How To Start A Packaging Business In South Africa
What is Packaging?
Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages.
How To Start A Packaging Business In South Africa
1. STUDY YOUR INDUSTRY
While it may be tempting to say that your product is unique and will stand above the rest no matter what, it’s important to study your industry and identify the common denominator when it comes to packaging your product. From consumer expectations to packaging requirements, your industry will dictate a bit of what your packaging will or should look like. Cosmetic product packaging is very different than packaging for consumer electronics. Studying industry leaders and defining industry standards will help you identify necessary elements for your product’s packaging.
2. DEFINE YOUR MARKET
Getting your product to market is perhaps the biggest hurdle for start-ups. But before you even hit the market, do you know who your market is? Just like no two packages are alike, no two markets are alike. Are you trying to reach the mass market or the luxury market? Wal-Mart or Neiman Marcus? Each market establishes certain expectations and barriers for entry. By defining your target market early on, you can better identify your packaging needs and design your packaging accordingly.
3. IDENTIFY WHO YOU ARE MARKETING TO
Now that you’ve identified your overall market reach, it’s important to narrow down on who exactly you are trying to market to. Think drug store versus high-end department store. Regardless of what product you may be launching into market, consumers have already developed a perception about your product just by where it’s sold. A product sold at a high-end department store is perceived to have a higher value than a product sold at a drug store. Consequently, your packaging should reflect your buyer’s perceptions.
4. KNOW YOUR PRICE POINT
The price of your product is probably one of those pieces of information that you’ve dwelled over for a long time. Make it too high and you might not have any takers. Make it too low and you might be losing money. Knowing your price point early on is key to developing a package that is not only appealing but also profitable.
A product that retails for a few dollars will require a very different packaging than a product that retails for several hundred dollars. Or could you develop higher end packaging that can help you command a higher price premium while distancing you from your competitors?
5. DETERMINE YOUR POSITIONING
Most start-ups have a clear vision of their product and how they want consumers to perceive their product. Translating that vision into packaging is key to helping you live up to your brand’s values. Depending on your vision, you may require a packaging design that is simple and sleek. Or, it may require tactile, structural or material elements to tell a story.
Think Apple vs. Method. Although they exist in very different markets, they have very distinct approaches to their packaging. The former focuses on a clean and minimalist design while the latter focuses on recyclability and the environment. Determining your product’s overall position in the market can help you discover the direction for your packaging.
6. SPECIFY YOUR PRODUCT’S NEEDS
This may sound like the simplest task for any start-up to do. Yet, oftentimes, start-ups get too carried away with the vision for their product that they forget the key aspects of packaging development protecting, transporting and telling the product’s story. Does your product need to be visible inside the package? This may call for a window packaging or a vacuum-formed tray to hold your product in place. Does your product need to be accessible yet protected? This may require tamper proofing. Specifying your product’s needs to your packaging supplier is crucial for a packaging design that is not only visually attractive but also functional.
7. RECOGNIZE YOUR PROTOTYPING STAGE
All products undergo an ideation and prototyping stage. These are essential in determining the final marketing plan for a product. Depending on product complexity, changing budgets or marketing needs, a product’s prototype may evolve over time. Many products undergo multiple prototypes or versions of an initial prototype. Recognizing the prototyping stage for your product can be crucial for major cost-savings.
If you’re at an early stage in prototyping, renderings and mockups can be sufficient to get you through the next stage in securing a buy-in from a retailer. If you’re prototype is final, you may require retail-ready packaging. Needless to say, changes in your prototyping affect you overall packaging cost. Identifying and foreseeing your prototype changes can mean hours and dollars saved.
8. PARTNER WITH YOUR PACKAGING SUPPLIER
This is perhaps the most important piece of advice we can give any start-up company looking to find the perfect packaging design for their product. Engaging with a packaging supplier early on in the game has many benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
How much does it cost to start a packaging business?
between R2,000 and R10,000Packaging design businesses typically cost between R2,000 and R10,000 to start. Because they can technically be operated from home, their operation requirements are pretty small.
Is packaging business good in South Africa?
The Indian packaging industry is growing very fast.It has a commercial influence on all other industries directly or indirectly. According to the industry experts, the annual turnover of the Indian packaging industry will touch R32 billion by 2025 from the present R24.6 billion.
What is a packaging plan in South Africa?
Packaging plans are aid year-specific but can be copied from year to year and modified to reflect any changes for the new aid year. Packaging plans are also career-specific. Before you define your packaging plans, identify your various student populations and their eligibility for various types of financial aid.
Which software is used for packaging design in South Africa?
First step to designing a great package is to use the right software, package designers use applications like Adobe Illustrator, in Design, or Inkscape. Adobe Illustrator is the go to application for package designers, but Inkscape an open source app also has features for package designers.
Who designs packaging for products in South Africa?
A package designer guides the design process from beginning to end. They conceptualize, design and execute a prototype for attention-grabbing packaging materials, using design elements such as shape, color, graphics and typography to create packaging that is functional and appealing to customers.
Are pack and ship businesses profitable in South Africa?
Learning how to start a pack and ship business involves knowing how to properly pack items, choosing the right shipping method and filling out the necessary paperwork as required by the shipping company. It is a rapidly growing industry and can be profitable for both independent businesses and franchises.
How do packaging companies work in South Africa?
A packaging manufacturer has machinery to produce, typically, one type of packaging.They will either make custom packaging to order, or will make stock packaging to sell to distributors . Packaging manufacturers who make custom packaging will use in-house salespeople or outside brokers to sell their packaging.
What is food packaging license in South Africa?
FSSAI Registration for Repackers. Repacker is the business who takeover products from manufacturing unit and do packing on their own brand name and marketing the product. FSSAI – Food Safety License Registration also very much mandatory documents for food Repackers in order to address the legal requirement.
What are the common materials used in packaging in South Africa?
Paper, paperboard, and cardboard cartons are frequently used as packaging for products in stores as well as used in shipping. Corrugated cardboard, for example, has excellent structural stability for shipping, storing, and even marketing products.
Is marketing a packaging in South Africa?
A common use of packaging is marketing. The packaging and labels can be used by marketers to encourage potential buyers to purchase the product. Packaging is also used for convenience and information transmission. Packages and labels communicate how to use, transport, recycle, or dispose of the package or product.
Where can I find packaging designers in South Africa?
A good starting point for finding a reliable freelance is to check out designer’s portfolios on sites like Behance and Dribbble. If you’re lucky, you may even know a freelance packaging designer.