Puff N Ponder #2

Puff n Ponder

With Papa Jefe

Packaging/ what's important

"If it's in a black bag don't buy it"

-2003 Ancient Proverb.

Things have changed since we waited for someone to show up with a zip lock baggie of whatever the hell they had.

We are now blessed (yes I said blessed) with the packaging we've got now. Now after saying such a bold statement. Let's look into the most popular styles of packaging for whole flower:

• Mylar pouches - Pros: super cheap, they hold the product, water proof, able to pack more into a case and can be any color you want.

Cons: Flimsy, non-crush protected, easy to tear/cut, and has corners where product can get lost in.

• Plastic Jars - Pros: Sturdy, hard to break, hard to open, semi cheap, light and can be any color you want.

Cons: Static cling that steals trichomes and crystal content, shake damage, and size to product ratio is usually way off.

• Metal "tuna cans"- Pros: Recyclable without shame, metal so they don't crush easily, compact size, great presentation and fairly priced.

Cons: Crappy plastic lids, small labels, cats think they are getting fed and possible cuts from the lid.

• Glass Jars- Pros: up-cyclable, no static, great size, frosted, looks sleek and feels expensive.

Cons: HEAVY, breakable, costly, smaller case packs, higher price tag and hard to store.

• Biodegradable Packaging- Pros: Good for the environment, shows you care, looks neat, stands out from the rest and lessens litter.

Cons: Super expensive, shorter storage times, strange package types, and shouldn't get wet.

Each has their purpose and place within the industry, cheaper packaging generally goes with cheaper products. This is generally the case but there are alot of exceptions.

Brands colors and styles are what make them pop on the shelf and have consumers gawking at the "flashy" packaging and trying to make sense of the labels.

I guess that brings us to my next point, the labels. This is a tricky area due to the different types of flower sold and to what the company standards are. I've tried to break them into categories for ease.

• Budget- the labels for "budget" brands show strain name, thc %, cbd %, pack date and the mandated warning label.

• Mid-range (Mids) - these show the same as above but also might include terp %, top terpenes and maybe who grew it.

• Top shelf - shows all above items.

• Craft - all above items and hopefully a full terp breakdown, how its grown, trimmed, dried and who its grown by. Some go above and beyond and some just scrape the barrel for information.

But what does the average consumer care about, like really?

Ease of opening the package: This seems to be the largest complaint in this industry. Each packaging has its ups and downs. Due to safety concerns from health canada the packaging will be difficult so no kids can consume it.  This will continue to be a slight struggle.

Easy to read labels: Content and everything is great but if you can't read it or it smudges easily then why even have it. It's a struggle sometimes to find all the stuff on the label so placement is key

Humidity pack: this is a very controversial and heated debate. Customers however look for this to prolong the life of their product after they open the bag/jar.

The information wanted changes by the degree of the customer. Budget shoppers don't mind the low quality packaging or lack of information, they want to know how high the thc % is.

Budtenders and weed nerds care about the nitty-gritty information because it helps us enjoy selling it or consuming it. Yeah tell me you keep it on a stalk upside down in a dark room while playing Norwegian folk music or if it's grown in a coco bean mulched soil fed with rain water under a solar paneled greenhouse.

All in all, the average customer wants it simple and easy with bright colors or a catchy logo and can read it. It'll get bought at least once and if the product is better than what it's packed in; no one will care how back the packaging is.

As always,

Peace, love and pre-rolls

-Papa Jefe 

These views are mine and mine alone and not of Cannaviews.ca