We’ll level with you – money (or lack of it) often keeps great food products as pipe dreams rather than household favourites.
Taking your delicious idea to market costs money, and you might find that your budget is minimal when you start out.
The key to success is to make every penny count and we’re experts at helping you to make the most of your limited design budget.
Define your budget before you begin.
This might sound obvious, but without knowing your budget, you can’t make good decisions about how to spend your money.
It’s important to only commit to spending the money that you have and not create a plan based too heavily on speculation.
Once you have a budget, then you can begin to allocate it where it’s needed and keep tabs on your spending.
It’s important to be honest with your design team about your budget, as they’ll be able to help you make decisions about where to save or splurge.
Focus on designs that will have the biggest impact.
You don’t have to do everything all at once when you first start out. It can be hard when you have fire in your belly, but it’s important to pace yourself and focus your attention on the things that will have the biggest impact.
In the beginning, invest in designs that tell your story and help to establish yourself with your customers.
Companies can create compelling narratives that follow the journey of how their product came to be, building a trusting relationship with their audience.
Don’t skimp on packaging.
As well as keeping your product fresh and secure, packaging also attracts and informs customers.
Thorough market and demographic research, maintaining brand consistency, and meticulous packaging design can help ensure that your product makes a lasting impression and stands out among the competition.
It’s also important to ensure that your packaging meets all necessary legal requirements.
Think digital.
Embracing technology can help you save a lot of money in the early days. Social media is an incredibly cost-effective way to raise awareness of your brand and reach out to new customers.
A simple blog and website will allow you to guide the conversation about your brand and keep your customers engaged.
As time passes, you may also wish to incorporate paid online advertising. All of these options are relatively low-cost compared to print media.
Join forces with the right design team
Choosing the right designers to work with is critical to maximising your budget.
We’ve been working with great food start-ups for decades like Jack & Bry, The Honey Makers and The Ethical Food Company.
We’ve relished getting to be a part of their journey and it’s helped us to understand what it’s like to nurture a fledgeling food brand.
