Product color has between an 80% and 100% effect on consumer purchasing. Understanding color psychology can help businesses create packaging that resonates with their target audience. Different hues can trigger an emotional response, which could be the secret to converting your product packaging to sales.
In this post, we’ll explore the psychology behind different color options to help businesses make the best first impression possible.
Of course, determining the best colors for box design depends on what type of product you’re selling. Colors that have particular design or product connotations include:
In creating your cardboard box design, you may have questions about which of your branding colors to favor over the other. Brands are recognizable because of the colors used to promote them, which makes it important for you to choose the right colors to package your products in.
If you don’t want to create a completely new color scheme for your packaging, tweaking the shades and sizes of the colors already contained in your logo is a great way to still have an impact on consumers. Here are the effects of different colors on various products:
As an attention-grabbing color, red is sometimes associated with taking action or reacting to a choice. Stoplights are red to signal motorists to react quickly, and purchase buttons are often red to draw a user’s eyes to the final choice. A red hue is bold and easy to see, giving it distinctive energy for branding purposes.
Red is also the color of certain spices and sauces, making it popular for branding in the food service industry. Since it’s the color of commonly consumed fresh produce like apples and tomatoes, it can be used to promote fresh vegetarian or vegan products. Red has also seen a lot of success in the candy industry, tempting consumers to select an option linked with their other favorite food items.
If you’re looking for a competitive color when used in marketing, try black. It stands out, and you can blend or match it with any other color to complete a tasteful design. Black is often used to promote luxury products or indicate authority.
Black’s neutrality and ability to draw attention make it a universal choice for many industries. It has a strong association with the press and the publishing industry because of its usage for ink and typewritten words. Black lettering is noticeable and easy to read, just like how the color itself is an attractive choice for creating high contrast in an advertisement or promoting a simple, straightforward product or service.
As a longtime symbol of purity and cleanliness, white is great for marketing products with a similar theme. A white fabric or surface is impeccably unstained and clean.
White is also perceived as the absence of any other colors, like a blank page. This gives white neutrality in marketing while also indicating an array of creative possibilities to a consumer.
Green is a relaxing color like blue and has a quality of healing and peacefulness. Its association with nature and plants makes it an ideal fit for companies with sustainable missions and environmentally friendly products. As a recognizable color reference to the financial industries, green also makes consumers think of money and abundance.
For a natural, rugged aesthetic, brown is a simple choice that delivers quality logos. Brown is frequently used to promote foods and beverages that match this rich color, providing an unspoken promise of quality for chocolate and coffee products. Brown is also favored by companies who value eco-friendliness and dependability, making it well-rounded in marketing.
You may have already read that blue can build a sense of trust in your business, but did you know that the darker the hue, the more serious your products come across? So, for a sleek vibe usually geared toward working professionals or older shoppers, we suggest going with a deep navy. However, if you’re targeting a younger demographic, or if your products are just a little more light-hearted, then go for a turquoise or bright blue shade.
The good news about blue? It’s equally liked among males and females, so it’s a popular option among gender-neutral products.
The colors you choose for product packaging differ depending on your industry since shoppers may be looking for specific visual cues to locate items. Using the relevant shades can make your items more identifiable and help market them more appealingly within your field.
Red and green are common colors used in the food industry. Studies show that green packaging is typically associated with healthy and organic foods. Red is commonly used in the fast-food dimension or applied to luxury consumables. While blue might be associated with trust and credibility in the pharmaceutical business, it’s also linked to fun or innovative goods in the food and beverage field.
Colors in the beauty industry typically reflect the gender of the target audience. Pinks and pastels are often used for female consumers, while blues and bolder hues are often selected for male customers. Colors can also indicate the ingredients, like using black or gray packaging for items containing activated charcoal. Green, yellow and orange are also used to add a clean and bright feel to beauty products.
The electronics field typically sticks to neutral colors like white, black and gray, but some brands use a pop of vibrancy to stand out. Metallic shades are also popular in this field to reflect state-of-the-art technology. Electronic brands that are targeted toward younger and trendier audiences may implement neon or brighter hues.
Understanding what color attracts customers to buy products in your industry can transform your return on investment and create a stronger brand image. Aside from aesthetics, there are several other factors to consider when choosing the best color:
Now that you have a better idea of the best colors for shipping boxes — and all other forms of retail packaging — it’s time to start creating a box that blows the competition out of the water and pleases your customers. Keep checking back with our blog for more tips and tricks about how to make your packaging work for you. Also, take a look through our work to see the amazing boxes we’ve created for our clients.
To start your own project, start configuring your custom shipping box or contact us and we’ll help you with all your questions.
