Using brand packaging in e-commerce to attract and retain customers

Brand packaging is one of the most critical components of product design and marketing. The brand’s impact on the customer goes from the moment they got acquainted with the business to the moment they receive their product. Therefore, the packaging is a key attribute to both consumer acquisition and retention.

Packaging is really important in e-commerce, as customers make emotion-based decisions within milliseconds after looking at your offering.

It is the quality, the elements, the logo, and the design of the package that makes customers curious about the brand philosophy.

Take for example Trunk Club. The company that hand-selects clothing for men and curates fashion choices under cardboard “trunks”, has received a massive fan following because of its innovative branding. The company, 5 years later, was purchased by Nordstrom for more than USD 350 million.

Customer Acquisition

It takes less than 50 milliseconds for a customer to make a judgment about your product. Let that sink in for a moment. Since customers make flash decisions using the information presented to them, it’s important to reach them strategically. Offering unique branded packaging is a smart way to differentiate your business.

Research conducted by EY suggests that the packaging industry is making steady improvements concerning the quality of materials used to provide innovative branding and packaging strategies to e-commerce players.

This has helped many online store managers to offer a personalized, cost-effective packaging experience to their customers. Brand packaging has finally become a customer acquisition tool and not just a delivery mechanism in the e-commerce space.

Now, remember this: one in five consumers has watched an unboxing video on YouTube, according to Google! So, focus on the packaging.

Customer Retention

Brand packaging is also a key attribute when it comes to customer retention, which is key to growing your business. Just look at the success of the e-commerce giant Dollar Shave Club, which was bought for $1B+ by Unilever, because it was more profitable for them to buy than to compete with the new, trending company.

About 25% of customers retain almost 4 years after they started using it (almost lifetime) – Second Measure

The secret to their success? The packaging. They had some of the best brand packaging online, which reaffirmed the brand proposition of caring for customers.

Consumers that aesthetically receive their products are more likely to repeat their purchases than those that receive them in a plain box.

Developing Differentiation

When the brand packaging speaks to the target audience, the differentiation is clearer. Even if you are not selling to your customer an exclusive product, a customized brand package solution could be a differentiator from your competitors.

Customization of language, text, font, design, local content, etc. has helped many brands cement their market positioning. Similar to how Starbucks customizes its cups, e-commerce brands in various niches are customizing their delivery mechanisms to ensure that customers are happy.

International Packaging

If you’re always competing on price and are considering expanding to international markets, then branded packaging is the best way to differentiate your business from others and gain margin share.

Concerning international markets, online stores need to understand local requirements, cultures, and preferences to be able to determine the best way to sell their products and build customer trust when entering a new market.

With local brands dominating the market, e-commerce store managers that are aiming for international expansion must invest in ways to distinguish their store from their competitors even more and this must obviously include brand packaging.

International markets need unique designs, specifications, and delivery mechanisms that global e-commerce managers must engage with. Some of the best brand packagings have inserts, coupons, and various other marketing materials so that the consumer goes online sooner, and the international sales cycle is cut shorter.

To build a global e-commerce brand, it is important to capture key markets, such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina being chief among them.

And if you want to have an all-in-one platform and one single integration, you should go for EBANX ONE. With EBANX One, you decide how to expand in the region, choosing one or more operational models at the same time, in one or more countries, with several payment solutions, all within a single platform.

Read also: Payments Flexibility: the future of business in Latin America is hybrid

Laws, Logistics, and Governance

There are multiple laws surrounding packaging innovations that you must be aware of. Secondary features, such as packaging, warranties, and services, especially when entering cross-border trade, need to be thoroughly reviewed beforehand. Keep in mind that one region may have different regulations from another. The WTO and NAFTA are actively working with international sales and trade agencies to ensure that these laws are in place long term.

You can find the most suitable option and start surprising your customers with appealing packages that they will not want to throw away using brand packaging services like PackWire and PackLane, or you can talk to packaging providers across China using Alibaba.com.

When it comes to the logistics of it all, you can talk to the experts at UPS, FedEx, and other shipping agencies for their solutions regarding customized packaging as well.

Read also: USPS x UPS x DHL x FEDEX – What’s the best carrier?

Conclusion

Ideally, what you’re looking for is a customized experience for your customers, who will not face any difficulty while interacting with your unique package design. The box is opened, the customer is excited, and they will shop again at your store.