For most companies, the difference between a sale and a customer walking away is in the way the product is packaged. Because of this, many firms have a department for analytical and research services to determine which packaging will garner the best response from consumers. The analytical and research services team will have to decide what type of packaging to use and design the label.

The type of packaging used is determined by a number of factors. Cost and ease of manufacturing are major influences on the packaging type. Plastic blister packaging is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, so it is a popular choice for many products. Paper bags and other plastics are also fairly popular, though their use depends on what is being packaged. Remember: the packaging is there to protect and support the product.

Once the packaging has been manufactured and placed on the products, it often goes through different environments before reaching store shelves. Because of this, packaging that is water resistant, difficult to crush, and easy to move is preferable. Flexible medical packaging might be easy to move and water resistant, but the sterilization may be compromised if the packaging is crushed, so it is not always the best choice. Some products require packaging to display serialization, so that the products can be tracked from place to place, so the package needs to have a place to print that information.

When designing packaging, the people in charge of analytical and research services may take into account how recyclable a package is. Some companies may prioritize conservation of resources and energy over recyclable packaging, but as consumers are becoming more environmentally-conscious, recyclable packaging is likely to see better sales.

Many factors are taken into account with packaging production, and each company is responsible for encouraging sales and promoting their brand with their packaging choices.