How about this for creative packaging? A wine label completely unglued to the bottle itself attached by a rubber band. Why? Because it’s a poster!

2010 is the name of the wine and it has a very positive outlook on the year. The poster reads “Got a feeling it’s gonna be a good year”. After the wine is finished, hang the poster on your wall or refrigerator and return the wine bottle. Now don’t quote me but according to the 2010 Minnesota Recycling Refund Act, each returned bottle accounts for 10 cents. You do the math….it’s gonna be a good year!

Designed by Bendita Gloria Studio

If you asked me yesterday what sofa packaging was, I’d say my brother’s truck and trailer (Thank you Chad for hauling my sofa 4 times in the past two years). Sofas have conventionally been shipped in one piece until now.

The Oi sofa is a modular sofa that ships in a cardboard box. Shipping these sofas is more economical and easier on the environment because the boxes can fit easier and more efficiently when being transported.

The seating pods are created to accommodate three times more seating room than traditional sofas. Because of the modular design, there are many different configurations in which you can set up the seating pods. What is even better is one person can move the sofa by themselves through doorways and around corners. We can all relate to that!

The name Oi means “Hello” in many languages. Since the Oi can be in a new configuration every time you see it, it’s as if you’re meeting it for the first time.

The packaging was created to give the product some attitude and quirkiness. The talking sofa gives you eccentric little messages as you interact with the packaging. These messages were also designed to emphasize the key product benefits.

More info:
Oi Cellular Furniture

Here are some highlights from The Dieline awards that took place last month at the Fuse Conference in Chicago. Over 800 entrants participated and while there were so many wonderful packaging designs, we highlighted a few of the first place winners. We encourage you to see all of the winners by clicking here.

Award: Best of Show
Entrant: ChappsMalina, USA

Chapps Malina was approached by Help Remedies, a New York City-based company with a big idea: to revolutionize over-the-counter medication. The product packaging communicates symptoms more empathetic rather than using phrases like “Extra Strength” and “Fast Acting”. The case adds comfort with its look reminiscent of a soft white pillow. Also, the packaging uses a highly innovative combination of paper pulp and co-molded corn-based plastic, making it completely compostable and a first of its kind.

Award: First Place, Health & Beauty
Entrant: Kimberly-Clark / Kleenex, USA

The packaging objective? Scream summer! Create differentiation, thru packaging, from familiar facial tissue cartons that will generate interest during the historically slower summer season. Graphic design, stylized photo-realistic illustration and carton structure come together to create an undeniably summer display for the brand.

Award: First Place, Electronics
Entrant: Fuseproject, USA

The latest product to be introduced into the Jawbone brand is the Jawbone PRIME marrying technology and design to deliver the best Bluetooth headset on the market.

Regarding the packaging, the Jawbone jewel case is a stunning alternative to the competition. A Jawbone headset elegantly suspends within a museum-like cube, offering a 360-degree view of the product.

Sustainability is another quality that sets Jawbone packaging apart from others. The yoke that holds the headset securely inside the box reduces the need for plastic or Styrofoam cushioning during product shipment. Because of the sleeve’s functionality as an enclosure, the need for a heat seal, adhesives or shrink-wrap was also eliminated. Additionally, all the components in Jawbone’s packaging are recyclable. Not to mention, the jewel case itself can always be repurposed to house small odds and ends.

Award: First Place, Wine, Beer, & Tobacco
Entrant: Athanasios Babalis, Greece

The use of Oak plywood as the main packaging material was chosen because it makes references to the Oak barrels that this wine matures in. This is the first in a series of three sizes of boxes that contain one, two and three wine bottles each. The three sizes are either combined together or separately and by stacking them a wine-rack is formed. The shape of the box was chosen because it is sympathetic to the shape of the bottle and it also looks like a grape from one side when stacked. The box has a handle and can be carried like a bag without the need for additional packaging.

Meet earBudeez™ Jay D and friends. So cool you wouldn’t even want to open them.

The fun new packaging of earbuds from JDA, Inc. packs a lot of personality, literally. JDA developed the earBudeez™ personalities with the earbuds as eyes in different positions to convey various attitudes and emotions. The innovative design of the earBudeez™ connects the product with various consumers to influence their buying behavior.

The design concept came from  research done  by Audiovox. They found that people were choosing their earbuds like a fashion accessory for their iPods and mp3 players. The research also showed that packaging played a key role in consumer decision making.

To no surprise, the earBudeez design won a 2009 Gold Pentaward- Congratulations to JDA, inc!

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?

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!

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.

I came across an introduction to the Brand Packaging’s Packaging That Sells V show that is scheduled for October 2009. They say:

“Your packaging is critical to your brand. It’s the last three feet and last three seconds (and the ultimate measure of success) of your marketing program. But, these days, packaging has to do more than just “pop” at the shelf; it must communicate the story of your brand and become an essential part of consumers’ daily lives. Is your packaging powered to do all that?”

This is so very true and good packaging design can help you make your product, your brand, and your packaging an “essential part of consumers’ daily lives.”

Examples of custom, limited edition, water bottles by Evain designed for different audiences.

So you may ask, what’s the recipe for creating this type of packaging?

1. Meaning: The first step in creating packaging that will communicate the story of your brand is to know what story you want to tell. People don’t want to simply purchase your brand they want to be apart of it and by knowing exactly what you want to communicate you can achieve this. Figure out your story and then try to make this visual through your packaging.
2. Audience: Packaging is an interaction between the product, your brand, and the audience so to better communicate through your packaging you must know your audience. Knowing what they relate to, what issues affect them, and their lifestyle will allow you to create a packaging that centers on these things.
3. Response: Once your brand has meaning, create a list of outcomes that your packaging could achieve. Think about your audience and what types of emotions, feelings, and reactions the product packing can evoke in your customers.
4. Stay Informed: The last ingredient in the packaging recipe is to stay informed about your competition. This is a simple task that is often over looked. Staying on top of what the competitors are doing allows you to be innovative and stay ahead.

Put all these things together and your packaging will have a recipe for success.

So when the above quote asks you, “Is your packaging powered to do all that?” Your reply will be, “Yes it is!”

You only have a few seconds to catch the shopper’s attention, so what are you going to do with your packaging to not only catch their attention, but to get them to want to buy your product?

Jim George from Shelf Impact came up with 5 labeling ideas to solve marketing challenges:

1. Highlighting innovative shape. Kids like products that feature fun colors and design in their packaging. Clear Beverage Corp. did just this with their “Kid Fuel” naturally flavored water. They also designed the shape of the bottle to resemble a sports bottle with curves for a child’s small hands to easily grip. They also made the packaging educational. Each bottle has a quiz question and Professor Smart’s answer is revealed after the beverage is consumed and the bottle is refilled with water.
2. Sizzling as bacon’s main ‘touchpoint’. It is important for the packaging of a premium product to reflect the quality of the product. Tyson changed the packaging of their bacon by adding a label that featured a gold-outlined shield area with red, white, and gold on a blue background, while still leaving room to view the meat. The new design improved how easy it was to find and recognize the brand.
3. Encouraging participation. Campbell’s made 7.5 million special-edition labels to show the quality ingredients that they use. Along with the new label, they started a program where you enter a code online from your can to receive a free pack of tomato seeds for yourself, as well as 100 seeds for urban communities and schools.
4. Pulling double duty. Sometimes marketers have to create a package that both attracts attention, as well as protects against theft and counterfeits. Nutrex Research did this by creating a shrink-sleeve label that is both eye-appealing and protects the product from tampering.
5. Signaling cause marketing. People like companies that help people and allow the customer to help by purchasing the product. Tide showed this with their packaging for the Loads of Hope campaign. They have special yellow caps that read, “You can help”, and it features pictures of Hurricane Katrina victims on the front.