From printed labels to shipping boxes to laser engraved parts, there are many ways for companies to use packaging and markings as a means to customize their products. And ever since Coke’s widely successful Share a Coke campaign, many businesses have followed suit in finding ways to make their packaging more personal and customized for the buyer.
Keep on reading to take a look at some of the popular brands that are leading this new trend and see what the future holds for personalized packaging!
Key Players in the Personalization Movement
These big brands have been notable features in the ongoing movement. Let’s take a look at some recent memorable examples of personalized packaging:
Coca-Cola
It all started back in 2011 in Australia when Coke decided to put names on their bottles, and since then, the campaign has been implemented in various market locations with it becoming popular in America in the last few years. And if you haven’t seen the commercials, you have likely noticed the #ShareaCoke marketing in your local grocery store!
One of the greatest successes of this campaign was its actual share-ability. Many people took to social media to show off their name on their Coke bottle, which is free marketing similar to how people share images of theirnames on Starbucks cups.
Care/of
Subscription boxes have been all the rage in 2017-2018, and the up-and-coming brand Care/of, whose ads you may have seen on Facebook, is upping their packaging game as well:I
(Source: Barbend)
Snickers
As part of their “Eat a Snickers” campaign which transforms grumpy oroff-beat people back to “normal” after eating a Snickers, the company recently released packaging that replaced Snickers with different adjectives like sleepy,grouchy, whiny, and more, all to have customers choose one to match theircurrent state.
Lay’s
Back in 2015, Lay’s tried out the idea that customers could upload a photo to put on a bag of Lay’s that would then be shipped directly to them.
And more recently, Lay’s has gotten more personal with its brand by allowing customers to suggest new flavors and vote for them on social media and their website.
Nutella
Nutella also tried their hand at personalized packaging in a campaign where you could request a jar of Nutella with your name worked into the branded label.
However, unlike Coke’s approach, the customers had to look for the special jars that had a label on the top then use a pin online to have the label shipped to them.
Chipotle
Chipotle has always kept their packaging pretty simple. But in 2016, their cups got a little more personal with their author series. Ten students from across the country were selected to have their “cultivating thoughts” be featured on Chipotle cups. Since then, Chipotle has tried similar things with their brown paperbags as well.
Oreo
Also in 2015 was Oreo’s experiment with personalized packaging. At the price of $15, they let consumers customize their own Oreo bag on their website. Users were able to choose from two designs, and then change the colors, images, text, and more.
Heinz
Ever have a sick friend or relative and you weren’t quite sure what to do to help? Why not get them a can of soup saying to get well soon! In 2011, Heinz dabbled with personalized messaging on their packaging, which, back then, was a non-trend.
Packaging Personalization and its Future
According to a blog post by Catapult, it’s expected that the personalization movement will become even more common in the next few years. Using a blend of 3D methods, online/mobile experience, and more, they see doors opening between customers and brands making a new kind of buying experience.
The Stats
In 2017, the personalized packaging market was valued at around 25k, andZion Market Research predicts it’ll reach 35k by 2024. Needless to say, it’s only going to grow and become more popular from there.
Packaging Europe also had some insight on the industry based on some recent research:
“New research suggests that demand for personalized packaging is becoming an industry norm and is increasingly being integrated into companies’ packaging strategies. 66% of packaging professionals who took part in the study stated that the personalization of packaging is something they are currently implementing into their offering, or at least considering. In addition to this,89% of those questioned believe that this trend will only increase over the next two to three years.”
Other Trends in the Packaging Industry and How You Can Implement Them
We recently wrote a blog post highlighting some other key trends that are taking place within the packaging industry. Here are a few takeaways of some different ways you can use them for your company:
- Going Package Free
If your company is looking to go green in 2019, being package free is one way to help be more environmentally conscious! Example: Lush - Flexible Packaging
Having a container that flexes to fit the exact type of product inside of it is hard to come by, which is why it’s great news researchers and developers are currently working on one! - Clear Packaging
We live in a highly visual age, and as visual content and marketing continues to grow, so does packaging. Let your customers see the product by taking a page out of Prego’s book. - Ditch Glass
Brands like Snapple and Prego have both switched from glass bottles to PET, enhancing recyclability and clarity all while maintaining their durability!
Who Is Shini USA?
As a leader in the plastics processing industry, we are known for supplying reliable plastic process equipment all across the U.S. From granulators to chillers to desiccant dryers and more, we have a selection of industrial products to help your company process your industrial plastics in a more efficient manner.
Check Out Some of Our Other Blog Posts
Our plastics industry blog has a variety of content about popular topics in the manufacturing industry and much more. Here are some posts you may like:
- How Could Plastic Packaging Taxes Impact the Industry?
- Trending in Plastics: An In-depth Look at the Plastic Straw Debate
- Maharashtra Announces Ban for Single-Use Plastics: What This Could Mean for the Future of the Industry
- Scientists Accidentally Engineer an Enzyme to “Eat” Plastic Pollution – What Might This Mean for the Plastics Industry?
And if you are interested in learning more about who we are and our products, be sure to contact us.
