How to Design your Direct to Consumer Packaging

Direct to consumer packaging is exactly what it is.  it’s directly to the consumer, and allows for greater touchpoints. This type of packaging focuses on the journey that a customer might see their package go through. It isn’t just a box that they open up and forget about, but it can tell brand stories, engage with your customers, and thereby educate these customers too. 

When you design DTC packaging, a lot of customers will actually share their packaging to bring that branding and personality to life and build the ideal relationship with customers that they could. Here, we’ll talk about the different types of factors to consider with DTC packaging. 

What DTC Packaging Needs 

Lots of times, DTC packaging needs to include minimal factors in this section.

You want to use every avenue for new information on the packaging that tells the consumer about the brand. Iconography and logos, photography, and videos will provide a visual brand for storytelling, exciting the customer so that they can learn about your brand overall.

You also want to educate the customer in a manner that’s quick in an above the fold type of manner, or on the pack.   This is good for listing out the product’s different benefits, building anticipation within customers. 

With DTC, you want to add extras that will tell the story. Postcards for instance can be used to tell people a little more about who you are through a website. It can also be used to provide coupons, which customers love. Information cards, and other small freebies will also be great.  This is where the thank-you notes and free samples of future products come in.

You also want to think about the thumbnail of the packaging.   Some brands forget that the packaging will be on a computer screen as a thumbnail. Sure, it looks great in person, but if it looks bad on the computer, people won’t’ buy. So, make sure that you also give the person looking at the photo a high-quality image that translates into the high-quality packaging you offer. 

Other Considerations 

We mentioned the brand storytelling and different aesthetics, but there are other factors to consider. 

First, you want the shipping and handling to be quick.   People don’t want to sit here and twiddle their thumbs, waiting for your packaging.   You want to give it to them in a manner that’s quick, but also doesn’t break the bank in shipping costs.

The other challenge is also sustainability, or some value in the packaging. If you’re a brand that is eco friendly, you might want to capitalize on this, because this is a huge factor that not enough people consider. 

You want to in general, balance out the costs of the packaging, combined with the overall stability. You want to be ready to give people who buy from you the same experience, no matter if they’re a first-time customer, or one that’s longtime and loves your packaging.

Adding personalized elements to this is also great. Look at the names of those that are buying from you. creating a personalized note that thanks them directly, letting them know where their money is going towards, and how they’re contributing to a cause is really good.

The DTC market is all about being personalized, and also giving customers a meaningful experience. Rather than just giving them some boring retail experience, this one is made specifically for them, with their own experience at the helm, giving them everything that they need to.   The consumer impact is immersive and provides the business with greater success.

How to Make Your Boxes Become Educational Moments

 Packaging doesn’t have to just be a way to help house items, they can be a way to inform and educate such customers.

Some companies are building these unique types of packaging, in order to inform and really make it stand out.   One example of this is, of course, QR codes that offer free items such as lessons or information to inform others of various subjects. 

Another one, is tips printed on flaps that will tell people about cool tips to get the most out of your product. Information about the item as well is another good thing that you can use.

Finally, there's sustainability education, used to encourage and incorporate sustainability initiatives within the item as well. This type of way helps you do more with your packaging, making it better, useful, and more imperative for great successes all across the board. 

How-To Guides for Reuse, Recycling or Product Setup 

One thing that a lot of people ask for is instructions on how to dispose of such items. This, of course, helps you with building the most out of your items and getting the most out of them. Another one is product setup. Some customers need a little bit of help to help ensure that these items are set up correctly, so this will help you do just that. Finally, of course, you can add statistics and figures about conservation to help those who are interested in offering more ecofriendly initiatives and standards to truly get the most of these. 

These insights are designed to make lives easier, and with these incorporated into the product, it works. 

Interactive Packaging Elements to Use 

There's also cool interactive packaging elements that can be used for a variety of reasons, such as to educate and create fun games that lets you engage with the product. 

Hidden trivia that you have to open the lid or scratch off something is one example. Another one, is ARE learning through using your smartphone to help incorporate unique elements. Another one is as well, fun facts either through a QR code, or thrown on the box. All of this again, works to help with education and building a better moment for your packaging in all sorts of ways. 

What Industries get the most from it. 

There's a lot of industries that can benefit from this.

The first, are those companies that pride on being ecofriendly. They love to get customers engaged and excited to be better at conserving our resources and reusing items whenever you can. With boxes that educate, you can make these educational moments that will truly shine. 

You also will want to use it for STEM kits, which are of course, kits that will offer you learning initiatives for you and for your child. Again, they work great.

Finally, toys. Toys do well with education because you’ve already got people who will benefit from this, and with this type of education, you’ll keep the box around not just for improving and holding the toy to keep it from getting torn up, but also to have some fun ways to educate and understand the product so much better. 

When designing these, make sure that they fit the person that will open them. Make sure the language is accessible and easy to understand, and also give some incentive for playing the games. Maybe they get a coupon or something after solving the puzzle or answering the trivia correctly. 

Consider making packaging that not only is good for holding the item, but does something just as good—teach.