English
In every cosmetic product, the formulation is what matters the most alongside the selection of raw materials and active ingredients. They must be chosen with care and based on the needs of every skin type. Thanks to our 60+ years of experience and know-how, at Camorak our main goal is to focus on developing top-notch cosmetics. Nevertheless, we must remember that quality without a good presentation might miss out on a few opportunities. That is why we offer a full service to all customers who choose to rely on us from beginning to end.
Choosing the right packaging is imperative in the process of devising a full cosmetic line. From shape to practicality, style, material, graphics, and colours, a well-constructed packaging speaks for your brand and firm. It is your product’s business card, the first thing the customer sees, it is decisive in the purchasing phase both perceptively and communicatively.
Let us explore this step in creating a cosmetic line by taking a look at Roberta’s interview. She is our Project Manager, the bridge between our labs and the manufacturing area, and as such she supports our customers in managing their projects. She recommends and guides them according to their expectations and market trends, interacts with the marketing department to take care of their brand’s image, and more. She communicates with the graphics studio to verify the feasibility between graphics and production, and the compatibility between product and packaging.
Roberta, how do you devise exclusive and unique packaging?
The options are endless. Thanks to our suppliers we can offer a wide variety of packaging alternatives (primary and secondary), even for small batches. They can be customized with silk-screen printing, different colours, assorted materials, and peculiar shapes. Most of it depends on the customer’s budget and investment.
Talking about budget, what is the lowest batch a customer can order and still customize their packaging?
Custom packaging is highly requested as it allows the creation of something truly unique. The lowest batch is set at 1000 pieces, and with this amount, we can already offer a pretty solid choice of “standard” solutions featuring a high-quality, made-in-Italy finish. Also, they are extensively customizable.
Setting the lowest batch at 3000 pieces, we allow for the primary packaging colour to be customized (flacons are a good example), and starting from 5000 pieces, even glass can be edited. By getting to 10.000 pieces, our catalogue’s options become even wider as our customers can access more suppliers. Technically, even the shape of the packaging can be customized, although this requires a considerable investment. In this case, I always recommend getting in touch with us and coming for a visit to analyze the request.
Luckily, today’s technologies allow for a remarkable customization that is exclusive and unique starting from our standard solutions, which are accessible with a smaller budget.
Is the fully customizable packaging the only option available?
Absolutely not! Our laboratories have always manufactured products with standard formulation and packaging that customers can customize with their logo.
How has the packaging industry changed in the past few years?
It is a world that keeps changing. Lately, for instance, suppliers and firms making packaging have shifted towards more sustainable, green products for a lower environmental impact which the market has been asking for.
These businesses have developed several sustainable solutions, from recyclable plastic to PET. They also employ plastic made from sugarcane or salvaged from the sea.
There is more attention towards the manufacturing process as well, with a focus on using less water and minimizing Co2 emissions. It is important to note that these factors have a relevant impact on brand values and how a firm is seen by the public.
When it comes to customization, what is new out there?
Thanks to the latest technologies that get better every year we now have almost endless customization choices. On the primary packaging, we can opt for matte, shiny or blurred paintings. Glass, for instance, can be worked with silk-screen printings or alternatively with high-heat gold or silver. We can also apply a silky touch to the packaging. The secondary packaging can be made with papers from corn, coffee or grapes. The options are countless and there will be even more soon thanks to research and innovation.
Let us talk about trends. What is viewed as trendy at the moment?
Today, customers want their product to speak for itself and tend to choose clear and minimal packaging to avoid excess and redundancy.
When you visit a perfume shop, pharmacy or herbalist shop, what is the first thing you notice?
Obviously, the packaging! Since I know the products’ names and who supplies them, I recognize them automatically, which I find very entertaining.
What is the biggest hurdle in the process of selecting the packaging?
Edits during the process. Once a path is chosen, it must be clear and doubtless for the customer so that the information exchanged with the supplier does not change. Every single revision inevitably impacts the entire project.
Do you plan tests to verify the match between the packaging and the product?
Absolutely! And they are a must for us. We carry out different tests to verify the match between product and packaging, from pour-out flow to product density. We study the reaction of the cosmetic product to small thermal shocks (hot and cold) and stress, to make sure that the formulation and packaging compatibility does not change over time. We perform inner and outer tests with the suppliers to evaluate the interaction between essential oils and plastic. Other crucial tests concern export products (the ones we send abroad) to confirm that thermal shocks will not alter the product.
Can you reveal any ongoing innovation?
The latest news regards pump dispensers lacking inner metal parts, an innovation that has a positive impact on the environment. Devising packaging is a whole process in itself, and it keeps evolving as we showcase every year at Cosmopack, the most relevant international trade fair in the industry that is all about the cosmetics supply chain.