Strategies for Differentiating Your Pre-Roll Packaging

Packaging cannabis products and distinguishing your brand is a unique challenge. Unlike almost everything else on the market, pre-rolls and other cannabis products must meet stringent regulations—and that includes how it’s packaged and presented. So, when designing your pre-roll packaging, you must be able to balance innovative packaging strategies with legal and regulatory issues.

Here we present innovative strategies for putting your pre-rolls front and center—and winning over loyal fans

A Brand Apart - Cannabis Pre-Roll Packaging Strategies for Maximum Impact

Pre-rolls are a popular choice for new consumers and regular customers alike, allowing them to save money while trying different strains. They’re also portable and convenient, making them one of the quickest-growing cannabis industry market segments and the no. 1 add-on to any dispensary purchase. And there’s plenty of competition. How do you make your packaging and your brand stand out? Every aspect of your packaging tells a story about your brand and what you offer to your customers.

After satisfying state and local regulations, such as the need for child-resistant packaging and labeling requirements, there are many ways you can promote your brand through pre-roll packaging.

Choose a pre-roll packaging design that is:

Appealing and visible

It must catch the eye on a shelf full of competing brands. What makes a package attractive depends on your product and the desired audience. Conduct market research with your target audience and have a deep understanding of your brand and what makes it unique. Are wild graphics and bright colors part of your brand identity, or do you cater to a more sophisticated user?

Unique

If your products look like all the others, they won’t stand out. Research competitors’ packaging and choose a design that’s unique. This could be as simple as a different shape, color scheme or layout (vertical versus horizontal). Consider creating custom pre-roll packaging with a special finish and embossing or gold foil. Other considerations include the packaging size and materials.

Clear and simple

It is vital to clearly communicate, through packaging, what your product is, how it’s used and what it offers. Remember that simplicity in packaging often conveys luxury and elegance, as opposed to a flashy, busy design. Again, it’s all in the type of customer you wish to attract.

Authentic and honest

Authenticity and honesty are very important traits for any business, and these are also conveyed in the packaging. Consumers prefer a simple, honest design. If there are graphics on the packaging, ensure that they accurately show what’s inside. And be sure to tell your brand’s story, as this will encourage loyalty and future support.

Does your pre-roll packaging speak to your brand’s quality and your company’s values? For example, if your brand values environmental concerns, you should offer biodegradable and compostable packaging so that customers can see that you “walk the talk.”

Clear on benefits and features

If the package contains a certain strain, it should be clearly displayed, along with its benefits. Is the package biodegradable? These may be deciding factors for customers.

Effective and practical

Is the package design practical for your customer? Is it a convenient size? This, in the end, is one of the most important aspects to consider. The packaging should make it easy to use and store the product.

Tailored to its audience

Consider your audience. Is this medical or recreational marijuana? Does the strain address sleep issues or does it provide an energy boost? Use appropriate colors that signify its intended use, as this will help your customers to distinguish between products.

As you see, there are many aspects to pre-roll packaging that play a part in telling the story of your brand and eliciting the desired emotional response in your target audience, which will not only lead to a sale but to brand loyalty.

Designing Packaging for Cannabis Pre-Rolls – Practical Considerations to Keep in Mind

While considering all these strategies for promoting and marketing your pre-roll brand, and the many different design options, there are important packaging aspects to consider which are unique to pre-rolls.

The cannabis industry is heavily regulated, with rules that vary by state. What’s acceptable in one state may not be in the state where your dispensary is located. Some states require child-resistant packaging, for example, while others might require the packaging to be opaque. For a deeper look at some of the state-by-state differences in labeling laws and other packaging requirements, check out our Comprehensive Cannabis Packaging Compliance Guide.

While there are certain similarities across the U.S., each state has its own regulations and differ in ensuring compliance. This can affect the type of packaging that is not only most effective, but that can be used at all. For example, if your state requires that pre-rolls be kept behind a counter, and customers are not able to handle your product, the packaging must be able to stand out at a distance and your brand must be clearly visible.

Regulations may include:

1. Display and storage (e.g., must be kept behind the counter);
2. Label requirements (ingredients, batch number, barcode, health risks, warnings, dosage, lab results, etc.);
3. Labeling restrictions (prohibition of cartoons, candy-like packages or health claims); and
4. Child-resistant features (e.g., tamper-proof design)

It is vital to comply with local and state regulatory requirements to maintain licensing where you do business and not run afoul of the law.

Custom Cones USA Helps Your Brand Stand Out in the Crowd

At Custom Cones USA, we offer a wide selection of pre-roll packaging materials, from pre-roll tins and flip packs to push packs and specialty packaging such as organic hemp and biodegradable/compostable materials.

As cannabis packaging experts, we collaborate with cannabis businesses to create unique and effective pre roll packaging for your brand that complies with local and state requirements

We also offer custom design services. If you don’t have an in-house design team, we can work with you to create the perfect logo and custom pre-roll packaging that will be unique to your brand and will set you apart.

Contact us today to learn more about our products and services and how we deliver innovative solutions for your pre-roll business