Tip 1:  Be Disruptive.  How many times have you walked down a store aisle and missed what you were looking for? It is a fact – It is a sea of product out there. Your first mission when developing packaging for retail space is to find a way for your product to stand out from its competitors.  Hopefully your brand imagery has already been developed with this in mind. If not, here are other ways to create a disruptive look at shelf:

Tip 2:  Fit the space. Many overlook the restrictive dimensions of store shelves. Make sure your product is not too tall, too wide, or too deep. Also ask yourself, do my retailers merchandise on shelves or peg hooks? Take a walk down the aisle to see your product might be merchandised.

Tip 3:  Think logistics. Will the packaging be durable during shipping? Larger retailers will require transit tests to make sure packaging will hold up in transportation. How many units can you fit in a box? Specifically, will the dimensions allow for an optimal casepack configuration?

Tip 4:  Get the input of consumers and retailers. Effective packaging meets both the needs of the consumer and the retailer – arguably your two biggest stakeholders. Make sure you get consumer and retailer feedback.