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Label Printing 101 |
Written by charen smith
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Before you can begin selling your product at retail, you must develop the appropriate label for your product. It is easy to forget the importance of a label as this is usually the last thing to be developed. Poor labeling can cause problems ranging from your customers not being able to find your product on the shelves to a bad experience for your customers because the label fell off your product. Designing, selecting the right materials, and choosing the appropriate printing firm are key points of consideration when preparing to print your labels. Label design Label design encompasses everything from the size of your label, the colors you will use, and overall branding. Your design will also influence the materials you use and in turn the printing firm best suited to your labels. Concerning the size of your label, make sure you understand industry standards. If your competitors are using labels that cover the entire product, you may need to stay in the same ballpark. The key here is to know what your customers expect. You also have to know whether or not you're going to print with color. Many companies use paper or other materials that are a solid color other than white, and then they will use one or two colors of ink for text. Full color label will be more attractive to the eye, so think carefully before cutting costs in this area. Finally, keep your corporate brand in mind when designing your labels. Your product line may have its own brand or you might need to tie a new product line to your current brand. Either way, branding is important as it enables the consumer to quickly recognize and identify your products. Material selection In what kind of environment will your product be used and sold? Many products are refrigerated, will be used outside, may get wet, or have to survive in any other number of extreme environments. Choosing the right label material is important so that the label stays intact until sold. Ideally, your product should also survive for the use of the product by the consumer. Most labels are printed onto paper or plastic that has an adhesive on the back which is then stuck on to the product. Plastic labels are typically more resilient, but can cost much more than their paper counterparts. Glossy paper labels are not as expensive as plastic but have a similar look and feel. They are not as resilient, though. The standard paper labels are ideal for products that will not face extreme environments. Printer selection You have your label design, and you know what materials you will be using, now you can find the right label printing firm for your project. Some companies opt for trying to print their own labels in-house. If you do not have the right equipment and experience, such an undertaking would be ill advised. Professional printing firms cannot only supply you with a professional product, but they can also help you avoid major pitfalls. Their expertise and experience are worth far more than you might save printing your labels on your own. As a final thought, unless you have a very short run of labels to make, professional printing firms will almost always be able to save you money in the long run. For comments and inquiries about the article visit Label Printing Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
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