SPA Issues Jewel Case and Jewel Case Alternative Packaging Guidelines

Leads Industry in Officially Recognizing Changes in Retail Merchandising

April 30, 1996, (Washington, D.C.) - SPA's Software Packaging Special
Interest Group (SIG) today released guidelines for jewel case and jewel
case alternative packaging. These guidelines provide for all essential
information to be self-contained within the jewel case-size package. The
SIG recommends these guidelines to software publishers as a consistent
form of placement of information on the jewel case, making it easier for
consumers and retailers to find important consumer information about the
product. The guidelines become especially important for lower-price point
products sold without an outer box. In connection with the desktop
software packaging guidelines (released by the SIG in August 1995), these
guidelines aim to make it easier for publishers to ensure consumers have
all the information necessary to make an intelligent purchasing decision.

"As product packages get smaller and with few effective preview mechanisms,
consistency and placement of information becomes critical," said Mandy
Braun Strum, SPA Consumer Market section manager.

According to SPA's 1996 Consumer Survey, 47 percent of consumers make their
final purchasing decision on-site. For this reason, consistent information
and a strong why-buy message on packages are paramount. Not only do the
new guidelines offer recommendations for package placement of important
information but also approximate dimensions of jewel case booklets and
inlays. In addition, environmental information for the use of recycling
icons, which are especially important for international sales of the
product is provided.

SPA's focus is on companies developing and publishing software applications
and interactive content. SPA is the leading trade association of the
desktop software industry, representing the leading publishers as well as
many start-up firms in the business, consumer and education markets. Its
1,200 members account for 90 percent of the sales of the U.S. packaged
software industry. SPA is an international organization with offices both
in the United States and Europe. SPA press releases are available on SPA's
Web site at http://www.spa.org or through Fax-on-Demand at (800)
637-6823.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756
 
 =========================================================
 From the 'New Product News' Electronic News Service on...
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) and Delphi (GO COMP PROD)
 =========================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 company/author mentioned. For additional details, please
 contact them directly at the address/phone# indicated.
 Trademarks are the property of their respective owners!
 =========================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  USA
 Email:   rbakerpc@aol.com   --or--   rbakerpc@delphi.com
 =========================================================
