How to Upgrade Your Outer Packaging to Make Your Herbal Brand Stand Out
At its most basic level, outer packaging serves to protect your product from damage during transport, handling and storage. But nowadays, companies are taking advantage of outer packaging to further brand and market their product to consumers. Utilizing packaging as a means of marketing, when done with creativity and imagination, can attract customers, create brand identity and differentiate your product from competitors. So, without further ado, this blog offers ways on how to upgrade your outer packaging to make your herbal brand stand out.
1) Invest In Product & Ingredient Certifications
One way to upgrade your outer packaging is to invest in product and ingredient certifications, such as the USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, and/or Kosher certification, to name some of the most well-known ones. If you are a manufacturer of your own herbal products, obtaining certifications may be more of a commitment in terms of time and money and may not be as easily achievable, especially if you are a start-up with little funds. On the other hand, if you are a retailer that white-labels or private-labels herbal products from an herbal manufacturer, it is possible that you may be able to use your manufacturer’s certifications/seals if applicable. Doing so will not only increase the value of your product but it can also upgrade your outer packaging and make your product more attractive to consumers.
2) Make Your Bottle Stand Out
Another way to upgrade your outer packaging to make your herbal brand stand out is to choose a unique bottle style. For example, square bottles, color coated bottles or bamboo dropper bottles will stand out way more than your good old fashioned amber round-top bottles that every other herbal company uses. On top of choosing a unique bottle style to help make your product stand out, you can also choose to print directly on your bottle—a technique called screen printing—instead of using traditional labels. Screen printing can make your packaging look more professional and, therefore, increase the chances of consumers choosing your herbal product over your competitors.
3) Use A Sustainable Packing Design
Nowadays, there are many options when choosing the type of outer packaging being used to hold your product. Sustainable packaging refers to the sourcing, development and use of packaging solutions that have minimal environmental impact and don’t contribute to the depletion of natural resources. Some more well-known sustainable materials that are being used throughout various industries include hemp, bamboo, recycled paper, mushrooms, and seaweed. Considering that consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious and wish to support companies that make eco-friendly products, choosing to use sustainable outer packaging could potentially give you brownie points from new and old customers alike.
4) Hire A Graphic Designer or Graphic Design Team
While it’s possible to create your own outer packaging yourself, it might be worthwhile to hire a packaging design team to get the job done right. A professional design team already have the skills and knowledge required to make outer packaging that can capture and hold a potential customer’s attention. Design teams are especially attentive to creating packaging with a cohesive color and theme, unique color combos and intricate illustrations. Not only do graphic designers know the ins-and-outs of creating captivating packaging, but they also know the latest trends and functions as well as the laws and ethics for packaging—a factor that is especially important in the herbal supplement industry. Ultimately, opting for a professional individual or team that specializes in the design of outer packaging can save you a lot of time and money in the long-run, while creating a design that looks professional and unique to your brand.
Outer Packaging Do’s and Don’ts
If you decide to upgrade your outer packaging yourself, there are some things you should consider and other things to steer clear of when you are in the designing process. Below are the do’s and don’ts when upgrading your outer packaging:
| DO’s |
| · Create a catchy slogan or tagline to stand out from competitors
· Include descriptive words that appeal to your targets market’s desires · Include functional benefits, or what the product does · Display legally required information · Add a QR code to give customers easy access to your website · Include your contact information/website so customers can remember you in the future |
| DON’Ts |
| · Overdesign your packaging
· Mislead customers · Follow every trend · Produce too much unnecessary packaging waste |
Final Thoughts
These tips on how to upgrade your outer packaging to make your herbal brand stand out are simple yet extremely effective. If done correctly, your brand’s packaging could potentially be the deciding factor in a customer choosing your product over your competitors’. That said, utilizing these methods may just be what your company needs to create a truly unique and captivating product that will help surpass your competition. After all, why not make the most of your outer packaging and let the product sell itself?
Written by:
Kaitlyn Cranor
