How Apparel Packaging Influences Customer Buying Decisions?
The traditional role of a packaging was to protect the items from damage and keep them safe from shipping. But, today it serves as a face for the brands, helping the businesses grow their market reach. However, in the fashion and beauty industry, packaging has a bigger job. It offers a high-impact shopping experience which helps with greater revenue and brings customers back. Now the question is how can packaging make someone love a product so much that they end up buying it? The answer is simple, when people go apparel shopping, they shop with their eyes before checking the clothes fabric. They judge the apparel’s quality by the packaging it comes in and assume that it’s worth buying. Thus, branded apparel packaging makes clothing lines feel more valuable.
Let’s get into more detail about how apparel packaging shapes customers purchase decisions.
Why Apparel Packaging Matters More Than Ever?
The US apparel market is a diverse one dominated by retail corporations, high-end designers, and fast-growing e-brands. This has made the fashion industry a cutthroat battle field and winning over buyers is one of the hardest jobs today. This where premium apparel packaging provides opportunities for brands to stand out in the competitive environment. It makes a brand look unique, catches the customer’s eye, and convinces people to buy the item. Watch how the packaging works like magic.
Packaging Creates the First Brand Impression
For customers, packaging is the first physical interaction with your brand, especially the e-stores. When they receive their order, your box is the first thing they see and touch rather than the clothes. And it’s a human psychology, people judge the book by its cover. In a similar way, buyers build an opinion about your brand by looking at your clothes packaging. A visually stunning packaging printed with your logo, vivid colors, and some tactile iconography builds excitement. It proves the brand is a trusted expert and pays attention to every little detail. On the contrary if your brand claims to be high-end but uses a cheap or flimsy box, then the buyers lose faith instantly. They may not even return to shop again.
Packaging Reflect the Quality of the Product Inside
It is a quite famous saying that “Things are seldom what they seem”. But this is totally untrue for clothing bags and boxes. The quality of the packaging speaks volume about the item inside. If you use a custom apparel box made from a high-grade material, wrapped in a specialty paper, and finished with matte lamination. The packaging will create a clean, elegant look of the product inside. People will automatically assume that the clothes are made with care and worth the price. Whereas a cheap clothing box made from low-quality cardboard with dented corners turns high-end clothes into cheap products.
The Growing Importance for Customer Experience
Social Media has totally changed the packaging styles and trends. When modern customers shop, they do not just look into clothes fabric, style, and quality. They look for an experience which they can share on their social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This has made a moment of unboxing a driver of customers purchasing decisions. For instance, selling your dress in a magnetic closured box with ribbon pull and interior printed with the brand’s logo and a greeting message makes the product shareable. It also boosts a positive memory that encourages the shoppers to return.
Packaging Elements That Shape Customer Perception
Now that we know how much apparel packaging sways buyers. So, would you just pick the prettiest box to sell your dresses, scarfs, and towels? Don’t make this mistake. Your box is your best silent salesperson and there are some features that influence the customers purchasing decision. If these features are missing, then no matter how beautiful your packaging is it gets hard to convince the shopper to buy the product. So, when you are designing your custom packaging boxes, do not miss out the following details.
Material Selection
The material you choose to manufacture your custom apparel boxes sways buyer choices. Because it not only makes the customers trust your brand more. But it satisfies their demands and delivers value for the higher price. Therefore, always pick deluxe paperboard to craft your apparel packaging. For an upscale look, choose Rigid or SBS paperboard. It has a premium surface that creates a sense of luxury and weight. If you are running an e-business and your packaging goes through a different conveyor belt and transit rigors, then corrugated cardboard is the best option. Its fluted structure provides high-end durability by absorbing shocks and vibrations. Whereas if you are a conscious brand, use Kraft paper. With its rustic appearance it helps to attract eco-conscious customers and boost sales.
Color Psychology
While designing custom packaging boxes, businesses use vibrant colors to make the packaging look beautiful. Although this is a good approach, the ultimate goal is to make sales. Besides attracting the eye, colors also trigger the mind. They build an emotional connection. Therefore, using the right color is important. For example, if you combine deep black with metallic colors like rose gold, silver, or copper, they will project exclusivity. It will make your clothing line look like a limited edition, creating an urge to instantly buy it.
Typography and Branding
Nobody likes to buy an unbranded product. Because the customers worry that items without a name or company backing might be unsafe, toxic, or poorly made. So, make sure to establish your brand voice by printing your logo and don’t forget the product details. Such as fabric type, washing instructions, and ironing symbols. Use clear, legible font to avoid any confusion in reading. Modern brands usually opt for sans-serif font for clarity and directness.
Structural Design
Imagine you went to buy a dress to gift someone, will you pay $150 for it with a packaging just a generic square shape box? It’s definitely not worth it. The box architecture dictates the tactile unboxing experience and turns opening into an engaging ritual. So, while working on the shape and structure of your apparel packaging, try experimenting with innovative designs. You can break the mold and go for hexagonal, triangular, or pyramid geometric shapes. Or you can customize the packaging with magnetic closures, drawers and sleeves. These designs offer high-end product safety and unboxing experience that shoppers love to share on social media.
Premium Finishes and Printing
The easiest way to sell a product is to present it in a packaging that looks like a keepsake. This demands finishing your apparel boxes with embellishments that offer a multi-sensory experience. For this you can emboss or deboss your logo, pattern, or artwork on the boxes. These post-printing techniques add a dimensional depth and a tactile interest. There is an option of metallic accents for immediate visual luxury. To protect these embellishments don’t forget to laminate your apparel packaging with a matte or aqueous coating. It protects the boxes from scratches and scuff while maintaining the pristine visual appearance.
Apparel Packaging for Different Clothing Products
Designing and launching a clothing line is already so expensive that when it comes to apparel packaging, businesses simply go for a one-size-fits-all approach. This helps in balancing the overall product cost. But the real problem is that apparel items vary in texture, shape, size, and value. So, generic packaging doesn’t work here. It only leads to product damage and heavy replacement costs.
Here is a guideline for you for the packaging requirements of different apparel items. This can help you with maximum protection, elevated unboxing experience, and impactful display on the retail shelf.
Scarf Packaging Boxes
Scarves are a high-end apparel accessory made with versatile fabrics. They are usually bought as personal luxuries and a thoughtful gift on birthdays and holidays. Therefore, their packaging does not demand a standard boxboard. They need a packaging that is a balance of elegant presentation and product presentation. Thus, for your scarf packaging boxes:
- Pick innovative box styles such as sleeve-and-tray or magnetic closure boxes. These designs elevate the product’s perceived value that matches with the high-end fabric inside.
- Wrap your scarves in branded tissue papers printed with your logo and finish the artwork with metallic accents. This eliminates the need for extra packaging materials, reduces the cost, and makes a product gift-ready.
- Scarves are made from silk, cashmere, or wool which are delicate fabrics. Therefore, use interior linings or outer matte lamination. It will protect the scarf from moisture, wear, and tear.
Tights Packaging Boxes
Packaging for hosiery and tights is different from the dresses, ties, and scarves. Tights need a compact size box and clear information regarding the product. So, customize your tights packaging boxes into:
- Right-sized boxes tailored to the exact dimensions of the tights. You can pick slim folding cartons or pillow boxes to display them on a retail shelf or pegboards. They save shelf space and keep the product organized.
- Add a die-cut window on the front panel. The window will allow the buyer to check the tight’s color, texture, denier, and pattern on it.
- On the back of your tights packaging boxes print a clear size chart, material of the fabric, and instructions for washing it.
Towel Packaging Boxes
Towels come in three different sizes (hand, bath, and bath sheet) and are sold individually and matching sets, both. They demand a durable packaging that looks hygienic and reflects the softness and quality of the towel inside. Therefore, while design your towel packaging boxes:
- Go for enclosed box structures. Like snap-lock boxes, full overlap slotted containers, and telescope boxes. These designs restrict the entry of external particles and protect cotton fibers of the towel from dust and moisture.
- Use heavy-duty corrugated cardboard as the packaging material. It can withstand the bulky weight and support high-definition printing of logos and colors.
Sustainable Apparel Packaging Is Influencing Modern Buyers
Modern consumers pay closer attention to environmental protection and safe surroundings than ever before. This is the reason that when they pick a brand for shopping, they look into the brand’s efforts in reducing the carbon footprint. And their commitment to plastic-free packaging. So, if you are still using plastic sleeves to sell your clothing line, please switch to sustainable apparel packaging. Because plastic packaging will turn away a modern fashion buyer.
If you have zero knowledge on how to design a sustainable packaging and what materials to pick? Here are some tips for you. First of all use compostable packaging containers made from recycled cardboard, Kraft papers, or plant-based by-products like cornstarch. They decompose fast, within a few weeks and even are easy to recycle. Next, replace harmful single-use plastics with materials that break down naturally without toxic chemical runoff. A good example of this is PLA die-cut windows. PLA is a plant-based plastic which can be recycled. And finally, use water or soy-based inks for printing. These are non-toxic and safer for the product and the environment.
With sustainable apparel packaging, you can turn first-time buyers into loyal brand advocates. Moreover, you can convey a message that your brand cares for the planet, not just profit.
Common Packaging Mistakes That Reduce Sales
Despite having the latest design, stylish apparel and deluxe packaging, are your return rates still climbing? Here are a few packaging mistakes that you are making which are hurting your sales. Take a look at them and learn how to fix them.
Weak Branding: If your apparel packaging fails to establish brand equity then you can lose out on repeat purchase. The primary reason is it becomes hard for the customers to distinguish your product from your competitors. Therefore, use bold colors, logo, and clear typography on the custom boxes.
Poor Quality Material: Just to save a few bucks, if you are using low-grade paperboard to manufacture custom boxes, it will backfire. A flimsy box leads to bent corners or crushed packaging which erodes the profit margin. To avoid this, pick a high-grade cardstock.
Difficult to Open Boxes: Don’t make unboxing frustrating for the customers. If your packaging has excessive tape on it or tight tuck flaps or seal, this could be to “wrap rage” which ruins the unboxing moment. That’s why it is better to use user-friendly structural designs.
Final Thoughts
A perfect apparel packaging balances three simple elements. First, it keeps the clothes and accessories safe on a retail shelf and during shipping. Second, it helps brands with sharing their narrative and values. And third, it offers customers a memorable shopping experience that leads to repetitive sales. So, how you pack your clothes play a big role in shaping the customers’ purchases.
If you still struggle with designing the right packaging for your clothing line, then you can reach out to a supplier offering design support for custom packaging. The most reliable in the apparel industry is the Boxit Packages. With our endless customization features and free design support, you can create a timeless packaging that never goes out of style. Moreover, you can win loyal customers and increase your profit margins. For more information reach out to us on www.boxitpackages.com.