Packaging artwork;
Great Packaging helps to sell product. Sometimes great packaging artwork can sell “not so great” product. Hire a graphics artist to help you with your packaging, its important. Look around at what your competition is doing and go one better. Today many small items are packed in blister pack clear plastic that hangs on store shelf hooks to easily display the product to prospective buyers. It always makes retailers happy to know the product can sort of “sell itself” by real descriptive packaging that shows the features and benefits to the consumer.

UPC#, Universal Product Code;
If your product is going to be on the retail floor, most retailers in the USA, require you to have a UPC#. You will need to apply through the UCC commission to get your own number that identifies you as the maker and the item as well. Ever notice when you check out at the grocery store all those little lines that magically seem to tell the cashier how much everything is? Ever notice what happens when one of the codes is missing from the product? “Price check on register 2!”
http://www.uc-council.org/

Import Markings for Master Cartons;
Master cartons need to be identified so customs can easily understand what’s in the boxes. If you don’t make it easy for them they may hold your shipment. Also if you’re shipping to any large retailer they want all cartons identified as well. These can also be identified with a special UPC barcode as well that identifies not only the product, but how many are in the master carton.

Import carton markings to include:

• Your company name
• Item Name
• Model #
• Color if applicable
• Quantity in Master cartons or single pack
• Gross weight
• Net weight
• PO# (this is to help you identify your inventory)

Packing materials;
Always need to protect what’s inside. Remember, if your product gets broken shipping it to your customer, it’s going to cost you money. Many times I have seen extra dollars spent in protecting the product really paying off in the end. Returns can kill the whole deal. Refunds to customers and paying for the freight can be very costly.