Retail Ready Packaging: Does it Really Matter?

In the retail world, packaging plays a major role in the perception of your brand and how it is received. But what if your design doesn’t accomplish everything that it needs to do – specifically, meeting the expectations of retailers with certain packaging expectations. We are talking here about retail ready packaging (also called shelf-ready or display ready packaging). This type of packaging is favoured (and increasingly required) by retailers across the nation – so how can you comply? 

Retail ready packaging is packaging that can be taken from a shipping container and easily transferred to the shelf with very little unpacking or set-up. Retailers are becoming quick to expect this of brands, due largely in part to the convenience and cost-effectiveness of both stocking and waste management.

So, are retailers the only ones to benefit from retail packaging such as this? Are you required to conform but see no end results for a new process? No. Shelf-ready retail packaging is beneficial to both you and your retailer. Not only are you making it easier for a retailer to move your product, you are creating a display that is both recognizable (increasing brand awareness and recognition) and creative (enhancing brand image).  

The benefits are also financial. Not only are you paying less because there is less packaging to be created, you are also paying less for shipping because the box will likely be lighter. When you reduce the weight, you reduce the cost.

What about those stores without a retail ready strategy? Are you best served to stick with what you’ve already got? In some situations sure, it may be easier – but that doesn’t mean that it is your best bet. Even if the store does not require shelf-ready packaging, it does not mean that they don’t prefer it. If you provide it, this could mean prime placement because it benefits the retailer’s bottom line.  

Another bonus with retail ready packaging is sustainability. Since this type of packaging requires less unpacking, this also means less waste because the majority of the packaging is used for display. When you work with a supplier focused on sustainability you can also be sure that the end waste is recyclable and therefore the overall carbon footprint is reduced.  

Retail ready packaging is becoming more and more popular for both retailers and brands alike, and exact specifications based on retail expectations are becoming increasingly common. Don’t get caught changing your packaging plan at the last minute – work with a retail ready packaging supplier to get a plan underway now.

For more about shelf-ready retail packaging please contact Packaging Technologies Inc. at 1-800-303-5883 or visit us online at www.ptibox.com.