Entrepreneurs who are planning to expand their business for export to foreign countries, if you are confident that your products have quality and stand out as interesting export-ready items, one aspect you should not overlook is the design of packaging for export. Whether it’s corrugated cardboard boxes, offset printed boxes, or food and beverage packaging, how should they be designed for export? This article provides the answers.
Principles of Export Packaging Design
When designing export packaging, business owners must consider the following:
1. Market Conditions in Foreign Countries
Study information about market competition and consumer behavior regarding product usage to determine how to package products to meet the needs of your target customers. Study your competitors to see how they package or design their packaging, which will help you design something distinctive, suitable for customer demand and the retail market.
2. Study Shipping Methods, Routes, and Duration
Knowing the transport system and methods, such as shipping by truck, air, or sea, as well as the distance and transportation time, will allow you to design appropriate packaging. For example, for shockproof packaging, you might use corrugated boxes, offset printed boxes, or choose molded paper packaging.
3. Study the Nature of the Product
Before designing packaging, it is essential to study the nature of the product. Different types of products require different packaging, whether for retail or transportation purposes.
4. Study Relevant Regulations in Foreign Markets
When exporting products, it is crucial to understand the relevant regulations in foreign markets, such as packaging rules, labeling, and the use of materials like molded paper and other packaging materials. This information can be obtained from relevant agencies, such as export promotion departments, embassies of foreign countries, or buyers and distributors.
5. Evaluate the Costs
When designing packaging for export, besides ensuring the packaging is durable and stronger than domestic shipping packaging, which may not be just a simple corrugated box, it’s essential to assess the costs, as this could affect production costs. Therefore, evaluating the design’s cost-effectiveness is crucial, and it should be considered thoroughly.
The five principles of export packaging design are fundamental and useful knowledge for business owners and entrepreneurs. While packaging design and manufacturing services are provided by factories that specialize in corrugated boxes and all types of packaging, it is still important to have a basic understanding of these principles.
