SKLUBS / BUYING GUIDE
How to choose packaging for your product for US projects
Start with what the packaging must do, then decide how it should look. A format that works for a single display item may not suit repeated filling, storage or delivery.
SKLUBS editorial team · Updated 8 October 2026
Describe the product and its journey
Record dimensions, weight, fragility and how the product will be handled. Does it need to remain upright, be visible or be opened repeatedly? Separate a desirable feature from an essential requirement. Have any product-specific suitability requirements confirmed by the relevant specialist.
Map filling, storage, dispatch, retail display and opening. Provide a photograph with a scale and an actual product sample where practical. Do not choose solely from an image of an unrelated product.
Compare the relevant families
A box can organise presentation around an insert. A pouch raises questions about usable volume, closure and filling. A jar or bottle requires the container and closure to work together. A printed label communicates information but does not replace the protective container.
These are starting points for questions, not guarantees of compatibility. Shortlist two or three plausible systems and assess each against the same requirements. Keep presentation packaging distinct from the outer shipping protection.
Check operational fit
Ask how the pack is supplied and assembled, and whether the filling process is manual or machine-based. Record the usable dimensions and any space needed for closure. The outside size alone does not describe the available internal space.
Consider storage and repeated handling. A visually appealing construction can still be awkward to prepare at the required quantity. Trial the complete process where practicality is a deciding factor.
Test with the actual product
Use an appropriate prototype to check insertion, removal, grip and closure. Record what was tested, with which product and sample, and what remains unverified. A digital rendering communicates appearance; it does not measure strength or material compatibility.
Where performance matters, agree relevant test conditions and acceptance criteria. Do not describe the sample as successful merely because the product fits once.
Prepare comparable quotation requests
Use a common brief: product, format options, dimensions, quantities per design, material requirements, print, finish and delivery destination. Keep alternative constructions identifiable. Add assembly or storage costs when known.
Send SKLUBS the shortlisted options and the reason each remains under consideration. The useful outcome is a specified pack that suits the product journey, not simply the most elaborate presentation.
US project brief: dimensions, use and destination
For a US project, label every dimension in inches or millimeters and ask for one agreed drawing before sampling. Avoid rounding conversions independently in artwork, purchasing and production documents. Include destination state and ZIP code in the request.
Distinguish the product pack from any outer parcel or distribution packaging. An appearance chosen for a retail shelf may need a different shipping system for direct-to-consumer orders. Have the actual product copy and market-specific statements approved separately from the construction and delivery quote.
Questions when choosing a format
Can I select a pouch by product weight alone? No: different contents occupy different volumes. Validate fit with the actual product and closure requirements.
Does a more expensive finish protect better? Appearance and protection are separate questions requiring the appropriate evidence.
What if I do not know the material? Describe the intended use and constraints, then ask which specifications need confirmation before quoting.