Brand Packaging recently featured five start-up companies to watch out for; ones that have used packaging as the selling feature of their product. One in particular caught my eye because a friend of mine had the product when she visited this past winter. I thought that the round object on my coffee table was my roommate’s dog’s mini tennis ball and almost tossed it on the ground until I picked it up and realized my mistake. It was actually lip gloss from eos (which stands for evolution of smooth), and it definitely stands out from the competition. Their shaving cream packaging follows suit. Between the pump feature and a recyclable bottle that won’t leave a rust ring in the shower, eos has thought about all of the flaws of conventional shaving cream packaging. The company will soon be releasing a body lotion, and personally, I can’t wait to see what packaging innovation that product will come with!

To see the other products that made the cut, click here!

A few weeks ago we showed off the label redesign for Campbell’s soup and explained the research behind their design choices. Since then, neuromarketing has created even more buzz. Take a look at a light-hearted video that explains the technology (scroll to about 2:20 to see how it’s used for marketing purposes):

As opposed to surveys or focus groups, the highly scientific research eliminates human response error. Unfortunately, as this article explains, getting that research isn’t exactly cheap. The companies, like Campbell utilizing the technology typically have big dollar advertising budgets to begin with. It will be interesting to see if budgets will be allocated towards truly getting into consumers’ heads.

Boyajian Inc. produces a product line quite worth mentioning: “…the line boasts infused olive oils, Asian oils, vinegars and vinaigrettes, pure citrus oils, natural flavorings and extracts and smoked salmon. Boyajian has been honored with five of Boston Magazine’s prestigious “Best of Boston” awards. Products are sold in all 50 states and in several other countries. The company recently built a 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility and corporate headquarters in Canton, Mass.” Their products have even been used by Martha Stewart in unique ways beyond just food recipes!

You can find Boyajian products at various retailers, but most recently the 25.4 oz garlic infused oil can now be found at Costco in the Northeast and Southeast. Below is a great recipe suggested for this quality product:

1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp (20 to 40)
1/4 cup parsley, Italian flat leaf
1/2 cup Boyajian Garlic Oil
4 Tbs. fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Shell and de-vein the shrimp. Chop the parsley and set aside.

In a shallow baking dish, pour Boyajian Garlic Oil. Add the shrimp, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Toss ingredients to combine. Bake the shrimp in a preheated 450° oven, turning them once. Cook 6 - 8 minutes, until just cooked through. Stir in remaining lemon juice. Sprinkle parsley over shrimp and serve with a crusty bread.

Do you hate the taste of coffee or are you trying to break a soda habit, but just can’t seem to do without the caffeine boost? Well we came across a product that will be right up your alley. Avitae is simply purified water with the added bonus of 45 mg of caffeine. I like the unique shape of the bottle and the choice of a shrink sleeve label; the futuristic look compliments the unique product. The product’s taste fulfills the expectations anyone would have for water: healthy, pure and refreshing. But it also gives you the energy boost you’d be missing with regular water.

This product has potential significance in the realm of exercise as well. Recent research has shown that taking in some caffeine before working out has benefits; this article explains that it actually reduces pain, causing you to push yourself a bit harder during your fitness routine. And perhaps it will eliminate my pain of seeing people with a heart-stopping energy drink in hand at the gym.

It’s me avitae. That’s ah-vee-tay.

I’m made of nothing more than purified water and natural caffeine. I don’t have colors, flavors or any of those not-found-in-nature ingredients. So, if you’ve been living in the wasteland between boring bottled water and man I know this diet soda is bad for me and leaves a funny aftertaste, then I might come as a welcome change.

I’m caffeinated water

Do you remember paint-by-number kits from your childhood? The new Recipe Inspirations from McCormick remind me of those. It brings the same mindset to cooking and helps my lackluster skills in the kitchen. The kit takes out all of the guess work by combining all of the necessary spices to season some popular recipes. Plus, the back of the packaging tells you the other necessary ingredients and the recipe. For meals like Shrimp & Pasta Primavera, Garlic Lime Fajitas, and Spanish Chicken Skillet to name a few, these products are sure to be picked up by novice chefs and bring some flavor to meal time.

The new McCormick Recipe Inspirations collection puts flavorful twists on traditional recipes that will impress everyone at your dinner table. Recipe Inspirations makes trying McCormick’s best recipes fun and easy. Each packet includes pre-measured McCormick spices and herbs and a collectible recipe card. With just a few of your own fresh ingredients, you’ve got inspiration to make a memorable meal any night of the week.

As one of the most iconic labels in consumer products, even captured in pop art by Warhol, Campbell’s soup had to have some serious research behind their label redesign. That research? “Neuromarketing:” The team clipped small video cameras to the testers at eye level and had them later watch tape of themselves shopping for soup. Special vests captured skin-moisture levels, heart rate, depth and pace of breathing, and posture. Sensors tracked eye movements and pupil width. In layman’s terms, they judged the body’s “emotional” response to packaging (I know my heart skips a beat while shopping for condensed soup).

So what were the conclusions? The bowl was updated, steam was added, the logo was lowered, soup varieties were color-coded, and the spoon was removed. Personally, I appreciate the design, especially the new font for the soup variety text, but I’m quite surprised by the deviation. Many bloggers have contributed their opinions, and I expect that it will make greater headlines as the products hit the shelves… so what do you think?