The IT industry is, by its very nature, constantly releasing new IT widgets and gadgets into the consumer market. With every new product that hits the shelf, there comes with it a layer of marketing and branding that highlights the quality, reputation, and the set of expectations invested in that product.

All these qualities characterize the power of branding: they nurture customer loyalty, making purchasing decisions easier even at premium prices.

In a consumer-driven business, Branding starts with the product itself.
Here are five ways to brand a product (and it’s more than just slapping a logo on the front):

1. The Material

In considering the product itself as the brand, and not just the logo on the front cover, the possibilities for branding open up considerably. For instance, the raw materials used to build the product can become its own branding characteristic in and of itself.

Consider some of the more popular materials used for IT products:

• Aluminum
• Sheet Metal
• Base metals such as Copper, Brass, Zinc, Nickel, Tin, and Steel
• Acrylic
• Fiberglass
• Plastic

2. Cosmetic Styles

Taking the concept a step further, even more customization can be added in the form of manufacturing techniques, cosmetic paints, coatings, and finishes:

• Manufacturing
  
  • Aluminum Casting & Extrusion
  • Brazing
  • Embossing
  • Metal Blanking & Stamping
  • Notching, Punching, Press Braking
  • Plastic Injection Molding or Vacuum Forming
• Cosmetic Paints & Coatings
  
  • Liquid Wet Paint
  • Latex Paint
  • Powder Coating - Epoxy
  • Powder Coating - Polyurethane
  • Powder Coating - Acrylic
• Finishes
  
  • Aluminum Standard or Steel Standard Finish
  • Brushed Stainless Steel Finish
  • Stainless Steel Polished Finish

3. Faceplate Bezel

In most IT products, there is a cover or door, or a “faceplate bezel” feature that functions as the front of the unit. With OEM & ODM customization, the possibilities for the faceplate bezel are extremely flexible.

Some ideas may include:

• Adding custom material specifications or cosmetic styles to change the appearance
• Adding silkscreen designs
• Installing a custom user interface, such as LCD screens, navigational buttons and knobs
• Installing alert-type components, such as LED lights or alarm signals
• Adding security features, such as locks

4. The Package

Most products, especially those that ultimately end up in the hands of the consumer, come wrapped in shelf-ready packaging. These can include anything from the attractive design of the box itself, to the product manuals and CDs that come bundled inside.

There are several packaging solutions to choose from, any of which can be customized to highlight a brand:

• Die-Cut Boxes
• Specialty Boxes (made to your custom specifications, usually non-industry standard)
• Graphics Packaging

5. And Last But Not Least, The Logo

Adding your company logo is one of the most obvious and well-used specifications in the OEM & ODM industry. It is also one of the most customizable specifications available. Below are just some of the logo and labeling options that can be applied to a product:

• • Special Adhesives
  • Top Coating, Laminations, & Varnishes
  • Sticker Labels, Epoxy, Vinyl
  • Bevels & Embossments
• • Various Face Materials, such as embossed laminates, vinyl, & gloss
  • Silk Screening on various materials
  • Engraving
  • Pad Printing
  • Metal & Plastic Tagging

Ci Design offers several branding services for OEM & ODM projects.
One of the most popular solutions offered is the re-branding of an existing Ci Design product (click to read more).