Miscellaneous

Want to Prevent Labeling Disaster? QC Tech Makes No Mistake

Got milk?

A label for one bread crumbs manufacturer did not. Last year, their simple labeling error failing to list “milk” as an ingredient led to nine Class I FDA recalls for more than 3.5 million pounds of food.

Make no mistake: When it comes to labeling, the stakes couldn’t be higher. You’re holding people’s lives in your hands, sometimes quite literally. The smallest labeling errors can quickly become breaking news nightmares on CNN.

And even beyond the FDA and criticality issues, labeling mistakes threaten the success of marketing campaigns and compliance. Shoddy labeling can deter a sale, as well as incur substantial fines from big box stores and online retailers.

It’s enough to keep any manufacturer up all night, whether you’re Chef Boyardee or a small craft brewery bottling IPAs in your basement.

Want to sleep great at night? Implement a system of quality control (QC). It’s practically melatonin for any manufacturer looking to destress. Detect a labeling error while the product’s still on the line and the adhesive’s still sticky and not overly aggressive. QC measures catch problems before they become exponentially expensive.

The 3 Primary Approaches to Quality Control

The good news is QC technology is prevalent, easy to use, and can integrate seamlessly to solve nearly any challenge presented by the most robust labeling systems. It only depends on how intricate an analysis you choose to implement, according to the criticality, expense, and complexity of the labeling production.

Essentially, there are three technological methods to ensure quality labeling: photoelectric sensors, ultraviolet detection, and visual camera inspection. Each of these can be integrated cooperatively together to assure reliable compliance.

Photoelectric Sensors use infrared light to analyze the contrast between the label and the background of the product to ensure the presence of a label.

Ultraviolet Detection uses electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of ultraviolet responsive ink on a label. It is used to detect a label that does not have a contrast detectable by a photoelectric sensor, such as a white label on a white product.

Visual Camera Inspection takes a photo of a label to provide a deeper inspection into the quality of the label itself. As highly sophisticated QC, camera inspection can accept or reject according to acutely specific quality standards at accelerated cycle rates. It does more than just tell if a label is present – it can determine if the label is positioned correctly. It can evaluate text on a label, measure color coding as well as the accuracy of a barcode. It can read batch codes, lot numbers, or expiration dates. And yes, it can tell you if the label for a dairy related product accurately lists “milk” as an ingredient.

Yet even the best QC tech should always be used in conjunction with traditional manual inspection through spot checking. There is always the risk computers have been programmed incorrectly, or that sensors have been configured for the wrong setup. Despite the benefits of technology, there’s still nothing better than a set of eyes at the end of the line to guarantee a product is bonafide shelf worthy.

How to Strategize Priority in QC Integration

In any healthy relationship, communication is essential. To implement the best quality assurance, first find out what issues are most critical to the customers you supply. What are their biggest concerns, challenges, and priorities when it comes to accuracy and critical error? What are they looking for? What keeps them awake at night? Don’t just guess or assume what’s critical or a priority. Quantify concrete specifications to which the QC needs to conform through clear and open communication with the client who receives your product.

Next, take that information to your labeling distributor or supplier and pick their brain. At CTM Labeling Systems, we insist on reaching out to the companies who use our label applicators to determine what criticalities are at stake. Then we can sit down together and discuss what QC technologies should be implemented to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance throughout the labeling process.

Perfect Labeling Evolving in the Flow of Continuity

When it comes to labeling systems, everything is on the line, both literally and figuratively. The criticality of immediately identifying errors cannot be overstated. QC technology provides efficient and comprehensive tools to ensure the integrity of labeling productions. Nevertheless, manual human inspection continues to be an essential cog in any quality assurance integration.

Naturally, as companies grow and evolve, so do their labeling systems and their needs for QC. Say you start out as a small brewery hand-labeling bottles in the family garage. As business improves and expands, your labeling needs grow conjunctively, as do concerns for accuracy against critical error. Rather than simply adding on new features and QC measures, it is often best to start fresh with a new labeling and QC system that can better handle this new stage of evolution. Talk to your labeling systems provider about what options might suit you best.

In the end, you can achieve a robust labeling and QC system that meets your needs and identifies critical errors right on the production belt. The FDA never knocks on your door. Nobody gets sick or poisoned. CNN calls someone else. Life continues to flow smoothly like the beltway of product continuously streaming off your manufacturing line, every package labeled correctly and ready for the shelf.

They can quote larger and more valuable opportunities and accept more projects.

Want to learn more about how to get the most out of your next labeling project? Check out CTM Labeling Systems’ FREE GUIDE, “The Secret to Planning a Labeling System.”

Guest Post By Ed Schneider | July 16, 2018

Ed Schneider is the Director of Sales and Marketing for CTM Labeling Systems — a leading manufacturer of pressure sensitive labeling systems located in Salem, Ohio. He has held this role for over 10 years.

Prior to joining the team at CTM, Ed spent 22 years with a major plumbing manufacturer in Salem, Ohio where he held various positions during his professional development, ultimately holding the position of Plant Manager for 7 years prior to his departure and current position held at CTM.

Ed earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Malone University in Canton, Ohio where he received his degree in Business Management. Ed currently resides in Columbiana, Ohio with his wife Cindy.

How To Make Labels For Bottles

Making bottle labels can be easy and fun. Whether printing yourself or buying from a printer, any bottle label will need to be determined by a few important factors:

Determine your quantity needs and production schedule
Choose a size label to fit your bottle and design
Pick a label material for your bottle’s use requirements
Determine your label type: rolls, sheets, or cut-to-size
Printing your labels or buying custom labels printed

Understanding Quantity Needs For Ordering

Knowing your quantity requirements is one of the main ingredients to putting together a solid purchasing plan to keep your costs efficient and your output on schedule. Bulk ordering can significantly lower production costs and save you time and money, but over ordering can also leave you with unusable inventory when certain products become obsolete, updated or require new designs.

Be careful to understand dynamic market forces and how they can affect your purchasing. You may print in house with an inkjet printer and soon learn that a laser printer is much easier for your increased volume demand, or you may choose a printed roll label for label applicator and later find that you need a larger production applicator that requires a different direction of label placement.

Choosing a Label Size & Shape

Label sizes can be found in a wide range of stocked sizes and shapes, and custom sizes or shapes may be made easily with new tooling to match your exact need. Its typically easy to find a size that is already stocked or for which tooling has been made.

Shapes can include square, rectangle, circle, oval, triangle or any custom die cutout to match our logo or design ploy. Some standard unique shapes include starburst, diamond & heart shapes that are readily available off the shelf or through a digital printing setup.

Bottle Label Material Options

Some of the widely used bottle labels include bopp, paper, or finished materials, and most of these options include gloss or matte laminate options depending on the process you choose. Obviously if you are using a label for an oil bottle or a refrigerated product, you’ll want something waterproof or resistant to the climate for the life of the label’s usage.

Paper labels are a great way to save money for products that don’t need the overkill of vinyl or bopp. A nice laminate or finished paper label can bring out an amazing appearance to your design and be the perfect solution for a professional product appearance that won’t destroy your profit margin.

Blank label materials can sometimes work on both laser or inkjet printers, but often you’ll find specific labels for laser printing or inkjet printing. Make sure you find the right material for your printing method if printing yourself, and make note that the ink from these printers will have a different look to your design – they are not always interchangeable when considering your brand consistency.

Label Type Options For Your Bottles

Determining the type of label will come back to a few factors such as knowing your volume, size & shape, and application requirements. Labels are typically available on sheets, rolls or cut to size. If you’re buying blank bottle labels, you’ll likely be purchasing sheets to be fed in your injket or laser printer. You can also buy custom printed bottle labels at great prices on lower volumes for most hand applied bottle labels, and another great option for hand applying is printed cut-to-size labels.

Custom roll labels are great for higher volumes, usually over 500 labels minimum, depending on the label size, and these labels come in variable layouts for either hand or machine applicator requirements. Roll labels form digital UV printers offer a wide variety of materials as well as laminating options for extra sheen and protection against the elements.

Printing Yourself or Buying Printed Labels

Printing labels on your printer can be easy and rewarding, as well as cost effective. You also have to consider factors such as time, ink costs, and artwork setup requirements that can be a setback to self printing. Purchasing custom labels is often a great way to take the burden off the process and even save money at any volume of label requirements.

Create Food Labels that Consumers Can Trust

create trustworthy labels

In 2017, customers are getting savvier and savvier about the ways they spend the money in their wallets and the foods they put into their mouths. Even though FDA labels are meant to inform consumers about the nutritional value of a food item, they are often not clear enough for many consumers to deem them trustworthy.

It’s no secret that food manufacturers sometimes lie and mislead consumers to get them to purchase a less-than-perfect food product. But in 2017, customers are getting savvier and savvier about the ways they spend the money in their wallets and the foods they put into their mouths. Even though FDA labels are meant to inform consumers about the nutritional value of a food item, they are often not clear enough for many consumers to deem them trustworthy.

Throughout this article, we’ll talk about what makes clear and concise food labels that customers can really trust.

Get Real About Serving Sizes

First of all, FDA labels tend to throw shoppers for a loop when it comes to determining the safety and health benefits of a product, mainly because serving sizes are so unrealistic. While the sugar, fat, or calorie content may seem low at first glance, it’s often unrealistic that the product would be consumed in that small of amount—so in reality, the actual fat, sugar, and calorie content is much higher.

Instead, be honest and upfront about serving sizes. Customers will either care that the sugar content is higher than they expected or they won’t—but ultimately, they’ll appreciate the transparency from your company.

Don’t Throw Around the Words Organic, Natural, or Grass-Fed

All natural, organic, cage-free, and grass-fed products are all the hype right now. However, throwing those words around carelessly may have the opposite effect on shoppers if the words aren’t used correctly. Plus, shoppers are now realizing the real definitions of organic, natural, grass-fed, or cage-free, and brands will have a harder time misleading them or tricking them into purchasing something that doesn’t stay true to its claims.

Understand FDA Labels and Food Regulations

While there are no real regulations when it comes to labelling products as natural or all-natural, consumers generally only want brands to use these terms if they mean it. If a product doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or synthetic additives, it’s probably safe to say it’s all-natural. However, it’s difficult for companies to label anything as all-natural if there is any sort of processing involved.

To ensure that your company is staying on top of the most recent FDA labels and regulations, be sure to visit the FDA’s website for updated information.

Effective Colors for Label Design

The Psychology of Color

The psychology of color plays an essential role in the way that products are viewed by consumers. What does this mean? Marketers need to take the time to understand the importance and impact of color when it comes to labeling and brand identity. A brands impact on consumers can be heavily swayed by color, font, and calls to action on a products labels.

There are other important elements to consider when you are choosing your label materials, and one of them is matching the colors used on the label to the actual package design. You do not want your label to clash with the packaging, so choosing the best colors that look good together is a factor.

Colors and Influence

Red

One of the boldest colors to use in your label design is red. It can help your product stand out when sitting next to competitors products. Red is associated with impulse buying, excitement, and warmth.

Blue

Blue is associated with trust and reliability, as well as feelings of calmness and security. This makes it another one of the more popular colors to be used in different types of design. Blue is also the color that is commonly preferred by men.

Orange

Orange is said to create feelings of warmth and vitality, and is also tied to excitement and adventure. It is an energetic color, which is why it invokes positive, warm emotions.

Green

These days green is often associated with the environment and eco-friendly products, and many people that energy conscious are attracted to the color. Green is also associated with feelings of good luck and tranquility. Green is thought to relieve stress and can create a calming effect for consumers.

White

White is another popular color because of its simplicity and it will match well with any other color. It represents purity, cleanliness, and simplicity.

Yellow

Yellow is the most attention grabbing color that there is, this is because it is the most visible color when used for design. It is associated with cheerful and warm emotions. It is important to not over use yellow in design, because too much of it can have a negative impact because it causes fatigue to the eyes.

Brown

Brown is another color that is often associated with natural products, and it can create feelings of comfort and security.

Other Factors to Remember

Actual Package Color (or product color if clear)

When choosing colors for your label printing you need to make sure that the colors you choose will be compatible with the actual package color. If the packaging that your brand is clear then you need to make sure that the label colors are compatible with the color of the actual product.

Fonts/Legibility

The font is another element that needs to be considered. It should be an easy to read font, and it should also be big enough so people are not straining their eyes to read it. Legibility is a very important factor in all different areas of design, because if people cannot read the product label, they most likely will not buy it.

7 Ways to Ensure a Product’s Package is Retail Ready

It’s a fact, retail shelves and shoppers discriminate and they’ll judge your product’s packaging for what it is or isn’t. You might have thought the hardest part of getting your product on the market was getting a spot on store shelves, but who wants a product that just sits there collecting dust? About 1/3 of buying decisions are based on a product’s packaging. Here are 7 ways you can ensure your product’s packaging is market ready.

Ensure Packaging is Functional and Stands Out

When you look down a store aisle, do similar containers catch your eye or do uniquely shaped containers pull you in? Choose packaging that suits your product, yet also helps it stand out from your competitors. Even well-known brands often repackage their product to keep up with changing consumer needs and interests. In 2011, the iconic Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey spirit bottle was refined with a more pronounced square shoulder and simplified label to continue the legacy of the brand’s distinct look.

Packaging for convenience with the consumer in mind is another important factor. Packaging needs to be functional, durable, and easy to access. Consider whether the product needs to be squeezed, poured, sprayed, or consumed directly. Does it have a handle or none at all? The type of container, cap, and packaging material (e.g. glass or plastic— from clear, transparent, to colored) used helps to address these issues. It is necessary to note that stores have their own requirements too, in terms of packaging sizes and other preconditions.

Product Information Transparency

Today’s breed of consumers demand information and want it in the easiest, most convenient way possible. According to the 2016 Label Insight Food Revolution Survey, 37% of consumers were willing to switch to another brand if the competing brand had more detailed product information. Make sure you sell your brand using clear and concise language. Provide important information on the product label, instructions for use, reasons why the product is better, and its benefits. Avoid an overload of content, misinformation, and most importantly, inconsistencies in your language. Your potential customer wants to be an informed consumer, not a confused reader.

Font Should Represent the Product

A packaging label’s font helps set the tone for the product’s brand. Using modern and easy to read letters allows consumers to quickly scan for information. Font style, size, and color stirs up various types of consumer emotions. Make sure you’re connecting with the right audience (age, gender, race, and lifestyle) for the right reasons. Is your product more formal and serious or fun and youthful? Black creates a serious tone, whereas green is happy and often associated with healthy products. Too much or too little of the same color can also affect product perception.

Visuals Bring the Content to Life

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then purchasing decisions are based on visual appearance. Images on labels help connect shoppers to a product and visually provide an explanation for the product’s use. Products such as air fresheners come in various scents and to convey this to the consumer, images or colors of flowers representing the scent can help to define the smell more than the word itself.

Disclose Important Regulatory and Warning Information

From potential allergies consumers can avoid to hazardous or poisonous products, risks associated with your product should be clearly stated on the label. Certain industries have to comply with specific federal, state, and local requirements and at times, may require certification. These regulations are in place to protect the consumer, from warning labels, heath risks, to nutritional facts. How this material is presented and its format on the product’s label design must meet necessary provisions.

Hire a Professional Designer

Product labels are a form of advertisement, offering a sneak peak to what is inside the packaging. Trained label designers can create labels that give a product more direction and a clear message. They can also help select complimentary fonts or visuals to make the product unique. More experienced designers can provide better feedback based on their previous work with clients who have similar products

Find a Good Label Printer

While printing your labels with your home printer is an affordable option, selecting a good printing company will provide you with more high-quality labels. Printers can offer advice on potential problems a label artwork may have on the press and can work with you to select a label material that works best with your packaging. They also can mass produce product labels quickly and efficiently into various printed label styles and sizes that suit your packaging needs.

Nothing beats a great product but the packaging is the first impression consumers have of a product, be it online or in store. Think of it as persuasive elements that guide someone to pull the buy trigger. Packaging can tell a brand’s inspiring story or can be used as an additional marketing tool for other forms of product engagement, from recipes, sweepstakes, QR codes that are scanned with smartphones, to peel and seal product information labels or coupons. Just make sure you have the basic ingredients to making your product consumer and retail friendly before taking the plunge.

Case Study: Labels At Cottage Door Press

Cottage Door Press publishes high-quality board books for babies and toddlers. Seeing a book go from concept to finished product is fun and rewarding—but it’s not a quick process. Once our work is done and we’ve sent our finished files to the printer, we wait several months to receive the first boxes of the printed books.

While we wait, our sales team is busy presenting our newest titles to book buyers. But without the printed books, what can our buyers review? That’s where label paper comes in! We print our finished files onto label paper (we use the repositionable matte finish paper) and then apply the printed label paper to blank white “dummy” books that are the same size and shape as the real thing.

The “comp” books that we create are a great way to give buyers a good understanding of the finished book, especially for new concepts like this Lift-a-Pop™ book, which combines lift-a-flaps with pop-ups

Contribute a Guest Post Article

Interested in writing a guest blog post for SheetLabels.com? Send us an inquiry or an article to review. Pitches should be relevant in topic, 350 or more words, contain valid trustworthy resource links, and they should be well written.

Some of our guest post categories may include topics around:

food production & packaging
beer & wine, home-brewing, craft breweries
diy label and sticker projects
planner stickers
product packaging & design
useful industry infographs and statistics

Please review our products before submitting articles and make sure you’ll be providing some useful tips & information to our audience. We are happy to share your work to get the message out!

Requirements

Please ensure all content is original and any images have usage rights requirements met. No plagiarism or hurtful, hateful content. Please ensure correct spelling and grammar before submitting articles.

Blank Label Sheets Are Your Labeling Answer

Looking to step up your product’s label game, but not sure if you can fit it into your budget? Blank label sheets are likely the solution that you’ve been looking for! Most label providers will have this as an option to purchase in addition to their traditional printed label selection.

So what are blank label sheets? Essentially, rather than buying more expensive labels that arrive on your doorstep fully printed, blank sheet labels arrive just that, blank. It’s up to you to print them how you see fit for your business. This means you are left with a lot more flexibility on how you print them, and what quantity you print.

When you’re just starting out with your business, it might be overwhelming to make the switch to larger quantities of printed labels where you normally see pricing discounts at play. Because of this, in the short term, you can save money up front by ordering blank labels and printing only what you need to start. You will definitely need to choose what printer is best for your needs, as their is a wide variety depending on what you are looking to produce.

For businesses just beginning to label their products, blank sheet labels is definitely a cost effective method that allows you flexibility in your labeling choices.

Remove The Static From Your Labels Instantly

remove static from label sheets

Ever try to throw a stack of labels into a printer only to find out that they are ‘magically’ stuck together? Static can make labels hard to separate or run through your laser or even inkjet printer.

This blog is going to walk you through the process of removing static from your label sheets! The process is quick and easy and by the time you’re done, using your labels is going to be a breeze!

Removing Static From Labels in Seconds

First, you are going to place your stack of label sheets on a hard, flat surface. Hold one side of the label sheets firmly in your hand. Now, pickup and fan the opposite side.

Next, repeat the process for the opposite side of the sheets of labels.

You are going to continue this process until the static is no longer between your sheets of labels.

Again, removing static from between your sheets of labels is going to help your labels run through your printer with ease!

Add Sophistication To Your Brand with Crystal Clear Gloss Inkjet Labels

Crystal Clear Gloss labels—what’s not to love about them? Our clear sticker printing solutions offer you the sophisticated clear appearance you desire with a bit of texture for added personality. Plus, our Crystal Clear Gloss labels are strong, durable, and tear resistant—making them an excellent solution for your permanent printing needs. We recommend using these labels as product labels, shipping labels, and address labels, or anywhere else you’d like to represent your brand in a professional way. Read on to learn more about the ways in which these labels add sophistication to your brand.

Benefits Of Clear Sticker Printing

Not only do clear labels and stickers give your product a clean and natural appearance, but they also give your product a sophisticated feel, while helping the product’s natural colors shine through. If your product looks visually appealing on its own, why cover it up with a white or colored product label? Allow the product’s natural colors to be seen with our Crystal Clear Gloss labels. Perfect for inkjet or offset printers, these labels are available as sheet labels or cut-to-size labels. Plus, their polyester, permanent material withstands temperatures as low as 20 below or as high as 212 degrees—making them an excellent choice for food or beverage products. Aside from them being attractive and visually appealing to consumers of all ages, these labels are also highly durable.

Ways to Use Clear Sticker Printing

Our Crystal Clear Gloss labels are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit a wide range of uses and markets. Order them as 8.5” by 11” square corner labels, 3.9375” circle labels, or 1.75” by 0.5” rounded corner labels. Whichever shape or size you choose, these labels work well for labeling containers, vitamins, lip balm products, e-cigarettes, baby bottle labels, fragrance containers, promotional items, and more. Any time you need to give your products a sophisticated but clean look and feel, these labels are the perfect solution.

How To Order

If you’re ready to order Crystal Clear Gloss labels, SheetLabels.com makes the ordering process as easy as possible. First, we recommend ordering product samples if you haven’t already. After you’ve received your samples and are comfortable with your choice, you’re ready to place your order. If you’re ordering blank labels, choose a label product shape, size, and quantity, and then you’ll be ready to proceed with finalizing the order.

If you’re ordering printed labels, first decide whether you need printed sheet labels or cut-to-size labels. Then, choose your label shape and size, label material (choose Crystal Clear Gloss), your desired quantity, and upload your artwork to the website. While proofs aren’t necessary if you’re only ordering blank labels to be printed at home or in the office, we recommend that you order printed or digital proofs when ordering printed labels, to ensure that the design quality meets your expectations. Lastly, you’ll choose your shipping preferences.

If you have any questions about the ordering process, the team at SheetLabels.com would be happy to walk you through it in more detail. Contact us today to learn more!