Holiday Packaging Trends

Packaging has come into the spotlight, thanks to the rise of e-commerce. In this article, we will discuss some tips and trends to achieve marketing success through product packaging.

No matter which holiday season it is, you may have a lot of activities to do. Since customers want to entertain their families and friends through designs and value, high-end brands seem busier than ever. It could mean using highly attractive product packaging designs to attract consumers interesting in buying gifts for their loved ones.

Having that said, let’s now discuss some packaging trends.

E-commerce will continue to rise

E-commerce grew steadily before COVID-19, and it has grown drastically in the pandemic-hit world. Now, e-commerce sales are expected to gather a greater share of total retail sales around the world. The reason this e-commerce has trended that much is that it has allowed customers to stay socially distant while purchasing products they required.

According to a forecast by Deloitte, e-commerce holiday sales will grow up to 30% by the end of 2021. In total, e-commerce holiday sales will generate between $182 and $196 billion.

This demand will bring a shift in purchasing habits, which may also necessitate secondary packaging. Americans will not only purchase gifts but also ship them to their friends and family. Many of these senders and recipients may not even see each other due to the pandemic.

An optimal unboxing experience is key in the e-commerce business. That is where those businesses may need to use gift packaging designs to amuse their customers. The best thing about this shift is that it makes customers feel more valued by a brand.

Automation will be more prevalent

Automation proves to be the best option that businesses can use during the pandemic to ensure the health safety of most people. According to a survey by Ernst and Young, about 41% of managers in 45 countries are investing in business automation to prepare to fulfill business requirements in the post-pandemic era.

We all know that holiday seasons bring an influx in e-commerce demands. That is where speed and efficiency become more crucial than ever. In such a scenario, using automation options that enhance labor instead of replacing it can be quite beneficial. They can help analyze and improve consumable costs, adjust for seasonal volume peaks, reduce costs, and optimize freight.

Another benefit of automation is that it reduces warehouse space. Retailers usually have to either upgrade their warehouses or make the packaging process more efficient to meet demands. The most crucial requirement is the efficiency of packaging operations.

Companies will ditch plastic

Sustainability is a never-ending subject. According to Nielsen, the US sustainability market will reach $150 billion by the end of 2021. According to another research, 66% of consumers said that they were more than willing to pay more for sustainable products. About 84% of consumers look for responsibly packaged products.

A sustainable product comes in sustainable packaging. It means that there is an immense opportunity for the use of recyclable materials. All previous years had seen the worse of plastic due to the packaging wastes it produces. Only 9% of the plastic disposed of between 1950 and 2015.

The current scenario, however, is quite different. People are more aware of the disasters of packaging wastes. That is why companies and brands are pushing limits to become more sustainable than ever.