Go through the cereal section with a child. Watch what happens. Their eyes meet at one box. They point. They beg. However, why that box, and not the others? The trick to this is its front, that is, all the money needs to be on that side.
The front is responsible for most of the selling. It can only win in a hive in a busy aisle, and only for a few seconds. A really good front snaps on a child quickly. Let’s take the curtain down step by step and explain how it works.
The Front of the Box Does the Selling
There’s one big task in a cereal box on the shelf. It has to halt on the spot the shopper. The front panel is the key. It’s the first and largest thing that a kid sees.
No salesman is in the aisle. The box is for sale, it needs to sell itself. But brands invest the best of their ideas on that front panel. All colors, faces, and words have a purpose!
The secret is to position the object at eye level.
The secret is the first one: height. A lot of children’s cereals are at the bottom of the supermarket shelf. They are positioned at the child’s eye-level. It’s not by chance.
If a kid can see it, he or she can want it. Their front panel comes at them head on at their level. They don’t need to gasp for breath. The box makes eye contact and draws them in.
The secret of bright, bold colors is to use them sparingly.
Color can be a great tool! Kid cereals feature bright and cheerful hues. Consider vibrant reds, sunny yellows and strong blues. These shades are out of the box.
Warm colors are fun and have energy. They’re conspicuous in comparison to plain boxes. Child’s eyes will immediately go to the brightest box. In many cases, color is the first, and most effective, “hook”. It functions even before a child can read a word. Brands do test their colours but with care.
Secret Three: A Friendly Mascot
Then, of course, it’s the mascot’s turn. There are lots of fun cereals that are at the top of their class. A tiger. A bird. A funny little elf. These faces are like friends.
Here is a bit of a trick! Mascots tend to have a slight downcast expression. On the shelf, their eyes look at a child’s. The eye-to-eye connection establishes a fast bond. Child feels that the character sees him/her.
There’s a lot that a good mascot has to do:
- Provides a face for the brand that kids will remember.
- Creates a friendly, fun box.
- It creates a lasting connection over many years.
Secret #4: Letters That Are Big & Fun!
The text on the front matter as well. Kids cereal fonts are big, bold and playful. The letters can be wavy, curvy or even smiling. They are not tasks, they are fun!
A child may not be able to read all the words. But the spirit of the letters is felt. Fun fonts – this is a treat! They feel drawn closer by that feeling.
The fifth secret reads, “A Promise of Fun”.
What happens to be best fronts are fun, not only food. They either have a smiley face, a game or a prize inside. They turn the box into a mini adventure!
That’s where custom cereal boxes come in handy. A custom front can be used to display the game, code, or a cool scene. It makes a simple box a moment of joy. And a joy makes a child beg.
So how does it all fit together?How does it all hang together?
There is no secret by itself. It’s all in the magic of the mix. Use bright colour to attract attention. Mascot makes a friend. A variety of fun fonts sets the mood. To ensure the fun part is sealed the promise is made.
They both start a front and a child will not be able to overlook it. All parts work together to support one another. This is what the real begging is all about.
The design of a Box That Wins.
But how can brands develop a front like this? They carefully arrange it. They consider the child, rather than the shelf. Custom cereal boxes allow them to design each and every aspect of the front.
The following are some smart design considerations:
- A well-defined subject, such as the face of the mascot,
- A single strong and cheerful colour(s)
- An advertisement of a large, entertaining brand.
- An easy and happy setting
- An indication of a reward or competition
A clear focused front is preferable to a cluttered one. Too many distractions don’t hold the eye’s attention. Simple, bold fronts are the best.
Keep It Honest
One of the critical points for any brand. Kids have need for honesty more than any other. A box cannot make a promise that it will not deliver. It shouldn’t make people think it’s one thing when it’s another.
A play face is OK. A false one is not. Display “real food” honestly. There are also many restrictions on kid-friendly ads. Therefore, always remember to design responsibly and be legal.
Honest Design creates Parent Trust. And parents pay. A brand that gets the trust of parents, wins in the long run.
How to Get It Right
Looking for a front that will attract children’s attention and be considered by parents? Follow these steps:
- Ensure that the key art is at a child’s eye level.
- Choose one or two bright, cheerful colors.
- Add a warm, friendly gaze of an animal mascot.
- Make use of a big fun and easy to read brand name.
- Give a sincere look of the fun that’s to come.
- Get custom cereal boxes to make it come to life.
A packaging maker can assist you with every step if the packaging is done well. They bring your concept to life and put it in a box!
The Bottom Line
The front of the box is no small thing. It is the main place to sell cereals. All of these combine for a joyful placement at eye level, bold colors, a friendly mascot, and fun fonts.
That blend is the magic behind kids’ craving for the brand. However, the top brands combine this magic with honesty. They attract children in a fair manner and gain parents’ trust.
Do the rest, and your box tells you how. It slows down the cart, secures the child and creates a lasting brand. That’s the actual force residing on the front of each of these great cereal boxes.