Custom Labels

4 Ways To Make Professional Food Labels

4 Ways To Make Professional Food Labels

Chad S

According to a study of 2,000 people by OnePoll that was commissioned by my company, 75% of respondents noted that if the term “organic” was used in product marketing, they were more likely to purchase it, and nearly 60% would be attracted to an item that was labeled “all natural.”

The survey also found that about 20% of respondents have full trust in organic food labels for products, with 57% having only partial trust.

Organic Food Is Getting Popular

Other studies reported by the Pew Research Center underscore these findings: Americans’ desire for organic food has grown steadily over the past few decades, and the majority of Americans buy food based on product labeling.

Non Gmo, Hormone Free, All Natural, What Are These Terms?

Today, I’ve observed consumers are bombarded with buzzwords — such as “organic,” “non-GMO,” “hormone-free” or “all natural” — as they stroll up and down the grocery store aisles.

It’s true that brands are under intense pressure to sell and move their products off the shelves. Trendy words and marketing catchphrases can help attract consumers, but these phrases that imply a product is healthy (when it really isn’t) can create confusion for the purchaser and blur the lines between what is accurate and what isn’t.

  1. Focus on the long term – not fast sales – A label can sell your product, but it can also affect your reputation. Think carefully before you add the latest buzzwords to your labeling. Make sure it actually relates to your product and that the information is accurate. It’s more valuable to attract a loyal customer versus just a one-time buyer.
  2. Dont Lie or Make False Claims on Your Labels – There have been cases of brands making fraudulent claims that their food is “organic.” This is why accurately describing your products on labeling is critical.
  3. Make Your Labels Clear to read – It’s important to communicate messages about your product clearly and truthfully. For example, when buying something simple, such as a carton of eggs, the consumer is often faced with a variety of terms: “organic,” “cage-free,” “free-range,” “pasture-raised” and “certified humane.” If you aren’t familiar with what these terms mean, it’s challenging to understand the differences in these labels. I believe the current food market creates an environment that makes it difficult for consumers to understand the intricacies of the industry, which tends to keep things complicated.
  4. Work to Gain Consumers Trust, Not sales – If what you say today sells your product but results in losing the trust of your customers, they won’t be returning. While the trendy phrases found on labeling might initially attract new customers, repeat customers will not be guaranteed.

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FMCG Companies Says Sales Are Slowing in 2019

FMCG Companies Says Sales Are Slowing in 2019

Chad S

Billed as the worst sales in India in two years, chief executive officers (CEOs) of retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies say that the government In India will have to hit the ground running if it wishes to contain the damage.

“Rural incomes have to rise, so that the consumption slowdown in these markets is addressed,” says Kishore Biyani, founder and chief executive officer, Future Group. “A revival package for rural areas will help and with a stable government in power, I think, a lot can happen,” he says.

Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director, Nestle India, says, “India has consistently posted stable growth in the past few years with low inflation. However, with inflationary pressures now growing and the forecast of a below-normal monsoon, farm incomes will be affected. Giving an impetus to rural households is the need of the hour.”

American research firm Nielsen has already lowered its growth forecast for the 2019 calendar year by 200 basis points for the domestic consumer goods market, saying sentiment remains weak.

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The LinerLess Labels Market Is Growing Fast

The LinerLess Labels Market Is Growing Fast

Chad S

There is a new innovative method coming to the custom label industry. This new innovation is liner less labels.

These are the same Pressure sensitive labels, but without the liner. Linerless labels have 60% more labels per roll. Not only that but Linerless labels are more “green” and environmentally friendly.

Eliminating the liner also reduces on freight costs and shipping, material costs and storage costs.

Linerless labels, on the other hand, adhere to themselves. The silicone-coated labels are, essentially, their own liners. A special manufacturing process coats the back of the label with an adhesive that is easily peeled off the surface of the label beneath it yet securely grips the surface where it’s meant to go. Basically, linerless labels stick to themselves, at least until you put them in their final resting place.

You’ll cut shipping costs by 50 percent because there will be twice as many labels per box compared to standard labels.

Since it does not have a liner, more labels can be wound onto a roll: approximately 40% more per roll.

Not only are you getting more labels per roll, you’re decreasing the amount of time used for change overs, saving manufacturing cost and production time.

The disadvantages are that linerless labels are more expensive, and you will need a special printer that can smoothly print linerless labels over a silicone roller.

Another issue label converters have with linerless labels is that they have limited shapes. Like household tape, you only get either a square or a rectangle-shaped label. For some manufacturers, the lack of release liners is a downside as the label will not have something to hold it in place when die-cut.

The Global Linerless Labels Market is broken down by:

Size, Share, Growth, Analysis, Trends by Composition (facestock, Adhesives, and Topcoat), Printing Ink (Water-based Inks, UV-curable Inks, Solvent-based Inks, and Hot Melt-based Inks), Printing Technology, Application, and Region.

LinerLess Labels

These labels are hassle less, liner, and zero waste product and are available in a variety of adhesives.

The linerless label is pressure sensitive because it does not have backing paper. These labels have special release coating applied to the face of the label that allows to be wound on a roll without the adhesive sticking to the label below it.

The demand for linerless labels is growing rapidly and is projected to grow at the same pace over the forecast period owing to growing demand from the food & beverage sector.

Labels With Liners

The typical label, has a liner on it. This can produce extra waste and labor.

LinerLess Food Labels

On the basis of the printing technology, the market has been segmented into the digital printing, flexographic printing, lithography printing, offset printing, and others. Digital printing accounted for the largest market share in 2016. This printing technology offers several benefits like high quality, cost-effective solution for manufacturing well-designed linerless labels with recycling options. It uses inkjet printing to print images.

On the basis of the application, the market is further segmented into food & beverage, consumer durables, personal care, pharmaceuticals, retail, and others. The food & beverage is dominating the application segment of the global the linerless label market. Linerless labels have wide applications in the F&B industry.

The global linerless labels market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% during the estimated period, 2017-2023

Linerless Label Manufacturers

Some of the prominent players in the Linerless Labels Market are 3M company (U.S.), Coveris Holdings S.A. (U.S.), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), CCL Industries Inc. (Canada), Constantia Flexible Group GMBH (Austria), RR Donnelley & Sons Company (U.S.), Gipako (Europe), Hub Labels (U.S.), Cenveo Corporation (U.S.), Reflex Labels (U.K.), General Data Company Inc. (U.S.), Skanem AS (Norway), NAStar, Inc. (U.S.), NSD Labelling Group (U.K), and Raveenwood Packaging (U.K.)

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Louisiana Will Eliminate Car Inspections Stickers

Louisiana Will Eliminate Car Inspections Stickers

Chad S

The House Transportation Committee approved a bill Monday, May 13 that would eliminate inspection stickers in Louisiana.

Photo Source: WAFB

Under current law, Louisiana drivers are required to get an inspection every other year. Those drivers can pay for a one-year inspection sticker for $10, or a two-year tag for $20. The custom labels are not working says city residents. They would prefer to give the money to fund the State Troopers.

Currently, Louisiana State Police collects 40 percent of the revenue each tag brings in, the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) collects another 12.5 percent, and the local inspectors collect the remaining 47.5 percent.

Stonewall Republican Rep. Larry Bagley’s bill would eliminate the inspection requirement, but essentially retain the $10 fee by increasing the registration renewal cost. The money that would go to the local inspector under the current system would instead be earmarked for LSP, allowing the agency to hire an additional 150 troopers to patrol Louisiana highways.

“When you add troopers, there are fewer crashes and deaths,” Bagley said. “Inspection stickers are not working. Adding troopers will work.”

Bagley says those additional troopers could help identify unsafe vehicles and encourage drivers to fix their issues immediately.

“If you get your car inspected today, drive out on the road, and have your windshield broken, you got two years to fix it. How is that safety?” Bagley asked the committee, which approved his bill 8 to 6. “Walk out in this parking lot and find problems with cars out there and they’ve got current inspection stickers on.”

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Stickers On Pharmacy Bags Bring Awareness

Stickers On Pharmacy Bags Bring Awareness

Chad S

Liz Tennent, project director, and Teresa Casmus, owner/pharmacist of The Medicine Shoppe, agreed that May was a great time to start a sticker campaign. Custom labels and stickers for pharmacy bags is really helping bring attention to the cause.

All the store bags distributed to customers include the YSUP logo, website and phone number. They hope to reach parents, youth and a larger audience who will be informed and engaged with YSUP Rowan.

May 12-18 was National Substance Use Awareness Week, which helped in jump-starting the sticker campaign into the summer months.“Research clearly shows that summer is a risky time for youth substance use,” Tennent said in a press release. “An average of 5,000 youth will smoke cigarettes for the first time; more than 11,000 teens ages 12 to 17 will use alcohol for the first time; and over 4,500 youth start using marijuana for the first time in June and July.”

Those statistics are from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation Among Adolescents.”

“Youth really need to grasp and understand the impact of substance abuse,” Casmus said. “It can preclude you from many professions and opportunities. You will be required to complete a background check and, in many cases, random drug testing. If you have a record of substance use, it will greatly limit your choices for the present and for your future.”

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The Term GMO shouldn’t scare you, Here’s Why:

The Term GMO shouldn’t scare you, Here’s Why:

Chad S

The term GMO shouldn’t scare you. These technologies are helping our nation’s farmers contribute to a safe and responsible food system. GM technologies also help reduce food costs at the grocery store.

If you purchase food with labels on them, you’re likely aware of genetically modified crops – also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), GE crops or biotech crops.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about GMOs.  I know because I’m a farmer. 

GMO’s Are Proven Safe

Despite the fact that GMOs are proven safe, more and more grocery products are carrying labels indicating that foods are “GMO free.” These labels have a tendency to scare consumers rather than educate them on the importance and safety of this technology.

Currently only 10 GMO crops are commercially available: corn (field and sweet), soybeans, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya, squash, potatoes and apples.

Yet food manufacturers mislead consumers and spread misinformation by adding “GMO free” labels on everything from salt to bottled water — items that wouldn’t ever include GMO technology (salt doesn’t have genes!).

Food companies are hoping the labels provide them with a marketing advantage and they’ll be able to sell these products at a premium, adding to the cost for consumers.

GMOs pose no risk to human health. They’ve been commercially available for well over 20 years, and in that time have not been linked to a single illness or death.

In 2016, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) had found “no substantial evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered crops and conventionally bred crops.” The researchers examined hundreds of scientific papers on the subject, listened to hours of live testimony from activists and experts before coming to their conclusion.

GM crops have been tested more than any other crops and have been proven safe to consume by both people and livestock. Also, GMOs have never been found in milk, meat or eggs originating from animals that consumed GMO grains.

The World Health Organization, American Medical Association, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, British Royal Society and others have all agreed that GMO crops are safe to consume. The great thing about this research is that it was conducted by a variety of industry experts and independent organizations.

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Eco-Friendly Private Label Printing Grows As Businesses Go Green

Eco-Friendly Private Label Printing Grows As Businesses Go Green

Chad S

Sustainable products have a reputation for coming with a high price tag. Not only are the materials used to build sustainable packaging seen as more expensive than their nonbiodegradable alternatives, but businesses also worry that the quality and strength of the packaging itself suffers when made from eco-friendly material.

However, many companies are switching to biodegradable packaging despite its perceived challenges. Sustainable packaging has advanced to the point where biodegradable products perform just as well — if not better — than non biodegradable alternatives, and consumers are willing to reward a business that does its part to protect the environment. Not to mention, switching to sustainable packaging plays an invaluable role in reducing a business’s carbon footprint. 

As a result, businesses are increasingly embracing green packaging practices — especially retailers who want to set their private label products apart from the brands they stock. To start implementing these packaging practices, businesses must find a high-quality, durable, eco-friendly label for the product.

What Makes a Label Eco-Friendly?

Not all labels efficiently break down when discarded by consumers; labels must satisfy some important criteria before they’re certified as eco-friendly. To ensure your product labels are as green as possible, make sure to:Use recycled materials. Whether the labels are constructed from post-consumer materials or composed of byproducts from other manufacturing processes, labels made from recycled material help divert the amount of waste heading to landfills. Using recycled materials also reduces the amount of energy that it takes to construct labels and other products.

Employ green manufacturing processes. Many label manufacturing companies use specialized processes that render plastic and other materials more efficiently biodegradable. Some businesses also use specialized adhesives to make labels more easily separable from their packaging in an effort to enhance recycling process efficiency.

Incorporate renewable materials. Many companies use renewable resources like wheat, corn, and other starchy materials to make polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable adhesive that can act as an alternative to fossil fuel-based compounds. Other businesses replace tree-based papers with those made from bamboo, cotton, or sugarcane, which grow much more quickly than trees while producing the same level of quality in the end product. 

Leading Brands Are Switching to Eco-Friendly Labeling

Growing consumer interest in reducing our collective carbon footprint has inspired many high-profile, recognizable brands to switch to green labeling practices.

Walmart and Sam’s Club are making a big move toward recyclable packaging. These big-box stores have pledged to use environmentally friendly labels on all their private-label products by 2025. This will result in more sustainable packaging for more than 30,000 products, and the company hopes that its actions will set the standard for its industry peers.

Colgate–Palmolive has committed to using 100% biodegradable packaging for all its products by 2025. The brand also aims to use 25% recycled material when developing its plastic packaging. In doing so, Colgate–Palmolive seeks to reduce the amount of plastic packaging that regularly ends up in landfills and waterways.

Another corporation that’s boldly shifting to recyclable packaging is Aldi. The grocery chain recently announced a plan to switch all packaging to recyclable, reusable, or compostable material by 2025.

By next year, Aldi-brand packages will have How2Recycle labels, which instruct customers on how to properly recycle their products. Because over 90% of the products Aldi carries are privately labeled, this practice will hugely impact the amount of waste the chain produces.

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Walmart & Digimarc Barcode Company Collaborate On Fresh Product Labels

Walmart & Digimarc Barcode Company Collaborate On Fresh Product Labels

Chad S

76% of cashiers have experienced a label not reading from the meat/seafood department at lease once per shift.

32% of cashiers say scanning issues have resulted in a customer who decided not to purchase an item.

Digimarc, ‘the barcode of everything’ is a proprietary method for imperceptibly enhancing packaging, images and audio with data that is detected by enabled devices, such as phones, computers, barcode scanners and machine-vision equipment.

According to the companies, the program is intended to reduce fresh food waste and provide everyday lowest prices by automating the markdown process.

Innovative New Food Product Labels

Fresh product labels can be crinkled, smudged, wrapped around edges, or fraudulently altered, contributing to product shrinkage, lower inventory accuracy, and suboptimal customer experiences. According to the companies, the Digimarc Barcode for Fresh Product Labels makes scanning more reliable, simplifies operations, improves inventory accuracy and provides a better customer experience.

“We are working closely with Digimarc to innovate and apply new technologies that will aim to reduce waste, help improve our overall store operations, and improve customer experience,” said John Crecelius, senior vice president of central operations at Walmart. “As we apply this new technology to our fresh processes, our goal is to realize new customer benefits while accelerating our commitment to reduce waste.”

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All About Amazon’s Private Labels Business

All About Amazon’s Private Labels Business

Chad S

In Amazon’s early days, enterprising merchants carved out lucrative niches for themselves by identifying what wasn’t being sold on the site, sourcing those products at low prices and offering them as third-party sellers. This phenomenon helped the ecommerce platform serve more consumers while mitigating its risk and made Amazon the so-called Everything Store it is today. Eventually, it also inspired a change in the mega retailer’s business model.

Amazon Private Label Company

In 2007, Amazon launched its own private labels business by taking a page from third-party sellers: Find popular products on the site and sell them at a lower price, in this case under a “brand” name created by Amazon itself. First was luxury bed-and-bath brand Pinzon. Then Amazon followed with everyday-items brand Amazon Basics in 2009. The retailer’s private label business has since grown to include 119 brands, per a recent study from research firm Gartner L2, including Amazon Essentials, which features apparel, and paper goods brand Presto.

And the list is growing. Business intelligence firm Feedvisor found Amazon is aggressively pushing into private labels. Oweise Khazi, senior principal at Gartner and lead Amazon analyst, called the market “potentially a gold mine” in part because so many consumers trust Amazon.

But third-party sellers and their private labels haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, per a Feedvisor report, 56% of all Amazon marketplace sellers earned revenue from private labels in 2018, up from 32% in 2017. They also account for 58% of sales in 2018, for a total of $160 billion—and have a compound annual growth rate of 52% since 1999. By contrast, Amazon’s compound annual growth rate for first-party sales over that 20-year period was 25%, from $1.6 billion to $117 billion.

As Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wrote this year in his annual letter to shareholders, “Third-party sellers are kicking our first-party butt.”

And yet it’s not quite that simple. Amazon collects fees from its third-party sellers—for being on the site, storing merchandise in the retailer’s warehouses and fulfilling orders. As a result, Amazon is in competition with the very sellers that helped it gain dominance, and its relationship with these third-party vendors has turned into something like the field of candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election: They’re rivals, but they also have an interest in each other’s success.

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Walmart Re-imagines Private Label Packaging To Reduce Waste

Walmart Re-imagines Private Label Packaging To Reduce Waste

Chad S

Walmart is looking to drive sales through sustainability by committing to new plastic packaging waste reduction rules for its private label brands.

The company announced that these new commitments are expected to impact over 30,000 SKUs.

According to the company, the move is designed to help get to the heart of the waste problem by focusing on the retailer’s private brand packaging, building upon existing efforts to reduce plastic waste in Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club operations, and encouraging national brand suppliers to set similar packaging goals.

Company executives highlighted that the company is working with suppliers to expand efforts to improve the sustainability of its private brand product packaging, with an emphasis on increasing the chance of being able to get recycled and making it easier for customers.

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