As a business, your first packaging run will be incredibly important. This is your chance to introduce your customers to your product and find out whether it is as successful as you hope. Your first packaging run will require an investment, but there are some ways to save money. That being said, you will need to take care of additional costs, such as researching your market, before ordering your first packages to get the best results and save you money in the long run.
Do Your Research
The first step to saving money on your first packaging run is to do your research thoroughly. Start by looking at other products in the industry — your competition. Pay attention to the packaging of both the most popular and least popular products so you have an idea of what works and what doesn’t. Don’t forget to talk to your potential customers to find out what they are looking for in product packaging. Do they want something eye-catching? Should it be easy to open? What styling do they prefer? Once you have all this information, you can start brainstorming and designing your packaging.
Consult an Expert
It may seem counterintuitive to spend money when your goal is to cut costs. However, it will be well worth it to consult a packaging expert on your packaging design, even if it is just a customer service representative at the manufacturing company you plan to hire. Yes, this will cost some money up front, but you will be doing it right the first time. It is much better to spend a little extra to get the perfect product packaging than have to waste money by repeating the process and tossing your first run.
Use a Small Run
Whether you are confident in your planned packaging, consider doing a small run the first time. This will cost much less than a larger run and requires a minimal commitment. It also gives you the chance to test out the packaging and even show it to customers before making your full commitment and ordering a large run of packaging. Luckily, the best packaging manufacturers offer small runs that are even affordable enough for small businesses to test out their designs.
Pick a Flexible Packaging Manufacturer
The final step to saving money with your first packaging run is to choose the appropriate company to manufacture the packaging itself. The best companies will be flexible, offering a range of styles, materials, and sizes along with customizable options. By picking a company that can accommodate all your needs, you can save money by having it take care of all the packaging for your company, even if you have a range of products in varying sizes. Flexibility lets you package your candles and soap at the same place or your clothes and cosmetics in one place. You may get a discount on larger orders or may just pay less for shipping the packaging. Best of all, flexible manufacturers will be able to work with you as your business grows, saving you time spent looking for a new company.
