Creating packaging to sell pet products is unique as you need something that appeals to a specific group of people, pet owners. It needs to convey the use of the product and seem like something that would appeal to their pet. If you are working on designing pet product packaging, keep the following tips in mind to help create a design that flies off the shelves.
Consider the Bag Size for Food, Litter, Etc.
If you are selling pet food, litter, or anything else related to pets that come in a bag, keep the bag size in mind, along with what that size means for your design. Specifically, think about where the primary display panel will fall on the bag, as this varies based on the scale. This is because size directly affects how the bag is placed on the shelf. Smaller containers will be at eye-level so that the PDP will be on the front.
Large bags, however, tend to be placed lower down or at least stacked on their sides. This means that the PDP should go along the bottom of the bag, as this is what will be visible on the shelf. Design the bag so that the PDP goes in the right spot. Additionally, keep in mind that the PDP on bags of varying sizes should match, as this lets shoppers use the small bag’s primary display panel to find the larger bag they want.
Consider Window Placement
As with any other product packaging that includes a window, pay careful attention to where you put this feature on pet product packaging. If there is any doubt whatsoever as to what your product looks like, include a display window on the packaging that fully encloses it. This is particularly important for food and litter, as the size and shape of the pieces or grains can vary based on brand.
Assuming the window is on a product that comes in a bag as opposed to a container, remember to account for the different ways that the bag could be laid down and how the product inside will shift. You want the window to always show the product, not air, no matter its orientation.
Think About Your Audience
As with any other type of product packaging, you need to think about your target demographic when creating your pet product packaging. If you want to advertise your product as high-end pet food, for example, consider color schemes, imagery, and fonts that give off this impression, such as a black background and silver or gold script. On the other hand, if you want to give off the idea that your pet toy is fun and exciting, consider bold colors and imagery of playtime.
You also want to think about the specific type of pet that your product is designed for and consider making variations on similar packaging for different versions of the same product. For example, if you sell dog bones of different dimensions for varying sizes of dogs, consider including a picture of a representative dog on each packaging. So, include a small breed on the product for small breeds and a large breed on the one for larger breeds.
