Types of Packaging & When to Use Them | Belmark Packaging Solutions

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Investing the time, effort, and resources to develop a product doesn’t abruptly end after being created. At the end of the production line, it must be packaged in a way that makes it easily recognizable and desirable to your end customers.

Choosing the correct type of packaging can be a critical factor for a customer deciding what they will purchase while standing in front of a shelf or fridge. Pressure sensitive labels, flexible packaging, and folding cartons are some of the most practical and durable options for choosing product packaging, but when is the right time to opt for these packaging types? And how can making the right packaging choice help reinforce your branding? With Belmark’s expertise in pressure sensitive labels, flexible packaging, and folding cartons you can count on a comprehensive consultation and purchasing process to ensure you’re matched with the right solution.

When to Choose Pressure Sensitive Labels

Great labels tell your story and impress the customer. Have your brand stand-out with pressure sensitive labels. They require no water, solvent, or heat to apply and are remarkably durable.

Belmark creates pressure sensitive labels with a wide range of styles and finishes, all with industry leading printing quality and color consistency.

The result is labels that give you a distinct competitive advantage on the retail shelf; labels delivered to you so that you can get to market faster and ahead of your competition, labels consistently printed to your exact brand colors. The real value to you is increased sales. The added value to you is reduced label costs, reduced inventory costs, and reduced risk of labels becoming obsolete.

When to Choose Flexible Packaging

What may look like or be called a pouch or bag is what we call flexible packaging. Often with a resealable zipper at the top, flexible packaging can look and feel like a whole range of styles to reflect what’s in them. From an artisanal feel to a handcrafted style to a sleek, modern finishing, this type of packaging is as diverse as the contents that go in them. Flexible packaging is a popular choice for consumable products because they can help extend the shelf life of a product over other types of packaging.

What might you find in flexible packaging? Nuts, granola, frozen fruit, and pet treats are typical examples of products that go in flexible packaging.

In addition, shrink film is also an option to cover and protect your product and packaging. Get a 360 degree print on your product with printed shrink sleeves. This additional space can help tell your brand story and make room for all the regulatory information. Shrink sleeves are also very durable and an excellent option for labeling.

When to Choose Folding Carton Packaging

The potential for a folding carton is so much more than a rectangular box. Think of the range of options between a cracker box and butter cartons - from gable tops, to an auto-lock bottom - innovative package shape can be as memorable as the goody inside it.

From holding delicate food items like cookies to being sturdy enough to house frozen food or craft beer, folding cartons can be a durable and sustainable option you can customize according to your needs.

Stand out in the shopping aisle with a wide variety of paperboard styles and finishes that can be custom engineered to your specifications. The advantages of folding carton packaging include choosing the proper structure and specifying the look and feel of a design that enhances your brand.

Additional Packaging "Areas" to Consider

Sustainability

As customer needs and preferences evolve, one area of focus packaging experts see increasing across the board is the accessibility of sustainable packaging solutions. Aligning to critical customer beliefs and values is in everyone’s best interest, including our planet’s.

Brand & Color Consistency

The value and effectiveness of your branding is increased (or decreased) by every encounter consumers have with it. This is why brand consistency is so important in packaging. No matter how good your packaging design looks in mockups, it has to look great in the real world, on every single package. Fine print detail and enhanced color consistency is imperative to your packaging.

Prototypes

Whether at trade shows or sales presentations, you might want to show off your new product packaging before it hits shelves. Consider working with a packaging partner who can provide prototypes of your beautiful new packaging as needed.

For example, Belmark will create a proof-of-concept sample allowing you to see (and show off) exactly how your product will look on shelves. It’s an easy and effective way to impress. And once you’re ready, Belmark can help you get into production quickly to meet that demand.

Full Solution Partner

Not many packaging companies can support you through that full business lifecycle. But at Belmark, that’s exactly the kind of partnership we’re built for.

Only Belmark brings together all the capabilities—from sales sample mock-ups and digital labels to short-run folding cartons or custom stand-up pouches—to help you test your concept, launch at small quantities, then ramp up to full production.

Key Takeaways

Choosing the correct type of packaging for your product is a determining factor for what the customer will purchase. In addition to ensuring your brand stands-out, certain packaging will also extend the shelf life of your product.

With Belmark’s expertise in pressure sensitive labels, flexible packaging, and folding cartons you can ensure we will find the best-fit solution for your needs. Our team of packaging experts is available to consult on your project specifications — connect with us and get started today!