Archive for October, 2009
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Some packaging designs are created simply to capture people’s attention and say “Look at me!” The product stands out from its competitors with custom packaging.
Custom packaging makes products unique and also helps differentiate products from other similar items. The key to custom packaging is to be visually appealing.
Take Red Bull Cola’s custom packaging for their popular beverage. The package features a wooden case that displays each of the 17 key ingredients that make up the Red Bull Cola taste. The packaging is designed by Design Friendship, a design company located in the United Kingdom. Instead of simply packaging single cans of Red Bull Cola, the packaging design features the product’s quality and value. The custom packaging distinguishes the beverage from other energy drinks. Besides, who doesn’t want to know all of the ingredients in Red Bull Cola?
Tags:beverage packaging, creative packaging, custom packaging, differentiation, distinctive packaging, product differentiation, Red Bull, visual appeal
Posted in Custom Packaging Products | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
We all know slimmer packaging equals less packaging waste and an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. But did you know that efficient packaging can also save money?
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer saved $3.5 million in transportation costs last holiday season because of efficent packaging for toys. The company used slimmer packaging by reducing one-inch in the cardboard for individual toys going from Asian countries to the United States. The reduction resulted in 727 fewer ocean containers, which also saved 1,300 barrels of oil.
What can we learn from Wal-Mart’s packaging solutions? As we take a step in improving our environment through packaging, we can also recognize other benefits. You can follow Wal-Mart’s lead with your own sustainable packaging. There are many solutions to save money with efficient packaging apart from size. Packaging materials can be reused for other packaging needs or used for creative innovations. Instead of buying more packaging, save your money and use what you have.
For more ideas and tips about efficient packaging visit Sunrise Packaging’s green center!
Tags:Add new tag, creative packaging, efficient packaging, green packaging, recycled materials, Wal-Mart
Posted in Custom Packaging Products | 1 Comment »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Radio-Frequency Identification, or RFID tags, are very helpful for automatic store checkout, simplifying warehousing, and preventing theft. Some say RFID tags may even completely replace the barcode, which is most commonly used today. They are able to store more information on minimal space and can be read quickly by readers. Although RFID tags are very helpful for these purposes, The Blog of Packaging pointed out that RFID tags could interfere with recycling.
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) performed a study that showed when melting waste glass, it could become less shatterproof or discolored if the recycled glass contains trace amounts of aluminum and silicon from RFID tags.
Something needs to be done to make RFID tags more eco-friendly, such as making them metal-free, easily removable, or stuck to the bottle labels instead of the glass. Otherwise many losses will be seen from not being able to recycle these materials, which would increase the input of extraneous materials needed.
Tags:automatic store checkout, barcodes, preventing theft, Radio-frequency identification tags, recyclable packaging, recycled materials, recycling, RFID tags, simplifying warehousing
Posted in Case Studies, Packaging Design | 1 Comment »
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Packaging can create value for consumers. Yes, the box a product comes in is designed to keep the product clean and prevent it from getting broken during transportation from where the product is made to the place it is finally removed from its packaging.
However, a box can do so much more:
- It can be designed to enhance the consumer’s first experience of the product. (Like wrapping presents in pretty paper during the Holidays)
- The packaging can (and should) show off the product and demonstrate how it benefits the consumer.
- The packaging can be designed to be used over again after the product has been removed either for the product itself or for another use.
- The material that makes the box can do something special like be impregnated with flower or grass seeds so that it beautifies the environment after disposal.
Take the new “green” pizza box company that launched in October. ECO Inc., a maker of environmentally friendly and multifunctional packaging, introduced its product Greenbox. The Greenbox is a pizza box made from 100 percent recycled material that also breaks down into serving plates and a storage container for leftover pizza.
The Greenbox promotes less waste and reusable packaging material, while serving as a convenient product for consumers.
Like the Greenbox, when a new product comes to market, the packaging it comes in will influence its success. A great product in a plain brown paper bag will be overlooked every time.
Be sure to work with a packaging company that can help you create custom packaging that stands out, makes consumers feel good about their purchases when they open the box, and is environmentally friendly or reusable. Check out our green packaging options at Sunrise Packaging.
Tags:creative packaging, custom packaging, ECO Inc, environmentally-friendly, green packaging, green pizza box, recycled materials
Posted in Custom Packaging Products, Eco-Friendly | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Here at Sunrise Packaging, we often hold brainstorming sessions to voice our opinions about how to make different aspects of the company, specific departments, projects and products better! We believe that brainstorming sessions contribute positively to our company and can hold particular benefits for you as well.
Brainstorming is mainly a simple, cheap and effective way of generating new ideas and solutions to existing problems. It can be performed in an individual or group setting with the goal of generating as many new ideas as possible. Ideas will be later evaluated based on set criteria and the purpose of the brainstorming session. Brainstorming can be used in virtually any situation where new ideas and solutions are needed.
The benefits of brainstorming include:
- Generating new ideas that may not have been discovered otherwise
- Bouncing back and forth and building on ideas
- Encourages creativity, expands thinking and introduces all perspectives of a problem
- Involves everyone equally with every idea recorded as worthy and not judged
- Ideas grow quickly, allowing everyone to offer ideas that come to mind
- Everyone has a sense of ownership of the topic through input of ideas
The benefits of brainstorming far exceed the disadvantages. Brainstorming can lead to enhanced productivity, developments of new ways to save money, spotting a new opportunity in the market, developing a new product and cutting down on paperwork when done effectively.
How can you brainstorm effectively for successful results?
- Gather a group (large or small – size doesn’t matter, it’s the ideas that count)
- Establish an environment with few rules, boundaries and inhibitors as possible
- Assign a group leader to control the session and record ideas somewhere where everyone can see them (a whiteboard, big piece of paper, projection, etc.).
- Allow for free flow of ideas focused on the topic or problem
- Sessions should last no more than 30-40 minutes
- The leader or another member of the group should be assigned to take notes throughout the meeting and send a summary e-mail to the group following the brainstorming session.
After the brainstorming session you will have a new set of ideas that you can evaluate based on your own key criteria. So, what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming!
Tags:brainstorming sessions, efficient, enhanced productivity, generate ideas, group, lightbulb, new ideas, save money, solutions, successful results, thinking, thoughts
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
Tags:biodegradable, creative packaging, custom packaging, durability, durable, Eco-Friendly, environmentally-friendly, green packaging, low-cost, opinions, packaging, polls, recyclable, recycled, recycling, unique
Posted in Poll | No Comments »
Friday, October 16th, 2009
With the growing concern for sustainable packaging, Greener Package decided to recognize the green efforts of companies moving in the right direction with environmentally-friendly innovations. The winners come from a range of different industries, including food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household care. Here is the list they came up with:
Greener Package Award
Retail Leadership Award
Clean Manufacturing Award
All of these companies are setting the mark for their competition. If they want to stay in the game, they must follow suit with their green efforts, or go above and beyond, because eco-friendly packaging is here to stay.
Tags:Aveda, biodegradable, ConAgra, Eco-Friendly, environmentally-conscious, environmentally-friendly, Estee Lauder, green packaging, recyclable packaging, recycle, recycled materials, recycling, reduce, reuse, SunChips bag, sustainable packaging, Unisource Worldwide
Posted in Eco-Friendly | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Social networking Web sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been growing more and more everyday. They have been expanding so much that not only are teens and 20-somethings using these sites, but they are also affecting the Baby Boomer generation. Since these sites are growing so much in popularity, many libraries are seeing them as a tool to reach out to their patrons.
Michael Stephens, assistant professor of library and information science at Dominican University in River Forest, said “The best libraries will offer multiple venues for discussion. You’ll have multiple channels to find your way to no longer [just] a Web site, but a Web presence.” He also teaches a class called, “Library 2.0 and Social Networking Technologies,” and said that the number one group of people moving to social networks are ages 30 and up.
It is important for libraries to be proactive and stay current with the trends to stay effective, rather than become outdated. These sites allow people to connect with each other, as well as allow libraries to connect with their patrons. Amy Alessio, teen coordinator for the Schaumburg Township District Library said, “The library needs to keep its perception and its service current or we’re going to lose folks.” She uses social networks, such as Twitter, to let people know about the various programs and services that they offer. She found many adults and authors are following her library’s Twitter page and said, “I put something up on Twitter for a program that only has a few spaces left and I almost always get a call from a parent.”
Not only do social networking sites inform patrons about their local library, but they also can bring libraries together to share ideas. They can see what other libraries are doing and if that is something they could or want to start. It is also a tool for passing along information about budget cuts and what is going on in the industry. The North Suburban Library System said that they use Twitter and Facebook to communicate with its member libraries and professionals within the industry.
For libraries to continue to effectively reach out to their patrons, they need to stay current with the times by utilizing social networking sites and creating a Web presence. Peggy Carlson, assistant director of the Geneva Public Library, said, “We think it’s the way of the future, and we’re going to be integrating it more and more into our service.”
Tags:authors, Baby Boomer generation, budget cuts, communication, discussion, facebook, follow the trends, internet, libraries, library industry, library trends, Marketing, patrons, proactive, professionals, readers, reading, share ideas, social networking technologies, social networking Web sites, Twitter, utilize, Web presence, youtube
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
Monday, October 12th, 2009
One key way that you can gain customers and brand/product recognition is by changing up the design of your packaging. Yes, if you have a “classic” design, you do not want to change it up too much and risk confusing or losing customers, but you also do not want your product to look outdated. An old design can blend in with the competition, and you want your product to “pop” and stick out on the shelf.
Kayem needed a new design for the packaging of their hot dogs. “Classic is one thing, but ‘stale’ isn’t a term a marketer wants people to associate with his edibles.”
To change the packaging effectively, Kayem had to do a lot of market research to figure out what was wrong with the old packaging and what could make it better. First, Kayem removed the banner, “DELI”, because customers did not know what that meant. They decided to stick with “Old Tyme” to convey emotion and describe their hot dogs as being tasty and classic. They also decided to add “gluten-free”, “made in the USA”, and “no fillers, no artificial flavors, no byproducts” to the packaging. These statements have always been true of Kayem hot dogs, but they decided to focus on the health and quality of the food, otherwise consumers would not know. Kayem also decided to stick with the blue packaging to differentiate themselves from the competition and added a pictured of a cooked hot dog to grab the consumer’s attention.
Kayem’s new packaging design proved to be effective. After 12 weeks (ending July 11, 2009), Kayem’s volume rose 7.3 percent and sales were up 15.7 percent, according to ACNielsen’s Grilling Index. The new packaging is proven effective, because it catches attention and people are recognizing the brand.
Tags:boost sales, brand recognition, branding, competition, competitors, consumers, creative, custom packaging, customers, design, increase sales, Marketing, packaging, product differentiation, stick out on the shelf, unique
Posted in Custom Packaging Products, Marketing | 1 Comment »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
If you are like Sunrise Packaging, you have put a lot of work into search engine optimization (SEO) in order to further generate traffic to your Website. You have chosen keywords that make sense for your business and implanted them into your site. When a prospective customer goes to Google (or Yahoo! or any other search engine) and types in one of your keywords, you want your Website to pop up above your competitors’ sites.
What if that prospective customer spells your keyword wrong? Will your site still show up number one? Will it even show up at all? If you’re clever, you will.
Take a look at your keyword and brainstorm the common ways they can be misspelled. As an example, “disc” could be typed in as “disk” or “business” could be misspelled as “busness”.
Find the best misspellings and create a doorway or portal page on your host with these misspelled words redirecting any searches to that page to your main Web site. By researching misspelled words and submitting a portal page to search engines, you can alleviate the problems caused by misspelled keyword searches and can generate more traffic to your site.
Related to search engine misspellings is “typo squatting:” a form of cyber squatting, which relies on misspellings of Web addresses when they are typed into a Web browser. If an internet user intended to visit Sunrise Packaging’s Web site (sunpack.com) and instead typed in sunpak.com, they could be led to an alternative Website operated by a cyber squatter.
If someone already has one of your misspelled domain names, is not an actual business competitor and is clearly exploiting your brand you can send a cease and desist letter to attempt to stop the activity or you can attempt to purchase the domain name from the offender, which may have been the offender’s aim all along.
This exploitation of domain names can be avoided by purchasing common misspellings of your Web address and then rerouting users who type the misspelled Web addresses back to your actual site. Purchasing common misspellings of your Web address can be beneficial to you on another level. If potential customers are searching for your company by typing in your supposed domain name, they will be easily transferred to your site, increasing quality traffic.
Don’t fret over the possibility that your Web site is receiving less hits due to common spelling mistakes. Take advantage of those mistakes in a way that your competitors may not have thought of yet, and give yourself an edge in your market!
Tags:business, competition, competitors, cyber squatter, cyber squatting, domain name, google, host site, internet, keywords, misspellings, prospective customers, search engine optimization, SEO, typo squatting, Web address, web site traffic flow, website traffic flow, yahoo
Posted in Marketing | 3 Comments »
