The time has come for brands to rethink packaging strategies.
E-commerce has grown steadily for years. The pandemic has made it explode with sales topping more than $791 billion in 2020, according to the Department of Commerce. This 32% increase is the largest annual online sales growth ever recorded – and is not expected to significantly slow as life returns to “normal.”
This ongoing trend creates a need to rethink packaging to ensure a brand’s growth in the e-commerce environment. Online selling and packaging are all too often an afterthought rather than a priority. That needs to change. Far too many brands still use online product packaging designed for brick-and-mortar stores. This “one-size-fits-all” approach makes little sense for brands intent on increasing online market share. Unlike packaging designed to interest shoppers at point-of-sale, packaging for online products needs to accommodate an entirely different buying process.
Shipping performance is a critical consideration. While visual presentation is still very important, e-commerce packaging must be extremely durable, withstanding shipping variables such as temperature changes, weather conditions and transportation wear and tear. Creative solutions, such as transitioning heavy aluminum soup cans to lighter, flexible plastic pouches with pour spouts, are all part of the approach. This ensures that consumers receive products safely and as the brand intended, making shoppers more likely to buy again. Often, online packaging can easily be adapted to a brick-and-mortar environment, flipping the traditional design process and prioritizing e-commerce over the retail space.
In addition to providing protection, packaging must also be efficient. Environmentally conscious consumers don’t like receiving products packaged in a lot of unnecessary or non-recyclable materials. These wasteful practices are costly to the brand and fail to demonstrate sustainability – a top priority for today’s consumers.
As experts in creating high-performing packaging across many consumer industries, CMG Plastics is uniquely positioned to help brands create e-commerce packaging that’s sustainable, durable and attractive, enhancing the online shopping experience for consumers.
If you are ready to learn how to make your e-commerce packaging the priority it should be, our experts can help you make this timely transition.
We’re ready to help!
Please feel free to contact us. We look forward to helping you, and will get back to you promptly.
