Pack It Right

Thoughtful companies put as much time and effort into packaging as they do into their products. Why? Because the package is the first engagement with the customer. Good packaging draws shoppers’ attention by making items stand out. That’s the start of a sale. Self-sale packaging often displays clean, uncluttered design because in today’s agitated world, distinct logos and packages lock shoppers’ eyes on them. Putting it another way, in a world of clutter, we gravitate towards merchandise that is simple and appealing to look at. Many customers are also interested in packaging that is eco-friendly, as it reinforces their environmental values.

Each of these companies — Nawi Kids, Baby Essentials, ToeBlooms and Apple Park — employs well-thought-out packaging that engages customers. These companies offer terrific wares; the addition of creative packaging reflects each brand’s quality and image. Stock goods from these vendors and watch your customers channel their attention.

Dino Delights from Nawi Kids

Kids gravitate to dinosaurs, which is why Nawi Kids is all about dinos, featuring them on blankies, tank tops, play shorts and lovable figures to perch on a shelf or bed.

The Ryder blankie, a perfect item for cuddling, is bright blue with Ryder outlined in white, black and a touch of red. Ryder himself also comes as a love-it-to-forever figure with white, pointy scales along his back and a white “tusk.”

Adorable Coco, a girl dino, is fashioned as an undershirt or playful top made of a cotton/spandex mix with Coco herself in green with pink accents.

Items come in packaging made in the U.S.A. to keep the carbon footprint low. Nawi uses a sturdy, resealable standup pouch with a clean design so that products are easy to spot and materials reused. To encourage action, different products are labeled by corresponding activity as in Play, Cuddle, Wear, and Drool.

Nawi has set up a fund dedicated to benefiting its manufacturing workers: “Nawi Gives Back” provides educational funding for family members of anyone involved in the manufacturing of Nawi Kids product.

Dinos for good: www.nawikids.com

Baby Essentials for Basic Needs

For organic cotton baby lounge and sleepwear, encourage customers to run their fingers over soft Baby Essentials baby jammies with a gentle elastic waist and front opening snaps. Available in sweet prints, a tot’s yawns are pampered in an eco-loving hug.

Organic cotton baby dresses for girls up to size 2 feature organic dyes so no harsh substances ever come near tender baby skin.

Parents adore the organic cotton baby blanket, which at 42” x 42” is perfect for tummy time, as a swaddle wrap, nursing cover or stroller blanket.

A green company, Baby Essentials strives for a green planet so that every sale results in them helping plant a tree. Packaging is made of recyclable paper so it can be reused, as it’s a charming box with a multi-colored baby doodles all-over print. Boxes are great for giving someone else a baby gift or storing precious baby mementos.

Green and clean: www.babyessentials.biz

ToeBlooms: Style for Tiny Toes

Want to dress up those cute baby feet without resorting to confining shoes? Look into ToeBlooms, the perfect foot accessory for a budding Imelda, aged newborn to twelve months old. These fetching creations can be worn on baby’s bare feet or over socks, lending a finished air to each and every outfit of a young lady who is too little to walk.

Tootsie, a ruffly red flower with a jewel in the center is the essence of adorable on little feet while Fudgesicle, a black strappy version in comfy, stretchy cotton, makes daughter as chic as mom.

A recent addition, the ToeBuds line is designed for baby boys with a masculine air, keeping socks on those active little toes.

To update the packaging, a newly designed ten-sided box was developed that takes its shape from a flower pot, playing on the ToeBlooms name. The unusually-shaped box stands out and enables the package to be displayed in many ways –– standing, resting and hanging –– to catch shoppers’ eyes. To further refresh the brand, a simplified, contemporary floral pattern was created for to enhance a clean, of-the-moment look that meshes with the natural texture package materials so that ToeBlooms add impulsive sales appeal.

Up on your toes: www.toeblooms.com

Apple Park Cultivates a Green Scene

For green, eco- and tot-friendly clothes and accessories, a shout-out goes to Apple Park. The name says it all: Apple signifies the life cycle, a new beginning, and nature; Park is where man collaborates with nature for preservation and enjoyment. Put them together and you get goodies like the organic muslin blanket with a pink bunny, blue owl or ducky just waiting to snuggle a wee one.

For older kiddies, there are stand-out organic fabric backpacks made from one hundred percent recycled materials that do double duty as buddies in owl, penguin, duck, rabbit and other designs.

When designing packaging, Apple Park stays with its eco-friendliness mission and also aims to be eye-catching. Among their styles are peek-a-boo boxes where the characters’ faces peer out, begging customers to buy them. Environmental boxes recreate each character’s home within the park as in the Who the Owl box with Who is a tree featuring a background of starry sky, and another with a caterpillar happily crawling in the garden.

There are no bland, oatmeal-colored boxes despite the use of eco-friendly material. These are bright and eye-grabbing, printed with soy ink. As an added bonus, many products come with a To/From tag for easy gifting.

Safe for children, better for the environment: www.applepark.com