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There are many things to think about when creating a successful beverage package design. Your color choice attracts a specific customer profile. Where you place the beverage renderings on the box matters. How is it going to sit on the shelf, flat horizontal or narrow tall? It is important to ask the distributor before you start the box design to eliminate unnecessary errors and know exactly what you’re dealing with right off the bat.

Decide a theme and find which key product is suitable to present on the box, for example, a painting of a fruit tree used for a product made with organic fruit. Try a modern type with a post-modern pattern theme, or use a big logo. A beautiful photo of your drink’s ingredients can make all the difference when done correctly. There are lots of options, so try different things.

An important aspect to note is to use quality images. It’s perfectly ok to use photos from a national stock image site, or you can hire a professional retail packaging artist or food photographer. iPhones may take great photos when your platform is social media, but not necessarily for your package design. Art contests are often used, but can come across as cheap, so be careful.

Successful beverages have a unique brand personality. Think of a few popular beverage companies like Monster, SmartWater, or Coca Cola. They present the main product benefit well.

When writing the box copy, keep it brief. For example, “Organic. No chemicals or dyes added. Low Carbs.” Remember to always list the box size on all copy documents. The team who approves the content must know the size limits at all times.

Your label size will force you to edit down. Don’t make the label too wordy. Use concise descriptions. Remember, this has to grab the customer’s eye from three feet away. Clutter does not sell, white space and big images do.

Design is key. Make it attractive and impactful. The main reason consumers pick up beverages is the design. Do not crowd the box with unimportant excess and expect the designer to make it pretty. If the box panels are filled with 80% content, you’ve failed. Less is more.

  • Sep 12, 2018
  • 2 min read

Updated: Sep 13, 2018

The first step in writing label copy is creating a label content document and indicating where all the product benefits and features go. Include every graphic element on the label.


You must write the copy to fit the space you have. Long copy will not fit, so it’s imperative that you keep it short.

Always indicate the label width and length, plus the width of the front bottle panel (the available space on the front of the bottle before it rolls off the side). Your designer must fit everything within that viewing space.

Your label content document should not include descriptions, only the actual words being used. Use the following as a guide:


FRONT LABEL CONTENT:

Image: Logo or brand name. (Remember to keep it short! Simplicity is key.) Include either a local trademark (™) or an official nationally-registered trademark (®). This is important for the designer and legal staff. When this is added after the fact it can be an expensive production addition.

Image: Photo of orange slices and a mango (indicate a photo or illustration).

Flavor: Orange Mango. Naturally flavored.

Benefits: Zero Calories. No sugar added.

Image: Organic certified ®.

Regulated Copy: 2 LITER (67.6 fL. oz)


BACK LABEL:

Benefits: Zero Calories. No sugar added.

Back Story: Tell consumers why your product is good for them, for example, “Refreshing taste from all-natural ingredients. Contains 100% Juice.”

Image: Nutrition Facts panel.

Copy: Ingredients.

Regulated Copy: Manufactured by: Company Name.LLC. City, State. Zip Code. USA. Domain address.

Image: Bar code.

Warning Copy: Open carefully. Content under pressure. Recycle logo.

Once your content is completed, send it to everyone involved in approving the content, such as a focus group, your legal advisor, co-packer, and any State or Federal agency, for approval. Once that’s completed and the final edits are made, send it to your label designer. Keep in mind the design and layout is their skill and profession. Leave it up to them to present the content in a professional and enticing way.

www.winelabeldesigners.com




(425) 513-8822 Mukilteo, Washington USA

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