How you choose to store, protect, brand, and advertise your goods makes a world of difference, and packaging can have a significant impact on each. This article provides ideas about packaging and how getting packaging right can really benefit your business. 

Overall Costs

First, consider overall costs. How much is your packaging going to eat into your margins? Packaging that is too expensive can make you less competitive. 

When choosing a packaging option, consider the following: 

• Cost of Materials: Make sure you compare the cost of different materials and then create a matrix where you evaluate various trade-offs.
• Shipping Costs: Things like the weight, shipping distances, and transportation can impact fees, especially if you want to transport goods a long distance.
• Kitting / Assembly Costs: Product elements for packaging can also generate expenses. How much will it cost to bring everything together in a way that’s cost-sensitive and marketable for consumers?

Branding and Design

Next, consider how the packaging helps your branding and design. You need a solution that ties in with audience expectations and that presents a consistent, on-message display of your overall marketing approach. 

Start with the visual identity. Consider the size, placement, and display of your company logo on product packaging. Use colors and design elements that reinforce brand recognition. It should be immediately obvious that you’re the seller, even if prospects only glance for a split second. 

Next, move on to storytelling. Ensure that the packaging communicates your brand values and what you stand for. Qualities you might want to convey with your packaging include aspects like sustainability or luxury. 

Then, consider channel consistency. Is your packaging aligned with digital and retail presence? Would customers who’ve only recognized your brand or product in one of these areas identify you in another?

Lastly, check the display presence. Does your packaging offer visual appeal when placed alongside your competitors’ packaging?

Materials and Sustainability

Both material choices and sustainability are also critical components of packaging solutions. Audiences are more eco-conscious than ever. 

Here’s what to consider:

• Material Options: Do you require sturdy boxes to protect goods? Can you use heat-shrinking to make products more secure? Should you use or eliminate plastic bags?
• Material Selection: Is the material sufficiently durable? Are you using plastic or something more sustainable? 
• Eco-Friendly: Does your packaging need to be compostable or recyclable? Can you make it reusable? 

Product Protection

Also, think about whether your packaging will actually protect your product. Does it minimize losses and reduce breakages? 

Consider the following: 

• Structural Design: Does the packaging prevent damage during shipping and handling, even if it receives rough treatment?
• Compliance and Safety: Does the packaging meet industry standards for fragile, perishable, or hazardous items?
• Cost Vs. Risk: Is investing in better protection able to reduce returns and complaints to the point where it makes economic sense? What is the brand value of better packaging?

Logistics and Operations

How your packaging fits in with enterprise-level logistics and operations is another factor. Not all packaging solutions are viable when you consider system-level effects. 

Here’s what to consider:

• Shipping: Does the packaging reduce weight to make shipping more economical? Can you use packaging in high volume to generate lower shipping costs?
• Storage and Handling: Is the product conducive to storage (stackable, temperature considerations, etc.)? Is it easy for staff to handle (i.e., handing products out to clients, moving in a warehouse)?
• Compliance: Does the packing meet requirements for labeling, safety, and environmental standards? Are these all demonstrable if you have to undergo an audit?

Positive Customer Experience

Next, consider whether the packaging offers customers a positive experience. While packaging might be practical, it may detract from your brand if audiences don’t like it. 

Consider the following: 

• First Impressions Matter: Is the packaging attractive? Does the packaging engage audiences?
• Ease of Use: Is the packaging intuitive to open and reseal? Can consumers recycle it with relative ease?
• Personalization: Is there the option to add thank-you notes, QR codes, or surprises? Is the packaging sufficiently versatile for value-added elements like these?
• Feedback Loop: Does the packaging encourage reviews and social sharing through design? Are people likely to talk about it online?

Choosing Packaging Partners

Finally, think carefully about packaging providers. Selecting partners to handle packing logistics can be challenging, but there are some overall considerations to help in making the decision of who to provide packaging services. 

Ideally, you want firms that have the right scaling and certifications to manage your orders. You also want providers that can handle things like labeling, kitting, and custom inserts. These help eliminate in-house headaches, making the process run far more efficiently. Finally, look for a local packaging partner that has a record of success. 

Our Packaging Services

Development Workshop, Inc. (DWI) is a packaging partner that can work with you through the packaging aspects discussed in this article, including which materials to use and how to best appeal to your audience. This has been a part of our service for the last fifty years. 

We offer both assembly and packaging services that include the advantages of a heat-shrinking tunnel that shrinks plastic films around products and heat bag sealers that enclose small parts and samples for easier distribution. We’ve also helped former clients with our automated pallet stretch wrap machine. This device automates the wrapping of pallets with stretchy film that secures a shipment, thus reducing the chances of product damage during transport.

Contact Us for Idaho Falls Packaging Services

We believe that good packaging decisions can have positive business impacts. Trust us to provide effective and affordable packaging services in Idaho Falls. Call us at (208) 524-1550 or fill out our online form to learn more about packaging solutions.

06 Nov 2025

• Informative Articles