From perfume sachets to tubes of toothpaste, chances are you’ve experienced product sampling first-hand as both a consumer and a business.

Traditional product sampling is a powerful marketing tool. It increases the exposure of your brand and boosts consumer awareness of what you have to offer.

It’s also an opportunity to give your potential customers a tantalising sample of your product, which will leave them wanting to buy more.

Everyone appreciates a free product, and if the sample is successful, it can lead to an increase in sales – win-win all round!

In this comprehensive guide, the experts at Fillcon explore what product sampling is, what makes it such a successful marketing tool, and how it can be used for your brand.

What is Product Sampling in Marketing?

Product sampling simply means that your business offers a miniature version of your manufactured product for consumers to try before making a purchase.

The small size of product samples allows for versatile distribution, meaning that it can reach far more people.

Our cosmetic sampling solutions >

How are Product Samples Packaged?

All a product sample needs to contain is just enough of your product to allow it to be sampled adequately.

If your business has never considered making sample packs before, you’re probably wondering how your product could be transformed into a sample packet.

The good news is that there are a multitude of packaging options for you to choose from, meaning that there will be an ideal solution out there for your product. Some of these options include:

• Liquid sachets
• Tissue sachets
• Tubes
• Pouches
• Jars
• Bottles
• Tins

These creative packaging methods mean that many products, from beverages to shower gel, can be made into a sample.

If you have any doubts about the limitations of your brand for product sampling, it helps to consult an experienced and expert sampling company, who will be able to find a solution for you.

Which Industries Benefit from Product Sampling?

Due to the versatility of sample packaging, there are a variety of industries that can utilise sample products as a marketing strategy.

These industries include:

• Personal care
• Cosmetic
• Food & beverage
• Medical
• Household
• Automotive
• Industrial

Why Does Product Sampling Work So Well?

While you may think that the buzz of receiving a free product is the sole reason behind the success of product samples, think again. There are also psychological factors for why product sampling works so well.

When we make our consumer choices, we often prefer to purchase products that are familiar to us. These are products that we have tried and tested, and go on to purchase again and again because we know they satisfy our needs.

Product sampling is therefore the perfect way to tempt a new customer. The size of product sample and the fact that its free, allows the consumer to try your product without having to commit to paying anything for it, removing all risk of wasting their money.

Another reason why product sampling works is that it makes a great impression on consumers. By creating this unique experience, you’re encouraging the consumer to have a positive association with your brand, which could lead to them buying your products in the future (even subconsciously).

Simply put, consumers are more willing to be experimental and try new fragrances or flavours if they know they can put it in their basket at no extra cost.

Learn more: How to Use Cosmetic Samples to Grow Your Business

5 Tips for a Successful Product Sampling Campaign

Before you begin to plan your product sampling campaign, we’ve compiled 5 things you should consider to ensure that you achieve the best results.

Know Your Target Audience

Just the same as with any product, sample or not, you need to make sure that the group of people you are aiming your marketing campaign at are the right audience.

You don’t want to spend time and money on a sample campaign only to discover that you have targeted the wrong individuals.

Make sure you’re 100% sure on your ideal consumer, and adjust your packaging to meet their unique requirements.

Distribution

It’s important that you know the best place to distribute your samples. Certain locations will mean that your product samples will reach a wider audience.

Whether it’s between the pages of a magazine, in stores distributed face to face by a member of your team, or in an end of aisle display, your method of distribution is essential to get right.

Timing

The timing of your campaign is crucial as there may be key dates and holidays which would emphasise the aesthetic of your products and boost its appeal to consumers.

Examples of this are perfumes for Valentine’s Day, or food products for Christmas or Easter.

If your product sample release is centred around a particular day or event, you should ensure that you have everything in place to distribute the product samples at the right time, or you may end up with a whole lot of rebranded sample bottles, but the event has passed!

Follow Up

Product sampling cannot stand alone as a marketing campaign. If your brand goes silent after you distribute your sample, you’ll see significantly less success.

It’s important that your product samples are followed up by relevant advertising, messaging, and more to help boost the sales of your product and solidify your market presence.

Market Research

It can be extremely valuable to review the results of product samples for future marketing campaigns. Use the campaign as an opportunity to reflect on what worked and what could be improved to ensure further success with your next product release.

Cosmetic Sampling Solutions from Fillcon

At Fillcon, we draw from years of experience to work with some of the UK’s leading brands, creating high quality samples for various industries, from cosmetic to medical.

Our passionate team operate with a level of care and expertise you won’t find anywhere else. We work tirelessly to ensure that we offer the best quality and service, continuously striving to exceed your expectations.

If you have any further questions about our specialist services, or need any advice on product sampling, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team.

Read next: Everything You Need to Know About Sending Free Samples to Influencers

Bottles are the most common containers for oil, from beauty serums to olive oil. Fluid products, including oils, suit packaging in bottles due reduced leaking risk and options of lid/caps for dispersion.

There are many advantages to using bottles as packaging, including bulk availability and strong exterior protecting the product.

See more: 8 Benefits of Using Bottles for Product Packaging

At Fillcon, we are the filling experts, able to manufacture and fill a range of containers from tubes and bottles, to tins and sachets, using our specialist machinery. We have worked across industries fulfilling filling needs of industrial, cosmetic, domestic and medical fields.

We have put together this helpful guide to using bottles for oils, including which oils can be used and some top tips.

Using Bottles for Oils

Which oils can be stored in bottles?

Any oil can go into a bottle, however, the bottle size and dispensing method may vary. Bottles are used to contain oils across industries including cosmetics, medical and mechanical.

Health and beauty oils, such as serums or essential oils, are likely to be in smaller bottles with droppers so as to preserve product amount and restrict usage. The smaller the amount of oil in a bottle, the less oxygen it will likely interact with, therefore prolonging its quality, especially important for expensive oil products.

Industrial oils, such as car or bicycle lubricants, may be in larger bottles but have specialised nozzles to protect the oil from oxygen while dispensing the product in exact areas. A long, thin nozzle is typical for this product, especially for difficult to reach components.

Check out the sectors we have applied our expertise to.

Oils for cooking and consumption are also found in bottles, usually glass, and size depends on frequency of use. There is high consumer interest in the purchase of bottles for olive oil, chilli oil, vinegars and more. Common bottle tops for edible oils include either a nozzle, which presents the risk of allowing oxidising, or a screw top lid, effective at keeping the product sealed.

Considerations for Using Bottles for Oil

Before filling bottles with your oil product, there are some factors to consider. From purpose and size to colour and materials, find the perfect packaging solution for your products. Check out some of our sample packaging ideas to get inspired.

Bottle material

Bottles are commonly made from either glass or plastic, both of which can work to house oil. Although, glass is often preferable in order to maintain product quality. Plastic bottles can leak chemicals into the oil, however, this is mainly a concern with oil for consumption.

Reactive metal present similar issues so iron and copper are advised against for housing oils. Stainless steel containers are used to store olive oil occasionally as this does not present reacting issues.

See more: What is the Best Material for Cosmetic Product Packaging?

Bottle colour

Generally, oils should not be overly exposed to oxygen, light, or heat, as this may deteriorate quality. Therefore, oil bottles should not be left in direct sunlight, and should instead be stored in a cool, dry cupboard where possible. Light and heat issues can also be reduced with coloured or frosted bottles.

Olive oil, for example, often comes in dark green glass bottles, which protects the oil from sunlight. Similarly, essential oils are usually in dark coloured glass bottles. Frosted glass can also help alleviate some light exposure.

Bottle lid/cap

Choosing the correct lid or cap for your bottled product can be critical to both the product longevity and customer experience.

To successfully tackle the former, a bottle lid or cap for oil should effectively keep oxygen out to preserve the product. For the latter, oil bottle lids/caps should help customers get the desired amount of product out without dispensing too much and creating waste product. As oil is particularly runny, a large bottle neck with no restriction from which the oil can be poured will likely lead to wasted product.

For health and beauty oil bottles, the exact amount dispensed may be critical, for example essential oil that should be taken as a limited number of drops each time. Here a dropper or pipette is ideal, allowing the user to achieve exact amounts with minimal wastage.

If an oil product is expensive, or a little bit goes a long way, then customers are likely to be keen to reduce wasted product, helped immensely by a suitable lid/cap. Facilitating a positive user experience can go a long way in developing brand loyalty and product repurchases.

Learn More with Fillcon

Fillcon provide holistic filling services, specialising in cosmetic packaging solutions, manufacturing and filling a range of packaging from sachets to tubes and bottles. Using advanced facilities, we fill, seal and supply practically any product type including creams, oils, gels and more. We take pride in our high-quality service and customer satisfaction, ensuring compliance and safety at all times.

Get started with Fillcon – contact us today!

View our full cosmetic sampling services >

Find out more about sachets >

Tubes make highly versatile packaging solutions for businesses in a wide range of sectors. From cosmetics to food items to medicines, there are almost no limits to their applications. Tube filling with state-of-the-art automated machinery ensures intricate precision and top levels of quality, without a hefty price tag! If you’re thinking of using tubes for your products, it’s a good idea to get your head around all the ins and outs of tube filling – the process, the applications, and the benefits!

Fillcon are the first choice for all sorts of brands when it comes to cosmetic sampling. We’re experts in the process, and deliver nothing less than perfection from our advanced facility just outside Bristol. Our tube filling machinery is cutting edge and capable of achieving a superior finish, whatever the product or size.

In this blog, we discuss everything your business needs to know about tubes and tube filling.

How Does a Tube Filling Machine Work?

Most tube filling machines work in a similar way, automatically filling a vast number of tubes with precision and accuracy. Let’s follow the journey of a single one.

• The tube arrives at the filling station.
• It is filled from the bottom using a piston coded with the exact dosage to minimise waste.
• The tube is heated in preparation for being sealed.
• It is sealed pneumatically.
• The excess packaging material is trimmed.
• A batch code is applied to the tube.
• The completed product is ejected from the machine.

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Uses of Tube Packaging

Tubes are suitable for a wide variety of products. Of course, the first thing we think of when we think of tube packaging is cosmetics. From lip gloss to mascara to gels, creams, and other personal hygiene products, tubes make the ideal solution.

Food items like pastes and condiments are often supplied in aluminium or plastic tubes, and so are other household items like fillers and adhesives. Pharmaceutical products like medicines are also perfectly suited to tube packaging. The list goes on and on!

Related: Why Aluminium Tube Packaging is so Popular in Cosmetics >

Benefits of Tube Packaging

Eco-Friendly

Tubes can be a great choice for businesses who want to move towards environmentally friendly packaging. They are available in a variety of recyclable materials including polyethylene (PE), Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics, and aluminium. These days, there are even the options of degradable materials like flexible wood-based tubes and virgin plant-plastics derived from the sugar industry.

Eco Friendly & Recyclable Tubes >

Reduced Waste

Tube filling machines are able to deliver precise doses of whatever liquid, gel, oil, or cream they are administering, reducing the amount of waste produced. In fact, most tube filling machines are highly precise, with a filling accuracy of +/- 1%. For businesses watching their bottom lines, choosing tube packaging offers a cost-effective solution and promises a highly efficient production line.

Easy to Transport

Tubes are lighter and less bulky than other product containers. This means they can be packed more efficiently and therefore transported at a reduced cost. For businesses of all sizes, any way to reduce costs while still providing practical, high performing packaging is sure to offer considerable benefits.

Tips for Choosing the Right Packaging for Small Businesses >

Convenient for Consumer

The reason tubes prove so popular across a range of sectors is that they are highly usable. Without much effort, and even with one hand, consumers can squeeze and dispense a controlled, precise amount of whatever product they are using. That means, from their perspective, they are getting better value for their money because the product will last longer and they can use every single drop. From an environmental standpoint, this also serves to minimise waste. As well as this, tubes are easy and convenient for people to store, whether in washbags, drawers, or bathroom cabinets.

See more: More benefits of cosmetic tube packaging >

Versatile

Tubes can be supplied in a variety of sizes, making them ideal for sampling. The benefit of this versatility is that business’ can contain their main product range of full size products in the same packaging as their samples, helping them entice first time customers and present a unified brand.

At Fillcon, we can fill doses as small as 3ml, and offer minimum order quantities of as little as 10,000 units. Discover our cosmetic sampling solutions today!

How to Use Cosmetic Samples to Grow Your Business – A Step by Step Guide

Design Possibilities

When it comes to creating unique, attractive, luxury packaging, tubes offer plenty of creative potential. With a range of main materials to choose from and all sorts of ways to tailor the look and feel to your brand, tube packaging combines flair and function.

From label design to printing in a range of colours, Fillcon are the one stop shop for all your packaging and filling needs. We can manufacture, fill, and even finish off your products in beautiful Point of Sale (POS) packaging to wow your customers every time.

Read more: Best E-Commerce Packaging for Beauty and Cosmetics Brands

Professional Tube Filling with Fillcon

Fillcon manufacture and fill a range of packaging types, from sachets to tubes to bottles. We specialise in the health and beauty industry, but serve a wide range of businesses, helping them create beautiful, practical products contained in the best packaging option for them. ISO 9001 certified and with meticulous checks in place, you can feel confident when you work with Fillcon that you’re receiving only the highest standard of service. We’re your total filling solution.

Get in touch or request a quote now!

Read next: Using Travel Size Tubes for Your Products

Read next: Everything You Need to Know About Sachet Filling

Used historically since the mid-1800s, aluminium tubes, along with other metals, have long housed all sorts of products from a variety of sectors. Commonly used for cosmetics (or as may be remembered by some, specifically toothpaste), aluminium tubes are also used for food stuffs, pharmaceuticals, industrial products and more.

At Fillcon we use our advanced facilities to fill a range of packaging types, from tubes to bottles and sachets with any number of liquid products. We’ve put together this guide to aluminium tube packaging to explain some of the benefits they provide and answer why they are so popular in cosmetics.

Find out more about our facilities.

Aluminium Tube Packaging in Cosmetics

Aluminium tubes have been used for a range of products across centuries, however, with the advent of widespread plastic use, aluminium was shunned. In recent years, aluminium tube packaging is regaining traction, especially over social media, with online influencers increasingly promoting aluminium tube products on Instagram.

While the aesthetic value of aluminium tube packaging may be responsible for its recent popularity, the benefits afforded by aluminium tube packaging are timeless. Looks are important for sales, but other important considerations for using aluminium tube packaging include product volume, tube fold type, material recyclable, cap type, colour and more.

Other Popular Cosmetic Packaging

Fillcon specialise in cosmetic sampling solutions, filling a range of bottles, tubes and sachets with cosmetic products. Additional to full size products, we also offer a range of travel sized or sampling solutions such as sachets or mini-tubes.

See more: 4 Benefits of Using Sachets for Product Packaging.

Benefits of Aluminium Tube Packaging

The continued use of aluminium tube packaging is testament to the many benefits afforded by this packaging material.

Here are some of the top benefits of aluminium tube packaging:

Infinite recycling

Aluminium can be recycled over and over without losing quality. Where other packaging materials may not be recyclable, or are for a few uses, aluminium can be infinitely recycled. This is especially valuable to environmentally conscious consumers who may actively seek recyclable packaging.

Product protection

Aluminium tube packaging is incredibly airtight and tough, creating an impermeable barrier to exterior elements and protecting the product. For especially sensitive products, such as cosmetics or pharmaceutical goods, substantial protection from light, moisture and oxygen is critical for preservation.  Certain products (from hair dyes to industrial products) may also contain harsh chemicals which must be housed in a strong and suitable material such as aluminium.

The pressure seal aspect of many aluminium tube packaging is also very important for product preservation. By ensuring that the tube doesn’t suck air back in when product is dispensed, aluminium tubes prevent bacteria from coming into contact with the product.

Shipping

Although robust, aluminium tube packaging is still relatively lightweight; a great benefit for shipping. Also, the tube shape helps to ensure space efficiency, allowing more products to be shipped in the same amount of space.

As the tube packaging is resistant to knocks and extremely tough, there is little concern over damage in transit.

Customising

Generally, aluminium tube packaging has a silver, metallic sheen, however there are many customising options available, including finish and colour. This means the tubes can be designed to fit your branding, important for developing recognition and consumer loyalty.

Sizing

Aluminium tube packaging is not very restrained and can be available in a variety of sizes to suit needs/requirements. Typical sizes may range from 7ml, 15ml, 30ml, up to 200ml.

Smaller aluminium tube packaging may be ideal for cosmetic samples or travel size products. It is common to find small aluminium tube packaging used for especially sensitive to air products, such as eyelash and nail glue, which last better in smaller, more protected loads.

Applicators

Lids and closures can have a huge impact on user experience; therefore, it is vital to select the right one for the product. Aluminium tube packaging often houses gels and creams with ranging viscosity, which can be difficult to dispense exactly, however as users can control the dispensed amount exactly with their fingers, most closures work. Getting out too much product can be frustrating for consumers, who may feel like they are being wasteful and losing value.

An important consideration, especially for perishable products, is tamper evidence. Aluminium tube packaging often have seals over the tube neck to prevent the product from spoiling. Latex seals can be peeled off and aluminium seals are often pierced using a point integrated in the lid.

Complete product use

With aluminium tube packaging, consumers can get to every last drop of product by folding the tube. Other materials do not allow the consumer such easy access.

Luxurious feeling

Aluminium may feel more luxurious to consumers than plastic; where plastic may feel cheaper or mass produced, aluminium feels slightly heavier, sturdier and exclusive. Aluminium tube packaging may also ignite feelings of nostalgia or invoke the heritage of a company by reflecting the historic materials and product versions.

Get Started with Fillcon

Whether you have a lip balm, hand cream or any other of a wide variety of cosmetic products, Fillcon can assist you in filling packaging. As specialists in cosmetic sampling solutions, we know all there is to know about packaging solutions. If you want tubes, bottles, sachets and more filled, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

View our services >

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Packaging can be just as instrumental as the product itself in conveying quality and value. As the first thing a customer sees, it is critical your packaging makes a good impression and conveys your brand well. Don’t underestimate the importance of packaging; it has been proven to make customers more excited about the product, more likely to rebuy and spread brand awareness through word of mouth! (Dotcom Distribution Survey)

Here are 9 top tips for luxury packaging sure to WOW customers and secure all-important brand loyalty.

1. Keep Design Delicate

Luxury is usually associated with simplicity and quality, therefore keep your packaging design minimal and let the product and brand do the talking instead. Taking some of the biggest luxury clothing brands as examples, packaging design is often as simple as the brand name and small linear designs or branded patterns. The more understated the packaging is, the more luxurious it may feel.

2. Avoid Bright, Bold Colours

Unless they are your brand colours, bright colours are best avoided for luxury packaging. A well-designed pop of colour, especially if on-brand, can be very pleasing, such as a coloured box lining that contrasts the exterior. Bold colours are often associated with affordable products, whereas neutrals and pastels are more luxurious. To achieve opulence, consider using black, navy, emerald or other dark hues. Don’t shy away from gold accents too; a great way to subtly convey expense without being gaudy.

3. Use Glass Product Packaging

Glass bottles are THE luxury packaging type for perfumes and should be used for scents to invoke opulence. Plastic packaging for a scent can be cheapening. Glass is weighty, glamorous and breakable, adding to its special feel. For products other than perfume, glass packaging can still be effective and opulent, so long as it is well made and high quality. Take your product packaging to the next level with these tips for custom bottle design.

4. Make Your Packaging Interactive

Luxury products are all about the journey, from receiving a gorgeous gift, unveiling the products, to using the product, then treasuring it. Packaging is a vital aspect of this journey. Bows to untie, boxes to open, tissue paper to unfold all create an exciting journey that adds to the luxury and excitement of a product. Whereas lower-end products may come with simple necessary packaging, higher-end products create a whole experience. Just be sure to make the unveiling simple so customers don’t have to use scissors or get frustrated with what should be a lavish experience.

5. Consider Customer Touch

Looks aren’t everything, especially when it comes to luxury packaging. Materials, quality and details should all be detectable by multiple senses. Raised lines, embossed paper or textural changes are minute details that demonstrate the packaging to be luxurious as it is not a mass-produced, flat material.

6. Package Product in Aluminium Tubes

Aluminium tubes were once the go-to packaging for cosmetic products before the advent of plastic. However, aluminium tubes are once again in the limelight, favoured because of infinite recyclability, great usability and, most importantly, the luxurious feel and aesthetic. Perhaps due to the legacy of aluminium tubes, or the weightier more exclusive feel, aluminium tubes invoke a sense of luxury in customers. For ultimate luxury packaging, you want to avoid mass-produced materials that feel cheap like plastic and opt for something more high-class.

See more: Why Aluminium Tube Packaging is So Popular in Cosmetics

7. Embrace Brand Heritage

Luxury is often intertwined with heritage; some of the most expensive high-end brands have been around for decades cultivating a following and a respected place in the minds of customers. If your cosmetics brand has a past, embrace it! Not only does this reassure customers that your products have been tried, tested and clearly liked over the years, but may also ignite feelings of nostalgia. Lean into the past with vintage designs, old fashioned packaging or even simply putting the ‘established date’ for customers to see. Modernity has its appeal, but for the feeling of luxury, the past is an asset.

8. Add Scent

Whether you sell luxury scarves, face creams, makeup or perfume, add a scent to the packaging and wow the customer upon opening. Especially useful if your brand already has its own fragrances, adding scent can help with reinforcing branding. By ensuring your product packaging smells of something pleasing instead of a warehouse, you are going above and beyond to elevate customers’ experience and add luxury to your packaging.

9. Complete with Finishing Touches

The Devil is very much in the detail! Add in finishing touches to the packaging – even if they are hardly noticeable, the effect will be worth it. Some examples of effective luxury packaging details include branded ribbons as bag handles or to untie; personalisation of packaging or product with customer initials; free samples of your other products to give customers more for their money (samples can really help grow business!). Small details are what set apart luxury brands from lower-end ones, and encourages customers to even keep the packaging, show it off and stay loyal to the brand.

Get Started with Fillcon

Fillcon are the industry leader in cosmetic sampling solutions. From filling a variety of products at our advanced facilities or helping businesses grow their customer base through samples, to staying ahead of beauty and cosmetic industry trends, we help cosmetic brands achieve success with their products. Whether you would like to launch a sampling campaign of luxury tubes, bottles or sachets, or need your product packaging filled, Fillcon can help!

Contact us to get started!

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When introducing a customer to your product, you want them to have a positive experience. Trying something wild and innovative might seem like a good idea from a marketing standpoint, but a customer that finds it uncomfortable to use your product sample might mean a customer that won’t come back.

Sometimes, simple is best, and for serums and oils, sticking to market conventions can be a good thing. At Fillcon, we have decades of experience in delivering world-class cosmetic packaging and samples for all kinds of beauty products. In this article, we’ll discuss the different packaging solutions for serums, explain which is best and why, and give some guidance on customising your sample while still staying grounded.

If you’re interested in finding out why we’re the first name in cosmetic sampling, get in touch today.

The Different Types of Sample Packaging Solutions

Before you find out the best packaging type for serums, it’s good to look at the other options out there. Understanding what sampling solutions you can choose from, along with their benefits and use-cases, will give you the insight you need to make the right choice for your serum samples.

Eco-Friendly Sachets

Sachets are the bread and butter of what we offer at Fillcon. With a minimum order quantity of 10,000 units, our sachets provide a convenient way to procure bulk amounts of high-quality samples to distribute to your customers. Made to your needs and specification, our sachets are often the perfect choice for cosmetic sampling and packaging.

A sachet will generally hold a single shot of a cosmetic product and so a small dose would be perfectly suited if a serum was the sample of choice.

Explore the benefits of our sachets >

Recyclable Tubes

We can source and fill a variety of cosmetic tubes made from materials such as PCR (post consumer recycled), sugarcane, or even aluminium, giving you a flexible solution for flexible packaging. Creams, gels and balms are suited to this type of packaging, while oils and serums may use less product per dose which could therefore fall under “multiple use” sampling. Multiple use sampling must be given consideration as to whether your customer will return to purchase the retail product or look for more free samples!

Find out more about our tube filling services >

Recyclable Bottles

Bottles come in glass, plastic, or aluminium, giving a range of options for texture and function. We offer the filling, capping, labelling, coding and pack-off options from sample size bottles up to larger retail size, giving your customers a conveniently portioned peek into your cosmetics.

Bottles are a great solution for product packaging, with perfumes and shower gels being notable examples. However, another great fit for bottles is serums and oils.

See our cosmetic bottle options >

What is the Best Sample Packaging for Cosmetic Serums?

Generally, bottles are the best fit for serums when it comes to retail. It is easiest to apply a serum when it comes from a bottle, while also allowing for more control over the quantity applied at a time.
Sachets are often seen as the most convenient and commercially viable sampling option for serums. Small size bottles still provide a great experience but, much like tubes, often offer multiple uses per container.
Shipping tubes and bottles is quite simple, but it does require more considerations than when shipping sachets. However, as far as cosmetic packaging goes, all three options offer customers a robust and reliable way to interact with and enjoy your products.

Find out more about cosmetic sampling solutions from Fillcon >

The Benefits of Exploring Your Packaging Options

Carefully considering the benefits of different packaging types can also give benefits to your business, helping you:

• Find the right solution
• Cut your environmental impact
• Discover new options
• Appeal to consumer expectations
• Manage your cost

Find the best cosmetic packaging for your product by speaking with the experts – contact us.

How to Customise Your Serum Sample

While you might feel restricted by shipping your serum samples in bottle form, there are plenty of ways you can add your signature charm to the products and stand out from the crowd. Making a quality product is a good way to start, but you can take things further with cosmetic packaging customisation.

Here are some of the features you can edit, chop, and change to make your product packaging bespoke to you:

• Colour. Choosing colours to show off your brand and product can help catch the customer’s eye.
• Shape. A bottle may be the best solution, but that doesn’t mean you have to look the same as everyone else. Changing the shape of your bottle can help set you apart.
• Branding. Let customers know exactly who you are and what you’re about with personalised branding.
• information. Give customers everything they need, from details about your product to methods for recycling.
• Placement. What’s on your packaging matters, but so does where it sits. Make things intuitive and appealing by considering where each element goes.
• Delivery. This means more than just transportation – how you get your sample to your customers will change their perception of it, so make sure it’s done in a way that’s convenient, beneficial, and relevant.

Get some top tips on personalisation and branding for your cosmetic samples >

Cosmetic Packaging and Samples from Fillcon

For serums, sachets, tubes, or bottles can be the way to go, depending on your sampling or retail requirements. A single dose trial or multiple use offering allows your customer to get the best use out of your products and samples, giving them confidence to come back for more. By adjusting the packaging to suit your brand and offering, you’ll be able to stand out from the crowd while still providing something familiar for them to use.
For cosmetic sampling solutions from Fillcon, get a quote today. We fill and assemble all kinds of cosmetic packaging to give your business a leg up over the competition. To find out more about what we do, check out the articles below!

Learn more about the different stopper options with our ultimate guide to cosmetics dispensers and closures >

Bring your products into the hands of your customers with our UK distribution strategies >

In the modern consumer goods sphere, businesses are under rising pressure to make their practices and products more sustainable. One of the simplest shifts towards sustainability is modifying product packaging. As more businesses turn to eco-friendly packaging, more options are emerging, offering businesses opportunities to create unique, customisable products that also reflect their sustainable mission.

In this blog from Fillcon, we outline a range of eco-friendly packaging options for liquid products, all of which are available as a part of our filling and packaging services. In addition to outlining packaging options, we also point out a handful of ways in which a product’s design can contribute to the foregrounding of eco-friendly values.

Types of Eco-Friendly Packaging

Sachets

Our selection of polypropylene sachets provides an ideal solution for single use cosmetic packaging. The recyclable nature of polypropylene as a material makes it perfect for use within eco-friendly business models. Our sachets can be recycled with plastic bags as a part of supermarket recycling schemes. Polypropylene is also lightweight, reducing emissions during transit – a serious bonus for your business’ carbon footprint!

Regardless of their smaller size, our sachets can be customised using high-quality printing technology so there’s no need to compromise on the look of your product.

Pouches

The popularity of pouches is soaring within the packaging industry. This reduced plastic, lightweight, space saving format offers a perfect packaging solution for a wide variety of products.

Spouted pouches offer the flexibility of sachet packaging whilst also offering more sizes and stand-up display.

While popular, pouches aren’t always recyclable, however. Luckily, we have eco-friendly pouch solutions that allow you to enjoy the benefits of pouches in a sustainable way.

Fillcon also offer an anti-microbial varnish that protects pouched products from harmful microbes such as MRSA.

Everything You Need to Know About Spouted Pouches >

Bottles

Here at Fillcon, we offer eco-friendly bottle filling services, with volumes ranging from 2ml – 500ml. Within our bottle filling services, we include filling, labelling, coding, capping and even packing into retail cartons. Bottles are available in a range of recyclable materials, including glass, plastic and aluminium.

As well as using recyclable materials for our bottle filling, we are also able to fill jars and tins using recyclable materials! Our range of recyclable filling options offer an ideal solution for businesses looking to switch to eco-friendly packaging for their liquid products.

Tubes

Thanks to our state-of-the-art tube filling machine, we are able to offer a variety of environmentally friendly tube filling options. We produce tubes ranging from 10ml-150ml in volume, available in a range of eco-friendly materials. These materials include:

• PE (Polyethylene) – which can be recycled easily using most council kerbside pickup services.
• PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) – which is made using a percentage of recycled plastic and can be recycled once empty.
• Sugarcane – This material uses a virgin plastic derived from sugar cane, without use of plastics from limited oil reserves.
• Wood – Our services include a flexible wooden tube that is made from 95% renewable sources and features a lower carbon footprint that conventional tubes.
• Aluminium – Aluminium can be recycled over and over without losing its quality, making it perfect for use within packaging.

Find out more: The Ultimate Guide to Tube Filling

Getting the Most out of your Eco-Friendly Packaging

In addition to the packaging structure, a product can also reflect its eco-friendly properties through well considered packaging properties and design. In the present-day consumer goods industry, many consumers shop exclusively for products with eco-friendly properties. As a result, it is vital to foreground the eco-friendly feel of your product in order to optimise appeal to this growing demographic of shoppers.

Design

The design of your packaging can really contribute to the eco-friendly feel of your brand. Packaging offers a host of opportunities for a branding team to incorporate assets, elements and fonts that nod to eco-friendly principles.

When it comes to eco-friendly packaging, simple designs are popular. Many businesses make this design choice due to the association between sustainability and minimalism. Many designs take inspiration from natural objects or features such as plants, water or product appropriate animals. Similarly, simple fonts often work well when creating packaging that foregrounds sustainability. All of the packaging options available with Fillcon are customisable depending on the needs and vision of your brand.

Material

Choosing the right material for your packaging is important for creating a look and feel in keeping with your brand. You might want to consider the way in which the finish of packaging contributes to their aesthetic and branding. Many brands choose to opt for matte finishes on their ‘eco-friendly’ packaging materials as to appear less airbrushed and visually enhanced.

Colours

Logo colours can really help send out a sustainable message. Research into marketing strategies and product perception have even identified an association between tones of blue, green and brown and environmentalism. Creating packaging design that is cohesive with the brand ethos is vital, strengthening brand identity. Earth tones allow products to acquire a close connection with more natural products and practices, while highly saturated bright hues pose a more ill-fitting contrast to environmental concepts.

Need more tips? Check out our blog on choosing the right packaging for your small business.

Eco-Friendly Packaging with Fillcon

Here at Fillcon, we specialise in offering high-quality, reliable filling and packaging services. With a range of eco-friendly packaging options to choose from, you are certain to find a solution that fits the needs of your business. Our expert team are on hand to advise on all things packaging whether that be customisation, size or even just selecting the right variety for your product. To speak to a member of our team, get in touch today or request a quote by filling in our online form.

Read next: A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Packaging for Liquids

Across a wide range of industries, sachet filling has become immensely popular due to its affordability, customisation, eco-friendliness, and mobility. Businesses big and small leverage sachets for a whole host of reasons — from being an important marketing tool to promote new and existing products to clients, to being a sustainable product packaging alternative for environmentally-conscious brands.

Here at Fillcon, we’re proud to be sachet manufacturing and cosmetic liquid filling specialists, a leader in health & beauty and cosmetic sampling. We work with some of the best cosmetic brands in the UK, helping them with cosmetic sampling solutions to fit all requirements. Be it the filling of a Sachet, Tube, Spouted Pouch or Bottle, we’re super passionate about what we do. And that’s why we have become the go-to cosmetic contract fillers for customers who want the best quality and customer service around.

If you are a business on the search for the best sachet manufacturing company to partner with, we’ve created this guide detailing all the things you should look out for when making the decision.

What is a Sachet Manufacturer?

Let’s start with the basics. Sachets are small sealed bags or packets that contained a small quantity of something — typically things like liquids and impregnated tissues. In the cosmetics industry, for example, sachets tend to be filled with gels, creams, oils, and serums.

Sachet manufacturing is the process of filling the packets. Specialised vertical form fill seal (VFFS) machines or horizontal form fill deal (HFFS) machines are used to form and fill the sachets, in one streamlined process. This process typically is as follows:

• The film (used to create the sachets) is formed and sealed at one end.
• The pre-weighed/ measured product is poured in.
• The remaining sachet edging is sealed and cut.

To learn more about the sachet filling process, feel free to take a look at a video created on our facilities page.

What to Look for in a Sachet Manufacturing Company

At this stage, it’s likely you already have a brand and product in place. The next task to tick off the list is to find a sachet manufacturer to help you benefit from the many advantages of sachet filling. Some of the main reasons our clients use our expert sachet filling services include: to send out free samples; to test out a new range on a smaller scale; and to create travel-sized products. Finding the right company to suit your brand can feel overwhelming. But it’s important that you consider a range of factors to ensure you make the right choice.

Looking at whether the Sachet Manufacturer has ISO9001-2015.  This ensures the company is audited by an independent body every 6 months and has written processes and procedures which are recorded for full traceability awareness.  What other certifications does the manufacturer have, relevant to your industry? Soil Association is an accreditation for brands and manufacturers that promote Certified Organic products.  The entire supply chain is to be certified by Soil Association to release “certified organic” products to market.

Fillcon hold both ISO9001-2015 and Soil Association Organic approvals.

Does the Sachet Manufacturer Have Experience in Your Industry?

When deciding on which sachet manufacturer to choose, you will definitely want to try and find a provider who has experience in your industry. There are some manufacturers who specialise in only a certain niche, and so only have the capabilities to fill sachets relating to certain products.

Be clear on your requirements ahead of your search. Maybe you’re a medical company and want to fill sachets with anti-bac. Or perhaps you are a hair care brand and are looking to send out free samples to prospective customers. Whatever your needs, ensure the sachet manufacturer can meet them using their machinery and operations.

Is the Sachet Manufacturer Sustainable?

As climate change becomes an increasing concern, today’s consumers are demanding better sustainable practices from companies. As a result, brands are searching for ways to minimise their environmental impact. One way to do this is by opting for more eco-friendly packaging.

Not all sachet manufacturers offer sustainable products, so it’s important to consider this when searching for the right provider for your brand. At Fillcon, we offer our customers the chance to use recyclable polypropylene sachets. Using this eco-friendly material, sachets can be recycled with plastic bags, all the while ensuring quality isn’t compromised in the slightest.

By choosing to go with a manufacturer of eco-friendly sachets, you will not only be playing your part in helping protect our planet, but you will also be communicating a strong message to eco-conscious consumers.

Does the Sachet Manufacturer Provide Customisation?

Bespoke branding is crucial when it comes to successful marketing. It can be the difference between a client remembering your brand and your products being lost in the fierce sea of competition. By taking time to work on strong branding and then applying this across your products and marketing materials, you will be sure to have positive results on sales and generate great brand awareness.

When selecting a specialist sachet manufacturer, you want to feel confident that you will have control over the design that goes onto the packaging. At Fillcon, we work with our clients to get a strong understanding of their design and branding specifications, and then apply this to the sachets at the highest quality.

Does the Sachet Manufacturer Have Great Facilities?

Another important factor to consider when choosing a sachet manufacturer is the quality of its facilities. Since the machinery used will play a huge role in determining the quality of the sachet, you want to feel confident that the manufacturer you partner with invests in the best.

At Fillcon, all our specialist machines produce optimal quality and outstanding performance. We have standardised procedures including microbiological TVC tests, both pre- and post-production.

In addition, we have adopted a number of quality control measures to guarantee that every batch has been examined and given the go-ahead for release to the market. Pressure testing, vacuum testing, weight monitoring, and of course visual assessment are all part of standard internal inspections.

When scoping out your sachet manufacturer options, definitely consider whether they invest in their technology, machinery, and their people to ensure smooth operations and the very best results for your brand.

Expert Sachet Manufacturing at Fillcon

Finding the right sachet manufacturer to outsource your sachet production can be an overwhelming process. We have over 11 years of experience working with some of the UK’s leading brands to bring you the confidence you need.

Our talented team work tirelessly to ensure we offer the very best quality and service, with a level of care, expertise, and passion that you won’t find anywhere else. There’s really not much we don’t know about sachet manufacturing, and we will do everything we can to assist your business requirements when it comes to professional packaging. And if later down the line you find yourself needing additional product services, we actually specialise in other areas including Cosmetic Tube filling, Cosmetic Spouted Pouch Filling and Cosmetic Bottle filling.

If you have any further questions about our specialist services or need any advice on product sampling, don’t hesitate to get in touch to reach out to our fantastic team.

Read next: What is Product Sampling?

For business owners, choosing the right packaging is an important decision that can be costly to get wrong! Successful packaging needs to balance look and feel with budget and practical shipping considerations too. With scores of options and variations available, making the right choice can be a minefield. So, if you’re on the hunt for a unique, cost effective way to make your product stand out, we’re here to explain why sleeve packaging might be a good route to go down.

Fillcon are a team of sachet filling experts. We provide clients in all sorts of industries with tailored filling and packaging solutions, whether its bottles, tubes, sachets, or pouches. We pride ourselves in delivering a first class quality product and exceptional service time after time. For the eco conscious amongst us, we even offer environmentally friendly options!

In this blog, we provide an overview of sleeve packaging, and suggest why your business might benefit from it.

What is Sleeve Packaging?

Packaging sleeves are another name for bellybands. Essentially, they are strips of printed card that wrap around a product. They are often a supplementary form of packaging that goes over the top of the primary packaging, whether that be bottles, boxes, jars, or something else. Heavily branded, they usually contain the relevant product information and barcodes too.

Benefits of Using Sleeve Packaging

Now we know what sleeve packaging is, you might be wondering whether your business might benefit from using it. Below, we list some of the main advantages of incorporating them into your packaging strategy.

Cost Effective Branding Solution

Sleeve packaging is incredibly popular with all sorts of businesses. That’s because it’s a cheaper way to create custom, branded unboxing experiences for customers. Instead of having to fork out for printed boxes, bottles, or whatever else depending on the product, businesses can use cheap, generic primary packaging and only pay for the sleeve to be printed. If you’re just starting out and packaging costs are giving you a headache, a sleeve might make a great solution!

Allows Use of More Robust Packaging Materials

To extend the previous point, sleeve packaging also allows you to choose more robust options for your primary packaging. Though it might not look as pretty, strong materials will ensure your product reaches your customer in tip top condition. Using a sleeve can provide the best of both worlds – a customised look and feel that’s sturdy enough to ship!

Read next: Getting Started with Letterbox Packaging

Suitable for Most Industries and Products

Sleeve packaging is highly flexible, making it suitable for a wide range of products. From food to cosmetics to books, if you can wrap some card around it, you can put a sleeve on it!

Easy for Small Businesses to Store

Buying packaging in bulk is often the cheapest option, but many small businesses just don’t have room for it. Sleeve packaging is stored flat, meaning it takes up a minimal amount of space – a simple way to combat this issue. And because you can hold onto large quantities whatever the size of your premises, you’ll never risk running out in case of an order surge!

Can Use for Unique Promotions

Sleeve packaging can be a great way to boost sales through creating unique promotions. Multiple products can be grouped using a special sleeve allowing customers to easily identify and make use of your special offer.

Discover more beauty marketing ideas and inspiration here!

Easy to Create Seasonal Packaging

On the subject of promotions, packaging sleeves can be ordered in small print quantities. This could allow you to create special seasonal variations of your packaging to boost sales across holidays like Christmas, Easter, Valentines’ Day, Black Friday – you name it! Because of the small print run, you won’t have loads of unused stock hanging about, but you still get to make the most of the extra seasonal demand.

Read more: Gift Packaging and Wrapping Tips for the Holidays

Quick and Easy to Pack Orders

If you’re an e-commerce business, efficient order fulfilment is key. Using sleeve packaging can make the packing process highly efficient because it is so easy to assemble and create a good looking package. This will inevitably lead to high levels of customer satisfaction, and see your brand on the road to success!

How to Build and Scale a Cosmetic E-Commerce Empire >

Can Leave Product Partly Visible

For some products, choosing packaging that partly reveals what is inside can be great way to grab people’s attention, show off your amazing product, and demonstrate your transparency as a business. Industries where this can be particularly useful include food and cosmetics. Packaging sleeves can be designed to include cut out sections or to wrap around the product and miss out the primary packaging all together (this works great for things like soap). In conclusion, people like to see what they’re getting, so show them!

Read next: Best E-Commerce Packaging for Beauty and Cosmetics Brands

Twist on Traditional Packaging

With countless design possibilities, sleeves make a great twist on traditional packaging, adding an extra visual element to catch the eye of your audience. These days, there is so much competition, businesses need to do whatever they can to stand out. If you’re exploring packaging options, sleeves can be the perfect way to set your creativity free!

Find out more: Everything You Need to Create Stunning Cosmetic Boxes >

Improves Brand Loyalty and Recognition

And finally, it goes without saying that if you stand out, people are going to start recognising your brand. Creating high quality, custom sleeve packaging for your products will drive sales in the short term, but also lead to better brand loyalty and customer retention down the line. If someone has an unforgettable unboxing (or unsleeving!) experience with your brand, they’re probably going to choose you over a competitor in the future so they can experience it again!

9 Luxury Packaging Ideas to WOW Customers >

Sleeve Packaging Tips

• Bespoke to Brand – Create a unified concept for your sleeve that features your logo and other brand assets to ensure you linger in the mind of your consumer, long after they’ve opened their package or started using their product.
• Keep it Personal – Sleeves are your opportunity to tailor your packaging to your audience, so make the most of it. A key reason why consumers are likely to choose a small business over a large one is the sense of connection to the brand, and the degree of personalisation they offer – so offer it!
• Establish Your Audience – If you want to keep it personal, you’ve got to know the person. Figure out your buyer persona and choosing packaging will be a breeze.
• Draw the Eye – Once you have your target audience, you need to make sure the aesthetic of your sleeve is designed with them in mind. Will a minimalist look capture their attention, or will bold colours work better? Think it through.
• Be Precise – A sleeve is generally held in place by friction alone, so your product measurements need to be highly accurate. There’s no point designing a beautiful sleeve, only for it to fall off!

Premium Filling and Point of Sale Packaging Solutions

At Fillcon, we manufacture and fill a range of sachets, bottles, and tubes for customers in a variety of sectors. After that, we supply them in bulk boxes or finish them in high quality point of sale packaging ready to hit the shelves (physical or digital!).

Start wowing your customers today with help from our friendly, family team. Whatever your filling and packaging needs, we can create a tailored solution just for you.

See more: Benefits of Using Pouches for Your Packaging

See more: Everything You Need to Know About Recyclable Packaging