General / January 12, 2017
A lot can happen in a year, and new brands often come and go. But the brands that experience the most longevity often have one thing in common: they’re on the cusp of what’s happening next. With the new year already underway, flexible packaging companies across every market are thinking up new and innovative ways to present their products to consumers. While there are many different flexible packaging predictions and trends to watch out for in 2017, there are 3 key areas that every brand should work on improving and developing this year to drive their business forward.
In 2017, eco-friendly, sustainable packaging designs have become more of a necessity than a design trend. For many consumers today, packaging that has the environment in mind is a required product trait. As consumers pay more attention to their ecological footprint and environmental impact, they’ll be looking for products that fit this lifestyle.
By incorporating sustainable packaging materials into the packaging process, brands will have a better chance of meeting and exceeding consumer’s environmental demands in 2017.
Brands have always strived for uniqueness. But in the past, the unique quality of the brand was often in the product itself. Today, the market is so oversaturated with similar products that brands need to rely on packaging, branding and more to separate themselves from the competition.
It’s for this reason that creative flexible packaging designs will be essential in 2017 and beyond. Specifically, consumers are drawn to designs that are interactive and story-driven. Your packaging should not only tie in with your brand identity, but it should also encourage users to connect with the brand in engaging, interactive ways both in store and online.
Expect brands to continue exploring how social media, apps and other mobile technologies can be intertwined with packaging to further improve product-consumer relationships and experiences.
It’s not just packaging that’s getting more intelligent – consumers are generally making more intelligent and informed buying decisions, too. From transparent product windows to online reviews and nutritional facts, consumers want to know as much as possible about a product before they buy it. Users should be able to get quick answers to essential questions by just looking at the packaging.
Great packaging answers questions like:
Far too often, product packaging relies on showcasing the product’s features and benefits while using exaggerated imagery to present the product in a perfect light. This method can certainly help sell more products, but it runs the risk of leaving customers unsatisfied and disappointed with their purchase if the product doesn’t live up to what the packaging advertises.
Consumer loyalty almost always begins with trust. And one of the best ways to build trust and customer satisfaction in 2017 is to remove the deceptive marketing fluff and utilize authentic, honest packaging designs.