Multiple pink gift boxes, decorated with a pink bow, on a pink background.

First Impressions Matter: Why Your Choice of Packaging is so Important

A man surprising a woman with a green gift. The woman has a brown curly bob, and is wearing a purple dress. They are sat on a yellow sofa, with a white background.

Emotional Connection

A first date doesn’t begin with deep conversation; it begins with a first impression. A confident smile, open body language and a smart outfit can make or break a first date experience. Packaging plays the same role when it comes to receiving a gift or buying a product.

Think back to a time when you received a special gift. Before you ever touched the product itself, there was the packaging. The colour, the texture, the font and the way it opened. That first impression impacted your emotions before you reached the product itself. Packaging is much more than just a box, it’s the emotional connection between a brand and a person.

A trophy being held up in the air, in front of a pink background.

Brand recognition and Packaging

Beyond first impressions, packaging plays a critical role in brand recognition. Brand recognition contains a variety of elements that make a brand stand out from the crowd. Elements including the colour, the design of a logo and the shape of packaging make a brand more memorable.

A colorful bouquet with red, yellow, and white flowers sits atop a fan of paint swatches, creating a vibrant, cheerful contrast on a plain background.

Packaging Colour

Different colours evoke different emotions. The study of this is colour psychology. Colour psychology explains how visual cues impact thoughts and behaviours. Here’s an example: For some, the colour yellow may brighten mood and evoke feelings of happiness and excitement. Many brands have chosen this colour for their packaging to set a playful tone or to successfully grab the attention of consumers. However, for others, the colour yellow can be loud and overstimulating.

When it comes to packaging colours, businesses cautiously select their choice to align with their audience as well as maintaining authenticity.

Hands placing a light green ribbed bodysuit with wooden buttons inside an open brown cardboard box with packing paper, on a cream background.

Selecting the Correct Packaging Size

Selecting the right packaging for your products is also crucial. Not only does it affect the first impression of your product (nobody wants their product being thrown around in packaging that’s far too large). But it also affects shipping costs and sustainability.

Product and packaging weight affect shipping costs at an alarming amount. Larger products/packages with increased fragility often majorly impact delivery times. In order to optimise efficiency and mitigate costs within a business, it’s crucial that products are equipped with the most suitable packaging.

So how is this done? Before ordering packaging, make sure to check if you’ve got the correct measurements. Most websites will include the measurement details on their product page. From there you can decide which style/colour best suits your product.

Avoiding unnecessarily large packaging also increases sustainability. Aligning your business with the environment means less waste. Which is positive for the planet and positive for your brand.

Side note: Head over to our website to view our wide range of measurements and FSC® packaging options!

An elderly man (likely a small business owner) with white hair. Wearing a jacket vest, blue shirt and a watch. Cutting fabric on a table with a pair of scissors.

Tip for small businesses

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, your product is going to need a new outfit to make a great first impression for their date. A perfect opportunity has arisen for your business to launch a limited edition packaging line this Valentine’s Day. Including bright colours that are associated with this event, such as pink or red, can leverage sales. People often associate these colours with love and kindness, and may want to add a romantic touch to their gift giving.

Side note: Check out our new Poppy range colours to elevate your packaging! We offer a variety of beautiful colours, perfect for your products’ first impression.

A box containing white plastic pellets alongside a roll of red tape.

Protection of products

Have you ever experienced a long wait for a product to be delivered to your door? Only to discover that your long-awaited purchase has been damaged? The correct packaging is going to ensure that your product arrives safely while preserving the quality. This ensures a smooth customer experience by protecting the quality of products, and keeping the materials’ high-end appearance. When customers receive what they pay for, they are reassured that the business they have purchased from are trustworthy and that their customer experience is cared about.

For businesses looking to grow their customer base and retain a professional reputation, prioritising the protection of your products will definitely leave a lasting first impression. Your products may even get a second date!

A brown gift with red ribbon and a rose placed gently on top. Red background.

Impress with your packaging

So there you have it. Packaging isn’t just a box. It’s what shapes the customer experience and contributes to the creation of lasting memories. If you want your business to be memorable, show your products some packaging love this Valentine’s Day.