Branding Strategies - Power of Packaging

Nowadays packaging plays a key marketing role inStimulating or creating brand impressions, providing
developing of shelf appeal, providing productvarious brand cues:Value,Quality, and Safety.
information and establishing brand image andAlthough a non-favorable advertisement might be
awareness. But what is the mean of packaging? It isquickly forgotten, poor packaging if it remains with the
an extrinsic element of the product or an attribute thatbrand throughout its usage cycle provides a continual
is related to the product but does not form part of thereminder of the brand's perceived failing. Likewise,
physical product itself. Basically Packaging is thefavorable packaging can be a means of continually
container for a product that encompassing the physicalreinforcing the brand's appeal. Sometimes consumers'
appearance of the container and including the design,believe that it tastes so good because it looks so
color, shape, labeling and materials used.good.
Packaging and package labeling have severalThere are typically seven reasons and occasions of a
objectives such as Physical Protection is protection ofnew package design: new product development,
the objects enclosed in the package from shock,revitalizing a dated/tired pack, repositioning a product,
vibration, compression, temperature, etc. Barrierchanging a product's target market, when cost
Protection is a barrier from oxygen, water vapor, dust,reductions in packaging are required, when legal or
etc. Containment or Agglomeration - Small objects areregulation requirements demand it, and when new
typically grouped together in one package forpackaging technology becomes available.
transport and handling efficiency. Alternatively, bulkIn short, Packaging plays a particularly vital role in
commodities (such as salt) can be divided intocategories which have low involvement e.g. impulse
packages that are a more suitable size for individualpurchase categories like chocolates. In these
households.categories, consumers tend to be driven by in-store
Information transmission - Information on how to use,factors and extrinsic cues as they have neither the
transport, recycle, or dispose of the package ordesire nor the need to comprehensively investigate
product is often contained on the package or label.and assess all the offerings available to them. Even in
Reducing theft - Packaging that cannot be re-closedhigher involvement situations, most consumers don't
or gets physically damaged is helpful in the preventionhave the time, ability or information to assess all the
of theft. Packages also provide opportunities to includepros and cons before purchase. Instead they rely on
anti-theft devices. Convenience - features which addvarious cues e.g. brand name, packaging, etc to help
convenience in distribution, handling, display, sale,them make their decision. As the only part of the
opening, re-closing, use, and re-use.marketing communication that the consumer takes
Marketing - The packaging and labels can be used byhome, packaging plays a key role in communicating
marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchaseand reinforcing brand values over time. Packaging has
the product. Not at all underrate the importance ofthe power to make, but also to break brand
packaging. Marketers often measure consumer brandrelationships.
perceptions and overlook the pack. Yet marketersPackaging has a better reach than advertising does,
know from the way that consumers react toand can set a brand apart from its competitors. It
unbranded products that packaging plays a huge rolepromotes and reinforces the purchase decision not
in reinforcing consumer perceptions. Packaging helps toonly at the point of purchase, but also every time the
drive the way consumers experience a product.product is used. Aspects such as packaging color,
For products with low advertising support, packagingtypography, illustrations and graphics can influence how
takes on an even more significant role as the keya product is perceived.
vehicle for communicating the brand positioning.There are several principles which should be guiding to
According to a consumer researcher the packaginga better packaging such as: as products and
has to provide consumers with the right cues andpackaging influence one another, asking customers
clues; both at the point of purchase and during usage.directly how they feel about a product or package.
The first moment of truth is about obtaining customersOverall impressions asked up front identify the most
attention and communicating the benefits of the offer.effective means of determining preference for
The second moment of truth is about providing thepackaging. Packaging should be measured in
tools the customer needs to experience the benefitscomparison to the competition and not in isolation.
when using the product.Packaging research should ideally simulate the typical
At the point of purchase packaging serves a numbershopping or usage experience as much as possible.
of key functions as Cutting through the clutter meanPackaging research should take into consideration
actually getting the consumer to notice or see thecurrent relationships and usage behavior within that
product, communicating marketing information,category.