A vague brief creates a quoting cycle. A quoting cycle creates revision rounds. Revisions create restarts. If your last packaging project ran long, it usually traces back to a spec that stayed fuzzy — because a design file is not a specification. Your co-man makes production decisions from performance requirements, not artwork. A launch-ready spec includes:
- Material and substrate, decoration method, tolerances, fill weight and fill line.
- Closure spec, sealing requirements, and equipment compatibility.
- Secondary spec: case count, case dimensions, pallet configuration, barcode placement.
- Retailer-specific requirements: labeling, barcodes, ISTA testing.
The brief that gets the first run right is the one written as a production document — primary and secondary together, retailer requirements included from the start.
Read The New Product Packaging Roadmap, or request a packaging timeline assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What should a packaging specification include?
A launch-ready packaging spec includes material and substrate, decoration method, tolerances, fill weight and fill line, the closure spec, sealing requirements and equipment compatibility. It also covers the secondary spec, such as case count, case dimensions, pallet configuration and barcode placement, plus retailer-specific requirements like labelling, barcodes and ISTA testing.
Why is a design file not enough to brief a packaging supplier?
A design file shows artwork, but your co-man makes production decisions from performance requirements. When the spec stays fuzzy, a vague brief creates a quoting cycle, the quoting cycle creates revision rounds, and revisions create restarts. That chain is a common reason packaging projects run long.
How do I get the first production run of my packaging right?
Write the brief as a production document rather than a design document. Specify primary and secondary packaging together and include retailer requirements from the start, so suppliers are not left to interpret artwork. This cuts the quoting cycles and revision rounds that restart projects.
