Why Incorporating More Sensory Elements Can Elevate Your Creative Business

As a creative, you’re already more than aware of the fact that you need to do what you can in order to stand out, right? After all, it’s really important to have an idea of how to stand out from the competition (especially when the market is so overly saturated). For the most part, businesses of all types, even creatives, need to be more outlandish in their process, their marketing, and, yes, above all, their product (or service).

So, if you’re a creative who has a strong focus on products, such as selling on Amazon, then you need to understand the sheer importance of doing what you can to stand out. Sometimes, the visual aspect isn’t enough (such as just seeing a product in person or on a screen). Sometimes, you have to do a lot more as a business owner. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a bad thing, either. especially if you’re creative or just have a passion for thinking outside the box.

Actually, nowadays, it’s not just about sight, but it’s really helpful to engage in multiple senses. To a degree, this can be one powerful yet often overlooked strategy. But how? Well, by engaging multiple senses, you can create memorable experiences, evoke positive emotions, and deepen the connection between your brand and your customers. So, with that all said, here’s why sensory packaging can be a game-changer for your product and how you can leverage it effectively.

The Power of Touch

Needless to say, touch is a powerful yet often underestimated sense. So, yes, when it comes to certain products, there’s an expectation that the power of touch is there. For example, if you’re buying an oven mitt, you expect a certain quality; the same goes for something like a dress, too. However, outside of these expected pieces, it still helps to incorporate some type of element of touch.

The texture and feel of your packaging can significantly influence a customer’s perception of your product. Here’s a great example: Dior’s boxes have a bit of texture to them. There’s this slight ruffle when you slide your hands to open the box. The same goes for Gucci as well. Their envelope that has the receipt in it is embossed, so you get to feel it.

 So, buying textures boxes, or even getting an embossing machine can be really expensive, sure, these high-end brands can easily afford them, but not necessarily small businesses. So, in this case what can even be done? Well, you can still offer a nice experience.

Overall, it’s about having high-quality materials and finishes that can convey a sense of luxury and value, but this doesn’t inherently need to be expensive. Overall, luxury doesn’t always need to be expensive. For example, one really cheap way to go about this for product packaging would be just by using sticker labels that have some texture to them. Maybe it can be little ripples on the sticker, a letterpress of your branding, or even some gold foil around the edges. They’re small, they still have that element of touch, and it’s not expensive either.

The Subtle Art of Sound

Sound is another sense that can be cleverly incorporated into your packaging. The right sounds can enhance the unboxing experience and add to the overall perception of quality. Actually, this one might be the easiest of them all. For the most part, not a lot of thought needs to go into this one.

Since it’s pretty easy, all you’d need to consider would be something like a satisfying snap of a well-designed lid, the crinkle of high-quality tissue paper, or the gentle rustle of a ribbon being untied. These sounds can create a sense of anticipation and excitement, making the act of opening your product a pleasurable ritual.

It’s All About the Visual Feast

Everyone knows how important this is, especially if you’re a creative! It doesn’t matter if it’s the product itself or even the product packaging you’re trying to focus on, but overall, the visual aspect greatly matters. If you really think about it, the first sense that packaging engages is sight. So technically, visually appealing packaging can make your product stand out on crowded shelves and attract potential customers.

But it’s not just about catching the eye—it’s about creating an emotional connection. There are all those basics that need to be considered, such as shapes, colors, aesthetics, and so on.

The Scent of Success

So this one really throws off people, but this does deserve attention as well. Even if it’s not perfume, food, drinks, or cosmetics, there should still be some attention. For example, if you were to ever buy anything from Amazon, Shein, or even Temu, there’s this gross factory smell that everyone hates. You do not want your products associated with a bad smell. So, trying to incorporate some nice scent can help a lot.

This is a partnered post.