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Amidst a sea of greeting cards and gift cards, how can you make your product stand out from the crowd? Companies face tough competition in the $7 billion greeting card industry, which is experiencing a revival due to renewed interest from millennial and Gen Z audiences.
One strategy that these businesses have adopted to increase sales of greeting cards and gift cards is the use of embellishments in their designs. Put simply, print embellishments are decorative details added after the product has been printed. Examples of embellishments include embossing, hot foiling, Spot UV, and more.
More than just a form of visual appeal, print embellishments have the power of influencing consumer purchase decisions. As brand owners continue to seek out more value and unique product experiences, it falls on print service providers’ shoulders to embrace technology to improve their product offerings and maximise profits while doing so.
Consumers these days have access to a massive variety of products, both in brick-and-mortar stores and online. As such, brand owners need to take steps to ensure their product stands out from the competition. While the old adage says one should not judge a book by its cover, it is no secret that good packaging makes an impact — with 7 in 10 consumers agreeing that such exterior designs can influence buying decisions.
Embellishments can increase product visibility, making your customer’s product more prominent on the shelf. Texture printing is a simple yet effective way of turning otherwise plain products into eye-catching and tactile ones that will capture and hold consumers’ attention effortlessly.
Research shows that if a product has specialty printing and other visual enhancements, consumers are more likely to believe they are of high quality. Embellishments instantly elevate the look and feel of your customer’s product and contribute towards a more premium, high-class brand image. As a result, consumers would be more willing to fork out higher premiums for the product — 24% to 89% more, in fact — due to the perception of higher quality and value.
A reliable industrial printer such as Konica Minolta’s MGI JETvarnish range can make producing top-quality greeting cards and gift cards easier than ever. The JETvarnish 3D Web and the JETvarnish 3D Evolution, for example, reimagines digital embellishment printing with their wide range of versatile embellishment options and premium finishings. For a more cost-effective finishing press, Konica Minolta’s AccurioShine 3600 is an excellent choice that is capable of both flat 2D Spot UV highlighting and sculptured 3D raised effects.
Tactile effects such as textured 3D varnished effects and finishes like embossing or foil not only capture attention, but also encourages people to reach out and touch the product. Such tactile experiences play an important role as they feed into the buyer psychology of “If I touch it I have to have it.”
Studies have found that touching a product increases the sense of ownership over it and impulse purchases. Psychological ownership grows by 22% when consumers can see and touch a product, highlighting the immense value that tactile experiences offer.
For beautiful 2D and 3D gloss embellishments, look no further than Konica Minolta’s AccurioShine 3600. Armed with a host of new features and improvements, you are able to easily and consistently do both prototyping and full production of Spot UV embellishment, completely in-house.
One key advantage of using the MGI JETvarnish and the AccurioShine 3600 is that their digital embellishments will not lead to significant cost increases for your business. You can maintain and even increase your profit margins while simultaneously boosting sales for an improved bottom line.
Rediscover the sheer potential of print embellishments
With Konica Minolta’s AccurioShine 3600 and MGI JETvarnish series of presses, not only will you be creating products with standout embellishments that add “touchable” value, but you also become a valued partner to your customers. Get in touch with our product experts today to learn more.