As with any product, it’s difficult to get a new product onto a busy store shelf, let alone getting the shoppers to pay attention to it. Sheep are packed, consumers are wary and top positions are occupied by well-known brands. With the right strategy, new products make their debut all the time. Here are some tips for getting a new product on the shelf and into people’s eyes.

First, ask the Retailer for his/her agreement.

Start with the real gatekeeper. A store buyer must agree to put your product in his store before shoplifters ever see it.

Retail buyers are careful because they know that shelf space is precious and limited. If you want to attract their attention, demonstrate that your product is available for purchase, attractive, and a good fit for their store. The right packaging and pitch make customers feel that your product is a safe and profitable investment.

To appeal to retail buyers:

• Test your product to see if you can sell it.
• Professional, retail-ready packaging.
• They clearly fit their store’s website.

If they have agreed, then you are on the shelf!

Stand Out on a Crowded Shelf

The next hurdle is to be noticed once you’re in. In a crowded shelf, a new product can get lost amongst the old!

The consumer quickly scans the shelves and goes for what they know. If you want to change the habit, your product needs to stand out with its design, colors, and branding. Product display boxes wholesale from The Premier Packaging can make a difference for a new product, or if it doesn’t stand out, it gets overlooked, so standing out is a must. Notice is the first step to buy.

Use: To stand out on the shelf use:

• Bold, eye-catching color.
• Clean, simple design.
• Clear, confident branding.

When a product is eye-catching, it truly has a chance at being sold.

With a display used to Claim Space.

One of the most effective tools for novices. A display unit provides a new product with its own space, which is away from the overcrowded display unit.

A display stands out and will draw attention to your product, whether or not you have competition. It brings the product to the forefront and puts it on center stage. A standalone display will provide that presence for a new product, making it visible rather than invisible.

A display is one of the most effective ways to help a new product by:

• Providing its own space.
• To raise it up into a good light.
• Make them feel like they are part of the group.

A display is a means to grabbing attention for a new product that otherwise might not be noticed by a consumer on a store shelf.

Take advantage of the chance to win the Impulse Moment.

Think about how new products tend to do best. Lots of first tries are spur-of-the-moment, so if it is placed in the zone of impulse, the product has a better chance of overcoming.

A sign near the till or in a busy aisle tempts shoppers looking for something small and new to try. It’s easy to take the first try because it’s low-priced. For those impulse moments, a countertop display is a good choice. The impulse purchase is often how a product acquires its first customers.

To take the impulse moment, shoot for:

• A hot seat, or near the register.
• A relatively low, straightforward cost.
• Any shopper could easily pick up.

Many new products begin their life cycle as impulse buys.

Build Instant Trust

Consider the “wary customer. A new brand has no reputation, so it’s important to build trust in the first few moments.

When it comes to new products, consumers are wary; clear branding, quality packaging, and truthful claims make them feel comfortable purchasing. A professional appearance on the pack or on wholesale product display boxes will communicate to consumers that your product is real and worth their time. If that doesn’t happen, a new product remains on the shelf. Doubt is overcome by looking trustworthy, which is what a newcomer does.

Establish credibility with:

• Professional, quality packaging.
• Clear, honest claims.
• An attitude of ownership.

If a new product appears reliable, they take the chance.

Easy First Try.

Increase access to the barrier. The more accessible and less expensive the initial trip, the more consumers will gamble on it.

Smaller packaging will allow a customer to try your product with minimal risk; a lower cost will allow a customer to try your product with minimal cost; or a trial pack will allow the buyer to try your product with minimal risk. They give it a shot, and if they like it, they try again! It makes sense to make a small, safe initial purchase so you can get a feel for buying something.

Try it first as simply as possible, by offering:

• A reduced, less expensive size.
• A trial that has little risk.
• No hassle first purchase.

If it is small and safe, it’s a first try that can lead to sales year-round.

Provide a reason for Shoppers to take notice

Last but not least, put people in the spotlight. So a new product must have something to grab shoppers’ attention.

The motivation could be a design that shouts, a benefit that is clear, a display that catches the eye or a real point of difference. Whatever it is, it needs to address the consumer’s query: “Why should I buy this product rather than my normal one? A good reason to notice is what makes a new product stand out from the rest of the heap.

Some factors that can be of note are:

• An impressive and memorable design.
• An actual, meaningful advantage.
• A true point of difference.

Provide an authentic motivation, and a new product emerges.

Final Thoughts

A new product’s success in breaking into a competitive store depends on much more than mere luck. You first get the retailer’s attention, then you get the retailer to say “yes,” and then you’re on display with your own space.

A newcomer has a better chance of gaining the impulse, developing trust, making the first contact as easy as possible, and providing a good reason for shoppers to pay attention. Several of these steps can be achieved with the help of product display boxes wholesale from The Premier Packaging, which can help convert a hesitant prospective customer into a first-time buyer and then a repeat buyer.

Plan on all levels, from the buyer to the shelf to the shopper. If you do this well, even a new product could gain a foothold on overcrowded store shelves and become a favorite.