Established audiences are a consistent way for cosmetics brands to ensure their income. However, appealing to new customers requires an understanding of their expectations regarding your products, as well as the ability to showcase your products to them. Of these audiences, Gen Z and the younger generations are a lucrative, expansive, and often hard to understand source of potential new customers.

At Fillcon, our expertise extends beyond the quality cosmetics packaging and samples we supply. In this article, we’ll offer our advice on how you can reach younger audiences with cosmetics, the importance of cosmetics marketing, and how samples can help you win over prospective customers.
Support your marketing efforts with product packaging from the leading UK provider – get in touch.

How Do You Reach Younger Audiences with Cosmetics?

Social Media

The primary way younger audiences find new products is through social media. In fact, a study by Bazaarvoice in 2022 found that 70% of shoppers discover products through social media. With the rise of TikTok shop and ecommerce as a whole, this value is likely to only have risen since the survey was conducted.
Popular social media for consumers and advertisers include Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. They often have strict guidelines as to what adverts can be posted, and reaching your target audience can be difficult – especially with new data protection laws on the way. This doesn’t mean that social media isn’t the solution, however.

Influencers

Popular content creators on various social media platforms have a great deal of influence over their audiences – hence the name “influencers”. Affiliation programs and sponsorships with these influencers work much the same as other sponsorship deals, but appear to come from a more genuine place. This is especially true when you work with influencers that create content on the theme of your products.

Follow Beauty Trends

Being behind on the trends will mean you’re not keeping up with the rapidly changing demands of modern generations. Social media has meant trends and fads come and go at unprecedented rates, so you need to stay on top of these changes to keep your products relevant. There’s nothing worse than a business trying to look “cool” or trendy, only to be following a trend that had died out months before.

Advertise Diversely

Keep your products on the minds of your customers. With so much content on so many different platforms, it can be easy to get lost or forgotten. Having a range of ads including Google Ads, YouTube, and print ads can help you stay relevant. Despite the rise of social media as a marketing tool, these other channels are still a great way to reach fresh audiences.

Tone of Voice

While your visuals are important, your brand identity is more than just what you look like. How you sound is also a key part of differentiating yourself from competitors and appealing to the younger generations. If you sound too stiff or formal, there’ll likely be a disconnect – but go too far with it, and they may not like it just the same. Striking a fine balance with the way you talk can go a long way.

Clean Business Practices

The environment is important for every business, and every consumer. This makes clean business practices a crucial step towards being respected by younger audiences. Samples and storage from Fillcon offer a sustainable solution, with recyclable materials, cheaper & more efficient transportation, and increased longevity for your products leading to less wastage.

Find out more about the eco-friendly cosmetics solutions from Fillcon >

The Importance of Influencers for Cosmetics Marketing

Influencers come with a huge audience base. While this is already a plus, these audiences generally come with the added benefit of having certain identifiable interests. This means you can tailor your selection of influencers to the target audience you’re trying to reach.

Once you’ve found the right influencer to partner with, the benefits just keep on coming. Alongside the easy and natural access to their audience, you can massively reduce the admin required for your marketing by having them speak on your behalf.

The ideal influencer will already be making content related to your product. Not only does this make your ad even more relevant to the interests of their other users, but it helps it to fit organically alongside the other content on their channel.

Having an influencer partnership can eventually lead to brand ambassadors – people who specifically advertise your brand, and use it throughout their lifestyle and content.

Aligning Your Products with Influencers’ Target Audiences

Whichever influencer you end up with, you’ll need a product that appeals to customers. Attractive product packaging that matches their expectations will help increase the interest in your products. You can even use your research on influencers to help inform what types of products, marketing, and visuals are doing well, shifting yours to align with these trends.

You need appealing, customisable, and robust product packaging for your cosmetics to succeed. Contact us today to secure cosmetics packaging that reaffirms your marketing messages.

How to Use Cosmetic Samples to Win Over Gen Z

Cosmetic samples offer a quick look into your products benefits, showing customers whether or not it is something they’d like more of. For cosmetics, this has the added benefits of showing the effect of your products in a real situation, while also allowing users to see if they have any reaction to it.

Since they’re free and can have custom branding, cosmetic samples are a great way to promote your brand. Increasing brand awareness means customers are more likely to think of you when they come to make a purchase – a concept compounded if they already know how great your products from a first-hand experience via a sample.

Appealing visuals go a long way with making your samples stand out, helping to keep you memorable. The marketing channel you choose is also important as it shows you care about customers’ perspectives and opinions.

Free products are a way of getting younger people to interact with your products and brand without pushing them into a purchase. When used as part of an influencer promotion, either through free sample sachets or full product giveaways, this gives an engaging way for new customers to try out your cosmetics as part of a community.

Once a customer has used a sample, they’re more likely to come back for a number of reasons – both due to seeing the success of your product, and through the psychology of product sampling.​

Find out how cosmetics samples work to influence consumer behaviour >

Cosmetic Sampling Solutions from Fillcon

Reaching Gen Z and younger audiences on the platforms they use, through a relevant voice they find familiar, is the best way to ensure your cosmetics are being marketed to the right people. Repeat business comes from a satisfied or intrigued customer, and the quality cosmetic samples from Fillcon help you achieve that,

Get in touch today! We fill all types of cosmetics, and supply sample sachets for orders of 10,000 or more, providing you with your entire cosmetics packaging solution.

Create an appealing product with our personalisation and branding tips for cosmetics samples >

Expand your reach using our cosmetic sample distribution strategies for the UK market >

As a business owner, you’re passionate about your product – and great products need great packaging.  When it comes to choosing a contract filling company to help package your product, there are a whole host of things to consider. Nobody wants to be let down by their filling service, so it’s important to make this decision wisely. A bad choice of filling company could seriously impact the final delivery of your product and influence the way consumers perceive your brand.

In this blog from Fillcon, we outline some key things to look for when choosing the right filling company for you.

Range of Services Provided

The first thing to consider when selecting a filling company is whether a supplier’s services match the needs of your business. Each contract filling company will have their own range of packaging products and specialise in different filling varieties. If your product is packaged in tubes, there is no use investigating the services of a business that only supplies box packaging! Here at Fillcon, for instance, we offer a wide range of packaging solutions for cosmetics such as:

• Liquid Sachets
• Recyclable Tubes
• Spouted Pouches
• Bottle Filling

In addition to the specific variety of packaging, it is important to factor in other features such as size, recyclability and customisability. If your product requires a packaging solution that can accommodate large volumes, it is important that you select a filling contractor that has experience filling products within the required range. It may also be worthwhile investigating size options in light of any future product variations or launches.

You may also wish to consider whether or not a filling company has options for you to customise their product and to what extent. Finding a contract filling service whose product is compatible with your branding and packaging design is important. You needn’t compromise on the look of your product at the hand of an un-customisable packaging solution, especially when so many customisable options are available.

It can also be valuable to confirm whether or not a filling service has recyclable options, especially if your business is moving towards sustainable practice.

At Fillcon, we offer customisable packaging in a variety of sizes. Take a look at our wide range of services to find out how we can help with all your manufacturing and filling needs.

Are Specific Features Available?

Another important thing to consider when assessing your packaging options is whether your business has any specific packaging needs. For example, do you require spouted pouches? Spouted pouches are an increasingly popular form of packaging that allows a product to be sealed and resealed with ease. They offer convenient, on-the-go packaging solutions for liquid products.

Across the packaging market, specific services – like spouted packaging – are not always guaranteed, therefore it is important to check with your packaging service.

See more: Everything You Need to Know About Spouted Pouches

Location

Another factor to think about is the location of your contract filling company. Using a business based within a reasonable proximity of your premises reduces the challenges faced when transporting products for packaging – which also reduces the carbon footprint of your business.

Location is a particularly vital element of the decision process if your business deals with perishable goods such as food, drink or certain cosmetic products. Limiting the time spent transporting a product following production allows for maximum freshness.

Finding a filling company within a convenient distance can also allow a business to form a more personal relationship with their packaging provider. Business owners will have greater access to the packaging process and may even be able to visit to share/approve packaging ideas.

Price

Naturally, every business wants to minimise their outgoings while also maintaining product quality. Across the packaging industry, both service prices and budgets vary, so it’s important to have a good look around before settling on your provider. For businesses who have larger scale packaging needs, it is likely that larger volumes of product may give them access to discounted rates.

Reviews

As with any service, a good way of assessing a business’ credibility and quality of service is by reading reviews. Hearing about other customer experiences enables you to identify any strengths or weaknesses that may impact a provider’s ability to meet the needs of your business. Reviews might also offer insight into the types of businesses/clients a filling service has worked for in the past and whether they have experience in packaging products similar to your own.

The external source of reviews gives a prospective customer an unbiased view of a business’ products and services. Any material that comes straight from a business will be tailored to produce sales and win client trust. Hearing the thoughts of real customers gives prospective clients a more authentic sense of a supplier and their quality.

Premium Filling and Packaging Solutions with Fillcon

Here at Fillcon, we specialise in providing quality filling and packaging solutions across a wide range of sectors.  Our services can be tailored to meet your exact specifications and produced in the quantities required by your business.

Our expert team are also on hand to advise your business with their filling and packaging needs. With years of industry experience, we are confident that we will find the right solutions for your business and its products.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements, find out more about our service offering, or to request a quote.

See more: Best Alternatives to Plastic Bottle Packaging

Samples are a valuable element of many marketing strategies within the beauty and cosmetics space. Product sampling fulfils a range of functions including providing brands with feedback on new and existing products, greater conversion rates and increased reviews.

Not to mention the value of product samples in the age of social media marketing – whereby sampling allows your product to reach even more customers through reviews and digital content. While at the heart of many cosmetic brands’ strategies, sampling is especially important for luxury cosmetics brands seeking to enhance their customer experience.

In this blog from Fillcon, we’ll offer valuable insights into how a cosmetic brand may elevate its samples to assist the creation of a premium brand and luxury user experience. For more useful articles related to cosmetic sampling, visit our blog. Existing pieces include Personalisation and Branding Tips for Product Samples, How to Safely Store Cosmetic Samples and Cosmetic Sample Distribution Strategies UK.

How to create a luxury beauty brand

Establish Brand Values

At the heart of every luxury beauty brand is a clearly established set of values. What does your brand wish to bring to the beauty space? – and how does it differ from other competitors? Does your brand champion particular, ethical, environmental or formulation benefits?

Your values should help set your brand apart and give your customers a reason to buy from you. Secure brand values also help you establish a reputation for your brand – increasing the likelihood of customers remembering and identifying your products amongst others. In addition, customers may wish to align themselves with brands with similar values to themselves as consumers.

Here at Fillcon we are part of the solution to make organic and natural beauty the norm. That’s why we are proudly certified to Soil Association COSMOS Organic and Natural.

Learn more about our Social Association Certifications >

Identify your Ideal Customer

To effectively sell any product, a brand must first establish its primary customer base. Understanding who your ideal customer is allows you to start asking the important questions such as – what does this consumer want? What product features and formulations might best appeal to this customer? and what marketing strategies are most likely to engage them?

By getting clear on these things, your brand avoids creating products that try to do everything for everyone…but in the process, fail to appeal to a niche customer base. Creating products and strategies that are tailored around your ideal customer is likely to generate greater profit and secure more customer loyalty.

Brand Personality & Design

In addition to establishing brand values, brand personality helps bring your business to life. When a brand decides on this, it improves its ability to emotionally engage the customer. You may wish to relate elements of your brand personality to your target customer base, maximising your appeal to them as a consumer.

Brand personality is also important when it comes to creating brand design. Brand design is one of the first things a customer notices about a beauty brand – not to mention the role brand design plays in establishing a brand as being luxurious, high-end. Try to incorporate colours, shapes and materials that adhere to personality and ethos while also elevating the look and feel of your brand.

How Do Cosmetic Samples Improve Customer Experience?

Cosmetic Samples are a key way of establishing contact with prospective customers and sharing new formulations as well as existing ones. While they may be a small element of a brand’s wider strategy, cosmetic sampling can have hugely positive impacts on customer experience.

Samples pose a simple but effective way of gaining customer trust. Samples allow customers to assess whether they enjoy the performance or results of your product ahead of purchase. Allowing customers to try before they buy signals that a business values their customers satisfaction more than just revenue.

This also helps reduce purchasing hesitation for high-end products. Customers are often more inclined to try a new moisturiser or mascara in sample form, as it feels like a small, low-stakes investment. As a result, the barrier to entry is reduced – brands can attract customers who might have otherwise been hesitant to try their products.

In addition, cosmetic samples are a great way of generating a buzz around a new product launch. Samples can be easily distributed to a range of products who may then share responses on social media of with friends and family. Put simply, samples make it easier for a brand to get their product into the hands of more potential customers – and the more people that know about your product, the more of your product you are likely to sell.

Learn more about the Psychology of Cosmetic Sampling >

How to Elevate Your Branding Through Cosmetic Samples

Type of Packaging

Cosmetic samples are available in a wide range of different varieties. Deciding on the right packaging style for your samples is a good place to start when looking to elevate customer experience. Here at Fillcon, our cosmetic sampling solutions include sachets, tubes, bottles and more!

Opting for a more substantial sample container such as a tube or bottle can elevate a sample and create a more luxurious customer experience.

Solutions such as bottles, tubes and pouches offer an option that can be resealed and can increase the usability of the sample.

Design

Tailored design options offer brands the freedom to express their style and ensure their sampling is in keeping with their wider brand.

Customising your sample container with clearly printed high-quality branding at the centre of a customer’s sample experience. For larger samples in particular, bespoke containers may offer repurposing appeal – or could be kept by customers for decorative purposes.

Materials

In addition to incorporating a luxury feel through design, careful selection of container and label materials can assist the creation of a luxury user experience.

Materials that feel easily breakable don’t often lend themselves to luxurious samples. In contrast, opting for more seemingly high-quality materials that contribute to both the robustness and aesthetic of your sample makes them feel more like a miniature version of your product. Though it is important to note, using these materials can come with higher costs for both manufacturing and distribution as you will be limited in the number of samples you can send in one container.

Working with sachets and pouches, can allow businesses to send more samples in bulk and allow brands to minimise their manufacturing costs and their impact on the environment.

Luxury Filling and Sampling Solutions with Fillcon

At Fillcon, we specialise in providing quality filling and packaging solutions across a wide range of sectors, including cosmetic sampling. Our cosmetic sampling solutions help showcase your product, increase sales and elevate your brand.

We can fill a range of sachets, bottles, tubes, and other packaging with liquids ranging from creams, gels, and scrubs, to lubricants, oils and serums. Our services start with a minimum order of 10,000 units and can be tailored to meet your exact specifications.

With years of industry experience – our friendly team are on hand to help find the right solutions for your business and its products.   To speak to a team member today, get in touch or fill out our online form to receive a quote.

There are many different bottle lids and caps all suited to different purposes across industries from cosmetics and household goods, to food and drink or medical uses. Whether you are looking for the perfect bottle lid/cap for your luxury beauty serum or a new drink product, this handy guide will help.

As bottle filling experts, we at Fillcon know a thing or two about the many applications of bottles and the lids/caps they can have. There are so many benefits to using bottles for product packaging, but to ensure you get the most out of your bottle packaging, you need the perfect lid/cap. We’ve put together this guide to bottle lids and caps to help you decide which is best for your next bottled product.

Find out more about Fillcon >

Bottle Lids and Caps

Here are some of the most popular lid and cap types used on bottles. Although not all types listed are commonly referred to as lids or caps, they are used on bottles to aid product dispersion and therefore should be considered when packaging a product.

When choosing the perfect lid or cap for your bottle there are many considerations. Aside from looks, one must consider functionality and whether the lid or cap suits the product, as well as longevity and effectiveness at keeping a product preserved. The types listed below include short descriptions which should aid considerations, but for more packaging ideas, check out Fillcon.

See more: What Makes the Best Cosmetic Product Packaging?

Screw Top Lid

Screw top lids are very popular and familiar to consumers. From jam jars to drinks bottles, screw top lids are used often. They come in a range of sizes and materials, such as aluminium or plastic, and can therefore be adapted for many uses.

When used on jars, screw top lids are usually large and house luxurious cosmetic creams or preserved food stuffs. When used on bottles, screw top lids are comparatively smaller and are often favourable for carbonated or alcoholic drinks.

There are also child-resistant alternatives, whereby the user must press down while turning to unscrew the lid. These are favourable for medicine or pill bottles which could be harmful if left easily attainable for children.

Flip Top Lid

Although usually having the mechanism of a screw top lid to fix the lid onto the bottle, flip top lids have one central hole for dispensing which is covered by the flip top when not in use.

Flip top lids work with many different liquid/semi-liquid products from shampoos and conditioners to oils and lubricants. Due to the one, usually rather small, dispensing hole, flip top lids allow for the consumer to have control over how much product is dispensed and therefore waste less. Flip top lids are commonly used on squeezable bottles or tubes; it is unlikely the product would dispense easily from sturdier bottles that the consumer cannot squeeze to promote dispensing.

Sports Cap

While popular for energy drinks or water bottles, a similar style can be adapted for cosmetic products such as creams or hair products.

Sport caps, or similar styles, have ‘open’ and ‘closed’ modes. When closed, no product can get out. When opened, the lid is popped up and product able to leave through the now-exposed middle section.

Cork Stoppers

There are various types of stoppers such as ceramic, cork, and glass. Stoppers are simple bottle closures and simply fit in the top of the bottle and can be lifted out. Although perhaps more rudimentary, stoppers are liked for their ease and aesthetic value.

Cork stoppers may be synonymous with red wine or champagne; however, they have great visual appeal and, therefore, are sometimes used for novelty on products such as bubble bath. Ceramic stoppers with metallic swing mechanisms are similarly popular for their looks, with consumers actively seeking these ceramic swing top stoppers for their aesthetics.

Metal Bottle Cap

Traditionally used on beer bottles, metal bottle caps are popular for drinks products. As the cap cannot be easily put back in place, metal caps suit products that are onetime use.

Because metal caps cannot be reused and the product protected, their use is rather limited. Cosmetic products or other products made for multiple usage would not suit metal caps.

Spray Top

Spray tops have a multitude of uses and come in three distinct styles, each with individual applications.

Atomisers are popular spray tops and produce a fine mist usually in concentrated amounts. Perfect for perfume bottles or body sprays, atomisers usually also have a protective cap so as to prevent accidental pressing down and subsequent dispersion. Atomisers for perfumes usually come in either plastic or metal, with metal usually being the more high-end, luxurious alternative.

Trigger sprays, on the other hand, disperse product over a larger area and have a special trigger attached to the bottle whereby users can pull to dispense. This spray mechanism is often used for cleaning products.

Nasal sprays are another spray mechanism designed for specific use. Nasal sprays are made to fit smaller bottles, usually of medication such as cold or hay fever remedies.

Pumps

Pumps are somewhat similar to sprays, however the product dispensed by pumps is usually thicker, such as lotions or creams. Pumps almost exclusively suit bottles and aren’t often found on tubes or other packaging types.

There are two versions of pumps; long spout or without a spout. Generally, there is no real difference in either and both disperse product evenly by being pressed down by the user.

Droppers/Pipettes

Droppers, or pipettes, are often applied to products which should be used sparingly. Featuring a rubber teat on top of the bottle to get and release the product, droppers and pipettes are very easy to use.

As the user can be very precise and even control the number of drops, droppers and pipettes are ideal for more expensive products or ones that require exacting control, such as eye drops.

Learn More with Fillcon

If you have bottles you need filling or wish to create a product, Fillcon have the filling capabilities to help you. From supplying the bottles and lids/caps, to expertly filling packaging and reducing waste, our team at Fillcon take great care in what we do.

Check out some of the sectors we have provided our expertise to, or learn more about our specialism; cosmetic sampling solutions.

Get in contact to learn more.

See more: Using Bottles for Oils – A Beginner’s Guide

See more: Getting Started with Wholesale Bottles

Packaging can create huge amounts of waste – in fact, plastic packaging accounts for almost 70% of plastic waste generated in the UK! Not only are unsustainable materials used to create packaging that deplete limited resources, but also consumers are relied upon to appropriately dispose and manage their packaging waste. The UK target for packaging recycling in the UK is 76%, but only time will tell how successful UK consumers will be in achieving this goal.

It is critical that businesses tackle the problem from the top down, by reducing the negative impact their packaging has on the environment and factoring in consumers. Finding and using sustainable packaging for products is just one way retailers can better their impact.

This guide outlines what sustainable packaging is, what packaging types suit liquid products, and key considerations when it comes to packaging liquid products in an eco-friendly way.

What is Sustainable Packaging?

By definition, ‘sustainable’ products have minimal environmental impact and are sustainable for years without depleting earth’s natural resources. Often, ‘closed loop’ is referred to; meaning used materials are collected and recycled into the product they were, a process continued in an ongoing cycle.

Therefore, sustainable packaging (or ‘green’ packaging) is responsibly sourced and created from materials that can belong to a closed loop cycle, through recycling and recreating packaging, or naturally decompose or biodegrade. For example, recycled paper packaging is classed as sustainable due to the use of already recycled materials, easy post-consumer recycling, and the replacement of trees through replanting schemes.

See more: Everything You Need to Know About Recyclable Packaging

However, the definition of sustainable packaging is not always clear-cut, any attempt to be more eco-friendly (such as optimising design to reduce material use or using biodegradable materials) may suffice as ‘sustainable’. Additionally, it’s not just material choice that makes packaging sustainable; material sourcing, use, transport, and disposal all play a role in sustainability. Even the most sustainable materials can create huge carbon footprints if shipped across the world, for example, negating the positive impact.

Sustainable packaging can suitably house liquid products while maintaining minimal negative impact on the environment. Below we give examples of sustainable packaging types as well as key considerations to bear in mind for packaging liquids.

Sustainable Packaging for Liquids

Essentially, any packaging made from a recycled, recyclable, compostable or biodegradable material is preferable for liquid packaging, however the durability cannot be compromised. The number one packaging to avoid is non-recyclable plastic. Importantly, sustainable packaging for liquids is not just about material, but how effectively it performs.

Paper Bottles for Liquids

Paperboard, or other recycled paper, is a popular sustainable material. Although it takes a lot of development and research to find paper that works, paper materials can successfully hold liquid. An insert may be required to hold the actual liquid, so this should also be eco-friendly.

Sustainable Plastic Bottle for Liquids

Certain plastics can be used in a sustainable manner for liquid packaging, as recycled plastic can be used to create the packaging, and the packaging recycled post-consumer as part of a closed loop cycle.

Recyclable Sachets for Liquids

Recyclable sachets are a great sustainable solution for small quantities of liquid product, such as samples or single-use soaked tissues. Find out more about liquid sachet packaging and tissue sachet packaging with Fillcon.

See more: Everything You Need to Know About Sachet Filling

Biodegradable Pouches for Liquids

Flexible packaging is increasingly popular with brands looking to reduce water consumption, use less material, and extend food/drink life. The biodegradable aspect means that the pouches will naturally decompose within consumer’s regular household waste. Check out our blog on pouch packaging for more information.

Refillable Packaging for Liquids

The most sustainable packaging option would be no packaging at all, but for liquid products, this isn’t a choice. Refillable packaging, however, is popular with consumers keen to cut down on waste and maintain sustainable practices.

See more: Switching to Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Packaging

Sustainable Packaging Considerations for Liquids

When packaging liquid products, there are many additional considerations.

• Sealing – Liquid packaging has to be properly sealed to not allow product to seep out. Any unscrewing, ripping, or peeling could lead to leakage and packaging going soggy.
• Durability – Packaging for liquid should not be easy to pierce or break, again to prevent leaks.
• Transport – Products will be shipped to various locations, whether it be to stores or ecommerce customers, so liquid packaging has to withstand transport without easily breaking.
• Flexibility – Traditionally rigid packaging has been used for packaging liquids, like bottles, but now flexible packaging is popular. Flexible packaging means less transport concerns, less space requirements, and can use a wide range of sustainable materials.
• Recyclability – Liquid packaging must be simple for the consumer to recycle else it may not be. Any materials that have to be separated, for example, may be put in general waste instead.
• Sourcing – If buying recycled paper or other materials, it should be sourced from a responsibly farmed forest.
• Locality – To have sustainable liquid packaging, it should be sourced locally and have a reduced carbon footprint. It may not be the cheapest option but it helps to streamline the supply chain, and reduce environmental impact.
• Sterile filling – Liquid products must be filled in a safe sterile environment without contamination. Packaging used should effectively keep contaminants out.

Sustainable Packaging with Fillcon

If you need your cosmetic liquid product filling, whether it be gel, cream, oil, lubricant, mouthwash & more, Fillcon can help! Based just outside Bristol, we can fill a full range of packaging for the Cosmetic sector in tubes, bottles, sachets and more! Find out what we fill here. We can offer our customers a range of environmentally friendly solutions, like 100% recyclable plastics or aluminium, the ultimate sustainable, infinitely recyclable material.

Get in touch to get a quote for liquid filling with Fillcon!

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

See more: Best Alternatives to Plastic Bottle Packaging

A gift-wrapping option is a popular extra that online retailers can provide to help make shoppers’ lives easier, especially around holidays. Going the extra mile with gift packaging can also elevate the recipient’s unboxing experience. E-commerce retailers should always consider their packaging when shipping goods, however gift wrapping demands even more special care and attention.

To thrill your customers and wow gift receivers with great gift packaging, read our top tips.

Tips for Gift Packaging and Wrapping

Create an experience

Unwrapping a gift should be a fun experience that builds excitement for the product(/s) inside. A standard delivery may come in a box and have tissue paper, but for a gift wrap experience, the stakes must be higher.

From adding bows to untie or stickers to peel, to having layer upon layer of tissue paper to unveil the product, or even simply even having a lid on your box, there are many important aspects for unboxing. Be careful not to make the unboxing experience too complex though; ideally strike a balance between well layered with sufficient packaging and not creating too much leftover packaging.

If you do it well and have aesthetically pleasing gift wrapping, customers may even keep it or reuse for other wrapping.

Fit the seasons

Depending on the time of year, consider switching up the gift wrapping from the bog-standard to holiday-themed. Switch up colour schemes, change tissue paper print or even simply have different stickers depending on occasion. Anything that gives a nod to the festivity should be included, i.e. bunnies or eggs for Easter, pink flowers for Mother’s Day, spiders and pumpkins for Halloween.

As Christmas is when most online retailors pick up a lot of business, it goes without saying that a festive gift wrap option is a good idea. Whether you opt for a muted design with delicate gold detail or go all out with glitter, red ribbon and green accents, it’s sure to go down a treat. Buyers will especially value help as they have plenty of wrapping to do themselves.

Add in freebies

Over 49% of consumers want to receive free gifts with purchase (2019 study) so give them what they want! Gift wrapping with some added treats will always go down well, but don’t just chuck in random things, make it work to your advantage too. For example, put in a sample of your other best-selling cosmetic products to encourage further shopping and brand loyalty. Samples are a great and inexpensive way to boost customer happiness and secure sales without taking up much space.

Use sachets to conveniently package a small amount of product, enough for one or two uses. This will be enough to entice the customer and encourage repurchase! As the experts in cosmetic sampling solutions, at Fillcon we can help you leverage sachets and sampling for sales success.

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

Make it personal

When sending out packages and going to the effort of presenting them beautifully gift-wrapped, go the extra mile and include a personal note. Whether you simply write the recipient’s name or handwrite a whole note, they will surely appreciate the personal touch. Customers buying from you will also appreciate that they can give the recipient a personal note through your gift-wrapping services.

Pull out all the stops

Just because you may be using a corrugated box, the most common shipping packaging, doesn’t mean it can’t be exciting and pretty. Some companies even use custom printed boxes to build excitement before the shipping package is even opened!

Inside the main shipping packaging is where the fun of gift wrapping really exists. Use laces, bows, ribbons and even glitter to overcome boring packaging. You don’t want your gift wrapping to look like any ordinary delivery so make sure you go the extra mile.

Consider using a scarf to wrap objects which the customer can then use again. You want to strike a balance between luxury packaging and tasteful gift wrapping to best present your brand and products.

Need help with luxury packaging? Read our helpful blog of 9 luxury packaging ideas.

Use branded tape and ribbon

Gift wrapping deliveries doesn’t mean you have to cover up your brand name with paper and bows. You can still maintain brand awareness using subtle and attractive branded elements of your gift packaging. Using branded tape for the exterior alerts the recipient to your brand as well as offering a more attractive alternative to plain tape. Ribbon embossed with your logo will go down a treat too, offering an experiential element as well as possibly being saved for reuse.

Learn More with Fillcon

Here at Fillcon we help cosmetic brands access markets through samples, fill endless numbers of products across sectors, and facilitate the product manufacturing market. If you are looking to expand your cosmetics business with sachet samples or simply need your liquid products filled with the ideal packaging, Fillcon can help. Our expert team process and fill a range of products at our advanced, sterile facilities and offer a range of packaging advice services.

Have a project in mind? Get in touch!

Sectors >

Beauty and Cosmetic industry Trends Worth Noting >

The cosmetics market is always growing and is proving itself as a profitable way to make money by selling products online. With more demand for cosmetics products comes more competition; in order to stay ahead of everyone else, you need to set yourself apart with your product offering.

One of the biggest considerations for distinguishing yourself from similar cosmetics products is through your product design and the packaging it comes in. The packaging of your products and sample products are the first impression a customer has of your product before using it.

At Fillcon, we are one of the UK’s leading cosmetic sample filling providers. We have more than 10 years’ experience in working with cosmetic brands develop their product packaging and samples. In this guide we’ll discuss how you can choose the best packaging for your products and the best cosmetic sample packaging options available for attracting new customers.

Define your Brand and Target Market

The initial stage of any business or product development involves market research and setting objectives. A good way to approach this would be starting with your target market. Think about who you want to sell your products to and who would buy your products.

Developing a consumer profile would be a good idea but you don’t need to define all the specifics yet so don’t worry about completely segmenting your market yet though. The most important factors to begin with are demographics; how old are your customers? What is their income or marital status.

From these considerations you can start to build a brand and figure out how you can appeal to potential customers. For example, a younger target market might prefer more colourful, unique and trendy packaging and older customers might prefer a more subtle and elegant packaging. For eco-conscious buyers, you may want to use Polypropylene(PP) sachets, which can easily be recycled at local shopping centres.

For the most part, your brand name, colour palette and graphic designs should be eye-catching in order to stand out. Both your product packaging and sample packaging should communicate your brand values. For example, more sustainable or luxurious products should highlight or reflect these aspects of your brand.

Designing your Cosmetic Products and Samples

Product Design is a crucial part of any product offering, there are a few factors that you need to consider when designing a product as it includes both the look of the product and the actual type of packaging that will be used.

As mentioned above, design aspects like colour, graphic designs and the focal point of your product offering on the packaging can have a huge impact. Think of popular brands and how they communicate their value and then decide how you will approach product design.

Most cosmetic brands go for a more minimalistic design that’s still elegant and catches your attention such as L’Oréal and Clinique. You can use this an opportunity to distinguish your brand by either having more risky designs or a broader range of colours. If your product has a natural ingredient or is sustainably made, then a small design communicating this could be a good idea.

For cosmetic samples, you might want to play it a bit safer as the size of the samples will restrict you from being too adventurous. Try to stick to some sort of colour palate though and make sure your brand logo is central along with any unique features of your product.

At Fillcon, we work with partners to print and manufacture sample sachets, we will work with you to produce cost effective and eco-friendly cosmetic samples which highlight your business in the best light.

Learn more about sample sachets with Fillcon >

Choosing the Right Sample Packaging for your Cosmetic Products

In terms of attracting new customers and growing your cosmetics business, product samples are paramount, and their packaging is therefore equally as important as the packaging of your products.

There are a few options available for product samples, and these different types of packaging can be used for different purposes they can also help communicate your branding differently. The cosmetic sampling filling options that we provide include:

• Cosmetic Sachet Filling
• Cosmetic Tube Filling
• Cosmetic Bottle Filling

Although you might be restricted to a certain type of packaging depending on how you provide customers with samples, it is always a good idea to go with the type of packaging that will leave the best impression.

For example, cosmetic bottles and tubes can help provide a more lasting impression for customers and if it is a small version of your actual product then it gives a realistic and complete trial experience for your customers.

Learn more about the important considerations for packaging liquids >

That’s not to say that sachets are not a good choice for your cosmetics, they can be very useful for reaching a wider target market and can be incorporated into a lot more promotional strategies than the other options. They are also more environmentally friendly and sustainable compared to the alternatives.

A sachet, on average uses 70% less plastic than a bottle of the same dosage. Not only are these consuming less raw materials, they are also easier to transport. Taking up less space, more sachets can be placed on lorries and in containers. This reduces the carbon footprint of each sample created, making the samples more sustainable for the planet. Fillcon sachets are also available with an anti-microbial varnish which offers surface protection against, bacteria, fungi, and moulds.

Cosmetic Sample Filling with Fillcon

Choosing the right packaging for your cosmetics is not a simple process, and there are a number of consideration businesses need to take before investing into one option.

At Fillcon we can offer our expert advice on which packaging would be best for your sampling needs, we work with brands big and small to produce cost effective and sustainable sampling solutions. With minimum order quantities starting at 10,000, get in touch with a member of our friendly team to see how we can help you.

Read Next: The Beginner’s Guide to Selling Cosmetics Internationally

Read Next: The Top 7 Benefits of Using a British Cosmetic Supplier

Businesses that have not yet evaluated their environmental impact and assessed their packaging are behind. Using eco-friendly packaging materials is just one of many actions businesses can take to help the environment and meet the environmental concerns of consumers.

At Fillcon we fill a range of packaging types for a variety of sectors, from cosmetic and household to industrial and more, working with businesses to find the best solution for them. This guide to switching to eco-friendly cosmetic packaging will highlight the benefits of eco-friendly packaging, considerations for switching, and eco-friendly packaging ides for cosmetics.

Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Packaging

There is no denying the importance of eco-friendly packaging across all industries as the world, and significantly – consumers, become more environmentally aware. For all products, packaging considerations now not only include functionality and product preservation, but also recyclability and impact on the world.

Why is eco-friendly packaging important?

• Consumer attraction – in light of environmental awareness, consumers may actively seek out products packaged in eco-friendly materials.
• Environmental concern – the driving factor behind eco-packaging, the environment could benefit from mass uptake of environmentally friendly practises and materials.
• Business ethos – it is important for businesses and brands to promote their environmental philosophy.
• Branding – eco-friendly packaging can be incorporated into a wider branding exercise, seen especially in cosmetics where brands may want to reflect natural, simple values seen across their branding and cosmetic products.

Switching to eco-friendly cosmetic packaging

Once you decide to make the switch there are plenty of things to consider before putting in a huge order for packaging!

Bear in mind that using more eco-friendly cosmetic packaging does not have to involve a huge rebrand and may simply be an adjustment in the type of material used – as long as user experience is maintained, the switch can be minimal. On the other hand, launching new eco-friendly packaging may be a great time to do a brand activation and encourage consumers to interact with your cosmetic products through experiential marketing such as samples.

Considerations include:

• Consistency – you don’t want to compromise on UX. Keep existing customers by maintaining ease of use and effectiveness.
• Effectiveness – packaging must still work and keep the product safe. Just because a packaging material may be extremely eco-friendly does not mean it is suitable.
• Test – before placing an order, ensure the packaging is right for your product by requesting a sample.
• Reality – make sure you can get your packaging filled. At Fillcon we fill all sorts of packaging types and are always open to filling something new with our advanced facilities!

Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Packaging Ideas

Looking to switch-up your cosmetic packaging? Read our helpful blog on the best material for cosmetic product packaging first.

Use recyclable materials

Switching to more eco-friendly packaging does not have to be a huge change and can be as simple as ensuring your packaging can be recycled once the consumer is done. A lot of plastic types are already widely recyclable, with PET and HDPE being the most common and recyclable, meaning businesses can keep using their reliable, sturdy, flexible (tubes etc.) plastic packaging.

Glass

Glass is one of the materials that can be recycled multiple times without losing quality, the other being aluminium that can be recycled infinitely. Glass is popular for jars and helps to give the look and feel of luxury for high end cosmetic products. Aluminium is a great eco-friendly packaging material; find out more about aluminium tube packaging.

Use recycled materials

Packaging made from recycled materials is popular too as these ensure consumers are not using raw materials and are conserving virgin material. Example packaging materials include paperboard or recycled plastics.

Consider extras

Instead of a total switch, evaluate elements of packaging that could be made more eco-friendly. For example, packaging for shipping often contains non-recyclable materials such as bubble wrap, which could be swapped out for recyclable paper. Jiffy bags with plastic lining are also harder to recycle, and can be switched for paper envelopes filled with shredded paper.

Other considerations include lids/closures and possible eco-friendly alternatives.

Reusability

Being able to reuse packaging once the product is empty can be appealing to consumers. To encourage consumers to repurpose the packaging, be sure to put a note on the label.

To remind consumers to actually recycle packaging where possible, put a reminder on the label too. Often, although packaging can be recycled, businesses rely on the consumer actioning the recycling.

Eco-packaging

Eco-packaging is a specific subset of packaging, made from easily recyclable materials, using renewable energy possibly with recycled materials. An example of eco-packaging is bamboo. However eco-packaging can sometimes have plastic lining in it to ensure product doesn’t leak, which may inhibit recycling.

See more: A Guide to Eco-Packaging

Get Started with Fillcon

Here at Fillcon we are extensively experienced in filling a range of tubes, bottles, sachets and more at our advanced facilities, and are able to take on any new project! We even facilitate with packaging for filled products, finding the perfect print, material and eco-friendly solution for you.

If your business is looking for sustainable packaging solutions for your cosmetic products, we can offer 100% recyclable plastic, PCR and aluminium solutions.  We pride ourselves on our quality and friendly service, helping our customers wherever possible.

Have a filling project in mind? Get a quote! Or simply get in touch to find out more.

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See more: Cosmetic Bottles – Reasons to Use Bottles for Cosmetics

See more: Getting Started with Wholesale Bottles

See more: Best Alternatives to Plastic Bottle Packaging

Getting the word out about your cosmetics used to be an expensive, time consuming, and risky practice. It was hard to tell if consumers were really engaging with what you offered, and target audiences were generally limited. However, with the advent of social media, cosmetic samples and marketing have become much more effective than ever before.

We’re Fillcon – the first name in cosmetic sampling – and in this article we’ll explain the power of social media for your cosmetics and marketing efforts. We’ll talk about the importance of social media, how to reach a larger audience, and methods to effectively promote your cosmetic samples.

If you’ve got a social media marketing plan in place, get in touch today to secure your cosmetic sampling solution.

The Importance of Social Media for Cosmetic and Beauty Samples

Reach More People

Reaching the most people with your products means knowing what they want and where to find them. According to a Social Commerce Report by GWI in 2019, 55% of global internet users are social shoppers – meaning they like to find, try, and buy products through social media. GWI’s 2023 trends show a continued amount of social media usership, and powerful platforms like TikTok Shop have only boosted the potential of quickfire social media shopping.

Refine Your Target Audience

For cosmetics, there are likely quite a few among the large proportion of global internet users that don’t belong to your target audience. However, useful tools and techniques allow you to refine the audience you’re reaching, resulting in increased sales with lower overheads.

Lower Your Advertising Spend

Managing your budget is another key advantage of social media marketing. With most social media platforms, your ads will operate under a cost-per-mille (CPM) system. This system lets you set a budget, which the platform will only charge you an average cost for every 1,000 people who see the ad.

When working together with targeted marketing, you’ll find that your paid ads become an incredibly effective method at promoting your cosmetic products on social media.

Unlock a Thriving Marketplace

Social media is a hive of activity for younger generations. GWI’s report provides insight on the trends for Gen Z and Millennials’ social media usage, with at least 42% of Gen Z and 38% of Millennials using it to fill free time while 25% and 28% respectively use it to find products to purchase. Between the content consumption and active seeking of products, this places social media at the forefront of ways to reach these younger generations.

Generation Alpha is also seeing similar trends, with 65% spending up to 4 hours of screentime per day, a similar amount to Gen Z. While Generation Alpha aren’t a likely target for your cosmetics marketing, this emerging marketplace will only grow more important in the future – so having a firm presence on the platform already will only make it easier when the time comes.

Utilise the benefits of social media with our guide to promoting your brand to younger audiences >

Create a Community

Building an online community around your cosmetics and brand will help people engage with your offering and come to see you as more than just a business. Your cosmetics make an impact on people’s daily lives, and creating a community on social media can show that you care.

Additionally, having a following on social media will also increase your ROI. 90% of consumers buy from brands they follow on social media, with 75% increasing their current spending with brands they follow. This makes building a loyal fanbase online an incredibly important task for the success of your cosmetics, and a powerful benefit for utilising social media.

Showcase Your Products

Finally, social media allows you to showcase your products in their best light. Rather than relying on circulating public opinions of your products, their quality, and their appearance, you can do this yourself – using social media to springboard your marketing efforts.

Posting genuine content and working with influencers – with which 60% of marketers plan to increase their influencer campaign spend in 2024 – are both ways you can create a positive impression for your brand and a collective understanding of your cosmetic products’ benefits.

How to Reach a Larger Audience on Social Media

Reaching a larger audience is one of the main benefits of social media, but how do you actually leverage this advantage? Some methods you can use to reach a larger audience for your cosmetics on social media include:

• Using targeted ads
• Increasing your advertising spend
• Growing a community (such as Dior, which has 19 million followers on Facebook alone)
• Responding to analytics

One incredibly beneficial technique to grow and keep your social media audience is social listening. This technique involves monitoring social media channels, observing what consumers are saying about your cosmetics. By properly analysing the weight and meaning of these insights, you can then turn them into opportunities to improve your products, marketing, and brand awareness. 51.2% of people research a brand before making a purchase, so you want to ensure yours is seen as positive, responsive, and appealing.

Once you’ve reached your audience, you’ll need enough quality samples to send them, and by fulfilling orders of 10,000 sachets or more, we’ve got the solution. To find out more, contact our team today.

How to Effectively Promote Cosmetic Samples on Social Media

Effectively promoting your cosmetic samples to your new social media audience is the next, and possibly the most important, step to leveraging this unique marketplace. Five of the top methods you should use to market your cosmetic samples include:

1. Creating strong landing pages. By giving users a clear, engaging, and attractive page to land on when they pursue your products, you’ll create a great first impression which encourages them to purchase your cosmetics.
2. Drive traffic to your landing pages. After making a good landing page, you’ll want people to use it. Making sure your ads drive people to the right place will increase the effectiveness of your marketing while giving people what they’re looking for.
3. Market where people are looking. Not every social media platform is made equally, and not every audience will want to buy your products. Try to find places where your cosmetics are relevant and can make an impact, and direct your marketing efforts towards these opportunities.
4. Keep buyer profiles in mind. Don’t stray too far from your target audience. While attracting more and newer people can seem attractive, going too far from your origin could risk alienating your primary customers. With whatever marketing you do, be it social media or otherwise, keep your target audience in mind.
5. Give them something for free. Whether its samples, limited edition drops, useful tips, information, or advice, there are dozens of different ways you can use social media to provide extra value to your customers while not costing you much at all. When people receive something for free, they’re likely to want to reciprocate that – leading to extra purchases of your cosmetics products.

Use Quality Sampling Products

When you’ve built up your social media audience and delivery enough to start making conversions, you’ll want people to have a great first experience with your products. Starting with a full purchase can be a large commitment, so offering free samples can get people to experience your cosmetics without any initial investment from them.

Using recyclable bottles for liquids like perfume samples gives an eco-conscious, intuitive application of your product. Or, for things like creams and gels, the recyclable sachets that we manufacture and fill at Fillcon offer a reliable, convenient dose of your cosmetics.

A quality sample, matched with your branding and colours, is the best way to show a customer the benefits of your product. Distributing these samples through social media is therefore a crucial use of the power of digital platforms and their audiences.

Explore some cosmetic sample distribution strategies for products in the UK >

Your Cosmetic Sample Solution from Fillcon

Make sure social media is included in your marketing strategy. It helps you reach all generations and demographics, giving you direct access to your target audience. When done correctly, you’ll be able to access large untapped markets without breaking the bank. Make sure to follow your budgets and plan strategically to make the most out of your social media marketing.

Once you’ve done all that, you’ll need quality cosmetic samples to get customers hooked. That’s where we come in – at Fillcon, we supply businesses with sampling solutions that provide customers with the highest standards of cosmetics on the market. Get in touch today to find out more, or read on with some related articles below!

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