Did you ever think a time would come when the design of a commodity’s package would be of much value in selling it? I bet not! Well, things have really changed with time. Product design and development services now recognize that a well-designed package is a high priority in making their product attractive to the buyer, especially in the US market. This is because the packaging is the first thing that the customer will notice when he/she receives the product.
In the distant past, not much attention was paid to the packaging of a product. It was just a simple exercise of covering the product to prevent it from damage due to exposure. In contrast, nowadays you package your product to boost its selling power.
Competition between businesses is no longer limited to the grassroots level, where you would add extra features to your commodities to improve sales. It has now taken a new route. This involves using creativity and innovation to create a gap between competing sellers in the market – blame this on the new market trends and the growing competition.
At this juncture, we now place more emphasis on graphic designers and anyone else who has the task of making unique designs that sell commodities. To help you boost your sales, we have prepared an informative list of actionable tips for successfully preparing your product packaging for the US market.
Tip 1. Understand Who Your Customers Are
The US market is very competitive and is, of course, made up of different classes of customers. As a result, even before you start thinking of the best package design for your commodity, first ask yourself: ‘Who are my customers?’
Once you identify them, try to find out their demography in terms of age, sex, and religion among other factors, as that will help you to understand them better. Once you know their ages, for example, you will be able to determine the shape of package that will best appeal to them.
For example, it is not a great strategy to package a lotion meant for teenagers with a design that would serve the elderly better. On the other hand, the elderly might not be comfortable with exaggerated package designs. The same happens when it comes to people of different gender.
Again, understanding your customers gives you a chance to know what they really need. If you are determined enough in meeting customer needs, you will use that knowledge to improve and customize your product design, hence attracting more customers. Understanding your customers should be the first consideration to make.
Tip 2. Use Clear Appeals
If you’re designing products for the US market, think of all the messages that your package design is likely to convey. Make sure that the appeals used in your package are friendly to Americans, otherwise you will fail.
Considering your demographic will assist you in designing the messages to use in the designs as well. Due to the US’s huge population, you should take care that the appeal you develop does not become offensive to a part of the population, as this can negatively affect your product.
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If you want to attain success in such a competitive market, you must manipulate the slogans that you put on packaging designs. Be very cautious of words that do not fit in the American context, especially slang or colloquialisms, since this might draw customers away.
Your package design should only contain slogans that elicit interest and sensation from the consumer to lure them to buy. These slogans go the extra mile in establishing a connection between your product and your new customers.
Tip 3. Commence Package Design Early
There is no sense in waiting until your product has been developed before you contact a custom product packaging design service. Start when the product is being developed and come up with several designs so that you can select the one that best promotes your commodity.
This also gives you time to research what your competitors have produced so that you can create a better package, hence giving you an added advantage. Observe how other producers of the same commodity are packaging their product for the US market to make your package design better.
Another good tactic is to distribute some mock designs to your customers to see their reactions. Do they like the packaging design? Are they complaining about any of its features, or are they really bored by it?
Tip 4. Simplify the Package Design
You have heard that too much of anything is poisonous. Even in designing the package, the same thing applies. Do not exaggerate the package’s design features too much, as this might not serve the expected purpose. When it comes to appeals, keep them reasonable and avoid a lot of information.
Excessive warnings on the label will end up barring crucial and meaningful warnings and instructions. Americans are busy people and they will not have the time to read a million words in a single package design.
It is important to consider the design of the container as well as the graphics: it should not be so complicated that it causes problems with packaging the products in cartons. It should always be simplistic.
Tip 5. Be Aware of Typography
Always be aware of the way in which your typed messages appear on your package design. Some aspects of typography that should be considered include font size and color. The font should not be so small that customers can’t read it; neither should it be so large that it fills the whole packaging label. If you notice that your customers are straining to read the typed messages, there is a problem.
On the issue of color, establish some uniformity to create harmony. Using a huge variety of colors can leave your package looking disorganized and confused. Do you think there’s anyone who wants to buy such a commodity? You will have failed in your design. Typography should be approached with caution, whether the product is marketed online or in stores.
You should also ensure that you use a color that is bright enough and that matches the product. It should be loud enough to call the customers to the shelves. But pay careful attention to the issue of color selection – take care that your colors create a pleasing aesthetic and suit the product they advertise.
Tip 6. Capture Attention
Make sure that you capture your customers’ attention through the packaging design.
Once you have researched the market, you will realize that consumers usually only show interest for a short time, so you need to devise ways of capturing their attention instantly.
You should not, however, make the mistake of including excessive colors and texts. Instead, try to come up with a balance between the two attraction aspects to achieve your goal.
It is worth noting that you should make small changes to your design after some time so that you always have something new for your customers that maintains their interest.
Tip 7. Be Bold
If you want to make a package design that will be appealing to the US market, then you must be bold, as this trait is associated with authority. Who wants to buy an inferior product anyway? When it comes to writing the product name, for example, use bold letters, as this will denote power. This will attract buyers of your commodity.
If you use a normal, soft font statement, your product will not be easily noticed by potential buyers. You should not forget to use unusual textures to make the product stand out.
Consumers like unique things. When a packaging label is in bold, it in effect shouts to the buyer, who draws closer to find out what it is and then buys it. You must learn these tactics for you to survive and thrive in the competitive US market.
Tip 8. Your Packaging Design Should Be Harmless to the Environment
One of the things that product designers keep in mind is that people are now aware of environmental pollution and they are really interested in environmentally-friendly packaging materials.
So, to be on the safe side, try as much as you can to avoid using plastics and synthetic materials that are harmful to the environment, as this might reduce consumers’ interest in your commodity.
Americans want to be sure that the products they buy are not packaged with materials that are going to ruin their environment. This suggests you should try using biodegradable and/or recyclable materials.
Yes, the law may not directly be at your neck for using certain materials in packaging, but remember your customers are watching you keenly to see whether you really care about the environment. When your competitors go for environmentally-friendly packaging materials, and you are left dealing with plastics and synthetics, they will undoubtedly beat you. Be safe!
Tip 9. Be Clear
One of the most vital things in a product package is the label detailing what is contained in the packaging box and the name of the manufacturer. A package that is well-designed and pleasing to look at is very disappointing if it fails to tell the buyer what is inside and who made it.
This is crucial information – after all, no one wants to buy soap for a crying kid in the supermarket thinking it’s a snack. Given how competitive the US market is, if your product information isn’t displayed clearly, you’ll lose your way into the market since no one will buy your product.
Tip 10. Create Beautiful Patterns
When a product creates a monotonous pattern on the shelf in a supermarket it is not very attractive. Therefore, it’s important that when the package is displayed on the shelf, the visual effect results in beautiful patterns that present a catchy and conspicuous outlook. Freelance 3D modelers can help you visualize your product packaging on a shelf.
The concept is called shelf impact, and it should be considered in packaging for the US market. You can achieve this by arranging your commodities among others and assessing which one catches your attention first. The beauty of the patterns attracts the customers, who in turn develop interest and buy the commodity.
Tip 11. Ease of Handling
When producing for the US market, always make sure that your package design provides an easy-to-handle feature, since no one wants to have difficulty carrying their new product from the supermarket. You should make a handle that is convenient to hold or that ensures your fingers are comfortable when carrying.
Failure to adhere to these features will make the customers in the US market go for other products from your competitors. Under no circumstance, then, should you make a package design that makes your product difficult to carry.
Tip 12. Let the Container be Reusable
Customers in the US market will go for products that are packaged in containers that can be used in other ways after the product is finished. If, for example, you package sugar in a very nice container, the customer will use the sugar and once the container is empty, it can be used to keep pegs in.
In such a scenario, you can be sure that the product legacy will never leave that house since the customer will continue to see the container, which will remind them of your sugar brand. Isn’t that an advantage to your product marketing and creation of customer loyalty?
Tip 13. Keep Updating the Design over Time
It is always good to keep updating your design, rather than being stuck with one product design for years. Keep on making changes to the packaging, and always aim to introduce a new feature that is unique in every edition of your product packaging.
Be deliberate with the timing of your design changes. For example, you can refresh your design when there is an event that will require your product. A good instance is the football season.
Always aim at impulse buyers; this is only possible if you make an interesting product. If people buy what they have not planned for, the benefit will be on your side. This requires a very keen observation of the market to note changes in preference and interests in certain product designs.
Tip 14. Do the Odd and the Unexpected
You should try going against the normal conventions of product packaging and labeling but with a lot of caution. Every now and then, consider changing the packaging design that people are used to and create a unique design that will attract customers in the US market. This is especially important for consumer product design.
People become used to products being packaged in certain ways, and changing your design means that your product will get new attention, which will lead to a lot of interest from customers.
Everyone is used to seeing shoes coming in carton boxes and toothbrushes coming in transparent small boxes, for example. A change in these conventional packaging designs could result in new sales.
However, make sure that you don’t lose realism and conformity. Always ensure that there’s a connection between the product and the packaging design.
Tip 15. Keep Your Package Design Humorous and Funny
Humor is known to be one of the things that can create a rapport between two strangers that have just met. Your customer meets your product for the first time, and since you are not physically there, your packaging design will speak on your behalf.
Therefore, when making it, include some aspect of humor in it, and it will keep the customer smiling. This will most likely please the customer, who will then be tempted to buy the product.
Nobody hates fun. If you really want to charm your customers with your package design, try incorporating some fun into it. If you walked in a supermarket and you came across a packet of teabags with a picture of the teabags hanging on a hanger like a t-shirt while dropping a sweet-looking golden drop of tea? Wouldn’t you smile and then buy the teabags?
The US market is very competitive, and this requires you to be extra creative and innovative in presenting your products.
Tip 16. Be Up to Date
One of the things that you must keep in mind before creating a packaging material for the US market is observing its current trends. This will ensure that you’re not left behind, and you’re in line with what is trending in the market.
If you don’t consider trends, all your customers will shift interest to your competitors. Nobody wants to go for a design that was developed a century ago. Take serious note of this.
Tip 17. Create Room for Future Package Development
In order to maintain your product’s – and company’s – competitive edge in the US market, you should create some room for the future development of your packaging design. When designing the packaging, ensure there is some room for extension in case your firm decides to introduce new features to the product.
Furthermore, don’t create a design that will cause you a lot of stress if you have to manipulate it for another additional or similar product. Always ensure that your package design can be applied to a new line of product with ease and simplicity.
Tip 18. Keep it Practical
One thing that customers in the US market consider is the practicality of a packaging design. It is therefore important to consider the size and shape of the product’s container. Is the container shape appealing to customers? Can it stand stably on a surface without support?
This is what customers want on the shelves. They prefer packaging designs that are tested and confirmed, and this almost leaves no space for innovation. However, you should use all the tips identified above to promote acceptable new package designs.
Tip 19. Keep the Package Original
You will need to keep your package design very original if you are to succeed in the US market, since every customer wants the real thing. There are a million and one product brands competing for attention in the market, and it appears that the originality of a product is a major consideration. Being original is all about embracing creativity and making your packaging design as unique as possible.
Tip 20. Let It Be Full of Wonder
Let your customers marvel at your package as they wonder how it was designed. You can achieve this through creativity and innovation. Give the bottle a unique shape that will not be understood by competitors and you will attract a million customers. US customers always want something that is mysterious and uncommon.
The US market is a competitive market that requires extra creativity and innovation in creating impactful package designs for your products. The tips above will empower you in creating useful, appealing packaging designs and help you increase your sales.
If you don’t craft your packaging designs carefully, you will most likely lose customers and eventually leave the market due to lack of sales.
At Cad Crowd, we have a network of product packaging design experts who can help create the perfect package for your product. If you’re interested, contact us today for a free quote.