Why good product imagery is so important in the food industry

And we’re kicking off with the most fundamental question... Why is it necessary for a Manufacturer to have good product imagery?

Well, let's start by finding out why imagery in general is becoming a requisite of food data.

Everyone is doing it

Put simply, most Manufacturers and Suppliers in one way or another are providing imagery for their products, and so those that don’t are at a disadvantage and face being left behind. Product imagery has moved from ‘desirable extra’ to ‘standard’.

Importance to e-commerce

The rise of e-commerce for Wholesalers, particularly since COVID-19, has been rapid and significant - and even traditional food retail has seen significant growth in e-commerce over the past decade. Imagery is crucial for online sales because shoppers using that medium are more likely to rely on imagery than descriptions, and need to feel confident in the product they are getting. Because they can see the product and know what to expect, disappointment in the goods they receive is less likely - and therefore so are returns and negative reviews.

It makes life easier for wholesalers and retailers

Anyone, in any industry, appreciates it when their life is made a little easier and for Wholesalers and Retailers, providing product imagery for your range does just that. It prevents them from having to source the imagery themselves for catalogues and websites. Their own customers will want to view product imagery, so the quicker and easier the access, the better for all parties involved.

The difference good imagery can make

So now we’ve covered the general need for product imagery, let’s look at why it’s important that the imagery is of the best quality possible...

Good imagery makes your product stand out

This is especially important if your product is in a category crowded with options - when it comes down to fine margins, customers may choose a product purely because its image makes it look better than those of its competitors. Great product imagery will always mean that your product has something going for it that those with inferior imagery or no imagery at all do not, and will draw the eye for the right reasons.

It demonstrates trustworthiness

People like to know what they are getting - it makes them feel safe. A good visual representation creates confidence in the product, what it looks like and what they can expect. It’s about transparency - if the imagery isn’t good, how can the customer be sure of what they’re purchasing?

Help with brand building

If you provide your own product imagery you are in control of how your products are presented in places like websites and catalogues, and if your imagery is good it will communicate the brand identity you wish to evoke. This might be by showing off carefully designed artisan packaging to its best advantage, or keeping everything clean, bright and minimal to establish a feeling of no frills but high function.

You want your products to speak to their customers and the better your imagery the more effectively they will do this.

Boosts sales

This goes hand in hand with trustworthiness and brand building, but a customer is more likely to make a purchase if it doesn’t feel like a risk. Food products have less grace than something like trainers or a lamp, and whether the customer is a consumer or another business you don’t generally purchase food products with the idea that they might be sent back. Good product imagery communicates to the customer what they will be getting and if it’s the right product for their needs - reducing hesitation or uncertainty around purchasing it.

Gives you a higher chance of being favourably positioned in catalogues/websites

Wholesalers and Retailers also want to look good to their customers, so it makes perfect sense that when showcasing products through mediums like catalogues and websites they’re going to choose the best pictures for things like banners and category heroes. Ensuring your product imagery is of the highest quality boosts your chance of being singled out.

What now?

Okay, so we’ve established why product imagery is now essential to food data sharing, and explored the benefits enjoyed if this imagery is high quality, but now the questions are what exactly separates good imagery from bad and how do I get it?

Erudus is on hand to help with both. You can read our easy run-down of what makes product imagery good or bad here, and find out how the Erudus Image Capture team can create high quality product imagery and even upload it to your product specifications for you here.