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Why Highlight What's Included
Response monitoring - Alienation analysis

Highlight makes everyone a research pro

Learn more
Response monitoring - Alienation analysis

Highlight makes everyone a research pro

Learn more
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Test your packaging for durability, usability, and appeal

Find out if your packaging actually works in the real world, from real users, then fix any issues before your product hits the shelves.

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Interested in becoming a product tester?

Learn more about how to join the exclusive community of Highlighters.

TURN PACKAGING RISKS INTO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Advanced package testing software delivers the reliable consumer insights your packaging decisions demand

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Eliminate costly redesigns by catching packaging problems before production, not after launch.

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Gather authentic consumer feedback on packaging usability, appeal, and functionality in real-world conditions.

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Reduce time-to-market with parallel testing workflows that accelerate your packaging development timeline.

WHERE RIGOROUS PACKAGE TESTING MEETS RELIABLE CONSUMER INSIGHTS

Our platform combines advanced testing methods with real consumer feedback to prevent costly packaging failures

Track every moment of the customer journey

Track detailed consumer behavior patterns—from first impression to final disposal—across diverse household environments. Our platform captures micro-interactions and usage habits that only emerge in real homes, revealing exactly where customers struggle or delight in ways that lab testing simply can't replicate.

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Flexible methodology - Alienation analysis

Test across any market without the logistics headache

Scale testing across different demographics, regions, and household types without managing multiple vendors. Instead of coordinating with separate research firms in each market, our unified platform gives you access to qualified testers nationwide through a single dashboard and consistent methodology.

Get the full story behind the numbers

Capture rich qualitative insights alongside quantitative metrics for a complete picture of packaging effectiveness. While the data shows what's happening, our detailed consumer narratives and video feedback reveal why it's happening, giving you the context needed to make confident design decisions.

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Packaging and product optimization testing for Freestyle Snacks

  • Achieved 92% completion rate (24 samples sent to 100 product testers)
  • Received rich, qualitative data about their product packaging
  • Benchmark data within the "better for you" snack category gave the Freestyle Snacks team the information they needed to create compelling retailer decks
  • Freestyle Snacks gathered location-specific data that could inform their retail expansion strategy

Getting started is simple

Design your test

Design your test

Define your objectives, create your survey, and set parameters for your ideal testers.

We ship your products

We ship your products

We handle recruitment and distribution to get your products into the right homes.

See your data instantly

See your data instantly

Gather feedback through our platform and transform data into actionable insights.

See how your packaging really performs

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Compare packaging redesigns to find the winning version

Run monadic tests of different packaging concepts to see which design elements actually drive purchase intent and satisfaction. Get definitive data on whether that new closure system or updated graphics will resonate with your target market.

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Validate sustainable packaging alternatives

Before switching to eco-friendly materials, confirm they deliver the same protection and user experience customers expect. Test consumer perception of sustainability claims and whether green packaging actually influences purchase decisions in your category.

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Test packaging durability across different climates

Evaluate how your packaging performs in various household environments, from humid bathrooms to temperature-fluctuating garages. Identify potential failure points that only emerge over weeks of real-world storage and handling conditions.

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Refine e-commerce packaging for direct-to-consumer sales

Optimize packaging specifically for shipping and doorstep delivery rather than retail shelf appeal. Test protection levels, size efficiency, and unboxing experience to reduce damage claims while creating positive brand moments.

See Highlight in action

Watch how leading CPG brands are leveraging Highlight's platform to transform their product testing process, capture authentic consumer insights, and bring winning products to market faster.

Stop the guesswork about consumer packaging preferences

Gather accurate feedback on packaging design, functionality, and appeal through structured testing that gives you the data you need for confident decisions.

Common pack testing questions

What methodologies provide the most accurate consumer feedback on packaging design? A: In-home usage testing (IHUT) delivers the most authentic consumer feedback by allowing people to interact with packaging in their natural environment, revealing real-world usage patterns that controlled lab settings cannot replicate. 

Highlight combines IHUT with sensory evaluation and functional testing to capture both emotional responses and practical performance data about your packaging. Our selective community of Highlighters—filtered through tactics like red herring questions and additional demographic screening and verification—provides thoughtful, detailed feedback that traditional surveys miss. 

While typical quantitative surveys discard 30% of responses as unreliable, our quality controls ensure only 1-2% of data is unusable. This methodology delivers comprehensive packaging insights in about 3 weeks, giving you confidence in consumer preferences before committing to production.
What's the difference between lab testing and real-world package testing? A: Lab testing provides controlled conditions but often misses how consumers actually interact with packaging in their daily lives, leading to gaps between designed functionality and real-world performance. 

Highlight's in-home usage testing captures authentic consumer behavior, revealing how people open, store, and dispose of packaging when they're not being observed in artificial settings. Our approach uncovers practical issues like difficulty opening packages while multitasking, storage challenges in real kitchens, or unexpected usage patterns that lab testing cannot predict. The 90%+ completion rates from our engaged community provide comprehensive data about actual consumer experiences rather than hypothetical responses.
Can package testing tools help prevent product launch failures? A: Package testing significantly reduces launch failure risk by validating consumer acceptance and identifying potential issues before market introduction. Highlight's package testing services reveal how consumers respond to packaging design, functionality, and brand messaging in real-world conditions. Our comprehensive approach includes:
  • Functional testing to ensure packaging performs as intended
  • Sensory evaluation of visual appeal and tactile experience
  • Claim testing to verify messaging resonates with target audiences
  • Competitive benchmarking to position against market alternatives
What types of packaging issues can consumer testing identify that internal teams might miss? A: Consumer testing reveals blind spots that internal teams often overlook, such as packaging that's difficult for people with arthritis to open or designs that don't fit in standard refrigerators or cabinets.

Our diverse community provides feedback across different age groups, physical abilities, and cultural backgrounds that internal teams may not represent. The authentic environment testing reveals practical issues like packaging that tears incorrectly, labels that become illegible when wet, or containers that tip over easily on real countertops.