Custom popcorn boxes have emerged as a fantastic niche market opportunity to attract a wide range of buyers and mark your name in the industry. With the help of attractive customizations and designs, they have the potential to highlight your brand in the eyes of the customers. In this way, this packaging ensures the uplifting of the sales. However, there are some areas where you can work to level up this game and bring even more revenue. Let’s have a look at how you can grab more audience with these boxes.
Market Analysis
The global popcorn market is expanding at a fast pace. In fact, it stands at US$ 13.4 billion as per 2023’s reports of the IMARC group. Undoubtedly, there is huge growth and potential in this segment. However, you have to understand the dynamics of the market and the trends of the buyers to capture the right customers. Here is how you can perform market analysis for popcorn packaging:
Target Audience
First of all, do diligent research and find the areas where your potential customers are interested in buying popcorn. The geographical location and the volume of the buyers matter a lot in this regard. For instance, you can’t put up a popcorn stall near a high-end restaurant, library, or hospital. However, these are the places to find the audience that is interested in your items:
Cinemas: Popcorn is considered customary with any movie. Therefore, you can set up a point near or in front of a movie theater or cinema. Use bespoke popcorn packaging to attract buyers.
Food trucks: Further, you can assemble a food truck to sell your items. They act like a hawker or street vendor, attracting a wide customer base. The ideal location for such a point is near a school or local population.
Corporate events: Popcorn items often make a perfect pair for corporate events and gifts. The reason lies in their versatility, engagement, and convenience. You can find such events at meetings, trade shows, and conferences.
Sports festivals: Popcorn products are also in demand at sports events such as baseball or football. Many brands establish their loci near stadiums or parks where major sports events often happen.
Market Size
Once you have found your target audience and location, you must define the size of your potential customers. It is a wise idea to establish a popcorn center near a point where you can spot major activities regularly.
Investing in the wrong audience or the target buyers with less reach may result in a loss. For instance, you find that there is a part where a cricket tournament is ongoing, but this only occurs once or twice a year. You may find a boost in sales for some time, but there won’t be any proper deals for the rest of the year. In short, find a market with proper trends throughout or a major part of the year.
Competitive Landscape
A third factor to consider while investing in any popcorn business is to research your rivals. A golden rule of thumb is that you should avoid investing in a market with high competition. However, the rival volume also depends on the volume of the buyers. If you see that already present sellers are not able to tackle all the needs of the clients, you can enter such a market.
On top of that, if you have any innovative ideas or think that you can bypass the rivals with your strategies, you can still invest in a saturated market. However, this may require a high initial investment while being patient. But this is a very bold move, and you are not advised to take this step unless you have done your diligent research and have experience in competing in a steep business.
Design Popcorn Boxes to Impress Customers
Once you have performed a market analysis and found a gap that you think is worth the shot, start your popcorn brand there. Along with various factors, you also need custom printed popcorn boxes to pack, present, and sell your items. Further, you have to consider elements like design in order to attract potential buyers. The following are ways you can tailor your boxes:
Printing
The basic purpose of printing is to shift your design from a soft form to a physical form on your boxes. With the intention to create awareness among your buyers, you can educate your audience with the help of this customization. Among different printing options, the most common ones for custom popcorn packaging are mentioned below:
Digital printing: If you are a quick copy of your design on the boxes, digital printing has no match. It uses inkjet or laser techniques to directly transfer your branding to the packaging. This type leverages bold and bright colors in CMYK format and is often preferred for small batches with fewer than 500 boxes.
Offset printing: Lithography or offset printing is preferred when you want bold and durable imprints. This type uses metal plates and rubber rolls to craft the branding on the packaging. The results are usually given in the format of CMYK as well as PMS schemes. Brands utilize PMS when they need accurate reproduction in single 1-color or multi 4/4 color.
Screen printing: This type involves the burning of design on a screen, which is then shifted on the box surface. Screen printing is a comparatively slow process as it involves a step-by-step process for each color. However, it is affordable that offset type and can result in bright and opaque colors.
Final Touches
The role of final touches is to uplift the outlook of the boxes, with the intention of attracting buyers. Plus, brands also utilize these post-printing processes to highlight the branding or to differentiate their packaging. The following are different types of these finishes:
Coating: This type serves dual purposes. First, it gives your boxes an attractive look. Secondly, it shields the essence of branding, such as logos or colors. The coating is offered in different types. For instance, gloss coating is used if you want to make your packaging appealing. Matte coating is preferred when you want a sophisticated look. Finally, UV coating is applied for a high-end gloss finish while making the boxes resilient to scratches.
Lamination: This involves the coating of a plastic transparent film over the boxes to protect them against scratches and fingerprints. Further, it also makes your boxes professional in appearance.
Specialty touches: The purpose of these specialty touches is to engage the buyers tactically. They come in two major types. Debossing produces recessed patterns, while embossing gives raised designs.
Foiling: This involves applying a metallic sheet under the effect of high heat and temperature. Gold foiling is utilized when you want a luxurious touch. On the other hand, for a sleek look, go with silver foiling. Finally, holographic foil is also available for multi-color effects.
In conclusion, if you are thinking of initiating a popcorn brand, perform a market analysis to understand the interests of the audience and their buying patterns. Based on your research, design and introduce custom popcorn boxes in the market. In order to get personalized packaging, contact Packaging Mania. They have the experts that can craft boxes as per your target audience’s needs. Order now to avail free shipping and up to a 30% discount voucher.