A practical checklist to help you prepare the key information before reaching out to packaging suppliers or manufacturers.

Prepare before you reach out

You do not need to have every technical detail figured out before contacting a manufacturer.

But the clearer your starting information is, the easier it will be for a supplier to understand your project, suggest relevant options and give you useful answers.

What to know about your product

Prepare the basics:

• What is the product?
• Is it solid, liquid, powder, food, cosmetic or something else?
• What quantity or volume does the packaging need to hold?
• Does the product have any specific storage or protection needs?
• Is the packaging in direct contact with the product?
• Where will the product be sold?
• Will it need to be shipped?
• Are there any legal or regulatory requirements you already know about?

Not sure about compatibility or regulations?

That’s normal. Your manufacturer or a relevant specialist should help confirm technical suitability, materials and production requirements for your product.

Think about the packaging format

You don’t need to know the final solution yet, but try to describe what you are looking for.

For example:

• Bottle