Stick packs have helped revolutionize drinks and other consumer products. For drink powders increasing in popularity, stick packs could be a game-changer that boosts your business.

Drink powders aren’t a niche product anymore, the drink powder industry is worth over 70 billion dollars. Millions of people are using drink powders to turn their water bottles into coffee, energy drinks, medicinal drinks, and more. One of the many reasons they’re becoming so popular is that consumers want to be able to turn their plain water bottle into the newest flavor of their favorite drink – but it’s also because of stick packs.

Stick pack packaging has revolutionized how several products are presented to consumers. They’re used for medicines, vitamins and supplements, gels, and they’re very commonly used for drink powders. Not only does it make powders portable and convenient, but it’s a cost-saving way of introducing new flavors and drink types. Stick packs help with that.

Consumers and manufacturers alike have noted how stick packs fare against traditional packaging, and the results are surprising. Not only are they small enough to fit into any backpack or purse, but they’re sustainable and can even increase the shelf-life of the products they contain.

For manufacturers looking to boost their business, and sales, stick packs are more than just a convenient alternative. They can revitalize older products and revolutionize the way that new products are given to the consumer. For the many drink powder businesses that now exist, stick packs can be a major asset.

Let’s talk about what they are and why exactly stick packs are changing entire industries.

What Are Stick Packs?

Stick packs might seem relatively new, but they’ve been around for decades. Originating in Japan as a way of packaging condiments more efficiently, they’re now used in a wide range of industries to package a wide range of products.

Simply put, stick packs are small containers made of paper or plastic that are designed for single-servings of whatever they contain. They’re small and narrow, flexible, and easily ripped or torn to ensure they can be used and disposed of quickly and cleanly.

While they’re most often used for powder they can also contain gels, condiments, probiotics, or other products.

The Versatility of Stick Pack Packaging

In one case, they might be used for sunscreen or vitamins; in another, they could contain a flavored powder to make your favorite drink. They’re even becoming more popular for beauty products like creams and fragrances due to their portability and slim design.

Instead of having to keep an entire container of cream in a backpack or purse, one can just grab a single-use stick pack that has the exact amount of the product they need.

Several products could benefit from using stick pack packaging, and drink powder manufacturers have been taking notice.

The Challenges of Traditional Drink Powder Packaging

Whether it’s protein powder that gets turned into a shake or an orange-flavored powder that creates the latest drink, drink powders are commonly used for a wide range of purposes. But not everyone wants to hoist a 10-pound container of powder just to make their breakfast every morning, which is why traditional drink powder packaging can often limit how easily the product is used.

Tubs and bottles aren’t easily transported, they’re often bulky and difficult to bring along on whatever journey they’re needed for. When going on vacation, or just going on a daily commute, it can be tedious to drag along a drink powder packaged in material that’s simply not portable.

Traditional drink powder packaging has quite a few limitations:

  • Bulky or heavy traditional packaging won’t fit into most carry-ons, backpacks, and purses
  • Due to their size, many of these packaging materials utilize an unsustainable amount of plastic or materials whose use is harmful to the environment
  • Utilizing larger packaging makes it more difficult to properly portion control for drinks and daily usage
  • Powder can often get stuck in bulky containers that aren’t easily shifted or shaken
  • Bulky packaging can often impact customer satisfaction as they make it more difficult and tedious for the product to be used

Customers don’t want a significant amount of their luggage or backpacks dedicated to a simple drink powder – so what’s simpler than a single-use, easily transported container that can fit in the smallest of pockets?

That’s why stick packs not only benefit the customers, they can benefit entire brands.

How Stick Packs Help Brands to Stand Out Against Competitors

Stick packs aren’t just convenient for the customer, they can help boost a manufacturer’s entire brand. Not only can it increase visibility, but it leads to several surprising benefits.

– Contemporary, Consumer-Friendly Designs

Even though they’ve been around for decades, stick packs are still seen as a relatively new form of packaging by many. Due to their slim, sleek, and minimalist designs, they more closely align with the modern consumer than bulky bottles or sachets. Millions of drink powder users commute to work every day. Most are often looking for ways to shorten their morning routine. Grabbing a single stick pack is much easier than trying not to spill a giant jug of drink powder.

Their compact size makes them ideal for anyone who commutes, which is roughly 77% of the United States population.

– Eco-Friendly Advantages

A large plastic container of drink powder is not only costly and bulky, it’s often unsustainable. In a world that’s becoming more conscious of plastic and other material usage, manufacturers need to look for sustainable materials that can please those consumers. Stick packs utilize far fewer materials, and can be made of more environmentally-friendly materials than regular drink powder packaging.

That not only benefits the environment, it appeals to the millions of consumers who are becoming increasingly eco-friendly.

– Premium Brand Image

A bulky container with minimal branding is no longer the modern or contemporary packaging choice. Instead, stick packs give a premium impression to the consumer. Not only are they convenient, but they’re elevating businesses with increased branding and visibility. Whether it’s instant coffee or protein powder, stick pack packaging is seen as a more advanced packaging solution as opposed to traditional drink powder packaging.

How Stick Packs Can Drive Sales

Brand awareness is great, but stick packs can also lead to a sales increase. When buying pounds of drink powder in bulk, a consumer is committing to using the same product for months or years at a time. That’s not the case with stick packs, and that’s not the only way they’re driving sales for drink powder manufacturers.

Portion Control

Many consumers utilize drink powders for diets or workout routines. Utilizing bulky containers can often be messy and difficult, which is why stick packs are becoming so popular for those consumer products. An athlete doesn’t have to worry about portion control when a single-use stick pack is the exact portion they need. There’s no more guesswork; no more digging through containers with small spoons or cups.

For health-conscious consumers looking for convenience and portion control, there’s nothing more convenient than stick pack packaging.

Encouraging Trials

As mentioned above, buying pounds of a drink powder is more than a purchase, it’s a commitment. That means one flavor and one product being used for months at a time. Using stick packs changes that.

The consumer can now vary their diet and choose different products or flavors. For companies promoting new flavors or product lines, it’s an extremely effective way of introducing the consumer to a new product without a costly, long-term commitment.

Repeat Purchases

Bulk packaging is more difficult for consumers to both store and use. It’s inconvenient for the consumer, and it could mean that a manufacturer’s product is used less frequently. Stick packs deliver the perfect portion and are finished in one use. Even though they can be sold in bulk, it’s much more likely that a consumer finishes a box of single-serving drink powders than a massive container of a single drink powder.

That leads to increased loyalty from appreciative customers as well as increased reorders.

Bundles and Promotions

For companies with different flavors or varieties, stick packs can be the easiest way to introduce new products to the consumer. They can bundle different products together, creating gift set opportunities.

For manufacturers creating subscription or sample boxes, stick packs can easily deliver small increments of different flavors or products to make those bundles more appealing.

Operational Benefits of Stick Packs

The benefits of transitioning to stick pack packaging aren’t just those that the consumer will experience. Manufacturers will notice a few other advantages.

Cost-Efficiency

Instead of having to ship massive or bulky containers, shipping costs will lower thanks to the stick pack’s lightweight and compact design. Not only does that reduce costs, but it also reduces the environmental impact of those shipping processes and reduces material waste.

Retail Shelf Optimization

Shelf space is so valuable that some manufacturers often pay for it. Instead of large containers taking up too much space, stick packs utilize far less space which benefits both the manufacturer and the retailer. It also creates unique branding opportunities with different shelf displays and potential end-caps.

E-Commerce Compatibility

A large, bulk package being broken in transit leads is a costly product loss. Stick packs aren’t just easier to ship, they’re durable, increasing the chance they arrive at the retailer intact and unharmed. Their small and lightweight design also makes them optimal for online orders, be they bulk or small orders.

Consider every detail when deciding to switch to stick packs.

Key Considerations for Transitioning to Stick Packs

Understanding Your Audience

While not every product is suited for stick packs, it’s important to take your customer base into account. Stick packs can reduce waste, which appeals to the increasing number of consumers who want eco-friendly products. While not every market needs single-serve convenience, that’s a decision that should be left to the consumer.

Product Compatibility

Drink powders aren’t all the same. Even though it could be beneficial to use them, it might not be the most appropriate option for products with different consistencies or portion sizes. Take into account the product and the serving size of that product before deciding to make the move to stick packs.

Selecting the Right Co-Packing Partner

Just like not every product is the same, not every co-packer is the same either. Experience is key, and T.H.E.M. has years of experience delivering a diverse range of products to the consumer in high-quality stick pack packaging. Make sure to vet any co-packer before making potentially costly choices, or mistakes.

The Future of Stick Packs in the Drink Powder Industry

The use of stick packs is steadily increasing every year. They’re convenient for the consumer as well as the manufacturer, and businesses are taking notice. A market that continues to look for sustainable packaging needs only to look at stick packs to find that solution.

Over time, they’re only going to become more beneficial to those that need it. More materials are being used to make them; more products are being innovated to be packaged with them. As more manufacturers are learning just how beneficial they are, T.H.E.M. continues to offer the co-packing opportunity they’re looking for. Numerous industries are pivoting to single-serving products and packaging, which is why finding the perfect co-packer is just as important as the products themselves.

Don’t be left behind by a market that continues to evolve. Let T.H.E.M. help innovate and change the way consumers view your business.

CATEGORIES: