Turning Trends into SKUs that Scale with Digital

In today’s retail reality, consumer-led brands are primed to tap into greater success. Forrester has found that growth-focused companies are 2.5 times more likely to lean into solving consumer problems than others in the market. A move that’s proven profitable for 89 percent of them. For CPG brands, this means answering the demands of consumers with seasonal flavors, limited editions, special collaborations, and regional releases. 

Seize critical moments.

Retailers and consumers alike reward brands that keep the aisle new and interesting. Capitalizing on emerging trends and shifting seasons unlocks more opportunities for profit and consumer connection. In these micro moments launch dates go from important to unmissable. 

To keep up, brands need a nimble packaging strategy that allows for pivots without compromising quality, brand recognition, or budgets. Enter digital printing. 

Concept to cart in days. 

With minimal setup involved, digital moves from art to shelf, fast. Ideal for short runs and rapid iterations, this agile technology allows you to seamlessly release new offerings in lock step with shifting consumer demands. 

Through versioning and variable data you can tailor packaging by flavor, region, or retailer in the same run. Swapping artwork to update claims, localize languages, or spin up a limited-release can all be done quickly and efficiently. With digital you can produce only the packaging you need, when you need it, and make changes quickly and efficiently as your strategy evolves. 

Risk less, learn faster.

While failure certainly isn’t something we like to think about, it is a reality of the CPG space. As many as 95% of new products vanish from the market shortly after launch. The good news is the right packaging strategy can help you absorb the misses and adapt more quickly.  Digital printing is a lower risk way to fail fast, make smart decisions early, and adjust before changes become costly. 

This speed and agility allows brands to show up next to major players at trade shows, put retail-ready samples in front of new audiences, and refine based on real-time feedback. Being able to validate consumer demand, messaging, and compliance in the initial phases brings greater confidence as you scale. 

Prepare to grow with demand.

When we work with clients to provide a packaging solution for their products, we talk about digital as an on-ramp — not the final destination. Conventional printing also plays a critical role in your packaging strategy. It’s one of the tools we use to help brands scale as velocity increases. 

Maybe the launch of a test flavor went so well you’re making it a permanent fixture in your product line. Or after a successful seasonal release, you’re ready to introduce the product to a national market next year. Whatever the reason you’re ready to grow the product line, the right partner will be there to ensure your packaging strategy can keep up.

Preserve your presence in the process.

To maintain momentum as you scale, you’ll need to provide a consistent experience at the shelf. Your package partner should help you source the same materials, maintain structures and specs, and keep color on target so your shelf presence continues to attract and grow your consumer base. 

Preserving consistency across conventional and digital printing methods can also prime shoppers for conversion as you continue to launch new products. When your structures, finishes, and color systems stay on brand across your portfolio, you can pique consumer interest through novelty without diluting recognition. Using this strategy, even limited releases read as familiar on the shelf, allowing you capitalize on the trust you’ve already built to drive market tests. 

Know when to circle back again. 

The path to conventional printing is not a one way street. You’ll make the move from digital to conventional and back again many times as your product lines grow and evolve alongside consumer trends. A hybrid production plan allows you to dial up speed or scale as today’s limited edition becomes tomorrow’s national run becomes next season’s featured release.