How to Prepare a Complete Custom Product Packaging Brief
A custom product packaging brief records how a product will be presented, identified, protected and packed for distribution. It connects the retail pack, artwork, labels, barcodes, inserts, inner packing and export carton in one controlled set of instructions. SHENGLIAN Bamboo & Wood Products is an integrated bamboo and wooden products company supporting design, development, manufacturing, quality management and international trade. We work with brand, packaging and sourcing teams requiring standard export packaging or custom retail packaging for B2B product projects. Packaging structures, printing, labels, barcodes, inserts and carton requirements are confirmed for each project. Use this framework before costing, artwork approval and production review. Dielines, artwork, packing instructions and related product specifications can then be submitted as one controlled package for project-specific review and quotation.
Brief Structure
Document Every Packaging Level in One Brief
A complete specification separates customer-facing packs from grouping and transport layers. List every level, its approval status, and consistent product, SKU and file names. Mark values as target, confirmed or pending so development inputs are not mistaken for production instructions.
Product Presentation
Record orientation, assembly state and included components, focusing approval on product position and completeness.
Define format, dimensions, artwork, opening method and labels for the customer-facing structure and appearance.
Inner Packing
Record grouped quantity, separation, orientation and protection to control surface contact and movement.
Export Carton
Document packed quantity, dimensions, weights, sealing and marks for handling and logistics planning.
Retail Presentation
Define the Retail Pack and Product Presentation
The retail specification defines the pack seen or received by the customer and how the product sits inside it. Custom retail packaging remains subject to project review of product dimensions, quantity, printing, structure, materials and packing method before feasibility is confirmed.
Identify the Product and the Number of Units in Each Retail Pack.
Show Which Face Is the Front, Back, Top and Bottom.
State Whether the Product Is Fully Assembled, Partly Assembled or Packed as Separate Components.
List Accessories, Fittings, Inserts and Other Included Items.
Describe the Opening Method, Opening Direction and Required Product Visibility.
Record Target External and Internal Dimensions and Any Retail-Space Constraints.
Mark Dimensions Dependent on Structural Development as Targets and Explain the Constraint They Must Meet.
Use Reference Images to Show Presentation Intent, but Provide Dimensions, Construction Details and a Structural Drawing or Dieline When Available.
Artwork Control
Connect Artwork Files to the Correct Dieline
Packaging artwork must match a defined structural file. Give the dieline and artwork matching version names, map every printed panel, and identify the final decision owner. For multiple markets or languages, use unique file names and product references instead of informal version descriptions.
01
Confirm the Current Dieline Version.
02
Map Each Artwork File to the Correct Dieline and Product Reference.
03
Identify the Content, Artwork Area, Image Orientation, Logo Position and Text Direction for Every Printed Panel.
04
Record the Colour References Supplied by the Brand Team.
05
Name the Person or Team Responsible for Final Artwork Approval.
06
Record the Accepted Proof or Sample Version Before Production Release.
07
Do Not Identify Files Only as the Latest Artwork or the Same as a Previous Order.
08
Treat Printing Methods, Finishes and Colour Results as Confirmed Only After the Files, Structure and Required Appearance Have Been Reviewed.
Label Schedule
Create a Label Schedule for Every Packaging Layer
A label schedule assigns every label a purpose, packaging level and location. Separate product, retail-pack, shipping and carton labels, and state whether each is applied directly, fixed to packaging or supplied loose. Keep buyer ownership of market-specific text, symbols and required statements visible.
Product Label
Link the label to the individual product and its correct product reference.
Retail-Pack Label
Define the label applied to the customer-facing package and its exact placement.
Shipping Label
Record the label used for order or distribution identification.
Carton Mark
Specify the information printed on or applied to the export carton.
Barcode Data
Control Barcode Data, Format and Placement
A barcode image is not a complete instruction. Link each code to the correct product and packaging level, and provide an approval-ready file. Buyer-owned source data, validity and verification requirements must remain explicit; final application is reviewed against the confirmed packaging structure and project needs.
Record the Supplied Barcode Data, Barcode Type and Human-Readable Text.
Define the Required Size, Colour, Orientation and Exact Position.
Show Any Required Clear Space Around the Code in the Placement Drawing.
Include Retailer, Warehouse or Distribution-Partner Scanning, Print-Quality and Verification Requirements.
Provide an Approval-Ready File Rather Than Asking the Manufacturer to Recreate a Code from an Image.
Identify Buyer Responsibility for Barcode Ownership, Source Data and Required Verification.
Do Not Treat Placement Instructions Alone as Confirmation That a Barcode Is Valid.
Pack Components
Specify Inserts and Other In-Pack Components
Give every instruction sheet, care card, promotional insert and divider a unique name linked to the correct product and pack version. Define production details, location and packing sequence. The buyer's content owner must supply and approve legal, safety, care and market-specific wording.
01
Record the Finished Size and, Where Relevant, the Open Size.
02
Define the Fold Method and the Number and Order of Printed Sides.
03
Identify the Language Version and Corresponding File Name.
04
State Whether Each Component Is Loose, Fixed or Placed in a Defined Compartment.
05
Provide the Packing Sequence When the Pack Includes Multiple Documents or Components.
06
Use the Packaging Brief to Control the Approved Version and Placement, Not to Replace the Buyer's Content Review.
Product Protection
Describe Inner Packing and Product Protection
Inner packing groups products or retail packs before export cartoning. Define quantity, orientation, packing order, separation and movement control, including surfaces that must not rub. These inputs support project assessment; transport performance is not established until the relevant packing arrangement is confirmed.
State the Number of Units per Inner Pack.
Show the Position and Direction of Each Product or Retail Pack.
Identify Components That Require Separation.
Mark Surfaces Where Direct Contact Is a Concern.
Describe the Required Control of Movement Inside the Pack.
List Any Buyer-Specified Restrictions on Packing Materials.
Review the Proposed Packing Method Against the Product Structure and Finish.
Carton Logistics
Record Export Carton and Logistics Requirements
The export carton specification connects the accepted packed configuration to handling and delivery planning. Separate target values from final values confirmed after packing review, and document destination, warehouse, transport and pallet constraints without assuming a shipping method or delivery date.
Record Units per Carton and Inner Packs per Carton.
Provide Target Carton Dimensions and Net and Gross Weight Fields.
Define the Intended Packing Sequence and Carton Sealing Instructions.
Show Shipping-Label Positions, Carton Marks and Handling Notes.
State Which Information Is Buyer-Supplied and Which Values Remain Subject to Packing Review.
Identify the Destination and Any Customer, Warehouse or Transport Constraints.
Where Applicable, Specify Pallet Requirements, Carton Orientation Limits and Required Label Positions.
Confirm Delivery Arrangements According to Destination, Order Volume, Packaging Specifications and Agreed Commercial Terms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Project Review
Prepare the Files for Project Review
Combine the brief, drawings, artwork and packing records under consistent file names. Confirm current versions, identify unresolved decisions and submit the package with the related product specifications. This gives SHENGLIAN a controlled basis for packaging review and a project-specific quotation.
