Low Cost Packaging Creative Ideas and Advantages

Last Updated on December 10, 2024 by DesignerPeople

Product packaging can be noticed as an essential factor in presenting your products professionally while enumerating value to your brand.

The popular or most social media sharable packaging has now become a focal point for advertising and market strategy. Organizations are integrating unique, creative packaging into their campaigns to increase brand recognition and disclosure epidemically.

Financing suitable packaging is always challenging for most organizations, but looking for the most effective option and quality service is just as disconcerting.

Is packaging a costly affair? Most people say Yes. The reason behind the expense is that suppose if you approach a designing printer to get your packaging done, they primarily ask you the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ).

Small businesses and start-ups usually don’t have big sales, so they only require a minimum amount of packaging. Therefore, the less the requirement, the more will be the price. For example, start-ups like cloud kitchens or electronic shops initially don’t have enough sales to invest in packaging; therefore, low cost packaging is essential.

So you might be wondering the ways to create packaging cost-effectively? Here, we come up with some ideas where you can develop packaging with a less initial cost for packaging and yet a creative one.

Methods of Creating a Low cost Packaging

1. Screen Printing Packaging

Screen printing has developed from the ancient art of stencilling in the late 1800s, and over time, with modifications, it evolved a significant impact in the industry.

Initially, although it was not a well-known process, screen printing transferred the gap between hand-fed production and automated printing, which was far more costly.

In screen printing, the printer uses a woven mesh to hold up an ink-blocking boarder. The boarder has open areas of mesh that transfers ink via covering. A roller moves across the stencil forcing the inks through the threads of the woven mesh that are not blocked.

Screen printing on boxes is a great way to add your logo or other templates quickly and easily. With the help of fabric, the ink absorbs into the fibres, so you need to squeegee a decent amount of ink through to cover your entire design.

As this form of packaging is done manually, the challenge of MOQ will not pop up. Thus, you can create your packaging within your budget.

For example, the printing in the food delivery packaging, bottle containers, etc., are created with the help of screen printing.

2. Digital Labels

Digital printing is a transformative printing technology that evolved a change in the packaging world. Unique digital labels make it easy for organizations to place a new product quickly. However, it allows them to do it at reduced costs over the traditional print methods while still providing a highly enhanced decorative package.

When you require a small number of high-quality labels or a run of labels with variable information or graphics, then digital labels are the best option.

The significant benefit of digital labels is that they can be produced in small amounts as they are printed without the use of typical printing plates and inking processes, which creates cost efficiencies for consumers.

Due to the precision and accuracy of HP Indigo digital printing technology, you can ensure that each digital label is compatible with your needs.

HP Indigo’s proprietary liquid electrophotography (LEP) technology delivers extraordinary printing quality. Electrically charged liquid inks are dried and applied to the substrate through a thermal blanket using only a single print engine thus, empowers you to create unique prints.

For example, the labels visible on various wine and other drinking bottles are developed with the help of digital labels.

3. Box with Die Cut

Die cutting is a popular manufacturing process in the packaging industry. It originates from letterpress printing, thus evolved to become a more specific manufacturing process.

Die-cut boxes are highly customizable corrugated boxes designed to fit any shape, size, or need. Engineers or design specialists primarily design these boxes, then the die press is set and configured to cut the cardboard.

After the boxes are cut, we can further customize by adding unique graphics that may include product information, warnings, or company logos.

As an entirely made custom box is often expensive than a standard-sized shaped box, you can’t save money to a more considerable extent. However, when you consider the big picture, die-cut boxes can save you a bundle.

Die cut boxes are shaped more precisely to fit your product than a standard box. It not only minimizes the amount of wasted space during shipping, but it saves on the need for excess packaging products.

The boxes used to deliver foods and other objects by premium companies are a perfect example of die-cut packaging.

4. Custom Stamp

Stamps are a substantial way to add personality, branding and essential information to any package. They’re incredibly versatile when it comes to branding. There are different creative ways where you can use a stamp for your business.

Stamps help to add an appealing look to different packaging and print materials used in your business. With their enduring appearance, each stamp impression evokes a sense of lasting authenticity.

When customers visualize your organization’s name or logo across various print materials, such as coffee sleeves, it contributes to excellent brand recognition and creates a strong brand identity.

You can make your stamp a creative one by giving colors, sharing a quote, and many other factors. Usage of your brand images, graphics will provide deep attention and identity for your brand.

It is a great option for start-ups or other small businesses as you can develop a standard quality with a minimum Packaging design cost yet attractive and catch the customers’ attention.

These stamps are majorly used in take-out bags, shipping boxes, coffee sleeves, custom art, etc.

5. Unusual Material

These days, a wide variety of materials is used in the packaging world. A lot of research is conducted on this platform to create a more eco-friendly packaging that is inexpensive also a creative one focusing on the future aspects.

One of the most acceptable forms of packaging using an unusual material is aluminium packaging. Aluminium’s ability to form any shape and its protective qualities have made it the most versatile packaging in the world.

In addition, the key benefit of using aluminium foil, aluminium cans and other aluminium packaging materials is that they can be fully recycled or reused an infinite number of times.

Let’s also take the example of jute in packaging; it is one of the oldest traditional and most commonly used packaging materials. It is purely natural material made from the bark of the jute plant, having vital, durable, ventilating and absorbent possessions.

The formation of the fabric of jute bags prevents destruction to the packaged product. Moreover, jute bags are still regularly used today due to their excellent qualities.

The benefits of using such packaging are that it creates a professional outlook also can be developed in a less expensive and straightforward format.

6. Corrugated boxes with sticker

Another one of the best forms of cost-effective packaging is creating corrugated boxes with stickers. It is a standard form of the packaging used by both big and small companies for their packaging.

The primary benefit of using such boxes with stickers is that they can be easily created and effortlessly paste stickers on the boxes. Though it is expensive, it attracts the customers’ attention, and they can easily recognize your brand.

One of the oldest forms of packaging, but still, most companies prefer to deal with this, especially those used for shipping and other purposes.

It is also essential to place your sticker in the correct position so that people can identify it in their first look. The size and design of the sticker also play a role in recognition of your boxes.

For example, the e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flip kart, etc., are using this packaging to deliver their products.

7. Poly pouch with sticker

A polybag pouch is a simple yet effective, economical marketing tool to help increase your brand awareness in record time.

A custom poly pouch with a sticker works incredibly well to improve your brand visibility. When customized with your brand’s logo, contact details, and other quotes, poly bags do a lot more than work as packaging material.

It makes communication with the customers easy and thus helps promote your business.  It can be considered as a sort of self–advertising through simply poly bags.

It is an area where you can be creative or put more effort as these pouches can attract people’s attention to recall the branding and keep your business in mind.

It is very cost-effective but also a powerful tool for both packaging and advertising your products. These are also used by various e-commerce sites and in shopping places for packing garments.

Advantages of Low cost packaging

We have discussed the different methods by which you can create low cost packaging. Now let’s discuss the various advantages of such packaging.

1. Start–up friendly:

A new business often faces multiple challenges. To progress in the market, it has to offer quality products and services also create a distinct brand that covers the way for profitable outcomes.

The purpose of packaging is to create a brand perception in the minds of consumers. So you can create packaging in such a way that relevant information about the brand is conveyed.

As we discussed, even if you are a small start-up firm with a limited budget, there are still unlimited possibilities for creating a distinct packaging experience. It’s all about how you choose the suitable packaging for your business.

The usage of environmentally friendly packaging is also an excellent option for small, medium business start-up’s as you can create packaging at a lower cost and pace with the trends.

2. Low Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

One significant challenge that all small firms face during their initial stages is their minimum order quantity.

But there are many packaging options where the challenge of MOQ will not appear. In fact, many packaging suppliers embrace the practice of offering lower MOQ packaging options to help smaller brands by realizing their goals without breaking their budgets.

Organizations in the early phases of finding a place in a highly competitive market recognize that risk minimization is of the utmost importance. A low MOQ packaging cost structure enables small batch testing marketing without a huge investment.

Moreover, once your brand receives market feedback, a low MOQ approach also has the baked-in flexibility for adjustments.

3. Less Investment:

Another vital benefit of using cost-effective packaging is that you can implement it within your minimum budget, i.e. only less investment is required to create the packaging.

With various researches and inventions, there are varieties of packaging options available that are easy to implement.

With increasing competition across every market sector, plus price pressures affecting everything from raw materials to logistics, companies need to look at ways to reduce costs to remain competitive.

Investing in custom packaging is an essential element for small businesses to save costs. It will keep the price and make your packaging a creative one and attract the customer minds.

4. Minimum storage area required

Another significant benefit of using adequate packaging is that only a minimum storage area is required to store the products.

As most of the packaging consumes only less storage, more products can be stored at a time and also helps in the transportation of the products.

In fact, you can save storage by rationalizing your packaging inventory, reducing the amount of packaging void fill used and by many more methods.

By applying these tactics, you might not get the output on the business and packaging supply, but it will significantly reduce your packaging storage requirements.

Therefore, it can also lead to considerable cost savings, efficiency improvements and flexibility within your business.

5. E–Commerce friendly

Adequate packaging is critical for online sellers who care about their brand to be on top of the latest consumer trends and opinions. For instance, there’s an increasing dislike for wasteful, oversized packaging and a growing preference for sustainable e-commerce packaging.

The usage of labels, stickers, and other designs inside the delivery boxes attracts customers while opening the boxes.

We can even say that most of these effective packaging methods are utilized by such e-commerce companies as it is perfect for their business and achieves customer satisfaction.

The usage of reusable packaging is also growing in popularity, particularly among clothing retailers that don’t rely on bulky, protective packaging.

Big brands like H&M and Zalando have tried this new approach to sustainable e-commerce packaging to make online shopping more sustainable.

FAQ

Conclusion

I hope this blog made you give multiple packaging options to approach while you start your venture.

Even if you dream of starting a venture but not having a budget for branding or packaging your business, there are many options available to promote your products within limits.

As in DesignerPeople, we suggest such packaging methods because, during this pandemic, many people lost their jobs and planning their dream start-ups with their dream projects.

If you would like further guidance and information regarding low cost packaging ideas for your business, you can contact and get in touch with us.

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Author: Megha Malik

As a passionate entrepreneur and creative brand consultant with experience of 14 years in digital, branding and packaging industry, it is my honest effort to put my experiences and knowledge of industry towards readers. A chartered accountant by degree but a marketing personality in blood has motivated her to take in designing industry as a career. With her fun-loving personality and sharp branding skills, she is a great motivational speaker on her YouTube channel, an active member in various business channels offline as well as online. Do connect me personally via my LinkedIn and I love to share my expertise with you.