shopper marketing
Transcription
shopper marketing
BP-808-Cover 9/10/08 9:49 AM Page 1 AUG08 V WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH V CATEGORY ANALYSIS: COSMETICS V www.brandpackaging.com LIPTON’S GLOBAL REPACKAGING SHOPPER MARKETING: It’s not about the brand BP-808-IFC-01-Contents BP0608CARD.indd 1 9/10/08 9:56 AM Page IFC1 5/28/08 3:26:27 PM Volume 12 V CONTENTS AUG08 Number 06 COVER STORY SHOPPER MARKETING: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BRAND 08 Effective in-store programs consider the needs of retailers and shoppers first. USING QUALITATIVE PACKAGING RESEARCH EFFECTIVELY 16 26 LIPTON’S GLOBAL REPACKAGING CATEGORY ANALYSIS WHAT’S NEW AT THE COSMETICS COUNTER v 32 DEPARTMENTS 02 EDITORIAL 04 NEXT+NOW 20 GETTING IT RIGHT The needs of a segment should drive design 24 BRAND NEW 38 MATERIALS UPDATE v The evolution of a heritage brand PAPERBOARD 44 PACKAGING THAT SELLS v 40 PACKAGING THAT SELLS GLOBAL 48 FOLLOWING UP v Go for the Jugular LOOKING FOR MORE ON A TOPIC? go to www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 www.brandpackaging.com 01 9/10/08 10:01 AM Page 02 V BP-808-p02-03-Editorial IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE senior editor PAULINE HAMMERBECK hammerbeckp@bnpmedia.com contributing editor ERIKA FLYNN JENNIFER ACEVEDO/ EDITOR IN CHIEF technical & marketing information editor AARON BRODY, PH.D. senior art director MICHAEL ESCOBEDO art director BILL ANTKOWIAK V I have heard some interesting analogies while talking to marketers about the not-so-subtle distinction between the consumer and the shopper. I will spare you the examples, but let’s just say that some are, to put it diplomatically, “creative” and at least one evoked images of a jungle cat stalking its prey. Rarely do we see this level of cunning and premeditation at my local Dominick’s grocery store, however. editor-in-chief JENNIFER ACEVEDO acevedoj@bnpmedia.com ADVISORY BOARD principal, lipson, alport, glass & associates (laga) HOWARD ALPORT chairman, pratt inst. graduate school of package design DON ARIEV president/ceo, brandscope GARY CHIAPPETTA president, product ventures PETER CLARKE While researching our cover story this month, senior editor Pauline Hammerbeck managed to elicit one of the best explanations I’ve seen on the subject from Saatchi & Saatchi X’s Julie Quick: “Shoppers are master editors. Their primary job is to find out what to tune out, so they can figure out what to tune in.” (more on this, beginning on p. 8) president, the consumer research network, inc. MONA DOYLE principal of integrale GRETCHEN GOGESCH vice dean and director, undergraduate division, the wharton school BARBARA E. KAHN dean lindsay design DEAN LINDSAY chairman, department of food marketing, st. joseph’s university JOHN B. LORD, PH.D. Consumers are bombarded by an overwhelming quantity of stimuli while shopping, and, as marketers, it’s critical to understand what motivates that shopper at the critical point where the shopping cart meets the aisle. More and more, brands are devoting time, and dollars, to understanding how packaging can be used to catch and gain shoppers’ attention. 02 V V V ADVERTISING publisher, GERRI BROWNSTEIN advertising/production manager, ROSEMARY GESS V director, food & brand lab, university of illinois BRIAN WANSINK, PH.D. AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT audience development coordinator MEGHAN PRATT multimedia coordinator ERINN DEEGAN audience audit asistant CAROLYN M. 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VOLUME 12 NUMBER 6 assistant professor, school of packaging, michigan state university DIANA TWEDE, PH.D. email contact SHAWN KINGSTON 800-409-4443 x828 shawn.kingston@epostdirect.com I hope you’ll join us Oct. 2-3 at the beautiful Drake Hotel in Chicago to hear General Mills’ “In the Consumers’ World, Using their Words” presentation, along with the balance of our thought-provoking and engaging program at BRANDPACKAGING’s PACKAGING THAT SELLS conference. For more information and a complete agenda, please visit www.packagingthatsells.com. BP HOW TO CONTACT BRANDPACKAGING PHONE (847) 405-4000 FAX (847) 405-4100 MAIL 155 pfingsten rd., suite 205, deerfield, il 60015 jft studios FRANK TOBOLSKI V At our sixth annual PACKAGING THAT SELLS conference we’ll offer the opportunity to hear from Lisa Osborne, manager of consumer insights at General Mills, on just this subject. Speaking with Mark Dulle of Meyers Research Center, Osborne will share key insights into General Mills’ in-context qualitative research methodology and offer practical how-to’s on how to implement such an approach for your brand. In-context research focusing on package design can help uncover valuable insights beyond quantitative research, and help you understand how consumers shop so that key design elements can be translated and leveraged to create packaging that makes an impression, and moves the needle. president, source/inc. WILLIAM J. O’CONNOR AUGUST 2008 www.brandpackaging.com CORPORATE DIRECTORS publishing TIMOTHY A. FAUSCH publishing DAVID M. LURIE publishing JOHN R. SCHREI corporate audience development CHRISTINE A. BALOGA information technology DAVID P. BROWN finance LISA L. PAULUS human resources RITA M. FOUMIA conferences & events SCOTT WOLTERS production VINCENT M. MICONI directories NIKKI SMITH creative MICHAEL T. POWELL marketing DOUGLAS B. SIWEK clear seas research SARAH CORP BNP MEDIA HELPS PEOPLE SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITH SUPERIOR INFORMATION volume reprints contact: reprint sales representative DEB SOLTESZ Phone: 248-786-1596 Fax: 248-786-1405 E-mail: solteszd@bnpmedia.com AUG08 BP0808P BP-808-p02-03-Editorial BP0808PVE.indd 1 9/10/08 10:01 AM Page 03 7/21/08 10:12:37 AM +NOW NEXT RECYCLING PROGRAM OFFSETS RISING FOOD COSTS Brands like Kraft, Evian and Stonyfield Farm and retailers like CVS and Petco are signing on with RecycleBank, a recycling facilitator that awards points to households based on the weight of their curbside recyclables; points are redeemable for groceries and other goods. An RFID-embedded recycle bin and a single-stream recycling process (no sorting required by consumers) simplifies the process. Recycling rates in one of the first Philadelphia neighborhoods that RecycleBank served rose from seven percent to 90 percent in a matter of months, according to a report in Time. HEARD! “ Retailers and suppliers must prepare for various scenarios, including the worst with continued increases in commodity prices and slowing consumer spending. They must exhibit flexibility, minimize costs, maintain multiple supply chain choices and clearly differentiate from competitors. “ —Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu’s Food and Beverage 2012 report on the future of rising commodity costs ‹‹ (Our take on this? There’s a huge opportunity for packaging to help brands more clearly differentiate in these challenging times) 04 MARKETING MISFIRE: BURGER KING European Burger King stores are displaying paper tray liners featuring a VegCity ad campaign that has been raising eyebrows this summer. The liners depict a series of irreverent illustrations, including one dubbed Airport that shows a pickle donning a rubber glove in preparation for an embarrassing search of an onion. Others include VegCity Red Light District which features a pickle preparing to enter a brothel with a “Have it Your Way” placard over the door; and Halloween in VegCity where a masked jalapeno is seen stabbing a tomato with spurting blood forming the phrase “More Ketchup”. Sure, we might be missing something in translation…but we think not. File this under “T” for tasteless, Burger King. www.vegcity.de RESEARCH: CONSUMERS EAT MORE WITH SMALLER PACKS It’s logical to assume that consumers believe they’ll eat less of an indulgent item like ice cream if they eat from smaller, portion-controlled packaging, but a study published in Journal of Consumer Research in June suggests that, in fact, they eat more. Participants in the study who were presented with larger packages deliberated more about how much to eat and actually consumed less than those who were offered the same product in smaller, portion-controlled packs. The authors of the study say that larger packaging sizes may, in fact, reduce consumption. BIG BEER CANS CAUSE DRUNKENNESS IN THE UK? A homeless charity in the UK filed a complaint with Portman Group, an alliance of alcohol producers that promotes sensible drinking and responsible alcohol marketing, saying that oversized 500mL cans of Skol Super, Kestrel Super, Carlsberg Special Brew and Tennent’s Super beer encourage “immoderate consumption and drunkenness”. The Portman Group’s finding? “Restricting container size would be inappropriate”, given that there really isn’t a distinction between cans of strong beer and bottles of cider and wine, which also contain a high number of servings and, like beer cans, aren’t readily re-sealable. Bottoms up to logic ruling the day! www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP-808-p04-05-Next+Now BP0808COMP.indd 1 9/10/08 11:24 AM Page 05 7/21/08 10:00:20 AM BP-808-p04-05-Next+Now 9/10/08 10:39 AM Page 06 ® PACKAGING THAT SELLS ® YOUR PACKAGING IS CRITICAL TO YOUR BRAND THE DRAKE HOTEL, CHICAGO OCTOBER 2-3, 2008 PACKAGINGTHATSELLS.COM 800.337.8989 These days, packaging has to do more than just “pop” at the shelf; it must communicate the story of your brand and become an essential part of consumers’ daily lives. Is your packaging powered to do all that? Attend BRANDPACKAGING ’s Packaging That Sells Conference to learn and interact with other brand managers, brand marketers, and package design and development teams interested in the increasingly vital link between packaging and the brand. BP-808-p04-05-Next+Now 9/10/08 10:39 AM Page 07 BRANDPACKAGING’s Packaging That Sells conference is the year’s mustattend event for cross-functional brand teams who convene in Chicago for a day-and-a-half to discuss packaging strategy. This is a hands-on conference where you’ll: Keynote Speaker: CRAIG VOGEL Director, The Center for Design Research & Innovation, The College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning, The University of Cincinnati Keynote Speaker: JOSHUA ONYSKO Founder and CEO, Pangea Organics • Learn best practices from industry leaders Plus hear presentations from: • CARGO COSMETICS • MILLER BREWING CO. • Network with your peers • EVIAN • GENERAL MILLS • NESTLE USA • Touch and feel the year’s best packaging • PEPSI • NEWMAN’S OWN ) 3 37- 8 9 8 00 • PANGEA ORGANICS 9 8 ( • See what’s next in the • GREEN & BLACK’S USA Futuristic Design Gallery EARLY BIRD RATE EXPIRES SOON! M AG O C K . C PA OVERHEARD AT PAST EVENTS… REGISTER TODAY ING T H AT S E S LL “Positive, informative, inspirational…it has already motivated me!” “Exceptional speakers… top leaders in the industry.” “Honest and true insights into how brands can revitalize through packaging strategy.” Sponsored by: KEYNOTES SPONSORED BY: BP-808-p08-15-Shopper 9/10/08 10:03 AM Page 08 SHOPPER MARKETING: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BRAND By Pauline Hammerbeck Effective in-store programs consider the needs of retailers and shoppers first. 08 www.brandpackaging.com v W ith media fragmentation driving them to it, brand marketers are finally waking up to the fact that retail is an incredibly attractive venue for reaching consumers. ✴ “The potential of the store to create impressions and build brand equity is tremendous, and it should be thought of like any other marketing media,” Deloitte Consulting concluded in a 2007 Shopper Marketing study for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. ✴ The report set out to determine the state of the emerging discipline. And what it found is that it is growing quite nicely: shopper marketing budgets are increasing by 21 percent, compared with the two percent growth of marketing budgets overall. ✴ “Companies consider shopper marketing a competitive advantage and market leaders have started mobilizing their shopper marketing efforts by allocating more funds, restructuring their organizations, investing in technology and resources and re-evaluating their collaboration efforts with partners and service providers,” the study reported. BP-808-p08-15-Shopper 9/10/08 10:05 AM Page 09 9/10/08 10:06 AM Page 10 Of course, the allocation of more marketing dollars closer to the point of purchase is great news for packaging. As the focus on retail intensifies, marketers are considering packaging strategically more important in that it’s one of few in-store elements they can readily control. RETAILERS DEMAND MORE Retail consolidation is one reason. Fewer retailers now dominate the landscape and as they’ve become more powerful they’ve made demands on CPG marketers to think less about brand objectives and more about their own. “As they have shaken out and concentrated, retailers have become brand builders,” says Al Witteman, managing director of retail strategy for TracyLocke, the Dallas-based marketing agency. “They’re doing what CPG companies did in the ’70s and ’80s, which is target the shopper, develop segments and understand their attitudes and behaviors.” Sure, retailers want to be successful with individual brands. But, according to Witteman, they’re really more concerned about success across categories and with their customers. “They are demanding equity products and programs from their [suppliers] to customize and differentiate themselves as brands,” he says. “I’ve seen some manufacturers continue their brandand consumer-only push and the retailer says, ‘Hey I’m not here to build your brand. I’m here to build my category with my shopper, and, oh, by the way, if you want to sell your product to me you need to align to that.’” v v But there’s one key difference for brands operating with a shopper marketing mindset—in this context, you can’t just seek to drive preference for your brand; you have to start with shoppers and retailers and then roll their needs back into your brand. The Help line of medical products was packaged to clearly explain what problem it solves— it's a shopper-friendly orientation that just might endear this start-up to retailers. v BP-808-p08-15-Shopper GETTING THE RETAILERS’ EAR There are ways, though, for brands to catch the ear of these prominent retailers and find commonalities in their differing objectives. One way is to tout your experience across multiple retailers; it’s perspective that any one retailer customer simply doesn’t have. Another method, according to Julie Quick, vice president of account planning for Saatchi & Saatchi X, is to demonstrate that you have category competencies other brands don’t. “Go deep in the business you’re in. That’s what your retail partners are counting on,” she says, offering the example of a leading CPG company that has taken ownership of understanding mothers. “Retailers know this company is a mom expert in categories that range from cosmetics to laundry. And so when retailers want to understand mom, this is the supplier they call,” she explains. “It’s a good example of where, as a manufacturer, you want to be famous for something with retailers, because they’re looking for a deeper understanding of their business.” CPG companies like Unilever are doing just that. Since 2005, the brand owner has released a series of “Trip Management” studies for retailers that report on the changing landscape of shopper missions. The research has detailed types of retail shopping trips (2005), offered insights on Hispanic shoppers (2006), Baby Boomers (2007) and, earlier this summer, reflected on how retailers might win shoppers over in turbulent times (their advice? work on the shopping experience). Unilever’s goal is to provide value to its retail customers with shopper insights that can guide their assorting, merchandising and marketing efforts and increase the type of visits they may be losing or most want to gain. Of course, this strategy makes tremendous sense for big CPG companies because they have a larger portfolio (and budget) to leverage. But brands of any size can develop shopper insights, expertise or category solutions that might curry favor with a retail customer. Help is an upstart brand of over-the-counter medical products that launched this March with a shopper solutions orientation that any retailer can appreciate. The product name clearly and immediately explains the problem the product solves (e.g., Help, I Have a Headache describes the pain tablets) and a stripped down package design eliminates the complexity common in the healthcare category, making Help brand products effortless to shop. (See Packaging that Sells, p.42) The insight to simplify the shopping experience is something the founder of Help stumbled across when, one day, he discovered that 10 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP-808-p08-15-Shopper 9/10/08 10:07 AM Page 11 v shopping for headache tablets amidst “shouting” product claims and complicated packaging made his pain worse. He later found a 2005 Campbell Soup Co. shopper survey that confirmed his experience, revealing that the OTC medication aisle is the most unpleasant aisle for consumers to shop. CONSUMER OR SHOPPER? One thing Help clearly understands is that there’s a significant difference between reaching out to a consumer and a shopper. Consumers have traditionally been analyzed and understood through demographic or psychographic variables, and that’s important information for a marketer. But it’s just not accurately descriptive of a shopper. “The shopper is a consumer in a different state of mind. She’s on task and in the moment. She’s on a mission,” explains Saatchi’s Julie Quick. The same consumer can become a different shopper in different retail formats depending on the purpose of her trip (e.g., a convenience store visit for a candy bar has emotional motivators versus a weekly grocery stock up for the family, which is a functional concern). And while shopper insights are needed to understand how to act on those different mindsets, the greater implication is that effective shopper marketing is not about creating brand preference but, rather, about meeting in-the-moment shopper needs. The challenge, according to Laura Jakobsen, senior director of brand strategy at Hornall Anderson Design Works in Seattle, is to balance environmental realities (e.g., size and depth of shelving, what the brand is shelved next to) with the need to emphasize an “intuitional” grab. “If I’m a cereal and I’m shelved next to a box ‘cut’ horizontally in the middle, I might do something vertically to stand out,” she says. v RETAILERS NEED CPG HELP It would be logical to think retailers—ripe with loyalty card and other in-store data—would naturally lead the charge in mining such shopper information. And some of them are. But many lack the ability to properly interpret such data and deliver effective insights. And while Glick believes it’s a challenge that both retailers and AUG08 v “There is an overabundance of shopper research tools, data and analytics, yet the true synthesis of findings to insights are not mastered by most,” says Lily Lev-Glick, vice president of research services for the New Jersey-based LG&P In-store Agency. “I don’t think most people working with this data truly understand the distinction between facts and findings and insights.” www.brandpackaging.com BP0808SWER.indd 1 11 7/25/08 2:18:49 PM BP-808-p08-15-Shopper BP0808SILG.indd 2-3 9/10/08 10:07 AM Page 12 Page 13 brands face, others say that the strength of interpretation is currently on the side of CPGs. “Retailers are behind the power curve,” says Saatchi’s Quick. “When retailers study shoppers they do it at the macro [level], so they appreciate the depth that manufacturers can dive into on a category or segment basis. Retailers are looking to brands for leadership.” Just as Unilever has done with its Trip Management studies, leading CPG companies are taking up that mantle. “Best in class companies are spending on shopper insights because it’s the new currency,” says TracyLocke’s Witteman. “Not only are they spending on shopper insights but they’re innovating against shopper insights—and not just promotion and communication ideas but products and packaging as well.” SHOPPER INSIGHTS IN ACTION A good example of that, he says, is All Small & Mighty laundry detergent. “One of the insights was that the shoppers—the heavy laundry users—called the large size of all laundry detergent a ‘hernia jug’,” he says. “So there was a lot of brainstorming to say, ‘Hey what can we do with this package. Can we put a handle on it so it hangs on the outside of cart? Can we put it on the second shelf?’” The ultimate solution, of course, was to famously offer the detergent in a concentrated form and in a downsized package that innovated the way people could shop for laundry. The new smaller format is easier for shoppers to hold, carry and, once at home, to store. “You can have the same brand essence, but understand that you’ve got to communicate that message differently to the consumer versus the shopper in-store,” says Witteman. “Shopper insights and product and packaging innovation based on that are really the new currency for building and activating your brand at retail.” Not everyone can simply reinvent their packaging, though. There are also simpler, strategic executions of shopper insights. For instance, Julie Quick says it’s important to gather insights on what the shopper needs to know in order to buy you. v 10:07 AM v 9/10/08 v BP-808-p08-15-Shopper Ultra-concentrated All Small & Mighty in a downsized bottle came out of insights that revealed shoppers were calling the large container of All a “hernia jug”. 13 7/15/08 8:59:41 AM 9/10/08 10:08 AM Page 14 v BP-808-p08-15-Shopper Mountain Dew’s bold graphics offer a fun way to engage shoppers at a time when retailer “clean store” policies limit how much brands can market in-store. And with all there is to gain with an effective shopper marketing program, there’s also a caveat in that these programs must still be part of a holistic effort—they shouldn’t operate in a vacuum. “Rather than focus on decision criteria, it’s more about deselection criteria,” she says. “Shoppers are master editors. Their primary job is to find out what to tune out so they can figure out what to tune in.” If they deselect by brand, for instance, you need to consider whether brand identity is the largest element on your package. If the next deselection step is type or form, you need to assess whether those elements are easily identifiable. If they deselect on product attributes last, well, then maybe that information doesn’t need to be on the face of the package at all (a hard thought for most marketers to swallow). “What we see is that brands are very fine tuned, as if they’re the only product on the shelf, in the category or in the store, when, in fact, the bigger question is whether there are cues that help distinguish the product for the shopper and help her deselect quickly,” Quick says. “Brand marketers need to make sure the shoppers’ deselection criteria maps to their package design.” It becomes critically important when retailers’ “clean store” policies, which minimize the number of displays and other instore communication, restrict brands to where packaging is often the only thing speaking for them inside the store. “With clean store policies on the rise, packaging has to work harder to close shoppers,” says Quick. “The challenge is to provide functional communication as well as emotional inspiration.” Mountain Dew is one brand that has managed to balance those two elements well, she says. The brand’s limited-edition series of aluminum bottles feature bold graphics in what Quick says is a “fun new way to engage”. “If we spend too much time fine tuning packaging, we don’t spend enough time having fun with packaging and remembering it’s a way to surprise and delight the shopper and give them fresh ways to engage with the brand,” she says. 14 “Shoppers may finalize certain aspects of their decision at the shelf like quantity, flavor or brand—and that is where we have an opportunity to influence them,” says LG&P’s Lev-Glick. “But the process starts way before they enter the doors of the retailer.” From how shoppers segment attitudinally to their emotional needs states in a category, to loyalty and even the DNA of the channel or retailer they shop in, says Lev-Glick “in order to be effective at the point of sale we need to understand the complete path to purchase.” BP Pauline Hammerbeck is the Senior Editor of BRANDPACKAGING magazine. Contact her at hammerbeckp@bnpmedia.com. WHERE TO GO F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N . . . SHOPPER MARKETING STUDY Shopper Marketing: Capturing a Shopper’s Heart, Mind and Wallet (available for download at www.deloitte.com) RETAIL AND SHOPPER MARKETING Al Witteman at TracyLocke (214.969.9000 or tracylocke.com). Julie Quick at Saatchi & Saatchi X (479.575.0200 or jquick@satchix.com) UNILEVER’S TRIP MANAGEMENT REPORTS Available for download at www.unileverusa.com/ourcompany/aboutunilever. SHOPPER-CENTERED PACKAGE DESIGN Laura Jakobsen at Hornall Anderson Design Works (206.467.5800 or www.hadw.com) SHOPPER AND RETAIL RESEARCH Lily Lev-Glick at LG&P In-store Agency (201.634.9099 or www.lginstore.com) www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP080 BP-808-p08-15-Shopper BP0808MWV.indd 1 9/10/08 10:08 AM Page 15 6/27/08 10:01:16 AM BP-808-p16-19-Qualitative 9/10/08 10:09 AM Page 16 SHOPPER RESEARCH GETTING PAST THE by Scott Young BEAUTY CONTEST W e regularly pre-test many packaging systems through quantitative on-shelf assessments. On those occasions when new packaging systems perform poorly in our studies, we’re likely to hear a familiar refrain, “They loved it in the qualitative...” Qualitative research is rarely touted as “predictive”, but it is intended to lead marketers towards effective packaging solutions. However, qualitative findings are often misleading, which has driven some marketers to abandon traditional group sessions for one-on-one personal interviews (IDIs) or Internet-based screening studies. v Working through the challenges of qualitative research. THE EMPHASIS ON APPEAL/AESTHETICS First and foremost, qualitative study findings are often a reflection of “what people like,” rather than a function of communication (driving appropriate product expectations, embodying desired brand imagery, etc.). While aesthetics do matter—and research certainly should identify design elements that are alienating or confusing—the most appealing design is not always the most effective. Many qualitative studies quickly disintegrate into beauty contests in which shoppers pick their favorite and then claim that it also happens to be the option that best supports brand imagery and product communication. v PRESENTATION OF LIMITED STIMULI Our perspective is that there is significant potential value in qualitative packaging research. Tied to the depth/flexibility of questioning, it allows a hands-on learning experience for marketers and designers. However, there’s no question that qualitative research is often misused. With that thought in mind, we’d like to highlight three common sources of misleading feedback—and offer suggestions to minimize their impact. 16 What comes out of qualitative research is largely a function of what goes into the studies. Here, we often find two types of problems. The first, and most obvious, is stimuli that simply don’t “do justice” to the packaging concept. For example, when two-dimensional renderings are used to illustrate new packaging structures or delivery systems, they typically fail to convey the tactile feel of the packaging—and thus fail to drive strong visceral reactions from shoppers. A second (and more subtle) issue is the range of concepts brought into qualitative research. Many marketers are inclined to avoid showing “further-out designs” on the premise that the company would never actually introduce these ideas. However, the value of qualitative research often comes from understanding boundaries, which can come out of “going too far” with some designs— and understanding when/where you have compromised brand equity and/or alienated shoppers. When qualitative stimuli stay too close to current packaging, learning is sacrificed, and the result is often overstated minor differences among options, which won’t have an impact in market. www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 9/10/08 10:10 AM Page 17 LACK OF SHELF AND COMPETITIVE CONTEXT v Show concepts in their totality Perhaps most importantly, qualitative studies can be misleading because they don’t address the key factors that drive in-market success. In-store, the fundamental reality is that packaging must work within a cluttered shelf context—and that packaging typically has only a few short seconds to gain attention, differentiate from competition, lead shoppers to the right product—and ultimately close the sale. In qualitative research, respondents often encounter packaging concepts outside such a competitive context—and they may spend up to two hours discussing alternative concepts. Inevitably, this dichotomy will lead to some misleading findings, as shoppers will often use this extra time to overthink concepts, or place themselves in the role of amateur designers or brand managers. v BEST PRACTICES: PRESENTING AND PROBING The good news is that these minefields can be minimized. The cardinal rule and guiding principle is to keep shoppers in a shopping mindset. We want their input as people buying products, not as replacements for our marketing and design teams. To encourage this mindset, it is critical to: Present packaging concepts within competitive context When concepts are shown next to competition, it is more realistic to the shopping experience and allows us to gauge competitive differentiation, which is critical to in-store success. It also encourages people to think like shoppers (deciding which product to purchase) and, thus, to focus on the role of packaging in supporting brand imagery and product benefits, as opposed to aesthetics. Specifically, we’d recommend that alternative concepts be presented and discussed sequentially, within a competitive context. Often, a primary objective of qualitative research is to understand the contribution of individual design elements, in order to optimize them. However, it’s also important to remember that shoppers encounter packages in their totality and that the “gestalt” of a design is often more than the sum of its parts. Therefore, we recommend consistently showing shoppers full packages and then probing to understand which design elements are driving reactions. In other words, the process should be one of “deconstructing” packages (to understand key elements), as opposed to “building” packages on an element-by-element basis. If the objective is to isolate and understand a single design element, an effective strategy is to present several complete packages in which only a single element varies. Show concepts alone (without marketing support) Finally, it’s important to remember that packaging typically has to work on its own, without the benefit of advertising or pointof-sale support. In this day of fragmented media, it is simply unrealistic to assume that shoppers have recently seen your commercial, or even that they have any awareness of a new product prior to seeing the package in store. Thus, when shoppers are shown concept statements before exposure to packaging, it almost inevitably biases the research. Instead, we’d recommend listening to whether shoppers are spontaneously “playing back” elements of the brand positioning from the packaging. A concept statement or advertisement can then be introduced at the end of a discussion, to confirm alignment with the packaging and discuss any inconsistencies. WHAT NOT TO DISCUSS v BP-808-p16-19-Qualitative In terms of discussing packaging concepts with shoppers, the primary focus should be on what not to ask. Simply put, there are some questions that are not consumer issues—and many others that are likely to provide misleading feedback: Strategic branding issues Conversely, when shoppers see alternative design systems for the same brand simultaneously on a side-by-side basis, it immediately takes them out of a shopping mode and encourages a focus on aesthetics. These side-by-side comparisons also tend to overemphasize the differences between options, and thus overstate the potential impact of a relatively minor design change (which may never be noticed on a competitive shelf). While these side-by-side comparisons can add value in clarifying distinctions, we’d recommend that they come at the end of a discussion—and that steps are taken to discourage exercises that encourage shoppers to select their favorite elements from different packages (“Take that cap from design B, and the logo from design F…”) AUG08 Certain issues, such as underlying positioning or branding relationships on packaging (master brand vs. co-brand or subbrand, etc.) should generally be guided by brand strategy, rather than consumer reaction or preference. In this realm, the role of consumer feedback should be to determine if the packaging is conveying the intended strategy, rather than overturning the strategy itself. Thus, if shoppers are saying that the logo is too small, the reaction should be to understand what is driving this comment rather than reconsider the product’s branding strategy. Shelf visibility Across studies, we have consistently found that shoppers can’t accurately gauge which packages they would see (or miss) at shelf. Even when people are shown shelf sets, what they claim to notice or recall differs significantly from what they actually see. www.brandpackaging.com v Minimize side-by-side design comparisons 17 BP-808-p16-19-Qualitative 9/10/08 10:10 AM Page 18 Therefore, asking shoppers if a design system is eye-catching is likely to provide very misleading answers. And while presenting new concepts in shelf context is valuable to gauge competitive differentiation—and perhaps to uncover and explore issues of confusion and shoppability—this should not be mistaken for an accurate gauge of visibility. following a set of best practices to guide how concepts are presented and discussed. However, as with virtually all consumer research, it often comes back to how feedback is interpreted and applied. For this reason, we’d also offer two guiding thoughts regarding the interpretation of findings: Focus on themes, rather than “winners” Pricing issues Pricing is perhaps the single area where qualitative research, or any form of direct questioning, is most likely to provide misleading feedback. When asked if they would pay more for new packaging, many shoppers will understate their willingness—or place value only on “hard” functional benefits (product protection or ease of use), as opposed to “softer” advantages (a more appealing visual presentation or clearer communication). In speaking with shoppers, the focus should be on uncovering shapes, visuals and messages that resonate and differentiate, along with sources of confusion, misinterpretation and alienation. When the research is instead centered on the objective of picking one or two winning designs and/or driven by preference rankings, these elements can be missed, as they are lost within less compelling design systems. Don’t apply shoppers’ input too literally The value of qualitative research comes in learning how shoppers react to packaging concepts and uncovering why. However, experience suggests that a more compelling appearance can drive higher price expectations and value perceptions and that price increases can often be “passed along” without impacting sales. Certainly, qualitative research can be used to explore pricing issues, in terms of uncovering whether new packaging concepts are perceived to add-value and in understanding how best to convey new features/benefits on labeling. However, these insights should lead to appropriate quantitative research. It is important to know where to stop and avoid getting too specific about pricing implications (“Is this worth an extra 10 cents?”). Perhaps most importantly, it’s important to discourage very specific design recommendations. The value of qualitative research comes in learning how shoppers react to packaging concepts and uncovering why. When shoppers become “art directors,” the results are often packaging systems that do not perform in-market because they are divorced from marketing strategy. v GETTING MORE FROM QUALITATIVE How can we leverage the considerable value of qualitative research, while minimizing its potential to mislead? The trick is less about adhering to a specific methodology or sampling approach and more about investing in appropriate stimuli and 18 It’s also important to avoid being held captive by the literal words of shoppers, particularly in terms of specific design recommendations (“Make it more yellow”). Instead, the trick is to uncover the issues driving these comments and interpret their potential implications. When conclusions are framed in terms of issues and objectives, instead of mandates, the research becomes far more diagnostic—and allows designers the freedom to develop more effective solutions. Finally, getting more from qualitative packaging research requires recognizing its inherent limitations, and using other methodologies to complement traditional approaches. For example, we are now regularly tracking package viewing patterns in conjunction with traditional qualitative approaches: The viewing patterns document each packaging system’s initial communication hierarchy, while indepth discussions uncover shoppers’ reactions to each approach. Similarly, we find ourselves starting at the shelf far more frequently, not to numerically measure visibility or shoppability but, instead, to ground consumers in the shopping experience, present concepts within a realistic context and include a behavioral component to complement attitudinal questioning. As these innovations suggest, a primary objective is to link qualitative studies more directly to the realities of the shopping experience. By adding value in this manner—and grounding studies in several consistent best practices—qualitative packaging research will be more likely to lead marketers and designers towards in-market success. BP The author, Scott Young, is the president of Perception Research Services, a company that conducts more than 600 studies annually to help develop, assess and improve packaging systems and help marketers “win at retail”. Contact Scott at syoung@prsresearch.com or 201.346.1600. www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808H BP-808-p16-19-Qualitative BP0808HANEY.indd 1 9/10/08 10:11 AM Page 19 7/25/08 2:30:12 PM BP-808-p20-23-Getting It 9/10/08 10:11 AM Page 20 GETTING IT RIGHT THE NEEDS OF A SEGMENT By Gail Ritacco SHOULD DRIVE DESIGN v Of course, there are a variety of ways to classify consumers, but the most common variables are demographics like age, gender or ethnicity; psychographics like lifestyle, attitude or values; and behaviors like purchasing patterns. The logic is that 20 Tropicana Twister’s playful package structure (left) appeals to shoppers looking for a fun drink, while Odwalla (right) has straight lines that appeal to the practical side of “healthy” shoppers. NEEDS MOST RELEVANT TO PACKAGING And while segmenting consumers according to these common dimensions—demographics, psychographics and behaviors—is important to overall marketing strategy, the most significant variable for package design is something called a need state. A need state is defined by a group of consumers who are alike in terms of the product benefits and attributes they seek in a particular use occasion. For the same product, a consumer can experience different need states over the course of the day or across the occasions they will use that particular product. For instance, a yogurt user may want a product for weight control that fits into her fitness routine for breakfast, and maybe lunch; at these occasions, she would desire a yogurt that is low in calories and fat. Later in the day, that same person may want an indulgence and seek a yogurt that is sweet, has a bold flavor and is worth the extra calories. While you can’t be all things for all needs, it is important to understand the range of needs, to size each needsbased segment, to understand the landscape in terms of what the competition is delivering and to determine where your product best fits. Understanding these individual needs states enables you to design packaging that satisfies your consumer on a deeper level—a level that fills the need she is experiencing at the very moment she is considering your brand. Only when the brand team understands how customers are segmented, determines which segment to target and intimately understands that targeted segment can it connect with the right consumers and deliver long term. www.brandpackaging.com v Segmenting consumers can serve the brand in a variety of ways. It can help focus design efforts. It can also pinpoint a direction for mining insights, which can help identify strategies and optimize packaging features and benefits. Segmentation also creates the opportunity to have your designs connect with consumers on a functional and an emotional basis. consumers within a particular segment share certain characteristics that typically cause them to have similar wants and needs. v W ith thousands of brands screaming for your consumers’ attention, it is important to clearly define your target—to know who you want your package to speak to and what message you want them to hear. One way to do that is to organize your total customer base into groups, to segment your consumers. AUG08 BP-808-p20-23-Getting It 9/10/08 10:12 AM Page 21 ADVERTORIAL Optimizing the Supply Chain An inside look at process improvements T he ultimate goal of any process redesign is to eliminate waste, reduce costs and improve results. In this second installment of a three-part series, we’ll explore xpedx case studies focusing on two multi-national and one regional brand. Their stories illustrate the value delivered to xpedx customers through sustainable package design, supply chain services, contract packaging, and kitting and fulfillment. Cost savings meet speed to market A leading manufacturer of consumer electronics engaged xpedx to find new opportunities for cost savings. In a matter of weeks, xpedx re-engineered the product’s internal and external packaging, creating a 25% reduction in materials used and a 22% reduction in packaging weight. The smaller box also allowed the client to ship more units per pallet, resulting in a 33% reduction in freight costs. “Speed to market is critical to all our customers, but especially in the electronics and technology segment,” says Mark Matthews, xpedx vice president of marketing, Packaging. “We are able to exceed expectations because we have strategic relationships with the top companies in the supply chain, and work with our customers’ global manufacturing operations to make sure everyone has the information and product when they need it, in the right quantity, and with the right design.” Sustainability in design Another leading consumer electronics manufacturer had sound business reasons for reducing the package size of its consumer ink cartridges. The company hoped to reduce the cost of materials, “We are able to exceed expectations because we have strategic relationships with the top companies in the supply chain, and work with our customers' global manufacturing operations to make sure everyone has the information and product when they need it, in the right quantity, and with the right design." —Mark Matthews, xpedx vice president of marketing, Packaging maximize shelf efficiency, and provide superior protection for the product. In less than 18 months, the xpedx team produced a production-run package design that used 63% less material overall. Not only was the package more compact, but it required less packing material to protect the cartridge inside. The box itself served as a shock absorber, eliminating the need for extra, internal material and providing easier access to the product. The packaging was improved, and sources were reduced, resulting in a more sustainable — and cost-effective — package design. Focus on logistics A manufacturer of private label vitamins and supplements came to xpedx for help with kitting, fulfillment, and logistics services. Their existing vendors lacked the experience and resources to keep pace with their growth, creating congestion in shipping and receiving and rising costs for freight and warehousing. Over time, xpedx facilities replaced multiple vendors and warehouses. The new logistics infrastructure used an xpedx-designed inventory management system that increased productivity and streamlined product movement. Better use of the client’s manufacturing space poised the company for growth opportunities and productivity went from 10,000 bottles per day to more than 40,000 with the new program in place. “xpedx helps companies at the retail shelf while optimizing back-shop functions,” Matthews said. “No other company can manage the entire spectrum—from idea to implementation— quite like we do.” Additional case studies that showcase xpedx capabilities will appear in the September edition of Brand Packaging magazine and will be featured in the xpedx booth at Pack Expo. ■ To learn more about xpedx services, go to xpedx.com for more information. xpedx is a registered trademark of International Paper Company. 9/10/08 10:14 AM Page 22 Consider the juice category, where consumer need states could range from a desire for something that is fun to consume to something that is healthy to drink. A juice brand that targets the entertaining end of the need-state range is Tropicana Twister. The brand features a package design that embodies “fun” with a dynamic, playful, active structure, which features a top portion that twists in the form of a tornado. On the other side of the juice continuum are healthy, premium brands like Odwalla and Bolthouse Farms. These brands have simple, straight-lined, yet sophisticated package structures that communicate health, and appeal to consumers at a time when they desire something more practical—a juice drink that is good for them. v Looking at just these few juice brands, we see how packaging can appeal to different need states (fun vs. healthy) with different structures (active, twisting forms over more static, straight-lined forms). Jamba incorporates both “fun” and “healthy” need states in its package design. The twisting form says “fun” while the squared off foundation conveys a more serious practical message around health. the essence of a freshly blended smoothie and is indicative of the fun Jamba Juice retail experience. At the same time, the simple, square foundation communicates a more serious, premium message around health. Consumers who desire a fun product to satisfy a healthy need are attracted to this new brand’s twisted square bottle. RESEARCH REVEALS NEED STATES v BP-808-p20-23-Getting It Needs states can be identified through a variety of means, but they are best captured using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research tools. Focus groups with techniques like laddering (an interviewing method that invites consumers to reveal specifics), projection (where consumers are asked to role play), and contextual interviews (observing behavior and product/category interactions, either in person or via video diaries), are important qualitative techniques that offer insight into consumers’ different usage occasions with the brand and the needs that define them. These techniques can also elicit consumer language that describes their need states. Combining consumer articulations with our own observations allows us to understand what’s working and what’s not working so that we can interpret design opportunities. Quantitative tools like online journals and usage diaries (where consumers relay their habits and practices), attitude and image surveys (consumers react to functional and emotional attributes), and market structure (relating product usage to demographics, needs and occasions) help quantify consumer need states and provide a strategic focus for the marketing plan and the packaging execution. It is even more important for new brands to take need states into consideration in their packaging. A brand that’s new to the market must understand the current category landscape in order to identify the “white space” and connect its packaging to need states not already addressed by the competition. That’s what Jamba Juice has done. With a foundation in Jamba Juice retail stores, the new ready-to-drink entry in the premium juice category is positioned between health and fun; its packaging was strategically designed to balance the two ends of the spectrum, to incorporate both fun and health needs states. Such tools are invaluable in helping you understand the needs your packaging is addressing. Need-based segmentation helps the brand team identify what makes the consumer tick, both functionally and emotionally. And when you translate those deep emotions into design language, you can be assured that your package will speak loudly to your intended consumer and make that powerful brand connection at shelf. BP Gail Ritacco is vice president of market insights at Product Ventures, a creative agency for structural packaging innovation. The former leader of market research at Dannon, Gail has more than 20 years of consumer insights experience. Contact Gail at gritacco@productventures.com. The slight twist in the brand’s structure, for instance, conveys 22 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808ZU BP-808-p20-23-Getting It 9/10/08 10:16 AM Page 23 ADVERTORIAL BP0808ZUNDA.indd 1 7/24/08 2:48:30 PM BP-808-p24-25-BrandNew 9/10/08 10:17 AM Page 24 BRANDNEW THE EVOLUTION OF A by Jennifer Acevedo HERITAGE BRAND v The story: Established in 1971, the Crock-Pot® brand introduced consumers to the concept of slow cooking. But as anyone who has since retired her avocado-hued slow cooker can tell you, a lot has changed since the brand’s inception. v The challenge: v After more than four decades of leadership, Crock-Pot® introduces a logo and packaging that better reflects its brand. The goal: Crock-Pot® partnered with brand identity and A segmentation strategy makes sense of the various offerings, and is based on BEFORE shopper behavior, unifying the product line while allowing room for product differentiation and new launches. Distinctive display panels on the packaging communicate features and promotions without compromising brand focus, a previous concern. The practice of slow cooking is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, likely due to consumers’ busy lifestyles and a growing focus on healthy eating. But the Crock-Pot brand’s identity, and packaging, had become dated, and its marketing team decided a redesign was in order. “This is an important moment in the Crock-Pot® brand history,” says global brand development manager Meagan Bradley. “This brand is seen by millions of people every day and has touched the lives of so many. The change to the logo, imagery and packaging ensures the Crock-Pot® brand will go forward into the future with a strong, contemporized image.” The solution: The Hughes team conducted extensive research to uncover the perception of the brand at the category and consumer level. They soon found that, despite enviable shelf real estate, inconsistent branding and dated brand design meant the Crock-Pot® brand could make more of its position. The team, which looked to lifestyle magazines like Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living for inspiration, selected a new palette of colors that conveyed the concepts of healthy nourishment and nurturing. Burgundies and creams that evoked more staid or traditional imagery were replaced with colors that speak of world spices, savory veggies and fresh fruits. A redesigned logo now features an “aroma” icon that was added as a visual and emotional cue to suggest the sensory aspect of the slow cooker experience. Product photography is clean and modern, depicting meals that today’s sophisticated cook would aspire to make for her family. 24 v v packaging design firm Hughes Design Group to revamp its logo and packaging to link the brand to the modern kitchen, and cook. The results: The new brand identity and packaging is part of a fully integrated campaign. The Crock-Pot® brand reinforced its leadership position in the category and created a better shopping experience. BP Jennifer Acevedo, is the Editor-in-Chief of BRANDPACKAGING magazine. Contact Jennifer at acevedoj@bnpmedia.com. WHERE TO GO F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N . . . CONSUMER INSIGHTS, BRAND IDENTITY AND PACKAGE DESIGN Hughes Design Group (203.866.9696; www.hugheslink.com) www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 Page 25 v Modern product photography depicts hearty, healthy meals that appeal to today’s sophisticated cook. 10:18 AM v 9/10/08 An “aroma” icon suggests the sensory aspect of the slow cooker experience. v BP-808-p24-25-BrandNew Display panels clearly communicate each product’s distinct features. AFTER AUG08 www.brandpackaging.com 25 BP-808-p26-31-Lipton 9/10/08 10:19 AM Page 26 BRAND PROFILE LIPTON’S by Erika Flynn GLOBAL REPACKAGING A more contemporary ready-to-drink tea bottle helps Lipton make a better connection with consumers and, in some countries, meet them for the first time. C reating an ownable equity around the world can strengthen a brand’s position in the marketplace. But it doesn’t come without a set of challenges, especially in the beverage category. In a joint venture between Pepsi and Unilever, Pepsi Lipton International (PLI) set out to make a global packaging change for all Lipton ready-to-drink teas, beginning in 2005, after it realized that its current bottle— and overall marketing strategy—was missing the mark with consumers. The Lipton Leaf bottle, a modern form that communicates the brand’s repositioning, is now in more than 60 percent of intended markets and has been widely accepted by bottlers worldwide. Getting there, though, was a test in technical creativity. A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH The marketing team at Lipton wanted to switch gears and begin focusing more on the vitality of the brand and its natural attributes. At the time, according to Mark Lollback, chief marketing officer of PLI, most of the world’s ready-to-drink teas were packaged in industry hot fill bottles. “They were non-descript with similar shapes and the only thing that made them look different was the label,” he says. “We wanted Lipton to stand out on-shelf and make a statement about being modern, vital and natural. Separating the form from the rest of the industry was really important to us.” v The new bottle structure for Lipton ready-to-drink tea avoids reference to carbonated soft drink bottles and, instead, makes a more "natural vitality" appeal. v v “The challenge right up front was the reality that each country around the world can have its own technologies, its own requirements from a physical bottle size, material configuration and filling type,” says Stuart Leslie, president of 4sight Inc., the structural branding firm charged with creating the new packaging. “So we needed to come up with a universal equity that could be applied to multiple formats.” 26 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808WFM BP-808-p26-31-Lipton BP0808WFM.indd 1 9/10/08 10:21 AM Page 27 7/25/08 9:10:57 AM 9/10/08 10:21 AM Page 28 The bottle, therefore, became a focal point of the redesign. According to Leslie, structure is one of the most powerful tools for communicating to consumers. “The language of form is the language the consumer trusts implicitly,” he says. “We’ve been trained over the years as consumers to not trust, or at least to be skeptical of, what we read. Form is a language consumers understand but can’t speak to, and it seems to be the language that says the most to them about the actual brand.” Lollback agrees that the priority was to get the best form. “We wanted something very different and wanted to push the boundaries of current hot fill technology,” he says. The new bottle would find its way to shelves in existing as well as new international markets, where consumers would see the readyto-drink teas for the first time. Lollback says that while his team is responsible only for product outside the United States, it recognized that the current bottle both in the U.S. and what was coming off the lines internationally mimicked carbonated soft drink bottles, which are often simple and plain. The emphasis for this project, he notes, was on creating a bottle that “had less what we call ‘CSD codes’ and more natural vitality codes.” So how does a company communicate vitality with a three-dimensional form? The design team chose a swirl that symbolizes unwinding energy for the 18- to 29-year-old target market. “But not in an energy drink, over-your-head Mountain Dew kind of way,” says Leslie. “A more subtle, swirling water, active refreshment. It’s energy, but it’s refreshing and soothing.” A contemporary bottle using the Lipton leaf in different materials— PET, glass and hot fill—can be manufactured in different countries using the latest technology and production processes. A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE Through the design process, the team had to ensure the look would remain consistent on any bottle throughout the world, whether hot fill, aseptic or glass. Addressing the technical challenges of each material was key. “We ended up with a shopping list of all the materials and filling technologies that could be used to create this product around the world,” says Leslie. “Our role was to create a series of elements and equities in shape, treatment of logos and form so we have something that has a similar identity around the world.” In India, for example, returnable bottles made of very thick glass are used. “They reuse the same bottles for 10 years,” Leslie says. “The bottles have to be the same diameter and height so when they’re brought in, cleaned and refilled on the filling line, they all run the same. That’s a huge technical challenge because it doesn’t give you a whole lot of freedom.” Add to that the fact that PLI demands the same volume in all bottles and that each can fit within a very narrow footprint and size envelope. “It really takes some stretching of the concept to get there, so we have to ensure that we have a design that is as flexible as possible and that’s not too dependant on any one format for it to be successful,” Leslie says. Designs are always created for hot fill bottling first, because it most dramatically impacts shape, he notes. “We know that anything we do in hot fill can generally be adapted to aseptic and glass more easily than trying to go the other way.” The swirl is repeated under the label of the hot fill bottle. And while consumers see it as a dynamic swirling grip, in reality it’s all about hot fill functionality, Leslie admits. “It’s where the bottle is able to contract as the product cools without making a kink in the bottle or deforming. So it’s a very controlled way for the bottle to shrink, but the consumer sees it as a grip feature.” Using “implied ergonomics” versus “actual ergonomics”, the bottle gives consumers the feeling that it can be taken anywhere. “The label area is the narrowest diameter, giving you the feeling of having a secure grip,” says Leslie. And increased utility features are always a good thing. “People don’t generally drop any bottle; it doesn’t fall out of their hand. But when it’s contoured to the hand, they feel like it was made especially for them.” “It’s a very nice tactile experience,” says Lollback, adding that in traditional hot fill bottles the middle panel section is filled with straight up and down, chunky panels, which don’t accept shrink labels very well. “What 4sight was able to do was twist those panels for us, making the bottle feel much better in the grip of the hand.” v v A simplified version of the signature Lipton leaf—the element that best symbolizes the brand—was also added, with the Lipton logo running through it. “The logo is literally of the leaf, so the brand would be tied directly to the naturalness of the leaf while having this dynamic element travel through the entire bottle in three different places,” says Leslie. v BP-808-p26-31-Lipton 28 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808P BP-808-p26-31-Lipton BP0808PREC.indd 1 9/10/08 10:22 AM Page 29 7/14/08 9:16:18 AM BP-808-p26-31-Lipton 9/10/08 10:22 AM Page 30 Keeping the label contained in the middle section of the bottle wasn’t all about ergonomics, though. To fully communicate the high quality, consumers need to see the clarity of the product. Tests in every market have shown that consumers associate clarity with purity—and that goes a long way when selling tea products. Whether the Lipton Leaf bottle is sitting in a cooler or onshelf, the contours built into it refract light, helping to tell the brand story. “If you look at a round bottle with no features on it, you’ll see a darkness to the tea, but if you build features in and they reflect light differently, you start to see shards of light and dark colors so it makes it very dynamic and speaks to the vitality of it,” says Leslie. “In addition to the shapes, the color of the product changes because of the refractions going through it. Full-wrap graphics can be very impactful with color, but you don’t really see the product and it doesn’t communicate the product attributes as well as the partial shrink we ended up with.” “We wanted something very different and wanted to push the boundaries of current hot fill technology.” —Mark Lollback, chief marketing officer, Pepsi Lipton International The shrink wrap on the hot fill bottle exceeded expectations, says Lollback. “It had some movement and dynamism because the label was actually twisted as well, not just a boring flat label.” While the graphics had to remain strictly intact, PLI’s global packaging manager Emmanuel Chivot says there were some cases where shrink wrapping was not an available technology. In those instances, a non-shrink wraparound label was used, and Lollback’s team worked with 4sight to keep the integrity of the design at the top and bottom of the bottle. “We had the texture and detail and could see through the product, but the label section was straight,” Lollback says. v “It’s not the ideal bottle but [it] looks better than what we had in the past,” says Lollback. “Our Holy Grail was the original bottle, but you can’t do that everywhere. Bottling equipment is a lot of infrastructure, and we have to work within those parameters while at the same time try and bring alive the differentiated, proprietary bottle.” THE WORLDWIDE LAUNCH “The Pepsi/China team, like us, is very passionate and believes that almost every brand should have a unique and proprietary bottle,” he says. Prior successes of launching proprietary bottles, particularly in non-carbonated beverages, helped the cause. “When we briefed 4sight we said, ‘Guys, here’s our best chance. We need a new bottle for the rest of the world but we have a real customer who needs it ASAP, so let’s put all our effort and energy behind getting the China bottle right. Once we’ve cracked that we’ll use it as the base to roll out across the world.’” Distribution into Eastern Europe soon followed. “Improving the marketing mix and packaging in this industry is a very critical part of positioning,” says Lollback, “so we were trying to drive it very hard through our important markets of Eastern Europe.” Markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Australia now also have the new bottle and Lollback says there’s still more to come. “These things take a long time and, where possible, these changes need to be linked to business needs as well,” he says. “Just going in and trying to do it without it being linked to some business need is quite difficult, so we used different opportunities to make it happen.” Lightweighting the bottle—making it both cheaper and more environmentally friendly—was a key factor in getting it accepted. “The bottlers are businessman,” Lollback says. “They want to make sure that any change they’re making to the business is either going to help them sell more or it’s going to help them reduce costs and therefore improve margins and be able to invest more. They don’t just do it out of charity.” Ultimately, though, having a differentiated bottle is seen by all as a critical part of a brand’s success. “In most parts of the world, we position ourselves as a premium above carbonated soft drinks, so, if you’re in the same bottle, most consumers struggle to understand why they’re paying more for something that looks exactly the same,” Lollback explains. “If we’re going to command a premium and help consumers understand this is a more natural product and deserves a premium, we need a pack that says that for us.” BP WHERE TO GO F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N . . . STRUCTURAL PACKAGING The new bottle launched first in China during a test market. Lollback says it was a natural starting point because the bottling 30 unit in China did not require a change in bottling technology, and it also held similar beliefs regarding packaging. 4sight Inc. (212.253.0525, www.4sightinc.com) www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808CU BP-808-p26-31-Lipton BP0808CURW.indd 1 9/10/08 10:23 AM Page 31 7/14/08 12:02:41 PM BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics 9/10/08 10:23 AM Page 32 CATEGORY ANALYSIS: COSMETICS ALL THAT by Jeffrey Spear GLITTERS What’s new at the cosmetics counter? ith the successful release of Sex and the City: The Movie, it seems appropriate to venture into the world of beauty— specifically what’s been going on in the realm of cosmetics packaging. While Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda were unavailable for comment, I am sure they’d agree there are plenty of cosmetics products and packaging that dazzle the senses. W It’s interesting to note that, while there are plenty of new and exciting packaging solutions that stand out from the pack, create cut-through and generate undeniable emotional appeal, the solutions tend to be matured, next-generation versions of tried and true packaging and marketing concepts. For those of you who attended Luxe Pack New York recently, I’m sure you’ll agree. While there were plenty of provocative and exciting structural, material and graphic design solutions throughout the show, very little was entirely new or close to earth-shattering. v GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL v While chatting with various exhibitors, seeking their perspective on all things revolutionary and/or trendy in the realm of cosmetics packaging, I found their responses to be unanimous. In one form or another, respondents lost no time answering with terms such as “earth-friendly”, “sustainable”, “organic”, “all-natural” or “recyclable.” Organic Wear face powders—the first makeup line to feature a patent-pending, dual-compartment, completely recyclable paper compact. 32 For plastics manufacturers, reformulating or finding ways to recycle their products was top of mind. Others noted a shift from inorganic and man-made materials to glass, recycled paper and fiber-based materials. And the paper makers were thrilled— www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics 9/10/08 10:24 AM Page 33 noting that their products were perfect for this realignment of material preferences and industry-wide paradigm shift. Outside the show, where I was exploring retail environments to support this perspective, I found the best example of earthfriendly cosmetic packaging to be the Organic Wear line produced by Physicians Formula. To start, the company believes that going green is not a trend, but, rather “a lifestyle that is here to stay”. When you consider the overall look and feel of the line’s packaging—from the “Organic Wear” name and associated soft colors to the matte finishes and leafy graphic pattern that adorns the surface of each product—there is no doubt that this brand is certainly nature-oriented. While not alone in its approach, Organic Wear is a far cry from the glitz and decadence that has been so heavily exploited by other beauty brands for so long. Environmentalism is gaining momentum, and it does not mean that design has taken a back seat. I found evidence of that from mass-retailers such as Target and K-Mart to neighborhood supermarkets and pharmacies. These operations recognize and appreciate the influence that well-crafted and emotionally inspired packaging plays, and have lined their shelves accordingly. v PACKAGING AS SCULPTURE One of the ways cosmetics marketers are making a splash is through exceptionally well-crafted and elegantly sculpted containers. While there are lovely solutions being created with traditional geometries, there are a large number of marketers who feel more distinctive, organic, curvilinear and abstract shapes are better suited to cosmetics. This has been, and continues to be, the operational standard for fine fragrance brands like Gaultier, Issey Miyake and Donna Karan. A few of the more recent and eye-catching designs also include Bulgari’s Omnia, Calvin Klein’s Euphoria and Kenzo’s SummerbyKenzo. With its unique structural shape and eyecatching colors, Caress encourages women to unleash their sensual sides, vivacious charms and Brazilian spirits. v Going one step further, functional embellishments like distinctive cords, ribbons, outer wrappings and closures are being used to increase the overall on-shelf impact and appeal of packaging and enhance brand impressions. Fragrance brands like Lolita Lempicka and Juicy Couture are excellent examples. In the personal care arena, Archipelago Botanicals, a brand that employs innovative closures and detailed outer wraps on many of its packaging solutions, is noteworthy. v This approach, however, is not restricted to the parfumeries of the world. To varying degrees, and while not as overtly decadent as some of the higher end fragrances, mass-brands such as Giovanni, Caress and Joico are all embracing more organic, undulating and undeniably sensuous geometries for their containers. AUG08 www.brandpackaging.com 33 v BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics 9/10/08 10:24 AM Page 34 ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? The use of inspired, sensuous and emotionally appealing structural designs has been a mainstay within the cosmetics industry for years (after all, the foundation of the industry is in aesthetics), but the use of edgier copywriting is also helping to distinguish brands. In a crowded and competitive marketplace, where distinctions between brands are becoming increasingly hard to define, attitude is stepping in. Marketing strategies that exploit clever brand names such as “Urban Decay”, “Soap & Glory”, and “Bed Head” as well as individual product names including “Dr. Feelgood”, “Sexy Mother Pucker”, “Dumb Blonde Smoothing Stuff ” and “Control Freak” are gaining in popularity. It seems that, while some brands are founded in beauty, everlasting youth, elegance, luxury and/or decadence, others are founded in wit, comedy, spunk and sass. Copywriting has also embraced the sensuality of food. While fruit fragrances have always been alluring, shopping for shampoos and body washes in the drug store now feels more like shopping for weekly groceries in the supermarket. Appetite-inducing descriptions such as “Grapefruit and Lemongrass”, “Cucumber and Green Tea”, “Cherry Blossom and Almond”, “Fresh Pear and Apple Blossom” and “Pomegranate and Mango” are rapidly replacing botanical and herb nomenclatures. Consider that Bulgari describes its newest fragrance, Omnia, as “a sexy blend of mandarin, saffron, Masala tea, and white chocolate. This scent smells truly good enough to eat.” We’re also seeing copywriting that exploits the exotic and mysterious nature of far-off destinations. It’s this approach that Caress has embraced when it suggests you “give your skin a rejuvenating vacation” with its Tahitian Renewal Body Wash. The brand also advises consumers to “discover the magic” in its Moroccan and/or Japanese Exotic Oil Infusions. Most recently, and with a more energized and daring tone, buyers are encouraged to “unleash their sensuous sides, vivacious charm and Brazilian spirits” by using Caress Brazilian Exotic Oil Infusion. There’s little doubt that marketers are looking for new and different ways to distinguish their brands, reach their audiences and appeal to specific lifestyle preferences. By embracing clever wordsmithing, the sensory appeal of foods and the allure of exotic destinations, the language of cosmetics is rapidly changing. v COLOR IS KING Eye-catching proprietary shapes, detailed embellishments and clever copywriting are not the only ways to create cut-through and make impactful brand impressions. In many cases, traditional packaging geometries are effectively enhanced with relatively simple, yet still artful, applications of distinctive colors and surface treatments. The end result is fiercely competitive—effectively dismissing rival brands. Borrowing heavily from the look and feel of tabloid magazines, Soap & Glory serves up a cheeky, intensely witty and unmistakably pink line of products. 34 Another example where metallics are put to excellent use is Joico. The brand’s metallic copper and gunmetal grey color schemes, while considerably more sedate than Kenra, are immediately recognizable. The fact that Joico’s approach to packaging also employs distinctive, proprietary geometries gives its products an obvious competitive advantage. While not necessarily metallic, the same can be said for the brilliant green that adorns each of Garnier Fructis’ products as www.brandpackaging.com v v While metallics have been around for a long time, Kenra’s line of hair care products makes excellent use of metallic silver through contrasts in finish, utilizing both high-gloss and matte finishes throughout its line of products. The result is an unmistakable on-shelf presentation that would be hard to confuse with any other brand. AUG08 BP0608P BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics BP0608PMMI.indd 1 9/10/08 10:25 AM Page 35 4/15/08 3:27:49 PM 10:25 AM Page 36 well as the signature purple that is employed by Aussie across its competing hair care line. In both cases, the use of a single, dominant color facilitates immediate brand recognition and designates shelf space as brand-owned territory. v WHAT ABOUT GRAPHICS? Most of the packaging that’s been described so far can be categorized as contemporary—relying on more recent design trends and technological advances. There are, however, a significant number of marketers who feel their brands are better served by expressions of a more traditional heritage. In some cases, designs embrace typefaces, patterns, color schemes and materials in a manner that takes obvious reference from history, and subsequently blends them with more traditional design configurations. In other cases, the references are seemingly unadulterated and historically accurate, approximating the serenity and simplicity of days gone by without contemporary artifice. Companies such as Fresh, a brand that is “building on cultural foundations of the past,” along with Thymes, Philosophy and Gianna Rose, typify this first category of marketers. Their packaging solutions are elegant, decorative, inviting and compelling, frequently integrating old world graphics with contemporary manufacturing techniques. v Kiehl’s and C.O. Bigelo, however, are both prime examples of unadulterated, historically relevant packaging. They both celebrate and exploit their heritage as old-world apothecaries, each with more than 150 years of operation. Accordingly, their products rely on containers that are considered oldworld standards—boston rounds, simple cylindrical cosmetic jars and tubes. Applied graphics come in the form of no-nonsense black and white labels crammed with informational 36 Bedhead successfully integrates sculptural shape, distinctive color, metallic finishes and inyour-face copywriting. Regardless of which design element catches your eye first, these products are hard to miss. (Photo courtesy of Global New Products Database; www.gnpd.com) text—a design approach that accentuates and reinforces the brands’ historical roots and operational longevity. GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES v 9/10/08 Many buyers enjoy sampling, finding out how products make them feel or proving efficacy prior to purchase. Marketers are finding that sample-sized “gifts with purchase” as well as retailoriented gift sets—SKUs that offer an assortment of smaller volume containers—represent a significant sales opportunity and are valuable additions to their product lines. It’s not surprising to find that, as with the rest of the cosmetics industry, design is playing an important role in the look and feel of these single-dose and sample-sized packages. While samples have not always required tremendous attention to design, many of the very same marketing strategies, visual concepts and material considerations that are being applied to full-sized products are now deemed essential in the realm of sampling. LOOKING GOOD v BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics With an industry built upon the pursuit of ultimate beauty, self-confidence, health, well-being and, of course, sex appeal, there can be no doubt about the volume of opportunity for creative inspiration and artful execution. From fine fragrances and facial products to shampoos and body washes, manufacturers are constantly pursuing new marketing strategies and creative executions to promote their brands. The ever-increasing influence of environmental issues will certainly have an effect. To what degree depends upon advances in technology, how packaging materials are manufactured and regulated and what happens post-consumer. While notions of decadence and self-indulgence may be at the core of the cosmetics trade, taking steps to take care of our planet can no longer be ignored. The wonderful thing about the cosmetics industry is that it has never been afraid to seek out new ideas or take risks. For the marketing and creative communities supporting these efforts, the bar is constantly being raised. It’s clear that, no matter where the influences come from, there will never be a shortage of emerging trends and innovative design solutions to keep things interesting. BP Jeffrey Spear provides strategic and creative direction for Studio Spear, a national marketing consultancy specializing in consumer products. Studio Spear approaches consumer products and brands, from research and planning to packaging, point-of-sale display and promotions, in ways that generate undeniable interest. Contact Jeff at 410.486.8822 or jeff@studiospear.com. www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0308 BP-808-p32-37-Cosmetics BP0308PHOTO.indd 1 9/10/08 10:26 AM Page 37 2/27/08 8:59:31 AM BP-808-p38-39-Materials 9/10/08 10:28 AM Page 38 UPDATE: PAPERBOARD v MATERIALS GIVE YOUR BRAIN A BUZZ v For those who have grown weary of mere sports drinks, Brain Toniq touts itself as the “world’s first cognitive enhancement drink”. Packaged in a paperboard sleeve with a large “IQ” die-cut window, the multi-pack contains four cans of the organic, botanical-based, non-caffeinated “think drink” in a single row. An entry perforation at the top allows consumers to remove one can at a time without destroying the packaging. (Package design: MalowanyPerlmutter Creative, www.bestcoloradodesign.com; Paperboard: All Packaging Company, www.allpack.com) PACKAGE PROMISES SLIMMER WAISTLINE v Multi-Grain Cheerios are a low-calorie extension of General Mills’ well-known cereal brand. Packaging for the line extension uses a shaped carton to clearly communicate the benefits of the dietary product: a slimmer silhouette. Despite its unique shape, the integrity of the offset-printed carton was not compromised, and the package meets all requirements with regard to storage, distribution, warehousing and display. (Paperboard: Graphic Packaging International, www.graphicpkg.com) A BOX FULL OF MAGIC The first five installments of what will be the sevenmovie Harry Potter collection are cleverly stowed away inside packaging designed to simulate the young wizard’s travel trunk. The Harry Potter Years 1-5 Limited Edition Gift Set is packaged in a roundcornered trunk made of chipboard wrapped in Hyflex Chrome and then antiqued with an overall embossed pattern. Inside, Disc Packs are held in place with a black grosgrain ribbon, a Velcro closure and foil-stamped embossed “wax” seal of the Harry Potter logo. (Package design and paperboard: Shorewood Packaging, www.shorewoodpackaging.com) 38 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808MW BP-808-p38-39-Materials BP0808MWV2.indd 1 9/10/08 10:29 AM Page 39 7/2/08 1:46:49 PM BP-808-p40-43-PTS 9/10/08 10:30 AM Page 40 v PACKAGING THAT SELLS CAULK GUNS ON THE WAY OUT? v Caulk isn’t something most consumers like to keep around in bulk quantities. That’s why Momentive Performance Materials’ GE Caulk Singles make sense. The 1.25oz packages of caulk are made for single use, with a tear-off top that offers easy access and internal fitments that help guide the bead of caulk. “Caulk Singles will do for caulk what the bleach pen and disposable razor did for busy people on the go,” says Rodney Hawkins, the company’s general manager. The flexible nature of the package also allows the user to push every last bit of product through the pouch. Caulk Singles retail at a suggested price of $2.29 to $2.99. DENNY’S DOME ENCOURAGES BREAKFAST TO GO v Denny’s introduced a to-go breakfast solution it calls the Denny’s Dome, a proprietary container that keeps a full breakfast fresh for 30 minutes. Main entrees fit in the Dome’s base, which has sections to keep food separated. The next layer is the insert plate, for items like pancakes, which rests on the base to seal in heat. A clear lid tops off the package and allows customers to see their order at a glance. Vents in the lid and a cutout on the insert plate allow steam to escape from crispy items like bacon in the base; the opposite side has a tight seal that keeps moisture in for wet foods like eggs. MILK’S GONE SQUARE Sam’s Club has introduced its Members Mark store brand milk in a new square-shaped jug with a flat top that makes it stackable, minimizing labor by eliminating shipping crates or racks and increasing efficiency by fitting 384 more milk jugs in each truck. There are also other benefits. “One of the best advantages is that we can pass on the lower costs to our members,” says Heather Mayo, vice present of merchandising for Sam’s Club. The savings translate to 10 to 20 cents per jug, as compared to the traditional milk gallon. The new containers are in limited distribution—about 189 Sam’s Club locations currently stock them—but, as more milk producers adopt the design, the retailer says it plans to expand distribution. Initial consumer response has been mixed. 40 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808YO BP-808-p40-43-PTS BP0808YORK.indd 1 9/10/08 10:31 AM Page 41 7/28/08 10:33:59 AM 9/10/08 10:31 AM Page 42 v PACKAGING THAT SELLS SIMPLE HEALTHCARE PACKAGING TOUTS SOLUTIONS Help Remedies launched this spring as a line of over-the-counter products designed to solve simple medical issues. By stripping away the complexity of the healthcare industry, the brand says it hopes to make a “frightening category less frightening”. The brand’s two launch products include “Help I have a headache” (high-dose acetaminophen tablets) and “Help I’ve cut myself ” (clear bandages) packaged in molded paper pulp cartons, which are unique in the category. By clearly explaining the problem it solves (e.g., Help I have a headache) and what it contains (e.g., 12 acetaminophen tablets), the packaging clearly differentiates Help as a softer, friendlier—and dare we say chic—healthcare brand. [Packaging by ChappsMalina, www.chappsmalina.com] v SMOOTH LAUNCH FOR EOS PRODUCTS Eos Products is making its debut with a shave cream for women and an overriding philosophy that personal care products can be beautiful as well as effective. “Unlike many products tagged ‘for women’, which are derived from men’s formulas and packaging, eos is truly a women’s product,” says Sherry Jhawar, the company’s director of “smooth strategy”. A soft-touch plastic bottle features organic indentations that serve as design elements and also grip-enhancing features. The product launched at Target, Shoppers Drug Mart and Wegmans stores, and online at www.drugstore.com, at a suggested retail price of $4.99. Future introductions include moisturizer, body wash and lip balm products. v BP-808-p40-43-PTS BRANDED PARMIGIANO REGGIANO CHEESE DEBUTS This fall, the Lucini Italia Company will introduce the first branded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to the American market. Cheese makers in Parma, Italy, hand cut the certified organic cheese into an 8oz wedge and vacuum seal it, then package it in a paperboard carton with a die-cut window that reveals the textured rind. The carton provides consumers with the convenience of nutrition information and a “Denominazione di Origine” (DOP) symbol that guarantees the product’s origin to be Northern Italy. The new Lucini Organic Parmigiano Reggiano will retail at a suggested price of $25 in premium grocery stores and specialty food markets. 42 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808HO BP-808-p40-43-PTS BP0808HOYT.indd 1 9/10/08 10:32 AM Page 43 7/25/08 9:05:08 AM BP-808-p44-45-PTSGlobal 9/10/08 10:33 AM Page 44 v PACKAGING THAT SELLS GLOBAL THE NETHERLANDS HOT AND COLD SALADS Dutch private label brand Ah Albert Heijn hopes to address the issue of packaging ready-to-eat salads with both hot and cold elements. Marketed under the name Lauwwarme Maaltijdsalades (Lukewarm Salad Meals), single-serving salads for the office or picnic are packaged in segmented PET containers with a removable inner tray. The tray contains ingredients that are to be heated in the microwave or oven and then combined with the cold salad in the main bowl. Dressing is in a separate flexible pouch. v UNITED KINGDOM “GREEN” MILK, IN A JUG v As consumer brands and retailers continue their quest for sustainable packaging, it seems that milk is front and center. Developed by Dairy Crest in conjunction with UK retailer Sainsbury’s, JUGIT is a pouch-based packaging solution that uses significantly less packaging material than conventional plastic milk containers. The pouch is used along with an easy-to-pour, reusable plastic jug. After the pouch is dropped into the jug and the main body of the lid closed—trapping the top of the bag using secure clips—a spike attachment on the inside of the lid punctures the pouch. A recloseable spout then flips open for pouring. (Injection-molded jug: RPC Group, www.rpc-marketrasen.co.uk) POLAND PACKAGING REINFORCES A THEME Brand owner Diversa Spezialitäten has introduced Grasovka Bison, a Polish vodka in a glass bottle with numerous design elements that allude to the grassy plains where buffalo, ahem, bison roam. A single blade of Bison grass inside the 500mL bottle adds flavor along with visual appeal to the vodka, while an innovative bar code has been screen-printed on the rear label to look like grass, again reinforcing the theme. Both front and rear labels are flexo- and screen-printed onto self-adhesive polypropylene labels. A tamper-evident cap keeps product safe. 44 www.brandpackaging.com AUG08 BP0808 BP-808-p44-45-PTSGlobal BP0808PLANE.indd 1 9/10/08 10:34 AM Page 45 7/29/08 10:44:37 AM BP-808-p46-47-Resources BP0708HBA.indd 1 9/10/08 10:35 AM Page 46 6/26/08 3:44:20 PM 3:44:20 PM BP-808-p46-47-Resources 9/10/08 10:36 AM Page 47 v BR NDRESOURCES YOUR SOURCE FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS AND SERVICES. CALL THESE COMPANIES BEFORE STARTING YOUR NEXT PACKAGING PROJECT. 5/12/08 1:43:56 PM BP0808SWER2.indd 1 7/25/08 2:48:51 PM v BP0608VISION.indd 1 INCLUDE YOUR COMPANY IN BRANDRESOURCES. FOR INFORMATION CALL DIANA ROTMAN AT 847-405-4116. BP-808-p48-50-Index 9/10/08 10:37 AM Page 48 UP FOLLOWING ith thousands of products competing for a spot on the retailer’s shelf, smart marketers are using high-impact label graphics to help make the sale. We most recently reported on this topic in the July 2008 issue of BRANDPACKAGING (archives at www.brandpackaging.com). V W GO FOR THE JUGULAR When Gamma Pharmaceuticals looked to launch its Jugular Energy Gel product in an already crowded category, the brand knew it would need compelling packaging to win over retail buyers. Printer CL&D Digital was brought on-board to tackle the development of pressure-sensitive labels and to produce a range of complementary packaging and display program elements that would seal the deal. Fruit punch-flavored Jugular Energy Gel is available in 17, 30 and 80g pouch sizes, in individual servings or in multi-pack boxes. Labels were created in English and Spanish to decorate pouches, as well as the display boxes, counter displays and six- foot freestanding displays. The individual pouches were adhered to insert cards designed to prop up the pocket-sized product and allow it to stand vertically, enhancing visibility from a distance. “The retailer not only has the choice of how he’s going to buy Jugular Energy Gel, but how he’ll stock and display it, too,” says Hao Zhang, chief marketing officer at Gamma Pharmaceuticals. BP WHERE TO GO F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N . . . DIGITAL LABEL PRINTING CL&D Digital (800.777.1114; www.clddigital.com) INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 4sight inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover BRANDRESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 BRANDPACKAGING PACKAGING THAT SELLS CONFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7 CardPak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover The Comp 24 Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Curtis Packaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32A Curwood A Bemis Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Gravity/Phototype . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Haney PRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 HBA Global Expo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 In-Store Marketing Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Kaleidoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover MeadWestvaco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 39 Planet Canit LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 PMMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Precision Valve Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Product Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Silgan Containers Corporation . . . . . . . . 12, 13 Swerve Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 William Fox Munroe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 xpedx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 York Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Zunda Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 READER & MARKETING SERVICES LETTERS Jennifer Acevedo acevedoj@bnpmedia.com 155 Pfingsten Road, Suite 205 Deerfield, IL 60015 BNP Media 155 Pfingsten Rd. Suite 205 Deerfield, IL 60015 (847) 405-4000 Fax: (847) 405-4100 www.bnpmedia.com 48 PRINT & INTERNET ADVERTISING Gerri Brownstein brownsteing@bnpmedia.com (973) 243-9624 BRANDRESOURCES Diana Rotman rotmand@bnpmedia.com (847) 405-4116 SINGLE COPY SALES/BACK ISSUES Gisele Manelli manellig@bnpmedia.com (847) 405-4061 REPRINTS Deb Soltesz solteszd@bnpmedia.com Phone: (248) 786-1596 Fax: (248) 786-1405 CUSTOM MEDIA Pierce Hollingsworth hollingsworthp@bnpmedia.com (847) 405-4101 www.brandpackaging.com LIST RENTAL For postal information please contact Rob Liska 800-223-2194 x726 robert.liska@edithroman.com For e-mail information please contact Shawn Kingston 800-409-4443 x828 shawn.kingston@epostdirect.com For subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at: Phone: (847) 763-9534 Fax: (847)763-9538 E-mail: BP@halldata.com AUG08 BP0608_4 BP-808-p48-50-Index BP0608_4SIG.indd 1 9/10/08 10:37 AM Page 49 5/28/08 1:14:53 PM BP-808-p48-50-Index BP0408KALE.indd 1 9/10/08 10:38 AM Page 50 3/14/08 4:10:49 PM