June 13, 2025

More Than Just A Box: Guide To Making Packaging

31 minutes

"Packaging is more than just a box," a phrase that becomes increasingly true the deeper you get into product development. In this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, Adrian hosts Kate Oliynykova, Sofeast’s Head of Supply Chain Management, to dive into the often-overlooked yet critical world of packaging. From early-stage design to common pitfalls and emerging trends, this episode is your essential guide to treating packaging not as an afterthought, but as a strategic pillar of your product's success.

Show Sections

00:39 – Why Packaging Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought

02:41 – Types of Packaging: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

04:26 – The Four Phases of Packaging Development

07:02 – Retail vs. E-Commerce Packaging: Key Differences

10:03 – Why Unboxing Experience Matters

12:21 – Common Pitfalls That Delay Launches

14:56 – Key Packaging Milestones in Product Development

17:12 – Packaging Timeline: How Long It Really Takes

20:26 – Packaging Trends: Sustainability and Innovation

24:02 – When Sustainable Packaging Doesn’t Work

25:57 – Eco-Friendly Ink, QR Codes & AR Packaging Features

26:57 – Common Mistakes to Avoid

28:58 – The Importance of Reliability Testing

29:58 – Final Thoughts: Packaging as Strategy

Related content...

9 Types of Packaging – Guide for Importers (A detailed guide exploring nine common packaging materials, dunnage options, and their cost/sustainability trade-offs, perfect for linking in early sections about packaging types.)

ISTA Standards for Testing Packaging Reliability [Podcast] (A companion podcast that breaks down ISTA testing procedures (1a, 2a, 3a), great to reference in reliability/testing discussions.)

Why Packaging Is Important For Both Protection & Product Differentiation (Argues that packaging not only protects but also boosts branding, ties nicely into the unboxing and brand experience sections.)

Design for Distribution: What Hardware Startups Need To Know (Explores the interplay between product design, logistics cost, and packaging, relevant for strategic planning content.)

Drop Testing | 3 Tests That Can Save You A LOT Of Money (Covers in detail the package drop test and random tumble tests, valuable for highlighting testing mistakes and thoroughness.)

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