Image
Packaging

A Brief Guide to Crafting Luxury Packaging

A Brief Guide to Crafting Luxury Packaging

What is Product Packaging?

Luxury Packaging: Enhancing Shelf Appeal and Boosting Sales

3 Crucial Questions to Ask

Steps in Product Packaging Creation

What Makes a Great Product Packaging?

Luxury Packaging Tips for Retailers

Let’s Create Luxury Product Packaging

 

What is Product Packaging?

Have you ever given a second thought to a product’s packaging? When shopping for groceries and other items, how many times did you check out a product simply because the packaging was eye-catching? In such a competitive and saturated market, brands need to rethink the appearance of their products to ensure that they stand out on the shelf.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of luxury, high-end packaging, let’s first talk about product packaging itself. The main purpose of packaging is to protect the product inside during transit and storage. Whether it’s a packet for your Skittles or a can that holds every precious and delicious drop of your favourite carbonated drink, the packaging is just as important as the main product itself.

Whether you’re redesigning your current packaging or conceptualising one for the first time, knowing the basics will help you make well-informed decisions. Read this brief guide to crafting luxury packaging so you can get started on your brainstorming and production process.

Luxury Packaging: Enhancing Shelf Appeal and Boosting Sales

Kelly Morr defines product packaging as “the creation of the exterior of a product.” The design considers not only the material used but also the graphics, colours, fonts, and the overall layout of the container.

The quality and durability of the container and its design help sell the product to a great extent because the packaging catches the consumers’ attention. Luxury packaging goes a long way in leaving a good first impression and establishing brand loyalty.

3 Crucial Questions to Ask

When creating product packaging, here are some critical questions to ask:

 

  1. What is the product?

This question does not require much thinking or heavy research; no rocket science is involved. Like any other retailer, it is important to have this figured out first. What are you selling and how big is it? What material/s is it made of? Is it fragile? Does it require vacuum sealing? Knowing the specifications of your product is essential when designing packaging. 

For example, if the product is fragile, it will require more secure and hardcover packaging. No business would sell musical instruments or glass items wrapped only in plastic or bubble wrap. Products with odd dimensions require custom-made packaging, not just a simple box or container.

When businesses know the products they sell, they are highly likely to develop better packaging strategies for each product.

  1. Who are the products for?

Before starting the design process, it is crucial to know the ideal consumer targeted by the main product. Identifying the demographic helps the marketers and manufacturers develop product packaging that appeals to the target customers’ needs and lifestyles.

Is the product supposed to be used by men, women, or everyone regardless of gender? Is it for children or adults? Is the product suitable for people who are allergic to certain materials? Is it for those who practise a sustainable lifestyle? Is it meant to target those who strictly stay on a budget?

By understanding these factors, retailers get a good grasp of how they must go about designing their product packaging while simultaneously catering to the needs and wants of their buyers.

  1. How will consumers purchase the product?

The products’ accessibility and mode of purchase also play a role in product packaging. Is the product sold in a supermarket, small boutique, or online store?

Typically, items sold online need more secure packaging so the product will not move around during shipment. Products sold in a supermarket or boutique need to be unique and informative. By knowing how the products will be sold and stored, retailers can come up with effective packaging strategies that will both protect the product and entice consumers simultaneously.

Steps in Product Packaging Creation

Now that we know what high-end packaging is and how it impacts buying decisions, it’s time to start manufacturing the actual packaging. Follow these steps to achieve the best results:

  1. Preparation

During the planning stage, consider the following items:

  • Size, shape, and weight of the product
  • The volume of each batch run
  • Budget
  • The launch and shipping timeline
  1. Types of Product Packaging Material

The material type will depend on the product and its measurements. Some of the most common packaging materials include:

  • Corrugated boxes
  • Stretch film
  • Shrink film
  • Printed shrink film
  • Shrink film tubing
  • Polybags
  • Roll bags
  • Bundling film
  • Shrink bands
  • Flexible pouches
  • Strapping
  • Carded packaging
  • Skin packaging
  • Clamshells
  • Glass jars
  • Aluminium cans
  • Plastic bottles
  • Paperboard boxes

Check out this guide to help you decide which packaging material best suits your products.

  1. Design

Do you need to be a professional graphic designer? No. There are many platforms made for beginners who need to craft packaging design with little to no knowledge about basic design principles. However, it pays to hire an expert with exceptional graphic design skills to ensure that your brand identity is flawlessly executed. Professionals might also have access to premium design software and tools.

  1. Printing and Finishes

The last step is printing and coating. The printing, cutting, and coating equipment you use significantly impacts the quality of your product packaging. To get optimal results, choose equipment from a trusted supplier of high-precision automated print finishing technology, such as Duplo International.

High-quality print equipment can produce the following finishes to add texture and visual appeal to product packaging:

Foiling

Foiling is adding reflective highlights in gold, silver, and metallic finishes to two-dimensional print. This embellishment can typically be found on wine labels and other luxurious items that need a touch of glamour and sophistication.

Spot UV Coating

Spot UV coating adds depth to images printed on a flat sheet. The textures and patterns produced by spot UV coating bring a page to life.

Embossing and Debossing

Embossing is the process of pressing a pattern or design onto a surface. It is usually done on cards and invitations for that added intrigue and dramatic effect.

Debossing is the opposite of the embossing technique, wherein a concave impression is made by depressing the design into a substrate.

Aqueous Coating

This finish is a water-based clear coat that creates an extra layer of protection to keep the ink and paper from staining, creasing, and tearing. Its texture is velvety and luxurious.

Image
Luxury package

Luxury packaging goes a long way in leaving a good first impression and establishing brand loyalty.

What Makes a Great Product Packaging?

Functionality

The packaging of a product is a practical tool for many reasons. At its simplest level, it holds and protects the main product inside. We wouldn’t be able to consume our favourite goods or use our home essentials if it weren’t for the packaging that holds them together.

The packaging also keeps the product safe, ensuring that it doesn’t fall apart, especially during shipment between the manufacturing facility and the retailer. It is also made to prevent damage while the product waits on the shelf for its buyer.

Ease of Use

In the world of shopping, being told your product is well-packaged is a compliment. However, there is such a thing as overly packaged. Packaging that is difficult and frustrating to open can put off consumers and leave a negative impression of your product and brand.

The simpler, the better. If possible, add printing instructions on the packaging, such as cut lines and arrows. The material used must be strong enough to withstand transport and storage but can easily be opened or torn with human force.

Look and Feel

First impressions are important. The packaging is the consumer’s first introduction to the product. It briefs them on what the product is for, how it should be used, and who can benefit from it. The information indicated on the label also helps the consumer decide whether the product is worth purchasing. Displaying relevant information in a creative and intelligent manner helps in managing consumer expectations and consumer satisfaction.

In addition to providing the consumer a sneak peek of the product’s purpose and benefits, high-end packaging should be aesthetically pleasing. The following factors must complement the product and each other, as well as reinforce buying behaviour:

  • Colours
  • Typography
  • Material choice
  • Copy/content
  • Illustrations and imagery

Ultimately, like any other great design, the product packaging should tell a story. The story should draw buyers in and appeal to emotions and desires. After all, the main goal of creating any product is to attract people to choose it over any similar product they can find in the store. A well-designed, attention-grabbing luxury packaging heightens brand connection and increases the likelihood of a purchase.

Luxury Packaging Tips for Retailers

How can retailers create a high-impact, high-end packaging design for their brand? We’ve listed some tips below:

Incorporate beautiful design elements, including embellishments

  • Think about size, function, shipment, and storage
  • Provide clear and concise product information
  • Use high-end materials
  • Tell an authentic and relatable story

Let’s Create Luxury Product Packaging

As discussed in this article, product packaging is just as important as your product. Don’t settle for less. To help your clients produce luxury packaging that will positively influence purchase decisions and boost sales printers should explore finishing techniques that add value.

As leaders in the digital print industry, our goal is to help you produce more with less. With the right tools at your disposal, creating luxury packaging is a breeze.

We hope this comprehensive guide on crafting luxury packaging has provided you with a lot of useful information. To learn more about us and the products we provide, don’t hesitate to visit our website or fill out the contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.

Similar Articles

Blog
Not just a buzz phrase, future proofing is simply the act of anticipating what might be in store for your business in the years to come. Trying to avoid relying on processes, solutions, or products…
Blog
In any industry, adaptability and versatility are paramount for staying ahead of the curve. For print service providers (PSPs) technology that can adapt to rapidly evolving client demands is not just…
Blog
  By 2028 the number of readers in the print advertising market is expected to hit 1.3 billion. Print provides a sensory experience that digital creations can’t replicate, and this shows in its…