Archive for March, 2011
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
We all know the famous rivalries in business such as Coke vs. Pepsi, Microsoft vs. Apple, and Ford vs. General Motors. Although we have these business rivalries, do we know why they start. Competition is one of the ingredients in how business is shaped. It is a natural occurrence based on two separate parties vying for the same goal. Businesses try to win acceptance from consumers, which is where rivalry and competition essentially begins.
Consider Coke vs. Pepsi, one of the oldest rivalries in American business. Also known as the Cola Wars, Coke and Pepsi started competing with each other in the 189os. Coke dominated the market, but Pepsi was always close behind. The brilliance behind the Cola Wars was that they both had different ideas of how to attract consumers and control the market. They both implemented innovative marketing campaigns throughout the years to gain even a fraction of the market. They also modified pricing and brand strategies to get a little closer to victory. It has been over 100 years now that this rivalry has existed and it still continues today.
Competition and rivalry is a healthy part of how businesses operate. Competitors help each other learn and move forward. Do you think Coke and Pepsi would be where they are today if they didn’t have an intense rivalry? Coke and Pepsi are successful because they were able to improve themselves individually based on what they learned from each other. Competition also helps the marketing process. Consumer needs and wants are uncovered during rivalry, which allows creative marketing tactics to be used. Now that social media has entered our lives and has grown into a big phenomenon with outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, marketing can be taken to a whole new level, opening doors that we never knew existed.
Although competition and rivalry don’t have reputations as being based around something good, in reality they have shaped the way we do business. It can’t be all that bad if Coke and Pepsi have survived over 100 years of rivalry and both are still going strong.
Tags:business, Coke vs. Pepsi, competition, consumers, facebook, Marketing, marketing tactics, rivalry, Social Media, The Cola Wars, Twitter
Posted in Marketing, Social Media | No Comments »
Monday, March 28th, 2011
After seeing all the success Coca-Cola has had with their PlantBottle, PepsiCo has stepped up to the plate and has developed eco-friendly packaging for their pop. The green bottle they created is made entirely from fully renewable resources and significantly reduces its carbon footprint. The bottle is made from a combination of some materials you would never think could be put together to make a form of packaging. The raw materials include: switch grass, pine bark, and corn husks. Orange peels, potato peels, and oat hulls are on deck for materials to be used in the future.
This innovation from PepsiCo puts recycling up at a whole new level. The materials they are using to make the packaging are actually byproducts from its food business. So if you never believed that things could be recycled and reused to produce something else, there is now proof. The brilliance behind PepsiCo’s eco bottle is that they have combined biological and chemical processes to create a molecular structure that has the same look and feel of the standard bottle PepsiCo uses. The only difference is that the new bottle is fully recyclable and is made from environmentally friendly materials.
A pilot version of PepsiCo’s new packaging will be available in 2012. If successful, they will move directly into full production.
Tags:carbon footprint, Eco-Friendly, eco-friendly packaging, environmentally-friendly, green, innovation, packaging, PepsiCo, recycling, renewable resources
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Packaging Design, Product Information | No Comments »
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Twitter has been ‘tweeting’ around the world for five years now. The little blue Twitter bird has become a staple icon in the world of social media. Twitter got its start in a brainstorming session of a podcasting company called Odeo in San Francisco. Twitter was founded by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Biz Stone. Odeo needed a way to be saved and the idea was to reinvent the way we communicate. Jack Dorsey had a vision that would allow users to use 140 characters or less to send out information via text message. It started out as twttr, inspired by the photo sharing service Flickr. This phenomenon that would reshape our lives launched in March of 2006 when Jack Dorsey posted the first tweet “just setting up my twttr”.
Accounts were created and twttr had 100 users. Soon after Twitter exploded into a micro-blogging movement that was made into its own company in 2007. Soon after, people from all walks of life, celebrities, and even Obama were becoming encompassed in the world of Twitter. That 100 users that first started using Twitter became 200 million at the end of 2010 and has continued to grow since then.
In the five years that Twitter has existed they have won awards, launched in different languages, partnered with LinkedIn, and has made a major impact in social media upon many other feats. According to the Huffington Post, Twitter now handles about 140 million tweets per day and a billion tweets per week. Twitter will continue to grow and be the place for users to unleash 140 characters of anything imaginable, as well as be a place for businesses to grow and market their brand.
Tags:Biz Stone, blogging, characters, Evan Williams, Jack Dorsey, Odeo, Social Media, tweets, Twitter, users
Posted in Marketing, Social Media | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Digipaks are becoming a popular option for CD/DVD packaging. They are an attractive and unique way to showcase products and artwork. People all over the world are switching to digipaks because of the versatility they offer. Digipaks can be customized to fit any type of design. They also have many benefits that make digipaks a great option for media packaging. Digipaks are not your ordinary packaging for CDs and DVDs and are being used by many for a variety of different things.
8 Benefits of Digipaks:
1. Two Products in One: Fuses parts of a jewel case and cardboard together.
2. Eco-friendly: They are made from recycled materials and use less plastic than traditional jewel cases.
3. Quality: Digipaks are made from high quality materials and are less resistance to breaking or cracking.
4. Display Capabilities: Images are easier to print on digipaks and graphics can be put anywhere. They can be UV coated or matte finished; both providing the digipak with a luxury finish.
5. Multi-disc options: Digipaks are not limited to only holding one disc. They can be made to hold as many discs as your project requires.
6. Customization: Digipaks are classified by the number of panels. A panel being a one sided square that is apart of the digipak. They can have as little as 2 and as many as 8 panels. They can be customized by adding pockets, folds, and booklets. They have various places for printing options as well. There are many possibilities and options available.
7. Marketing Included: Since digipaks have the ability to contain more graphic display, marketing efforts are lengthened. The marketing message that is to be delivered can be done on the digipak, increasing the message’s reach.
8. Creativity Has no Boundaries: Digipaks are a fun way to express a creative side. They have to ability to showcase anything that comes to mind. Whether you use only black and white or the colors of the rainbow, a multitude of graphics or just a few, a digipak will portray the idea you have and give it life.
Tags:benefits, cd/dvd packaging, digipak, Eco-Friendly, graphics, innovative, Jewel Case, Marketing, Media Packaging, packaging, versatility
Posted in Media Packaging, Product Information | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
If you thought you would always see your laundry detergent in plastic packaging, you were wrong. Seventh Generation, maker of non-toxic household and personal care products, has made an eco-friendly advancement in packaging. The have transformed their detergent packaging into a bottle that is made from 100% recycled cardboard and newspaper. The new packaging consists of two parts: the outer shell and a plastic pouch. The outer shell is made from 70% recycled cardboard fibers and 30% newspaper fibers. It is fully recyclable and compostable, using 66% less plastic than the typical detergent bottles. The inside holds a plastic pouch that is also recyclable. The packaging can be easily disassembled for recycling.
This new sustainable packaging will be available throughout the country by the end of this month. Consumers now have an eco-friendly option for how they buy their detergent. It is a choice consumers have never had before. The new detergent packaging also has other benefits than just being eco-friendly. It can be turned into new packaging by being recycled. Seventh Generation produces sustainable packaging to help make a difference by saving natural resources and reducing pollution.
Tags:compostable, Eco-Friendly, eco-friendly packaging, packaging, recyclable, recycled packaging, Seventh Generation, sustainable
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Packaging Design | No Comments »
Friday, March 18th, 2011
The ring binder was first patented in 1854 and since then they have been used for many things. The binder is the most efficient way to organize all kinds of materials. Since binders come in different sizes, colors, materials, and capacities, they are a universal tool for any type of organizational need. Binders also allow the user to become creative in what a binder is used for. Possibilities are endless when it comes to the many uses of binders.
Here are 8 uses for ring binders:
1. Sales pricing books
2. Owner’s manuals or employee handbooks can be easily organized into a binder
3. Organize school materials, homework, etc.
4. Organizing collections: Whether you collect stamps, baseball cards, or other memorabilia, plastic sheets and inserts are a great place to put collections and can be easily placed into a binder
5. Binders can make great scrapbooks or photo albums
6. Easel binders allow for making presentations easy
7. If you have a bunch of recipes lying around, a binder can be used to make a cookbook
8. A binder was originally created to hold loose leaf paper, which is a great place to write a journal, a book, or track goals
These are just a few examples of how binders can be used, but there are many more uses out there. Binders make organization easy and convenient, especially with binder accessories such as tabs and page protectors.
Tags:Binders, convenient packaging, organization, organizational tool, ring binders, uses
Posted in Binders | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
Jewel cases were introduced in the early 1980s when Compact Discs (CDs) were first launched into the market. Since then the jewel case has remained fairly unchanged from the original design and still manufactured based on standard specifications. Jewel cases have been the main form of CD packaging because it is designed to protect and secure CDs.
So how are jewel cases made? They are made by a process called injection molding. This is the most widely used manufacturing process in the world. Injection molding requires an injection molding machine, raw plastic material, and a mold. The process starts by taking plastic resin that comes in the form of plastic pellets, and then melting them with heat and pressure. The molten material is injected into a mold that is held under high pressure. Once the plastic is cooled, the mold can be opened up and the parts are removed. Injection molding allows for many parts to be produced simultaneously. The process is fairly short, typically lasting at most 2 minutes, which allows for many parts to be made.
Tags:CD packaging, design, Injection Molding, jewel cases, manufactured, packagign, packaging, process
Posted in Product Information | No Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
Watch out Sun Chips, there is another chip manufacturer that is introducing compostable packaging. Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, a Colorado based snack food company, has put on their thinking caps and launched compostable packaging for its All Natural Kettle Cooked Potato Chips. The packaging contains more than 90% renewable material and has the same feel and sound of their standard packaging. When producing this new packaging, Boulder Canyon used a high barrier metalized film that is made from wood pulp. The printing on the chip packaging eliminates the need for spot colors, making this packaging compostable and recyclable.
Consumer interests are climbing in regards to eco-friendly options in packaging. This trend prompted Boulder Canyon to create compostable packaging and meet the needs of their consumers as well and fulfill their company values. They have goals in mind to expand the compostable packaging to other snacks and expand their brand.
Tags:Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, chip packaging, compostable, compostable packaging, Eco-Friendly, packaging, recyclable, renewable material, Trends
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Packaging Design, Product Information | No Comments »
Friday, March 11th, 2011
Packaging is what we use to enclose and protect products for distribution, storage, and use. It acts like a coordinated system of preparing products for sale and end use. Packaging also is a tool that provides information for consumers. The way packaging informs helps marketers send messages to consumers and help portray the benefits a product provides. Packaging also provides security, convenience, and containment.
Have you ever wondered how packaging got its start? The first packaging used was made of natural materials and came in the form of baskets, bota bags, wooden boxes, pottery vases, wooden barrels, and woven bags. Paper used in packaging can be dated back to 1035, when vegetables and spices were wrapped in paper after they were sold to consumers. In the early 19th century is when iron and tin plated steel were being used to make cans. Also at that time is when paperboard cartons and corrugated fiberboard boxes were first introduced. Advancements made in the 20th century included transparent cellophane wraps and panels on cartons. These helped to improve food safety. Aluminum an other types of plastics were introduced as well.
Packaging provides many benefits for protecting and securing products. What started many years ago as a way to transport vegetables and spices, has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Packaging has made many innovations along the way and it will be interesting to see how it progresses further.
Tags:Boxes, distribution, history, inform, packaging, products, security, Storage
Posted in Packaging Design | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Heinz is at it again. They have found another way to revamp their ketchup packaging, this time on a smaller scale. We all have been in the situation involving those frustrating and hard to open ketchup packets. Well Heinz has developed a solution to that problem by introducing their Dip & Squeeze packaging. Not only can you peel back the label and dip food into the ketchup, it can also be squeezed out easily by tearing off the top. Also there is no need to grab handfuls of packets because one Heinz Dip & Squeeze holds three times as much ketchup as the traditional packet.
The new packaging allows for consumers to enjoy the convenience as well as ease of use. Heinz released their Dip & Squeeze ketchup in 2010 and since then they have traveled 5500 miles on a road trip to provide consumers with a chance to try the new ketchup packaging and listen to their feedback. Heinz has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, which has helped bring the Dip & Squeeze ketchup packaging to consumers nationwide.
Tags:consumers, convenience, Dip & Squeeze, Heinz, ketchup packaging, packaging
Posted in New Products, Packaging Design, Product Information | No Comments »
