The role of market research in pack redesign performance

Abstract

The visual design of consumer packaged products is crucial for brand success, as consumers learn to recognise pack styles and look for these in buying situations. Therefore, any pack redesign is risky, as the change could interfere with consumers’ ability to find and buy the brand. Market research is often undertaken to reduce the risk of poor pack redesign decisions. Many different approaches are available, meaning marketers must select an appropriate method to increase the chance of pack redesign success. As such, our paper investigates the role of market research in packaging redesign performance. We examine data collected via an online survey with 227 marketers who were asked questions about the last pack redesign they were involved with within the previous two years. The findings challenge the assumption that conducting pack redesign research will boost its success. Notably, commonly used methods and metrics, such as focus groups or brand attitudes, are associated with less successful outcomes. In contrast, testing that identifies and suggests elements to retain in an existing pack design, that consumers link with the brand proves promising, as it is linked to more successful pack redesigns.