Objectives
A design consultancy sought an objective packaging review across multiple footwear competitors to benchmark packaging components and materials in the marketplace. The project scope covered seven shoes, comparing packaging elements, documenting current state, and assembling a summary for the client’s review. The firm was able to get the technical packaging expertise that it did not have in-house to guide the client to a confident recommendation.
Key Analyses
Competitive Teardown
Fully deconstructed the consumer-facing packaging for a desired list of category benchmarks, spanning current and comparable footwear brands.
Material & Construction Assessment
Measured, weighed, and recorded individual components — box caliper, case cube, carton lay-flat area, labels, tags, and shoe supports — for a data-driven comparison.
Evaluated materials for functional and visual differences, including flute type, print method (Litho vs. Flexo), wrapping paper, and desiccant use.
Results
Competitive Material Analysis
Delivered a complete competitive material and technical analysis the design firm could share directly with its client.
Packaging Recommendations
Enabled the design firm to provide design improvements alongside specific, detailed packaging material changes — including opportunities to reduce wrapping paper, right-size case cube, and transition from lithographic to flexographic printing.