Your product’s protective packaging is more than just a means of defense. While packaging your food product is essential to its freshness and safety, a lot of thought and strategic planning goes into food packaging. This is especially the case if your packaging of choice happens to be flexible retail packaging — one of the most innovative and effective methods of packaging on the market.

If you are looking for basic food packaging that simply accomplishes its most rudimentary function, look elsewhere. If you are looking to take your product’s protective packaging to levels that build brands and bring business, welcome to the world of flexible retail packaging.

You can win big on both industry and consumer levels with flexible retail packaging; and we’ve developed a blueprint where you can do just that. The following four steps outlines the surefire ways that you can make it to the top with flexible retail packaging.

Your Blueprint Step 1: Choose a Quality Manufacturer and Factory

When you are deciding on which manufacturer to choose for your flexible retail packaging, there are several factors to consider. First, the cost of the food packaging must be in line with your budget. Second, the quality must justify the cost. And third, the company should be trustworthy with a respectable reputation. After all, who wants to deal with fly-by-night companies that don’t live up to their promises?

One of the top considerations of your flexible retail-packaging manufacturer is factory location. While many vendors prefer to deal with factories located in the United States, it pays off to keep an open mind in terms of location.

Chinese factories have received a lot of bad press throughout the years. It’s entirely understandable that vendors are hesitant to consider Chinese factories for their flexible retail packaging. With that said, it’s important to understand that Chinese factories are not all the same. That’s like saying all car manufacturers are the same, or all TV manufactures are the same. There are factories that clearly make mistakes and give the Chinese a bad name. The same can be said for US firms as well, so keep this in mind.

However, there are Chinese factories that do a wonderful job at producing high quality flexible retail packaging. The key is to select a manufacturer with a factory that is clean and has a good reputation. Not only will you cut costs, you will be able to use manufactures from anywhere in the world— including China.

Secondly, vet these manufacturers. Work with a factory where you have one-on-one representation, the ability to watch your protective packaging being run (in person on via the web), and even review their Quality standards. This is not too much to ask and a reputable manufacturer will be very willing to share.  

Don’t fear foreign factories.

Your Blueprint Step 2: Building Your Product Package For Best Performance

The second step to winning big with flexible retail packaging is selecting the package that suits your product’s needs. Flexible retail packaging is top notch for keeping food products fresh, but it can also accommodate to a variety of other products. The design of your flexible retail package all depends on the product you are packaging.

For example, flexible retail packaging can be used to display and sell beauty products, ranging from shampoo to mascara. You can use flexible retail packaging to build a package that showcases your product and keeps your company on an innovative path.

When your product is food based, freshness factor is top priority. You can ensure quality and freshness in your product by using features such as zip locks; this will help your food packaging perform to the highest standards. You can also integrate zip locks for customers who are on the go and need an element of convenience for snacking. There are other features such as tear notches, hang holes, gas valves, and even pour spouts to consider for protective packaging.

Your product package and performance level should be catered to fit your product and satisfy your customer.

Your Blueprint Step 3: Choose Rotogravure Printing for Quality Visuals, Bold Prints

Your flexible packaging is a powerful marketing tool. With that said, eye-catching images and colors, bold prints and quality graphics are essential for grabbing the attention of your customers. When you use flexible retail packaging, you’ll get Grade-A quality printing on every package. Here’s how.

You have various selections in terms of print. Digital printing yields high quality results, but it is very expensive on the flip side. Orders with lower quantity can benefit from digital printing; however, it is not advised for large orders.

Another high quality print option is rotogravure printing. Rotogravure is the go-to (affordable) printing solution that results in bold, crisp graphics that turn heads. Your color scheme and logo will pack a punch when its printed with rotogravure printing, and the quality is so impressive that it will help establish your brand.

If you are looking for a presentation that carries the same wow-factor as your product, choose rotogravure printing.

Your Blueprint Step 4: Consider The Needs of Your Customers

The satisfaction and needs of your customers is possibly the biggest part of winning big with flexible packaging. We can give tips and advice for flexible retail packaging all day long, but the bottom line comes from your customers. With that in mind, here are a few of the general needs that your customer is looking for when they select your packaging over the competition.

• Convenience: Is your food packaging easy to open? Can you take it on the go? Is it easy and safe for kids to use for snacking?
• Cost: Is your product reasonably priced? When you find a manufacturer that can create affordable protective packaging, you will be able to keep your product price reasonable for your customers. This will give you a competitive edge with both pricing and quality product.
• Pleasing to The Eye: Believe it or not, the design of your product packaging plays a large role in your customer’s buying decision. Bold graphics with eye-catching colors will draw attention to your flexible retail packaging, and turn casual browsers into buyers.

It can be difficult to know an exact route to designing and executing the perfect flexible retail packaging blueprint. However, you can’t go wrong when you prioritize with the blueprint that we outlined here today. Take the blueprint step-by-step, streamline your development process, and showcase your products by using high quality flexible retail packaging.