| You have spent time and money developing your | | | | For new retail products to sell, a story about the |
| product. A patent has been filed. You have | | | | new product must normally be told. In a retail |
| committed financial resources, more than | | | | atmosphere the printed packaging or custom box |
| expected, to make your great idea come to life. | | | | tells that story. Custom retail packaging has |
| You have produced a small quantity and now you | | | | graphics printed on the box, but the design of the |
| are ready to take your idea to market. You | | | | package is also important. Maybe your product |
| approach distributors or retailers and they love | | | | needs a custom packaging design, a windowed |
| your product. Then you get your first order and | | | | box, or a certain box style will allow for more |
| the realization comes about. How am I going to | | | | information to be presented to the perspective |
| get my great product to my new customer? | | | | buyer. |
| How will it be packaged? A customer wants to | | | | Now that your product has retail packaging that |
| order a case of your product, how many are in a | | | | promotes the product, you have to get it to the |
| case? How will my product tell it's story on the | | | | retailer safely and in quantities that make sense |
| retail shelf? These packaging problems and many | | | | to you financially and to your customer. Shipping |
| other surface when you finally get your product | | | | boxes can be made in almost any size and style. |
| to market. And in many cases the packaging | | | | Many times you can find a stock shipping box, |
| costs are the last thing a new product developer | | | | that will be the right size, from online stock |
| thinks of, plus many times the cost is not even in | | | | packaging companies, but other times, it requires |
| the projected cost. | | | | a custom made shipping box, also called a custom |
| Now comes the panic... How do I package my | | | | corrugated carton. Package designers are not just |
| new product for as little as possible? When in | | | | for retail packaging, but also for protective |
| reality packaging can be the most important part | | | | packaging. |
| of your new product. One of my current | | | | Some products will require protective packaging |
| customer makes replacement transmission kits. | | | | along with the shipping cartons. Box Style, |
| One kit design - a standard brown retail box with | | | | corrugated board strength and the correct |
| a small label describing what transmissions it | | | | cushioning all play a part in safely transporting |
| replaces. The other package has a four color | | | | your product to its destination. A good rule of |
| laminated graphic custom box that has all the | | | | thumb is a 2" barrier of protection between your |
| information about how to install, kit parts and | | | | products for protection if they are fragile in |
| what transmission it replaces. The interesting thing | | | | nature. Anything from crumpled newspaper and |
| is although both kits have the exact same | | | | loose-fill peanuts to custom foam packaging can |
| components, the kit with the four color | | | | help protect your product during shipment. If you |
| litho-laminated graphic packaging sells for more | | | | are unsure contact a packaging professional. |
| than the other generic transmission kit and it out | | | | Remember, a good retail graphical package design |
| sells the plain brown box almost two to one. This | | | | and the proper packed shipping box will help make |
| is why the old adage "packaging sells" is really | | | | your products get to market safely and then |
| true. | | | | move off the shelves. |