In past years, containers or cases used to ship products by retailers in ecommerce wasn’t really a big deal. It was the product inside, not its packaging, that was really important. All that is changing today, as companies try to enhance the consumer’s experience – and given the importance of social media in everything we do, opening packages or simply taking a quick photo to post on Facebook or Instagram makes “pretty” or unique packaging even more important. Consumers share everything online today, so plain, boring brown boxes are going the way of the dinosaur.

When you think about it, the shipping container or package an item is shipped in when the consumer orders online is the first experience or physical interaction the consumer has with the brand. This is critical, considering the importance of first impressions. More brands than ever before are emphasizing packaging, using branded or unique packages that are attractive and enhance the customer experience. While premium packaging may cost a bit more than plain brown boxes or poly bags, it is a small price to pay for an improved customer experience. With the wide array of package designs available today, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune for brands to make packaging that captures the interest of the consumer.

What are brands emphasizing in packaging used to ship products in 2015? According to Packaging Digest, some of the trends expected include:

Green packaging, such as that used by Amazon to make opening electronics and other gadgets easier than hard-to-open plastic packaging traditionally used in packaging electronics. Simpler packaging materials are also green, so it’s a win-win.

Branded boxes that make customers feel special. Many high-end retailers such as Julep and Birchbox are choosing to ship goods in branded, “pretty” boxes, a trend that customers appreciate.

The inclusion of personalized notes. Some retailers are choosing to send special offers and personalized “thank you” notes inside packages, one more step toward increasing customer loyalty.

Packaging that’s both space- and cost-efficient. In 2015, one priority for many brands will be learning how to integrate cost and space limitations with premium packaging options.

Regardless of whether your packages are shipped in plastic, cardboard, poly bags, or other materials, REA JET has the industrial printing solutions you need. From our SMARKTEC and spray mark systems to high resolution and small character ink jet, we provide real solutions to industries who demand quality, indelible coding and marking of barcodes, serial numbers, ingredient lists, nutrition labels, and more.