Tag Archives: midwestgraphics

Design, Packaging

The Secrets of Successful Packaging Design – it starts with a good Design Team

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When it comes to packaging a product, the design is critical.  After all, unless your package stands out with a unique color, size, or copy, it is going to struggle for recognition sitting on a crowded shelf along-side all those competitive products.

The smart businesses know that a great package design can help in selling the product. At Midwest Graphics, our clients appreciate the value our in-house design team brings to the table in assisting them in creating a great package design.

Recently, a national manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom products visited our plant.  They viewed our in-house design team (along with other factors like quick turn around and competitive costs) as a real asset in their decision to use our packaging services.

We know great packaging design is simply following some basic rules. We list some below:

  • Knowing your customer is key!

Who is your customer? All packaging design is geared to first understanding who you are marketing to.

  •  Remember, benefits are more important than features

Focus on the benefits, not the features. Customers want to know “what’s in it for me?” when making their buying decision.

  • Develop a couple prototypes of packaging designs

If you think one design is good, perhaps another idea is better. Set two or more prototypes side-by-side to compare.

  • Price points are important

If the product is priced inexpensive, don’t needlessly escalate costs with an over-priced packaging.

  • Take a look at what your competition is doing

Your packaging needs to stand out while displayed along-side competitive products on the shelf

  • Know your USP?

Identify your product’s unique selling proposition and find a way to communicate that message in your packaging.

  • Remember, brand consistency is important

If you have multiple products, maintain a consistent brand image in the packaging so all your products create similar visual affect.

  •  Decide how you want the customer to interact with your product

Do you want your customer to be able to touch your product? If so, either displaying one of the products outside of the package or a die cut window may be appropriate.

The design team at Midwest Graphics is ready to help you design packaging that will motivate customers to buy. From conceptualization to proofing, they can work with you every step of the way in development of all packaging materials for your company.

 

 

 

 

Digital Printing

The four critical points to consider when designing your POP displays!

At Midwest Graphics, our in-house graphics design team is experienced in creating eye-catching display and point of purchase (POP) products. Working closely with the customer, we are committed to designing a display that is so attractive it instantly becomes a revenue machine, silently working to move product off the shelf and into the customer’s shopping cart as they head to the check out.

We know how effective a custom point-of-purchase display and signage can be in influencing buyer decisions and increase sales. That’s why we handle every step along the way.

From your first call to our design team, we’ll work quickly to create the perfect display you want, handling everything from prototypes and mock-ups to production, assembly, packing and drop-shipping the displays for you.

An article by Allegra Marketing highlighted four “musts” when considering the use of POP displays:  They are as follows:

  1. Location, location, location

Like any good Realtor knows, location is KING. End-of-aisle, floor stands, cardboard sidekick and power wing displays are effective in making the display stand out and get noticed.

  1. Creative design

Bright colors are needed to contrast against the surroundings. First impressions are everything, as consumers make 90% of their purchasing decisions based on visual appearance alone!

  1. Relevancy

Grab the consumer with a catchy offer, special event or holiday promotion. A relevant message makes the buyer feel the offer is personal and attractive.

  1. The message should be direct and to-the-point

Studies show any display only has .9 seconds to convince the consumer to look at it. The magnet drawing them in will be smart copy that is direct, clear and persuasive enough to create a quick understanding by the buyer.

At Midwest Graphics, we know how to make fantastic POP displays! With our ability to print in full four-color directly to your corrugated material, your next display will be sturdy, colorful and sure to stand out from the pack.

If you need help creating a plan for your custom point-of-purchase displays, give us a call to put our graphics design wizards to work for you!

 

 

 

Corrugated, Digital Printing

Cardboard versus Corrugated – there ARE distinct differences

At Midwest Graphics, we pride ourselves in being able to print directly to various substrates.  While corrugated is the most commonly requested substrate, many other options are available and used by our customers. This could include substrates like PVC, Transilwrap, Foam Corr, Tile, Magnetic, Mylar/Acetate and Acrylic among others.

While corrugated is the most popularly-used substrate, there is a tendency for people to confuse corrugated with cardboard.  Many people will use the two terms interchangeably, thinking they are referring to the same thing.  That’s simply not true.

So, what is the difference between corrugated and cardboard?

While it’s common for people to refer to corrugated and cardboard interchangeably as “paper packing material”, any professional in the packing industry will tell you there are distinct differences.

Cardboard typically refers to a thick paper stock or heavy paper-pulp This could apply to the material used to make greeting cards or playing cards, for example. It could also apply to the thin cardboard that is used to manufacture cereal boxes.

The secret to corrugated strength lies in its fluted center.

Corrugated is made up of three layers of paper that includes an inside liner, an outside liner, and fluting with a ruffled shape, which runs in between the two. This substantially increases the durability, alleviating the worry that your products will be damaged during shipping.

Some of the characteristics that makes corrugated so attractive as a packing medium include:

  • Durability
  • Lightweight with a high strength-to-weight ratio
  • Provides for greater product protection
  • Cost-effective
  • Environmentally friendly

Any manufacturer desires to minimize the risk of damage when shipping their product. Corrugated is always the right choice over cardboard when seeking to reduce the possibility of damage during shipping. Corrugated sheets formed into boxes are ideal because they are very strong and durable, and are easily recycled.

At Midwest Graphics, we can print onto corrugated flat substrate up to 1 3/8” thick. Give us a call for your next printing need.

 

 

Digital Printing

Options Determine the Cost of a Point Of Purchase Display

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Manufacturers know the value of a great Point of Purchase (POP) display. The savvy ones know it’s one of the best investments of their marketing dollars that they can make. These displays allow them to dramatically increase the impact of their product at the moment it counts most—at purchase time.

 

“But, what is the cost for a great POP,” you might ask?

The usage will affect the price.  Is the display temporary and used for only days or a few weeks? Or, is it meant to last for months?

Temporary Corrugate POP displays are the least expensive

The most common displays are made of corrugate.  Commonly found at grocery stores, they include free standing floor, shelf and counter displays. They are also popular at big box stores at the end of the aisles.

Digital printing capabilities keeps costs down.

With Midwest Graphics digital printers, large sheets of corrugate can be printed and cut without the need for printing plates and mechanical die cut plates. In addition, full color can be used to create exciting, eye-catching graphics.

But the biggest cost savings factors are that small quantities can be printed in a very short time.  Once the die line and artwork is approved, displays can be printed in as few as 7 business days.

Pricing is based on the square foot it takes to produce your display and pass through the press. So, size of the display ultimately determines price. Also, customized POP sizing uniquely designed to fit a product could affect pricing.

POP displays designed to last a year or longer cost more

As you might expect, long term displays need to be constructed out of material that can last. Usually they are made from plastics, acrylic and even metals. With these type of displays and the printing process needed for each, the cost will rise dramatically. These displays are considered permanent and meant to last up to 3 years.

If you are thinking about a POP display for your product, give us a call. Midwest Graphics has in-house designers ready to help you create you next POP display. Using our four-color printing directly onto your corrugated material, we guarantee it to be sturdy, colorful and sure to stand out from the pack.

 

 

Digital Printing

6 Reasons Digital Printing Makes $ense for Your Printing Needs!

To the casual observer, watching a printing run can be exhilarating. It’s both wondrous and complex, seeing the colorful printed pieces fly off the end of the press.

But, what kind of printing is right for you?

As a business owner, it can be tricky knowing which printing method to choose. While offset printing using the traditional etched metal plates to apply ink onto a sheet of paper is still commonly used, more and more printing is being done digitally.  It’s a printing technology that links printing to a computer.

At Midwest Graphics, we can think of several reasons why so many of our customers prefer digital printing. We list a few here:

  1. You have many choices in substrates

Midwest Graphics has the ability to print directly to multiple substrates (surfaces). And, the substrates can be of varying levels of thickness.

  1. The print quality is top-notch!

At Midwest Graphics, we use the best quality digital printers in the flatbed market. This ensures high-end prints that are comparable to litho printing.

 

 

  1. Speed

Because a computer is directing the process, digital printing saves a lot of time compared to conventional printing. This is primarily because there is no need to constantly change plates, as the technology does not use any plates. Digital printing enables a business to get their printing done faster!

  1. Short runs

At Midwest Graphics, our digital printing offers any business flexibility in the size of the run.  Whether it’s a printing run of hundreds or thousands, no job is too big or too small.

  1. Cost effective

With no plate costs and no minimum print quantities, costs and turnaround times are reduced.

  1. Digital printing is environmentally friendly!

Digital printing is more eco-friendly than conventional printing as it produces a lower amount of waste cartridges and creates less air pollution. It leaves behind a smaller carbon footprint.

If you are a business looking for a printer with the latest technology in digital printing, give us a call. Midwest Graphics uses the best equipment in the industry to guarantee outstanding results every time.

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