The topic of this research work the Influence of Product Packaging on Consumer Buying Preference in Aba Metropolis, Abia State. This study was carried out to investigate the influence of product packaging, on the purpose of this the question experimental research design was adopted to study consumers towards various product packaging. The primary data was collected from the respondents using the questionnaire. After a critical analysis of the data collected, the hypothesis, were tested using analysis with the aid of statistical product and service solution (SPSS) packaging and the following hypothesis were realized there is a relationship between product packaging and the consumer buying preference of a products. Moderating factors to regulate the relationship between packaging and consumer buying preferences of business firm based on these findings, the following were recommended product packaging should be look upon as a cost tool or a production problem. Again product should be lease with user of their product package so as to enable them know when there is need for improvement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Approval Page

Dedication

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study:……………………

1.2 Statement of Problem:………………………….

1.3 Objective of the Study:…………………………….

1.4 Research Question/Hypothesis:………………..

1.5 Significance of the Study:………………………

1.6 Scope of the Study:……………………………….

1.7 Operational Functions of Terms:………………….

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction:…………………………….

2.2 The Concept of Product:…………………

2.2.1 Basic Characteristics of Product:………

2.2.2 The Role of a Product:……………………

2.3 The Concept of Product Packaging as a Marketing Tools:…….

2.4 Importance of Product Packaging as a Marketing Tool

2.5 The Promotion Product Packaging Function

2.5.1 The Promotion Function Power Packaging could be use to give Production favourable

2.5.2 The Protective Function

2.6 Product Requirement

2.6.1 The Distributors Requirement

2.6.2 Consumer Requirement

2.6.3 The Legal Requirements

2.7 Problem of Product Packaging

2.8 Criticisms of product Packaging

2.9 Performance Measures

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Research Methodology

3.2 Population of the Study

3.4 Sample Size Technology

3.5 Research Instrument

3.6 System of Data Analysis

3.7 Method of Ensuring Validiaty

3.8 Research Design

3.9 Data Collection Method

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis

4.2 Questionnaire Administration

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Summary, Conclusion and recommendation

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

Appendix

Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCITON

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Historically, management has considered product packaging only for the purpose of ascertaining the product and had assigned the role responsibility of the packaging to the production department. However modern marketing managers regard packaging as a supplementary promotional tool for their product. It has been shown that in self service store, it is packaging on product that does the selling. No wonder it is often regarded as the silent salesman.

Product packaging involves enclosing mechanism in a container for marketing display, sanitation convenience in handling and use of safety and preservation. Since 1978 when folding cartons was discovered the packaging industry has grown expansively with period of rapid expansion occurring intermittently. The major resolution mechanizing era when mass production teaching were inaugurated and individual sealed product packaging replace bulk merchandise.

The most commonly used product packaging material includes corks, asbestos, rubbers, plastics, papers and several types of strong materials such as lead glass, packaging has gone all the way back to the down of history when primitive societies carry barriers continues packaging primary roles was to hold, protect and transport goods from manufactures to the users of individual goods. Packaging products therefore keeps a product intact and available to the final consumers in its original states. It protect the quality of the product from physical damage where the traditional purposes.

Kohler (1984:72) defined product packaging as the activities of designing and producing the containers for a product. He added that the container is called packaging and it mighty include there levels the primary that contains the outhits (the secondary that covers the primary container and the tertiary that protect the entire product during haulage). The type and levels of product packaging adopted depends on the types of product market promotion on the other hand represents all those activities embarked upon the company to communicate its products merits and to persuade target customers to buy them.

Arowomole and Adeyemi (2004:148) product packaging as the general group of activities in product planning that involved designing and producing the container or wrapper for a product. Packaging provide two major services for both consumers and producers that is it services as a product measure for the product and also promotional device some product packaged such as coke bottles and world famous. Materials use to protect goods also on opportunity to present the brand and Logo.

Product packaging has recently been in importance. At times it becomes very difficult to determine whether greater emphasis should be put on the protective functions of packaging then its promotion functions. Formally, most firms saw product packaging as only container for the physical product without realizing the other marketing importance of the product especially its importance towards the promotion of the product due to the increase importance which is presently attached to promotional functions of to be regarded as any person jobs. The job of packaging now rest on the hands of quality product managers or specialist trained in that particular filed or marketing in most organizations. The ever increasing customers demands on organizations for more tolerant package has pushed marketing managers to develop packing with more acceptable material shapes and forms. Poor packaging kills a product and can also dissatisfaction among channel intermediaries.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Despite the fact that numerous studies in the past have contributed to the theoretical and practical knowledge on packaging demonstrated that products packaging play sufficient role in marketing of goods and services from all sectors of productive economy, yet quite a number of small and huge scale manufacturers have shown less concern to packaging their product effectively confectionaries especially the small one have been found wanting in the area.

The ability to incorporate into product packaging preference the right choice of material, colour, shape, design, style, size and promotional information has been a major challenge facing marketing managers in the small and medium scale ventures. Also inadequate budget devoted to product packaging that effects effective packaging preference of organizations .it is as a result that this study is concerned with investigating how and the extent product packaging has changed consumers preferences.