Fairbanks Packaging   •   February 2nd, 2017

Custom Packaging Mockups

Packaging Prototypes are Essential Business Tools

Packaging mock-ups and prototypes are used by innovation teams, packaging engineers, brand and marketing professionals, sales teams and creative agencies for a wide variety of reasons.

• Proof of Concept: Designs like box structures or POP Displays and shippers are first designed on a computer. A prototype is a logical next step. The design file is turned into a physical package and reviewed for size, proportion and potential surface area for graphics.

• Research Stimuli: Gathering consumer and customer input is an important step in the packaging development process. A physical packaging mock-up of what the final package might look like is extremely helpful when gathering feedback.

• Retailer Line Review: Retailers routinely ask manufacturers to review their product lines, packaging and marketing strategies with buyers. Prototypes and mockups are used to present new product packaging or redesigned packaging that has not yet been produced on a commercial press.

• Sales Samples: In many cases, sales teams are expected to sell in a product to a retailer before packaging is ready to be shipped. Companies often request a short print run of packaging to get just the amount needed to arm sales teams with the tools to make compelling pitches to potential customers.

• Design Reviews: Marketing teams or start-ups may require packaging mock-ups in order to get buy-in from upper management or investors. Mock-ups and prototypes are also a great way to ensure branding and functional requirements are met and that the brand is putting its best foot forward in a competitive marketplace.

• Color Proofing & Targets: A high-volume production run on a commercial printing press is a big investment. Marketers and designers want to make sure that color is just right before going on press. Doing test prints and submitting color targets to a printer is a great way to make sure a larger print run will go smoothly.

• Trade Shows & Events: Mock-ups, prototypes and displays are critical to making an impact and leaving an impression at industry events and trade shows. They can help your booth stand out or provide a visual aid during presentations and conversations.

In any of these cases, we’ll help you determine the solution needed and deliver with quality, speed and excellent customer service.

The Importance of Mock-Ups and Prototypes

It is difficult to overstate the importance of prototypes to packaging. Mock-ups and prototypes let you to test out ideas to ensure they are viable. Prototypes help you catch and resolve any issues, including possible errors or problems with opening a package, before you invest the money in printing a large run of packaging materials. It is much more cost-effective to make tweaks and changes with mock-ups than with a product ready to head to the shelves.

If you are a growing business, prototype product packaging can help you appeal to potential consumers, shareholders and investors. While you can describe your product to lenders and investors, it is much more impressive if you can present an exact replica of your product packaging that someone can touch and hold in their hands.

A packaging prototype can also help you make mission-critical choices. Are you wondering which logo, marketing message or slogan would work best on each product? Are you considering different images or colors for some of your products? Mock-ups let you test these ideas on real packaging. It can be much easier to make a choice when you see what the final product would really look like.

What Industries Use Mock-Ups and Prototypes?

Virtually any business can benefit by working with a prototype packaging company to create large or small runs of mock-up packaging. However, the industries that most often work with prototypes include:

• Mock-ups ensure packaging is safe for children and contains the bright colors needed to attract children and parents.
• Spirits & Wine. Many buyers in this market make purchasing decisions in the store, so appealing packaging helps sales.
• This is another area where buyers are often heavily influenced by packaging. In addition, food packaging needs to keep food fresh, so testing this before printing a large run is a cost-effective measure.
• Home Improvement Products. In big box home improvement stores, products need to stand out, and mock-ups let manufacturers create eye-catching packaging materials.
• Beverages. In the competitive beverages market, creating the right branding is crucial and mock-ups let businesses make important marketing decisions.