Common Mistakes to Avoid When Designing the Custom Retail Boxes
Designing and manufacturing the custom boxes is a difficult task and may lead to problematic situations if not processed properly. It can cause serious loss and may also damage the brand’s image. But that doesn’t mean you should not design the boxes just because of the fear of mistakes or errors. Every problem has a solution. You can avoid those common mistakes by paying attention to basic rules and important details. Understanding customers’ needs, prioritising usability, and sample testing and verification are some important points to consider to avoid the common packaging mistakes.
This article will tell you about what exactly the common mistakes are, which you need to avoid while designing the custom retail boxes.
Design Issues
Structural design issue is a major and common packaging problem. It makes packaging difficult to open, and customers feel frustrated while opening it. It creates a negative perception about the brand and creates a bad first impression of the product on the customer.
The unboxing experience, which is a viral trend these days and very popular among the new generation, may get ruined because of this structural issue. This common mistake can affect the emotional connection between the customer and the product and may convert the excitement into frustration. Here are some common structural design mistakes you must avoid:
1) Oversized Box
Oversized custom retail boxes can cause disappointment as they might make the product seem bigger than its actual size. It creates a negative impression of the brand and affects brand reputation.
2) Poor Durability
Structural issues in packaging may cause damage to the product during transport and fail to protect it properly. It will cause a loss to both customer and brand image, since when the customer receives the damaged product/they will post a bad review about it.
3) Difficulty in Opening the Box
The opening mechanism should be very simple and satisfying to create a good impression. It may be accessible if the customer is old or disabled by chance, but it may cause next-level frustration and disappointment.
Failure of Product Integrity
The first and foremost purpose of packaging is to protect the product, and if packaging fails to do it properly, it may affect the integrity of the product and the brand as well. The product may get exposed to humidity, moisture, light or other affecting elements and get damaged badly and may not be useful for the customer anymore. It may affect the customer-brand trust bond. Customers may never buy from your brand again. Here are some more things which can damage a product’s integrity:
1. Poor Product Visibility
The packaging which fails to present the product properly and does not provide enough information about it may confuse people. They may end up buying the product and not get what they expected. It eventually results in bad reviews and maximum results.
2. Misleading Size Perception
Oversized packaging may make customers perceive the wrong size of the product. Always design the packaging exactly according to the size of the product to avoid disappointment.
3. Insufficient Safety
Just wrapping the product in random paper or a box is not packaging. Packaging requires all the safety and security features for the safe storage and transport of the product.
Environmental Concerns
Many companies claim to be sustainable, but still use an excessive amount of non-recyclable material for packaging, which is alarming. In this era of industrialisation, the use of sustainable packaging is crucial to save the planet. Excessive and unnecessary wrapping also adds to land pollution.
This packing mistake can damage the brand’s reputation badly, as today’s customers are well educated, well-aware and environmentally conscious. Not fulfilling the customers’ preference for sustainability may damage the brand’s reputation and sales badly.
The only solution to this problem is biodegradable and recycled packaging material. Many companies are shifting towards this trend and creating a positive impact on the environment.
Communication Flaws
Ideal custom retail boxes serve as silent salesmen for the products. If the packaging is not able to present and define the product properly, it is a failure. Unclear instructions, complex font, extremely bold colours and many other technical flaws lead to bad packaging. Customers get confused due to these flaws and refuse to buy the product, which eventually results in a decline in sales percentage.
Irrelevant information like the introduction and favourite things of the company founder is useless for the customers. It diverts the customers’ attention from their purpose and causes confusion, which eventually leads to loss.
Solutions
Every problem has its solution. Custom retail boxes can be a hit if you focus on solving the problem. Never give up and follow the following tips to solve your packaging problems:
a) Practical Improvement
Use an easy and simple opening mechanism like tearing, which increases and enhances usability. The right size of packaging is very important for its proper functionality.
b) Clear Instructions
Providing clear instructions attracts potential customers and eventually boosts sales.
c) Simple Font
Simple and unique fonts allow customers to read the information properly and make informed decisions.
d) Customer-Centric Design
- Make the packaging accessible and easy to use for everyone.
- Accurate presentation of the product matters a lot, and packaging plays an important role in it.
- Packaging should be usable for the customer for a long time, as it keeps the product safe.
e) Sustainability Measures
- Minimal and recyclable material usage is very important for a sustainable environment.
- Sustainable packaging for custom retail boxes helps reduce the shipping volume effectively.
- Reusable packaging options attract more customers.
- Use of biodegradable material shows how responsible and conscious you are about the environment.
Conclusion
Making custom retail boxes is all about maintaining the balance. Keep the design simple and minimal while making the packaging. Measure the size properly to avoid any errors later. Focus on making practical and functional packaging that attracts the maximum potential customers and generates sales as well. Find a reputable and trustworthy packaging company with maximum experience for professional and flawless packaging. Always use sustainable and biodegradable materials for packaging, and play your role to save the planet.