Your product could be excellent — but if the packaging doesn't communicate quality and trust at first glance, customers will pick a competitor's product instead. In over 20 years of printing and packaging, we've seen these five mistakes repeatedly hurt businesses across the FMCG, tea, and food sectors.

1. Overcrowding the Design

Trying to fit every product detail, certification badge, and promotional message on the front panel is one of the most common mistakes. The eye doesn't know where to look — so it looks away. Great packaging uses negative space deliberately. Pick one strong visual, one clear headline, and one call to action. Everything else goes on the back or sides.

2. Using Low-Resolution Images

Pixelated product photography or blurry logos printed at scale look deeply unprofessional — and customers associate print quality with product quality. All artwork for packaging must be at minimum 300 DPI at final print size. Vector logos (AI or EPS format) are non-negotiable. If your designer is sending you a JPG logo, that's a red flag.

3. Ignoring the Shelf Context

Many brands design packaging in isolation — on a white screen — without considering how it will look surrounded by competitors on a retail shelf. Always test your design in real-world context. Mock it up in a shelf environment. Check if it stands out or blends in. Contrast, colour temperature, and height all affect visibility from 3–5 metres away.

4. Choosing the Wrong Material or Finish

The substrate and finish define the customer's first physical impression of your product. A premium tea brand using thin, flimsy pouches immediately undercuts its perceived value. The finish — matte lamination, gloss, soft-touch, UV spot — should match your brand personality. Matte says sophisticated; gloss says vibrant; soft-touch says luxury.

5. Not Providing Print-Ready Files

A beautiful design can be ruined at press if the file isn't properly prepared. Missing bleed area, incorrect colour mode (RGB instead of CMYK), missing font outlines, or incorrect dieline specifications all cause costly delays and reprints. Always work with your printer from the very beginning of the design phase — share the dieline template before the designer starts, not after.