Recently I was asked again about our tag line, Packaging That Communicates. “What exactly does that mean?”
We firmly believe that ALL packaging communicates, and in the case of DTC e-commerce packaging, what it says can either be good or bad. When designing new packaging for a customer/client, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Your DTC packaging reflects your brand and how important your brand is to you.
In today/s e-commerce business world, most would agree that branding is an important part of marketing, especially internet marketing. The key is to make it memorable and recognizable. That does not mean it has to be intricate or complex, it just has to be eye catching and consistent. One of our favorite examples is Harry’s with their simple, H with an apostrophe. 
For those of us without their marketing muscle and exposure, if your company is more than a few years old, your brand might need some freshening up. Not that we are a textbook example, but our company is 16 years old, and we have tweaked our web and logo design three times. Primarily so anyone who visits our web site will see a look that is current, and our site does not age itself with older, possibly outdated graphics.
Your e-commerce packaging shows what type of company you are.
Is your company very contemporary or traditional? Are you and your company very upscale, “top shelf”, or very simplistic by design? Does your company lean towards sophisticated materials or is the goal a natural, eco-friendly look?
The rise in e-commerce and the renewed focus on sustainability both caught fire around 2007, which coincidently is the year we launched our new company. So, you can say we were born and raised trying to achieve both requirements for all of our design clients and packaging customers. Your customer can tell a lot about you from your packaging. What is your packaging saying about you?
Your packaging communicates how sustainable it is.
Some corrugated board, kraft for example, with its natural brown color and substrate composition, looks very eco-friendly, and it is. However, there can be various grades and certifications, such as FSC certified, recycled content and how it can be recycled. The same variables can apply to white board, so our recommendation is for you to know what you are buying and don’t hesitate to let your customers know by printing your packaging’s sustainability standard, directly on the box, where your customer is likely to see and appreciate it.
Your DTC packaging can communicate on social media.
Anyone who has had a great social media experience on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest knows the impact that can have on your company/product profile, as well as in terms of inquiries and sales. There is no telling how many potential customers will see and admire your product and packaging. We can help you maximize the impact of your design, and here is the secret our customers know, it does NOT have to cost a lot of money.
Taking “Packaging Communication” to the next level.
One of the hottest trends is including QR codes into the graphic design. Even with our lowest cost flexographic printing, the clarity and scan ability are exceptional. Next month we will be launching a brand-new concept that to be frank is not for everyone, but it is unique and, in most cases, never before seen. Stay tuned and see what the next hot thing in e-commerce packaging design may be.
We love talking about structural and graphic design and after many millions of boxes under our belt, we can help you avoid a packaging mistake and create a unique, great unboxing experience. Contact us or call us at 630-551-1700 to speak with one of our branded packaging advisors. They are eager learn more about your packaging goals, so we can help you achieve them.
Related posts:
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/e-commerce-box-designing-the-six-most-common-mistakes/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/packaging-design-is-not-a-diy-project/
https://www.salazarpackaging.com/e-commerce-packaging-for-large-and-small-start-up-companies/
