When it comes to making your business stand out, customization options are very important. Here are some of the key reasons why:

When it comes to standing out in the food industry there’s one golden rule – be different. A lot of products can be very similar and the only thing that helps them to stand apart is. People want products that try to connect with them on a very individual level – just look at Coke’s unbelievable success with named bottles!

So, just how important is customisation and what should you be asking for from your food packaging suppliers?

In short, very and here’s what you should be aiming for:

Hitting Your Target Audience

Marketing your business shouldn’t be a case of throwing as much stuff as you can at the wall and hoping that some of it sticks. No, you should be looking at exactly who your target audience is and what it is that they want from you.

Figure out who your typical customer is and make sure that your packaging is something that’s designed to appeal specifically to them. If you have several different core customer types then it may be beneficial to bring out several variations on your packaging.

Finding Niches

Similarly to hitting target audiences, finding a niche through package customisation can have a huge impact on your overall business. These may be small markets, but they also tend to be the ones that are the most dedicated.

So, for example, if you sell your own blend of coffee then instead of using generic packaging you can customise it to appeal to those devoted to finding new and wonderful coffee. Try and stand out from the crowd, be different – shout about your new products using all methods available, including on packaging.

Highlighting Your Uniqueness

What makes you different from the hundreds of competitors that you’re up against? There’s probably a lot, but will any browsing customers know about it? Customise your packaging supplies to really highlight what makes you special.

If you’re an eco-friendly company then using biodegradable packaging is a great way to show this off to everyone. Making sure that your company’s goals, beliefs and mottos are clear and easy to see is another great way to stand out from your competition.

Create Loyalty

This is what every company wants: a strong, loyal customer base. There’s lots of things you can do to encourage your customers to stay loyal to the brand, but one of the best things you can do is customise your product specifically for them.

That may sound like an expensive option, but you may be surprised at just how much impact this will have. Showing your customers that you care about them will encourage them to come back time and again, as well as telling their friends and family about your company. The return on your investment here can potentially be exponential, although you have to be willing to pay that little bit more initially for individual customization.

Give Them What They Want

For the sake of ease, customisation options should really be kept to a minimum otherwise you’ll soon find yourself operating at a loss. One of the best ways to maintain strong customisation options without worrying about operational issues, is to give your customers what they want as a whole – i.e. give them the most popular options.

While this won’t please everyone, it will cater to the majority of your target markets and leaves you with customisation options that lets the customer choose what they really want. Going with the coffee example again, you could provide options such as:

• Beans or ground
• Light or dark roast
• Decaffeinated options
• Range of sizes
• Foil or paper packaging 

Most of these are things you probably already offer, but by making it very obvious to your customers they will start thinking of it as being customisable options, allowing them to have exactly what they want when they want it most.

About the Author – Charlotte Packaging (charlottepackaging.com) is a family run business with years of experience in being high quality food packaging suppliers. We believe in giving our customers the best packaging solutions, allowing you to pass on that quality to your customers. If you’re looking for custom printed packaging then come talk to Charlotte Packaging today.