The New Barcode – The Future of Custom Packaging

40 years ago, George Laurer, an engineer at IBM, developed a black line and number set that became the modern barcode. This barcode system – the Universal Product Code (UPC) – was first scanned on a pack of gum, and has, over the past 4 decades, become far more than just a system of identification and efficiency used in grocery stores.  Everything from passports and government-issued IDs to hospital equipment now utilize some form of barcode for identification or even security purposes.

A new generation of barcode has begun to penetrate countless variations of custom packaging and even the human body. There are big changes coming for the barcode.

According to John Keogh, founder and managing principal at supply chain advisory firm Shantalla Inc., there are significant changes coming with regard to barcodes. A recent Next Generation Product Identifier (NGPI) project identified 5 common data attributes that will need to be added to the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) – the human-readable item number on a barcode. These include a number to identify minor variations of the same product (images on promotional packaging for example), rather than a new product identifier for each package barcode. Also included in the list are a brand URL, expiry date, product serial number and a lot number. Together these attributes, according to Keogh, will help to enhance consumer safety and decrease the need for further government regulations.

So what does all of this mean to you? These changes may not be right around the corner (they are largely still in the early stages of investigation), but that doesn’t mean that they are not something to keep in mind when it comes to your custom packaging. When these new attributes are adopted, Keogh states, companies can choose to utilize the new system or stay with the old system – but for retailers, there is significant value to be earned, specifically through the improved efficiency and the brand loyalty to be earned through increased transparency.

When it comes to custom packaging that achieves the results you want, staying ahead of the competition is a big part of that. The new generation of barcodes is just one element of custom packaging trends to come.

For more about how to use the newest and most effective custom packaging trends in the industry please call Packaging Technologies Inc. today: 1-800-303-5883. We will help you devise a strategy that yields real results.

Consumer Buying Behaviour - How Canadian Buyers Shop

One of the most challenging things about selling in the consumer packaged goods arena is determining the wants and needs of various demographics. Things like age, ethnicity and gender greatly influence consumer buying behaviour, and it can be difficult to hit the nail on the head when it comes to meeting each target market.

Check out this great article from Canadian Grocer, “New BrandSpark study shows how Canadian ethnic buyers shop”: www.canadiangrocer.com/top-stories/new-brandspark-study-shows-how-canadian-ethnic-buyers-shop-43031. In it, results from BrandSpark International’s 2014 Canadian Ethnic Shopper Study were examined, and the author discussed the buying habits of more than 8800 Canadians of South Asian, Chinese and East Asian backgrounds.

Notable findings:

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Price matters: 72% of East Asian Canadians cited value as the most important factor, along with 68% of Chinese Canadians and 66% of South Asian Canadians, compared with 62% of Canadians overall.

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Brand loyalty: South Asians and East Asians are far more likely to also say they’ll choose their favourite brands regardless of the price — 21% and 17%, respectively. Only 10% of Chinese Canadians and Canadians overall placed the same importance on brand names.

In terms of buying choices, there is a big difference in ethnic consumers’ view of ready-made, pre-packaged foods. 54% of Chinese respondents said they’d picked up a ready-to-eat meal for dinner in the past week. 48% of South Asians and 46% of East Asians said the same thing, compared to only 32% of Canadians overall.

When it comes to consumer buying behaviour, are you delivering what they want? Does your product packaging hit on the points that influence buying decisions? If not, these findings might help to motivate change.

Make sure that your custom packaging takes into account consumer buying behaviour. Call Packaging Technologies Inc. today at 1-800-303-5883.

Bam! POP Marketing That Makes an Impact

A recent POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International) study found that 76% of buying decisions are now made in store - that is up 6% from just a few years ago. Although many continue to celebrate the growth of online shopping, it is clear that people are still shopping, and that in-store POP marketing is making a difference.

This is especially true with impulse buys: numerous studies (OgilvyAction, POPAI) have shown that impulse buys are not just influenced by price – POP displays have been shown to be a huge motivating factor when it comes to making unplanned purchases (up to 24%).

So, knowing that customers can be persuaded by these, how can you make the most of them in order to garner the most attention? Take these POP marketing tips to the bank and your bottom line will thank you!

-        Think outside the box. Static displays that look like every other display on the floor tend to be ignored far more often than those that stand out. Bold choices as far as stand design can work wonders. Just remember – not only do these stands need to be attention-grabbing, they also need to be safe. Make sure that when developing the design with your display manufacturing company you can be sure that the display is not going to crumble under the pressure.

-        Create emotional bonds. Reach customers’ hearts and you can quickly earn their loyalty. When developing a design, think about the benefits of creating a storyline – tell people a story that pulls on those heartstrings. Use the psychology of colour to create those links in consumers’ minds – let it set the mood.

-        Think about adding a technological aspect. Mobile devices are a common sight in the retail environment these days – and not just for communication. People are using their phones to find out more about various products – so by adding something like a QR code to your POP marketing campaign you can create engagement and draw people in.

POP marketing that makes an impact isn’t just about the display – it is also about the subtle differences that stand out when a display is high quality. Being able to choose from a number of different printing methods, including screen, offset, UV offset, digital and flexo, using the highest quality inks, helps to make those colours sharper and the images much more striking. 

At Packaging Technologies Inc., we have the experience and knowledge that will make your POP marketing campaign a success. From start to finish, design to assembly, we can deliver a display that hits the mark and makes an impact. Call us today for more information: 1-800-303-5883.

Customer Service: Building Great Client Relationships

Building great client relationships takes work. We all know this. No matter the industry you are in, encouraging lasting and trusting relationships with your clients needs to be a crucial consideration. Even if you are the best at what you do, if your customer service leaves something to be desired, your relationships will inevitably suffer.

Here are some of the top customer service tips that help to promote customer loyalty and build trust.

Ask questions – and not just “is there anything else I can help you with.” This mundane inquiry is offered far too often, and is usually met with little response. To boost your customer service levels, why not try something along the lines of “is there any way that we could better serve and meet your needs?” Giving just that little bit more, even just phrasing the question differently, offers clients the chance to think about a response and recognize that you are concerned about their concerns.

Be positive. Getting frustrated, no matter the situation, is never a good thing. Customers notice, and are not likely to forget a negative interaction. Diffusing a negative situation can work wonders as far as demonstrating that you are there to help, and will do whatever it takes to solve a problem. Always try your hardest to end things, even bad things, on a positive note.

Deliver: do what you say you are going to do. Firstly, don’t make promises you can’t keep – clients will remember. Being unable to deliver on a promise will only make the client question your abilities with everything else. If you say that you are going to do something, don’t delay it and force the client to remind you about it – do it as soon as possible.

Encourage involvement. If a client wants to be involved, let them (as long as this involvement is not interference). Many clients like to be involved in a process, and this helps to create a partnership-like environment that encourages trust. On the flip-side, if a client doesn’t seem to want to be involved, and would rather have you complete a project from start to finish with the least amount of involvement as possible, honour this.

Be available. One of the worst pain points when it comes to customer service is unavailability. If a client is trying to reach you, but can’t, they may just find someone who is available when the next project comes up. If a client calls, return their call. If they email, get back to them. This is just common sense – but common sense that can sometimes be tough to remember or easy to ignore.

When it comes to building great client relationships, excelling at customer service is the best place to start.

At PTI, we value our client relationships, and we want to work with you to accomplish the most successful custom packaging projects possible. Contact us today by calling 1-800-303-5883 or visit us online at www.ptibox.com.