Utilizing fully transparent packaging in consumer goods like fully clear deodorant sticks can be an appealing option for companies looking to highlight the color or composition of their actual product inside the container. However, there are several drawbacks to clear deodorant sticks that make alternative packaging options more appealing to consumers and, ultimately, more profitable. As a wholesale distributor of stock packaging for deodorant products, DISTRIBUPACK is well aware of the appeal of clear packaging but is quick to encourage customers in more practical and different directions. This article looks at the possible drawbacks of using clear deodorant sticks, the recommended replacement products, and how working with a U.S.-based distributor like DISTRIBUPACK can keep production on schedule and the shelves full.
Possible Drawbacks to Fully Clear Deodorant Sticks
For reference, the late 1980s and 1990s represented the peak of fads where “everything was transparent,” from inflatable plastic furniture to phones and video game consoles. Some may even remember the short-lived Crystal Pepsi that quickly disappeared from grocery store shelves. While revealing a product's inner workings seemed appealing at first, there were notable drawbacks that, even now, carry over to consumer goods like deodorants, balms, and other healthcare items frequently stored in the stock packaging solutions sold by DISTRIBUPACK.
- Product Degradation: Clear or fully transparent packaging may seem like a good idea at first, until your product may be continually exposed to outside factors causing it to degrade. In containers made of certain materials, if the interior deodorant or balm product has a specific color, that color may fade unevenly and lead to customers pulling from the back (leaving old/unsellable inventory on the shelf) or choosing a different product entirely. There can be a perceived “loss of value” by the consumer.
- Quality Perception: Although not always the case, transparent packaging can lead to negative customer sentiment. With personal care or certain healthcare items especially, shoppers may be inclined to think of your product as “cheap” and, therefore, believe it to have subpar quality or performance. Sometimes seeing the inside contents is the exact opposite of what the customer wants to do, because the conscious or subconscious always wants to “see more quality” leading to unrealistic expectations.
- Branding & Design: On items like clear deodorant sticks, it can be a challenge to pair the branding or packaging design with transparent containers. This is especially important if the color of the product itself clashes or does not match an established brand identity. Secondary factors (labeling, etc) of the container presentation may suffer with a fully transparent package offering a less than ideal background or “landscape” to highlight the brand identity.
- Over-Handling: Curiosity killed the cat, or something like that! Clear packaging is proven to lead to over-handling by consumers as they consistently handle items and inspect the interior parts or products. This overhandling can produce visual imperfections on the packaging surface or result in drops at the store that lead to product waste, as well as customers determining there are just things about the contents that they just did not want to see that may lead to lost sales.
- Price: Clear deodorant sticks are more expensive than natural deodorant sticks due to several factors, primarily related to the raw materials and production processes involved in creating both options. Clear deodorant sticks require more specific and specialized resin, scheduling, and manufacturing, while natural deodorant sticks only require the typical and always available resins, scheduling, and manufacturing thus leading to substantial cost savings over clear deodorant sticks.
What to Use Instead of Clear Deodorant Sticks?
When those interested in fully clear deodorant sticks reach out to the experts at DISTRIBUPACK and ask about suitable alternatives, there is only one ideal option that offers the muted transparency feature without the negative drawbacks of completely clear packaging. For a few reasons, we recommend natural deodorant containers as a replacement for clear deodorant sticks.
First, the semi-transparent natural containers still allow customers to inspect the interior of the product and determine how much product is remaining. However, the less opaque plastic does not allow for nearly as much UV penetration and can protect the inner solid or gel from fading or degrading.
Second, DISTRIBUPACK natural deodorant containers are better suited for a wide range of existing brand designs, labels, and stickers used throughout the industry. Unlike clear deodorant sticks that can present as inferior quality, natural containers have an upscale appearance to them that is especially conducive to more natural or organic product types.
Lastly, the natural containers are still competitively priced with other deodorant stick packaging designs and are available in a variety of different types and sizes. With Top Fill Oval Propel/Repel sizes ranging from .50oz to 3.50oz, and the Narrow or Wide Gels ranging from .50oz to 4.00oz, the natural deodorant containers are a convenient option for both established and emerging deodorant brands looking to highlight their product without experiencing the negatives of using completely transparent packaging.
Ordering Clear Deodorant Sticks from DISTRIBUPACK
Making the switch from clear deodorant sticks to natural deodorant containers provides brands with a smarter, more sustainable packaging solution without the drawbacks of fully transparent packaging. Issues like content degradation, branding limitations, additional costs, and negative consumer perceptions can impact the product success of clear deodorant sticks, while natural containers provide the best of both worlds. DISTRIBUPACK offers a variety of high-quality, U.S.-based packaging solutions to keep your deodorant products looking great on store shelves and in consumers’ hands.
