Luxury packaging: how to make the right choice. Our top ten tips

In the luxury sector, packaging conceals more features than everyday-product packaging does.

The consumer’s first impression, the image it portrays, will remain firmly fixed in their minds and will condition the buying experience. So, in addition to the practical element and the role it plays in your brand image, it must make people dream, and sublimate your creations. Some packaging can even be transformed into collectible objects, such is their visual appeal. 

Your challenge is simple: to create a case, a box or a bag that pleases the consumer as much as the contents do. But how?

Here are our top 10 tips for creating the perfect packaging for your luxury product.
 

1. ADOPT AN ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACH

More than just a trend, the environmental cause is at the heart of consumers’ concerns. Customers therefore expect luxury to commit to sustainable development.To do this, choose recycled, recyclable and even compostable products and materials! With eco-packaging, create the image of virtuous luxury.

2.INNOVATE

Stay up to date on the latest technology and industry news. Like connected packaging, dare to integrate them into your project. Your brand image is sure to benefit from this kind of boldness!

3. MAKE YOUR MARK ON MINDS

Text, texture, relief, colours, shape... have fun playing around with these elements to personalise your packaging and make it unique in the eyes of the consumer!

Differentiate yourself from the competition using an innovative, creative and even artistic design. Create that “Wow” factor and surprise your faithful with stand-out packaging that will make your brand the leading choice.

4. INDULGE THE SENSES

Sight, naturally, but also touch, smell, hearing, or even taste, why not? Provoke emotion and sensations with paper that rustles, a fragrant wood, packaging that can be eaten...

Create excitement and anticipation to make the consumer’s experience reach its climax when they open it!

5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE TYPE OF PACKAGING

Choose your packaging well: each material enjoys unique properties and will mean something personal for each consumer. Use noble materials that symbolise luxury: glass, precious wood, quality paper etc. 

6. STAY FAITHFUL TO YOUR BRAND’S VALUES

Develop consistency between the packaging and the product that it contains, not only in terms of shape, but also the image that it portrays. You need to enhance the product, but also represent the brand.

On the pretext of innovating, don’t be tempted to go against your brand’s identity and image: its values and commitments. You could lose fans on the way.

7. THINK ABOUT USES

Jewellery, fashion, fine food, leather... each luxury sector has its own specificities. You therefore need to adapt the packaging to suit how your product is used, keeping in mind its basic features: protection, preservation, ease-of-opening and presentation. In brief, be ergonomic!

8. REFINE THE FINISH

Luxury products mean exacting customers. If the product itself doesn’t tolerate any faults, the packaging must obey the same rule of perfection. So, be very attentive to the finish of the packaging.

It would be a shame to ruin that all-important first impression with a loose strap or poorly printed text. Don’t disappoint your customers and don’t tarnish your brand image.

9. SET A BUDGET

There is often a disconnect between the marketing team’s aspirations and the realities faced by the buyers of packaging. Responsible for optimising the cost of packaging, these buyers need an overview of the manufacturing process to determine the final cost. 

Technological and technical advances are lowering production costs so don’t let this stop you from dreaming. However, you need to keep in mind the budget/earnings ratio in terms of sales and image.

10. COMMUNICATE

Once your new packaging has been designed and launched, one thing you need to do for a good ROI is communicate! Be proud of your finished product and take advantage of the excitement that is inspires by posting on social media: there’s nothing like Instagrammable packaging to build your reputation and gain new followers!

Sources

Article - Luxe et développement durable :qu’en pensent les clients ?
Article - Le guide ultime du packaging
Article - Comment créer un packaging de luxe
Article - Le packaging, image de marque
Article - Conseils pour avoir le top du packaging !