It’s no secret that e-commerce sellers want to get their products into the hands of as many customers as possible. Whether you sell online or in-store, you need a way to entice shoppers and make them confident they’ll be able to easily access your product again if they buy it. Packaging is one of the easiest ways to do just that. At its most basic, packaging is the outer covering of a product designed specifically for selling to customers through an online marketplace or retail store. Many sellers don’t understand how important packaging is, or how much their packaging costs can add up over time. The good news? It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to pack your products like a pro. If you think about it, there are several logical reasons why you should take the time to invest in some high-quality packaging for your products. If you want to learn more about how to use smart packaging, go to Authena.io

It’s one of the first things shoppers see

Packaging can change the first impression customers have of your products. When they see your items sitting in a box on a shelf, they’ll have a much better idea of what your items are like and how much they’ll cost. Even in a store setting, customers are much more likely to buy an item if they’re attracted to it enough to want to actually pick it up and try it out. For online sellers, this means your packaging needs to be attractive and inviting enough to make customers want to open the box and take a look.

It can increase your marketing budget

Some sellers are hesitant to put any extra money into packaging even if they need to! There’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right packaging for your products, and some of these costs may be outside your control. But, if you’re able to find a way to increase your marketing budget and use that money for better packaging, you could see a big boost in sales. Even if your marketing budget is fairly modest, it’s worth asking your supplier if you can bump up the price of their product to use as a marketing expense.

It determines how much you’ll sell per unit

Pricier packaging can increase an item’s sales by enticing buyers with an enticing image of a finished product and how much they’ll save if they buy it. It can also help you determine how much product you’ll need to order in advance to make sure you can produce the amount of inventory you want. If you’re starting with a relatively small order of 20 units and expect to sell them for $50 each, you need to order and store enough inventory to produce at least 100 units. However, if you’re confident you can sell a larger quantity of your product at a higher price, you may be able to cut down on the amount of inventory you need to order.

It shows customers what your product is and does

Packaging is one of the best ways to convey information about your products. It can help customers learn a bit about what your items do, and what they can be used for. This is especially important for those selling expensive items, but it’s also important for those selling items that fall into the more general categories, like home and garden. If your product isn’t seen by potential customers, why should they even know what it can do?

It gives returns a chance to be handled effectively

Pricier packaging is also great for handling returns without causing too much stress for your customers. If you have pricier packaging, you may be able to offer lower price points than you otherwise would. For example, if you offer a $50 container for a product, but you only have a $40 product to ship inside, you’ll be required to ship a lower-priced item as a “replacement.” With a pricier container, you’re not required to ship any replacement items, so you’re free to just ship the product that was in the original container.

Bottom line

Whether you’re an e-commerce seller looking to boost sales and spend less time marketing to potential customers, or a brick-and-mortar store looking to increase the number of shoppers who come into your store, a good packaging strategy can help you succeed. Packaging isn’t difficult, but it does require some research and consideration in order to find the right combination of design, materials, and cost. With a little effort, you can find a packaging strategy that provides great results, both in terms of sales and cost.