Deep Dive into Packaging Strategies for Print Businesses: Creating Tangible Advantages

Mega Uni-Trade Team
Sep 3
12 min read

In this competitive era, packaging is no longer just a box to protect your products, but has become an aggressive marketing tool and the first touch point where customers judge your brand.

For print businesses, this presents a golden opportunity to add value to their services and differentiate themselves. Understanding packaging strategy is not just a choice, but a key growth strategy. Let's see how you can apply this knowledge to your business and create an advantage.

Why is packaging important for modern printing businesses?

Try shifting your perspective from just "the packaging" to "the 24/7 salesperson" on the shelves, both in the real world and online.

Strategically designed packaging catches the eye, tells your brand story and creates a memorable impression. This is the turning point that will elevate a printer from a simple print service to a high-value packaging consultancy and manufacturer that customers are willing to pay for.

Turn packaging into business opportunities

When you look at packaging as a marketing tool, you'll find new opportunities to offer your customers a complete solution.

Create Brand Awareness: Invest in designing packaging that acts like a mobile billboard that can communicate your brand identity wherever your product goes.
Added Value: Advise customers to use appropriate designs and materials to instantly transform ordinary products into premium products, which means higher selling prices.
Catering to the modern consumer: Data shows that 73% of today's consumers are willing to pay more for brands that care about the environment, making offerings of earth-friendly materials a powerful selling point and easier to close.

Actionable Insight: Instead of waiting for design files from customers, printers can offer proactive consulting, recommending designs and materials that directly increase sales. This builds long-term brand engagement because it's a tangible customer experience.

Case Study: Practical Strategies

Learn from the success of big brands and apply it to your customers, like Apple, which uses a minimalist yet elegant box design to create a memorable unboxing experience that encourages sharing on social media.

In the cosmetics industry, special printing techniques such as foil stamping are commonly used to create an expensive look and attract target customers.

Understanding and executing these strategies will enable your printer to provide superior consulting and solutions beyond just printing. This is the path to unlocking your business potential and building stronger relationships with your customers. For more information, see the Printing and Packaging Industry Overview for a clearer picture of market trends.

Choose the right materials to create the right packaging for your brand.

Selecting the right packaging materials is the most crucial foundational step, as materials don't just encase your product, they also define the image, feel, and strength of your brand.

Choosing the right materials can help enhance your product's appeal, create a strong impression, and effectively communicate your brand identity. Therefore, it's important to understand the properties of each material to provide professional advice to your customers.

Art Card Paper: Create a Premium Image

For products that require a luxurious and expensive look, art card paper is the best choice. With its smooth surface and bright white color, it can print vibrant colors, be sharp, and capture all the design details.

Actionable Insight: This paper is recommended for products where image is important, such as cosmetic boxes, supplement boxes, or fashion products. However, customers should be informed of the limitations of moisture resistance to avoid potential problems with certain products.

From the picture, you can clearly see that each material has a distinct character and usage, which further emphasizes why we must choose the right material for our products.

Kraft paper: Communicating sustainability and natural style

If your client's brand emphasizes naturalness, simplicity, or environmental awareness, introducing kraft paper is a smart strategy. Its unique brown color and non-glossy texture make the packaging look friendly and accessible.

Key selling points include durability and 100% recyclability, qualities that cater to the ever-eco-friendly trend that consumers are increasingly prioritizing.

Actionable Insight: Advise clients using Kraft paper to design with strong contrasting colors or print in a single color to create a minimalist style, as the brown color of the paper can slightly dull the printed colors. Providing design advice like this will help ensure the design is as perfect as possible.

Corrugated cardboard: a protective barrier for safe transport

When strength and product protection are paramount, corrugated board is the obvious answer. Its central wave structure acts as a shock absorber, effectively absorbing impact and protecting products from damage during transport.

Corrugated paper is therefore a key player in e-commerce and export businesses. It is estimated that by 2025, the value of Thailand's paper packaging market could reach 70.4 billion baht , driven by the trend towards environmental conservation and the increasing demand for strong and durable boxes. Read more about the trends in the paper packaging business to get a deeper picture of the market.

Actionable Insight: Presenting the use of corrugated paper for retail packaging, using attractive printing techniques to create a difference and attract attention, which is a growing market with high business opportunities.

Comparison table of popular packaging material properties

Use this table as a consulting tool for your clients to help them effectively decide on materials that meet their product needs, brand image, and budget.

Material type	Outstanding features	Limitations	Suitable for product types	Environmental friendliness
Art card paper	Smooth surface, beautiful and sharp color printing, giving a premium feel.	High price, not resistant to humidity	Cosmetics, dietary supplements, fashion products, image-oriented products	It is recyclable, but the process is more complicated than uncoated paper.
Kraft paper	Strong, durable, natural look, environmentally friendly.	The color of the printed work may drop, the surface is not as smooth as art card.	Organic products, handmade products, sustainable products	100% recyclable, biodegradable
corrugated paper	Strongest, excellent shock protection, light weight.	Large size, rough surface, suitable for printing that does not require high detail.	E-commerce shipping boxes for heavy or fragile products	Excellent recyclability, made mostly from recycled materials.

Providing comprehensive advice on functionality, image, budget and sustainability will ensure you get the right packaging and maximize customer satisfaction.

Understand the technical printing game to create superior packaging.

After selecting the right material for your packaging , the next step is to choose the “printing technique” that will bring the design to life and powerfully communicate your brand identity.

Different printing techniques produce completely different results. Choosing the right one for your project will help you control quality, reduce costs, and fully impress your customers.

Understanding the pros and cons of each printing system will enable you to offer solutions that meet your customers' needs across all dimensions, including aesthetics, quality, and budget.

Flexography: A cost-effective alternative for mass production

For high-volume packaging printing , flexography is the most cost-effective option. It works similarly to a rubber stamp, using a soft die to stamp ink directly onto the material.

Actionable Insight: We recommend flexo printing to customers who need to produce large quantities, such as corrugated cardboard boxes for consumer goods or packaging, as it is fast, prints on a wide variety of materials, and helps keep costs per piece to a minimum when ordering large lots.

Gravure: The highest standard for premium clarity.

If your packaging needs to be beautiful, sharp, and provide the ultimate in luxury , gravure is the answer. This technique uses a cylindrical metal mold carved into tiny ink wells to create a three-dimensional image with smooth color gradients and high resolution.

Actionable Insight: Gravure systems are ideal for high-end clients who demand the highest quality, such as cosmetic boxes or premium product packaging. However, they must be aware of the high mold costs, which are only worthwhile when production is really large.

Screen printing: Flexible and creative special effects.

When flexibility is required or a special effect is desired , screen printing is a prominent option. The principle is to wipe ink through a screen block onto the material, allowing for thick, vibrant ink and creating a raised texture.

Actionable Insight: Introducing screen printing to add value to packaging using various techniques such as:

Create special effects: such as applying Spot UV to specific areas to create depth and interest.
Print on curved surfaces: Ideal for glass bottles or metal cans.
Make it bold and bold: Use it to highlight your logo or text against a dark background.

Summary of choosing the right printing technique

Advice on choosing a printing technique should be based primarily on the goals of the project:

Need speed and low cost for mass production: choose flexography.
Focus on the highest quality to create a premium image: choose gravure.
Need flexibility, create a special effect or print on specific materials: choose screen printing.

Our targeted consultation will help clients achieve outstanding packaging that can compete effectively in the market.

Post-printing techniques: Bringing packaging to life

The difference between ordinary and eye-catching packaging often lies in the final step called "post-press" techniques, which are like 'make-up' to add value and make the product stand out on the shelf.

This step presents an opportunity to transform the 'box' into a 'marketing asset' that can instantly stimulate a customer's purchase decision.

The Power of Surface Treatment: Creating Touch and Emotion

Coating is the most powerful and fundamental technique for creating a “first impression” through touch. Choosing the right coating can help communicate your brand's message and protect your prints from scratches and moisture.

Actionable Insight: A good finish isn't just about making the box look better; it's about creating a memorable tactile experience. We recommend using finishes to build a strong customer bond with your brand, which is key to building long-term loyalty.

Popular coating types in the industry

To effectively advise customers, it is important to understand the properties of each type of coating:

UV Coating: Provides a shiny, bright color. Suitable for products that need to stand out and look modern.
Matte Lamination: Creates a premium, elegant look with a soft touch. Suitable for brands that emphasize simplicity but class.
Spot UV Coating: This is a coating applied to specific areas that need to be highlighted, such as logos, on a matte surface to create dimension and interest.

Actionable Insight: We recommend that clients combine these techniques, such as applying a full-length matte lamination and using Spot UV to highlight the logo, to create a memorable and valuable difference to the packaging.

Glue: The unmissable behind-the-scenes hero

Although it may seem like a trivial matter, “glue” is the key to perfect packaging. Using low-quality glue can damage the box during shipping, affecting both the product and the brand image.

Actionable Insight: Focus on selecting the right adhesive for the material, coating, and weight of your product to ensure your package is durable and reaches your customer in perfect condition. For other related consumable selections, learn more about the types of consumables for printing to get a clearer picture.

These post-print techniques are the tools to transform your packaging into a truly branded representation that communicates, creates experiences, and adds value to your product.

Looking ahead to future packaging trends

The packaging industry is constantly changing, so staying current with trends is essential to ensure your business can remain competitive and win customers' hearts in the long run. There are two key pillars of packaging's future direction: sustainability and technology, which are set to radically change the way we view and use packaging.

Sustainable Packaging: What Modern Brands Need to Do

Sustainability has become the new standard consumers expect from brands, with 82% of consumers globally willing to pay more for products that use environmentally friendly packaging.

This figure clearly shows that choosing sustainable packaging is not just a social good, but a business strategy that creates a clear advantage.

Actionable Insight: Designing packaging with the environment in mind is a powerful message that your brand cares about the future, which can help build trust and lasting loyalty from customers. Encourage customers to consider the concept of a circular economy, which emphasizes designing packaging that can be easily reused, recycled or composted to reduce waste.

New alternative materials for our world

Offer your customers these innovative materials as an alternative to single-use plastics:

Recycled Materials: Recommend using recycled paper or plastic (PCR) to help reduce the use of new resources and reduce waste.
Bioplastics: We offer plastics made from natural raw materials such as corn or sugarcane that are naturally biodegradable, providing a direct solution to plastic pollution.
Eco-Design: Consulting on designs that use less material, reduce the size of the box to fit the product, or design for easy disassembly for recycling.

Smart packaging: The bridge between brands and customers

Another emerging trend is Smart Packaging, which involves using digital technology in packaging to create new customer experiences. Traditionally, packaging has become a direct communication channel for customers.

Connected packaging is expected to become widely popular by 2025. Using QR Codes or NFC chips will not only provide product information but also create transparency and prevent counterfeiting. Read on to learn more about packaging trends for 2025-2026 to better understand the future of the market.

Use technology to make a difference

Introduce these technologies to your customers to make their packaging stand out:

QR Code: It's the easiest and most cost-effective way to connect with your customers, giving them instant access to more information, video tutorials, or promotional campaigns.
NFC (Near Field Communication): Provides a seamless and modern experience. Simply bring your smartphone near the packaging and it instantly connects to a website or app.
AR (Augmented Reality): Create an exciting and immersive experience by allowing customers to point their camera at the packaging to see 3D images or animations displayed in the real world.

These technologies are not only fun and engaging, but also serve as a tool for collecting customer behavior data for further marketing planning. Learn more about the smart packaging technology landscape to gain a clearer picture.

The future of packaging is a blend of environmental responsibility and customer engagement. Brands that can successfully integrate both will be the winners in this highly competitive market.

Conclusion: Creating the right packaging requires careful consideration of all dimensions.

Creating successful packaging isn't about choosing one thing, but about combining strategies at every stage, from selecting the right materials, to applying the right printing techniques, to creating unique embellishments.

The key is to look at the big picture. All elements must complement each other, not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional, creating a positive experience, and most importantly, clearly reflecting the brand's identity.

The key to packaging that stands out from the competition

To achieve this goal, we need to integrate all of our knowledge, from selecting materials that align with the product and brand image, deciding on the right printing system for the required quantity and quality, to using post-press techniques to create memorable highlights.

Actionable Insight: Great packaging is the result of clever decisions in every detail. It combines technical know-how with creativity to create a powerful and memorable first impression.

Furthermore, staying current on trends is essential, whether it's introducing sustainable materials or using technologies like QR codes to drive brand engagement. These factors can determine whether your brand can stay relevant and outperform its competitors.

Adapting for sustainability: a big challenge for industry

Sustainability is a key factor driving industry change. While plastic use in Thailand's packaging sector will continue to grow in 2022, the country's carbon neutrality target will require the industry to accelerate its transition to more recycled and bioplastics.

Recycled plastic consumption is projected to grow by 7.8% between 2021 and 2030. This figure reflects efforts to balance business and the environment, which you can read more about in our article on Sustainable Plastic Packaging Market Trends.

Ultimately, successful packaging is one of the most powerful marketing tools available, an investment that pays off over the long term in terms of sales and customer loyalty in today's highly competitive marketplace.

Frequently asked questions that printing houses need to know about packaging production

In the manufacturing and packaging industry, having accurate and actionable information is crucial. This section compiles frequently asked questions with clear answers to guide entrepreneurs and printers in making informed decisions and providing professional advice to their customers.

Once you understand these points, delivering the right solution for your brand and your customers is no longer a difficult task.

If you want to choose environmentally friendly materials, what should you look for?

Introducing sustainable materials builds long-term brand credibility. Use these simple principles when consulting with clients:

Recyclability: Recommend materials that can be easily recycled, such as kraft paper or corrugated paper made from recycled pulp, to help reduce the use of new resources.
Biodegradable: Offers naturally degradable materials such as plant-based bioplastics to help reduce the problem of accumulated waste.
Is it from a reputable source?: Look for certification symbols like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), which guarantee that the paper comes from responsibly managed forests.

Actionable Insight: Inform customers that 71% of consumers make purchasing decisions based on sustainable packaging, which is key information to help them make informed choices about these materials.

What are the costs of packaging production calculated from?

Help customers plan their budgets accurately by explaining the main factors that affect production costs:

Actionable Insight: Cost is not just the cost of materials, but the sum of all manufacturing processes. Understanding the big picture allows for effective cost control.

Material type: Art card paper is more expensive than kraft paper or corrugated paper.
Printing Technique: Gravure system has higher mold cost than Flexo system.
Quantity Ordered (Volume): The larger the quantity ordered, the lower the cost per piece.
Post-printing finishing: Special techniques such as foil stamping, Spot UV, or special shape die-cutting all incur additional costs.

What type of business is Smart Packaging suitable for?

Smart packaging uses technologies like QR Code or NFC to engage with customers, making it ideal for businesses looking to differentiate themselves and add value to their products.

Businesses that can make the most of Smart Packaging are:

FMCG brands: Use QR Codes to launch sweepstakes campaigns, provide nutritional information, or provide product tutorials via video.
Health & Beauty Products: Use this to verify authenticity, view ingredient information, or link to an online ordering page.
Premium or collectible items: Use AR (Augmented Reality) technology to create an exciting unboxing experience.

Actionable Insight: To provide customers with a simple understanding, Smart Packaging is ideal for businesses that want to build stronger customer relationships and use packaging as a tool for gathering marketing data for future development.

For printers and entrepreneurs looking for high-quality consumables to enhance your packaging printing, Mega Uni-Trade is the answer. We are experts ready to consult and provide the most suitable solutions for your business. Find more products at https://www.megaunitrade.com

This article is provided for educational purposes only and is offered ‘as is.’ Mega Uni-Trade Co., Ltd. accepts no responsibility for any losses or damages resulting from its use.