI-CHANNEL FLEXIBILITY- Consumers want a seamless online and retail experience, including the ability to order online and pick it up locally, or have delivered. Many companies are gearing up toward having both an online and retail presence, so it's imperative the product packaging reflects both while understanding their customer's buying patterns. Although online sales are growing at a phenomenal rate, consumers still enjoy the ability to touch their products and see them in retail stores. Keep in mind:
- Consumers are demanding flexibility; they have more choices than ever before
- They still want the "unboxing experience" with less waste and fillers that don't recycle
- They will pay more IF they love what they see inside
Online shopping has dramatically grown, with Amazon setting the eCommerce trend.
Click here to see what one of our customers, Smilo Baby Products, did to develop their eCommerce business.
SUMMARY:
Packaging trends in 2019 will be branding and ensuring your unique and custom-designed product packaging stands out in this ever-growing field. Make sure your product packaging design is simple, yet bold and reflective of what you want consumers to see and generate return sales from. Use graphics to make your point and deliver your brand message!
Sustainability will get bigger this year with companies focusing on reducing waste and fillers in the packaging, and avoiding packaging that doesn't recycle or isn't made from recyclable materials. Consumers will be keeping an eye on this as they look to be environmentally conscious too.
Multi-channel distribution will continue to be vital for a business hoping to grow sales. Having both an online and retail business will be paramount here as understanding consumer trends about having their items either picked up, shipped locally, or delivered online, and at what cost.
Every year trends change, and for the packaging industry, this will be a big year for it! eCommerce growth is fascinating and will allow many businesses, especially small businesses, to grow as their packaging stand out in the crowd amplifying their brand message and image.
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