Private Label Smackdown

Melinda Wooten of KW Strategems discusses the stages of intimacy as they relate to product recognition. Stage 4, speed dating.

Melina Wooten of KW Strategems discusses the stages of intimacy as they relate to product recognition. Stage 2, the glance connects.

Pamela Long of Little Big Brands evaluates the effectiveness of Walmart’s clean, distilled design for its Great Value line of private-label products, focusing on products that include laundry sheets, cereal, and applesauce.

Comparing the retail shelf to a party with "varied personalities," Marcus Hewitt of Dragon Rouge advises, "Just because you're not the loud market leader in the world of brands doesn't mean you need to be a wallflower or a follower."

Structural designer Dean Lindsay of Chicago's Dean Lindsay Design evaluates how structure is used within private-label and national brand products such as hand lotion and laundry detergent to create a unique impression of the brand. Beyond its shape, structure also relates to how a package is manufactured, how it functions, and how it creates a perception of value, Lindsay says.