Message on a Bottle - Innovative and Creative Packaging Trends

We routinely like to fill you in on some of the most unique and innovative trends in the packaging world - and this week is no different. With tech advancements, the sky really has become the limit. When it comes to creative packaging trends, one vodka company really has stepped it up.

Dutch distillery Medea Vodka, which introduced programmable LED strips on its bottles to the world in 2010, has exceeded expectations yet again. It has recently announced the release of a mobile app which uses Bluetooth technology to assign personalized message right to those LED strips - making it easy to send a message ON a bottle.

Don’t want to personalize - that’s okay. The bottles come pre-programed with six different phrases, including Happy Birthday, Thank You and Congratulations.

Want to know more? Check out this great article all about this recent announcement from Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/vodka-brand-creates-mobile-app-program-personalized-led-messages-bottles-122806.

Want to see the bottle in action - check out this how-to-program video to see just how different that creative packaging is: http://medeavodka.com/how-to-program/.

When it comes to creative packaging trends, some really are out there - and that means you have to step it up to compete.

Packaging Technologies Inc. can help. Our design and development team can take your ideas, couple them with the latest packaging trends, and come up with a design that hits all the targets. Call us today at 1-800-303-5883. 

Custom Packaging Helps Smaller Brands See Rise in Market Share

North Americans like their libations. This is nothing new. What is new is the fact that now, more than ever before, smaller brands of beer, wine and spirits are outpacing bigger brands and claiming a bigger share of the alcohol market.

According to a recent Technomic article, “Many of the categories and brands that dominate the industry are being challenged. The trend creates increased competition for shelf space in bars and at retail and for consumer dollars in 2015. The monster categories such as light beer and vodka are feeling the heat from the likes of craft beer and bourbon, and the legacy brands are increasingly pitted against upstarts in the battle for operator attention and consumer occasions."

You can read more about this here: 

https://www.technomic.com/Pressroom/Releases/dynRelease_Detail.php?rUID=350.

So, what are customers looking for, besides great taste or something different, when they head in for their libations? What turns their head on store shelves, and what makes them pick one brand over all others? The job of enticement falls to your packaging. Your product packaging is your voice on LCBO and Beer Store shelves. It is what needs to connect with the customer, pique their interest and entice them to purchase.

When it comes to custom packaging, what does the trick?

-         Eco-friendly packaging. These days, far more consumers are conscious about the impacts packaging will have earth-wise, and so many will choose an eco-friendly packaged product over one that is not so earth conscious. Make sure that you keep this in mind when designing custom packaging, going for a smaller footprint and less waste.

-         Innovation. So many companies are trying to one-up their competitors with innovation. A box that is a box is great, but if a box is a box, a nightlight, and a kitchen sink all-in-one, that’s even better. But seriously, innovation can lead to sales. Check this out for great beer packaging innovation out of Papua New Guinea: http://ptibox.com/creative-packaging-genius-the-multi-purpose-package/.

-         Emotional connection. When you create an emotional connection with consumers, a bond is built. When customers feel something at the shelf, this can quickly translate to sales - and loyalty! How do you create that connection? A great design is a good place to start. Follow that great design with colour that considers colour psychology - you can read all about this here: http://ptibox.com/creative-packaging-the-psychology-of-colour/. Make sure to boost that design with high-quality printing and manufacturing that works to bring your packaging to a new level.

Customers know what they want, but they also like new things. It is this desire for something new that has led to such huge market gains being made by smaller brands.

Want to grab your own piece of the pie? Contact Packaging Technologies Inc. today to get a custom packaging strategy in place. 1-800-303-5883.

Lowe’s Introduces Personal 3D Printing

When it comes to product packaging, keeping up with the latest innovations and packaging trends is critical - we all know this. Relying solely on methods that worked 10 years ago may cause you to lose out to the completion or get lost on the shelf. Staying informed and knowing exactly what improvements and advances have occurred is a great way to remain relevant.

Lowe’s Innovation Lab, the innovation hub of Lowe’s Companies, has recognized this, and recently introduced 3D printing in one of its California locations. With this technology, customers can recreate items using 3D printing, customizing colour, shape and size - and create various products including smaller items such as light switch plates, door handles or cabinet knobs or larger pieces such as out of production antique home accents.

Read more about this amazing technology and how Lowe’s is leading the way here: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/28/lowes-brings-3-d-printing-to-home-improvement.html.

3D printing has been around for a while, but it has really started gaining momentum and notoriety over the last few years. Want to know more about 3D printing and to check out a great video which explains the entire process? Check out one of our earlier blogs here: http://ptibox.com/printing-revolution-series-1-3d-printing/.

So, is 3D printing the only way to go now? Of course not. This trend is growing, but it isn’t the only one. Innovations in the printing world are occurring on a regular basis, and advancements in colour application, eco-friendly manufacturing and end product, and higher-quality inks and papers mean that whatever your packaging needs, these can now be met!

If you want to know more about the latest packaging trends, including 3D printing, please call Packaging Technologies Inc. We’ve got your printing needs covered: 1-800-303-5883.

New Retail Trends Make the Shopper the Designer

People like choices. The ability to choose is what drives competition on the shelf, and consumers take a lot into consideration when making a choice in store - even if unconsciously. Some stores are taking this new retail trend even further, giving shoppers limitless choices - and people are jumping at the opportunity to choose.

One such company is Nordstrom. Earlier this year, the retailer partnered with Shoes of Prey to give shoppers the ability to design their own shoes. Would-be designers can choose colour, fabric and style to design a shoe that is unique and personalized. This emphasizes the trend of personalization, customization and small batch instead of volume producing.

You can read more about this partnership and new retail trend here: https://www.shoesofprey.com/style-help/1554829244/nordstrom-announcement.

Why is this just happening now? Where it didn’t make sense before as volume drove pricing, companies are now realizing that the customization trend is here and in some cases shoppers are willing to pay more for this experience as they see it has greater personal value.

What does this mean in the packaging world? Packaging should reflect that personalization trend. A great example of this is Coke’s marketing strategy with the many names printed on cans. Sure, Nordstrom is really taking the personalization to a new level - one that may not be realistic for most brands - but that doesn’t mean personalization is completely off the table. Even offering a few different styles of packaging gives the consumer the chance to make a choice based on personal preference - and it helps you stand out on the shelf.

When it comes to new retail trends, personalization and customization looks like one that is here to stay.

For more about starting a custom packaging campaign that takes personalization into account, please contact Packaging Technologies Inc. today at 1-800-303-5883. 

Product Packaging Design to Capture Greater Market Share

LCBO sales have grown over the last few years, and with the recent changes to beer and wine sales forthcoming, those sales are posed to grow even more.

A recent Metro News article, “Craft cider and spirits lead the way as LCBO tops $5B in sales,” highlights just how high those sales have climbed, and which products are leading the way.

According to the article, “Ontarians bought more booze in the previous fiscal year than ever before, with sales at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario topping $5 billion for the first time. The growth was fuelled in part by local products, with sales of craft cider nearly doubling to $4 million, sales of craft spirits rising more than 50 per cent to $6.7 million and sales of craft beer rising by about 35 per cent to $68.3 million.”

Check out the full Metro News article here: http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/1388518/craft-cider-and-spirits-lead-the-way-as-lcbo-tops-5b-in-sales/.

However, cider producers are claiming a disadvantage, one that is caused by strict regulations governing sales. This is because members of the Ontario Craft Cider Association are licensed like wineries, but are denied the VQA designation given to top wineries, and really they are competing not with wines, but with craft beers in the eyes of consumers. Additionally, cider producers are forced to pay a 40% LCBO mark up on beverages sold to restaurants and pubs, a fee which isn’t required of craft breweries.

Read more on this issue from CTV News here: http://barrie.ctvnews.ca/craft-cider-producers-in-ontario-say-regulations-put-them-at-competitive-disadvantage-1.2403113.

So how can cider producers compete, whether at the LCBO, or, if their desires are met, on supermarket shelves? In the end, a number of different things are going to grab a consumer’s attention, one of the most important being product packaging design. A unique, innovative, fresh packaging design can help you stand out amidst the many offerings that pepper those shelves, and can really give you the ability to capture a great market share.

For more about how to develop a product packaging design that speaks volumes, contact Packaging Technologies Inc. today. We’ve got the experience and expertise to carry off a design that really hits the target: 1-800-303-5883.

Is Corrugated Packaging Better Than Plastic?

In the grocery industry, when you are looking to reduce costs, you may choose to consider a number of different factors, and packaging and shipping are usually two of the most important. What you choose to package your goods in, both for sale and for transport, and how you choose to transport those goods, can have a significant impact on your bottom line.

Often one of the most important questions to ask when it comes to packaging and shipping, shipping especially, is ‘is corrugated packaging better than plastic’ - and why? Both options have benefits, not least of which is the fact that both are eco-friendly, but is one really better than the other?

According to a recent study done by the Corrugated Alliance, yes, corrugated packaging is better than reusable plastic containers. The study, which analyzed the total annual costs of shipping onions in corrugated packaging versus reusable plastic containers, found that corrugated packaging saves 10.4% annually.

Here is a summary of the study and how the study reached this number:

-          The test was to analyze the total annual costs to use corrugated containers versus reusable plastic containers (RPCs) to ship 40 million pounds of onions from the Pacific Northwest to Columbus, Ohio - a distance of 3540 kilometres.

-          Since RPCs require back-hauling to return them from the retailer to the next point of use, RPCs incurred over $1 million in costs for shipping, handling, and washing on the return trip. In comparison, corrugated packaging required no return costs, since they don’t actually make a return trip and are recycled at their destination.

-          This resulted in an annual savings of approximately $760,000 US (or 10.4%).

You can check out the study in its entirety here: 

http://www.cccabox.org/pdf/Onion_Case_Study_apr2015.pdf.

Great, that covers shipping, but what about packaging/displaying goods for sale? A study conducted in several European countries found similar results when it came to personal preference when shopping - 85% of consumers asked stated that they would be more likely to buy a product in paper-based containers compared to plastic containers, especially with regard to groceries and fresh produce. This preference seems to have a great deal to do with the fact that natural fibre based paper packaging products such as corrugated align perfectly with expectations for natural, fresh and safe products for purchase at retail.

You can read more about this study here: http://www.cccabox.org/pdf/PR%20YouGov%20Poll%20-%20CCCA.PDF.

Additionally, not only is corrugated packaging more cost effective, it is also safer. A new series of independent studies from the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas’ Department of Food Science found that bacteria adheres and forms biofilms, including Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli, on RPCs used to ship fresh produce, meats and eggs. See http://www.cccabox.org/pdf/DR-RICKE-STUDY-press-release.pdf for more on this study.

When it comes to packaging and shipping, corrugated packaging just makes more ‘cents’ - sorry for the pun but it truly does fit here. Not only does it save in transportation costs, it also results in more sales at the retail level and is safer for the consumer.

Packaging Technologies Inc. provides high quality unique corrugated packing that not only saves money - it gets attention. Contact us today at 1-800-303-5883 for more information.

*Image via Adaptalift Hyster

Retail Reinvention: The New Grocery Store

The grocery industry is one that is continually evolving. Every year, a new trend, focus, or outlook for the coming months means big changes for retailers on the ground. This year is no different, and several major grocery retailers are meeting new consumer demand with changes in their stores. One of the most visible changes: the ‘New Grocery Store’ - a reinvention of the total shopping experience.

What is this new grocery store? Well, it isn’t really new, just different - but in a big way with regard to how stores are branding, or rather rebranding, their image.

Sobeys is one such retailer. Their rebranding: The Affordable Better Food Movement. Recognizing the demand for fresher, healthier options, Sobeys has taken that demand and is running with it, not just with their on-the-shelf offerings, but with the whole look and feel of their store.

And these stores are not just for taking home food to cook anymore. Sobeys has introduced ‘Our Kitchen’ - which offers a wide range of ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals. According to Senior VP of Merchandising and Commercial Programs at Sobeys, Mary Dalimonte, this new ‘grocerant’ concept “will continue to challenge traditional ‘eating-out’ and redefine what it means to shop and eat at your local grocery store.

In a recent CanadianGrocer interview, Farm Boy’s CEO Jeff York agreed, and he sees the ‘grocerant’ as an important avenue in his stores as well: “We feel it’s a lot easier to get a sales increase taking sales away from restaurants than Walmart,” says York. He sees Farm Boy’s kitchen offerings as a way to tap into what people want: there’s no tipping or waiting for their meal to be prepared, and they’re not slaves to the portions a restaurant would serve to them.

So what do we learn from this? Are people going to forego their regular restaurant visits in the hopes of killing two birds with one stone at the grocery store? Probably not, but it does mean far more competition for those products listed on the shelf. With a focus on certain products, others seemingly get lost when customers are racing down the aisle. Unique, eye-catching, custom packaging now plays an even greater role in consumer purchasing behaviour. To get noticed your product has to stand out.

It also needs to hit those targets that Sobeys and Farm Boy are running with. Buzz words like fresh, healthy, or quick, as well as packaging that is eco-friendly, are things that speak to customers - you need to harness the power of these things.

At PTI, we stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry, and deliver an end product that uses these trends to their fullest potential, thus translating to sales on the store floor. For a complete redesign or just a pick-me-up for your packaging, we’ve got you covered. Call us today at 1-800-303-5883.