Bramble Berry received a sample of Black African Soap from an importer. They were hoping we would love the soap so much that we would carry it.
Unfortunately, the soap arrived with mold growing on its (cool but apparently not suitable) Palm Leaf wrapper.
This is a good reminder that testing and review is always the final step after developing great products, concise labeling and cool packaging. Take some time this weekend to find five minutes and reflect on your packaging and the importance of first impressions. Are your products packed well enough to arrive to the vendor safely? Are your formulations fabulous enough to ensure no germs or bacteria grow in them? What does your product say before the recipient even opens your brochure or literature?
It’s that last final step that may make the difference between a dud and a sale.
Purchasing a shrink-wrap system was one of the best things I ever did. I know that shrink wrapping isn’t exactly natural, but I always get very positive comments about my packaging – AND it keeps fingers and noses out of my products!
Erin
Ohh, that is really unfortunate. Well, it’s just a reminder to us all: Test everything, even the packaging. Because you don’t get another chance to make a good first impression
Some things work better in your mind than they do in reality. I like the idea… I’m sorry it didn’t work very well, but glad it happened so I don’t have to make that mistake 🙂 Thanks for sharing it so we can all learn from it! I’ve been looking for more natural packaging… I guess there is such a thing as TOO NATURAL.
Heidi,
That’s a sound idea! BB does that (shipping boxes to NYC and getting them back) for most of our new products too.
The soap sounds cool, but I’d like mine without the mold please = )
I tend to agonize over shipping. I even send test packages. I thought I was being paranoid, but I guess its not such a bad idea after all.
That is a great reminder to check things out before you try it with a customer.
I would be scared to use that soap even if it was fine under the palm leaves.
Gross!
True – true –
Love the idea of the palm leaf, but yick-mold.
I know. I feel bad for the vendor too. It’s just a good reminder for us all (including BB) to always be dotting those i’s. =)
Well, yuck! I hope all the ASM swap goodies you mailed to yourself arrive safely and mold free. Let us know when you get it and start indulging. Enjoy! btw, it was great meeting you!
Mold?! Definitely not a great first impression.
That’s so sad and such a great reminder to all of us! I can imagine how the sender must feel to see the mold on their beautiful soap… the good news is that they’ll probably never let that happen again! Thanks for the wisdom, Anne-Marie!