Many businesses think they can easily create a DIY product label. Don’t be fooled! A product label is more than simply a sticker with a name and logo. It’s often the first thing consumers see when they interact with your brand and must be created thoughtfully. All too often we’ve seen small businesses suffer from a dip in sales due to bad labels and making common label mistakes.
A premium custom label offers an opportunity for your company to express brand aesthetic, provide useful health or FDA regulatory information, and make your product stand out amongst the crowd. Creating the best labels for your business can seem like a daunting task…and that’s because it is when you try it on your own! There are a variety of things to consider in regard to design, colors, sizes, printing technique, materials, and so on.
That’s where printing experts like M&R Label come in to give businesses a hand! Our team has over 30 years of experience helping our customers create superior, high quality custom labels. Let’s get started!
Your Guide to Creating a Quality Custom Label
When designing a custom product label for your business, there are a few key elements to consider…
- Materials: Materials matter! Do you want the design freedom that comes with a white label? Or maybe you want your label to be printed on clear film in order to showcase the contents of your product. The materials you choose not only affect the quality of the label, but also the label’s functionality and aesthetic! The material has quite an impact on the look and feel of your product. There are a variety of options to choose from when creating custom labels.
- Color: Color can draw immediate attention to your product. Use color carefully to liven up your label while matching the guidelines of your overall brand aesthetic! The classic rules always apply: color needs to be used properly in order to work for your product, do not clash colors, make sure the selections still match your brand, and choose complimentary colors that will go together nicely.
- Font: Catch the consumer’s eye with a unique label font that fits your brand, but be careful not to reduce readability. While a label redesign is a chance to be creative and have fun with your product branding, it’s important to also be realistic. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from small or difficult-to-read fonts.
- Finish: Did you know applying a finish to your custom labels can better maintain its quality? A label’s finish refers to the layer placed on a label that gives it a different texture and often offers protection from elements such as water or oil. For example, choose a glossy finish if you want your label to have a nice shine to it. Choose a matte finish if you are trying to achieve a more relaxed label for your brand.
- Size: The size of your custom label needs to work well with your products. Choosing the right label size involves knowing what information you are going to put in your label along with the shape of the product packaging. If the container for your product is round, you may want to consider a wraparound label. If it’s a bottle, you may want a shrink sleeve. You want your label to cover enough of your product that it can’t be missed, without taking over.
- Theme: Your labels need a design that’s uniform enough for consumers to recognize the brand, even if you were showcasing a new flavor. For example, the label for Vanilla Coca-Cola is different from the original Coca-Cola labeling, but you would have no problem recognizing that it’s a flavor of Coca-Cola as they have established a cohesive brand identity. Also, use this opportunity to tell your brand’s story!
Putting the Pieces Together…
These important considerations are the backbone of a successful custom label design. But how can you put it all together into one beautiful label? How do you make a label that pops and stands out amongst the crowd? The best custom labels make use of new product marketing and label design trends in the industry.
In the past, three-dimensional designs were everywhere. Since then, consumers have switched gears to gravitate more towards flat designs with minimalist features. There are more environmentally conscious consumers these days, so it’s great to consider an appeal to sustainability on your labels. For example: if your product is locally sourced, make sure to present that proudly on your label – let your audience know you care about local farmers and the environmental community.
Don’t let your custom label design be a last minute decision! Your business may have an incredible product, and as much as you would want for your products to speak for themselves, custom label design is not an area you want to slack off in. Your product may be high-quality, but without the excellent labeling and brand marketing that catches the consumer’s eye and showcases your brand value, your product will stay on the shelves collecting dust. Bad labeling can even lower the perceived value of a product. This is even more of a reason to partner with M&R Label, the premier label printer in Chicago!
Don’t DIY Your Product Labels!
For many small to medium sized businesses, the idea of outsourcing a key task in your supply chain might be intimidating. That’s understandable. Maybe your business is your passion project and trusting someone else with labeling seems unnecessary. The spirit of entrepreneurship is a beautiful thing, but so is the spirit of collaboration. There is nothing wrong creating your labels in-house, however there’s also a reason (several reasons actually) that companies leave it to the professionals.
Before you try printing your own labels, consider this…
- Cost: Upkeep is expensive. There is a lot to consider in terms of the cost of in-house equipment. Your business would need to buy an expensive printer, labeling materials, ribbon, many colors of ink, and much more.
- Time: Not only does printing your own labels require a cost commitment, but it also involves a substantial time commitment. Activities involve designing the labels, ordering supplies, testing out new labels, correcting mistakes, organizing inventory, and so forth.
- Precision: Barcodes, UPC, and QR Codes can be tricky. Barcodes have regulated dimension requirements. Universal product codes are vital in order to track inventory. QR codes are absolutely necessary in a post-pandemic world that relies on contactless environments. These codes are sensitive and one wrong move or smudge can ruin them!
- Management: Inventory management for labels costs time and space. To run successful in-house custom labeling, your business would need to:
- Store all your labels
- Keep track of your ink levels
- Track the raw materials on hand to create your labels
- Manage purchase orders
- Maintain compliance with label regulation laws that may change
- Create new designs as you introduce new products
Partner with M&R Label for Success
Tasks with this much complexity will cost your business extra time and money that can be spent on other important aspects of your business. Leave the custom label designing and printing to the professionals so you can focus on growing your business and doing what you love. We’ve got you covered! M&R Label has the exceptional label printing capabilities, lighting-fast turnaround times, and competitive pricing you need to take your business to the next level.
As the premier custom label printer in Chicago, we are here to meet all of your labeling needs. Need QR codes and barcodes? How about a dynamic font and color design to go on your product label? M&R Label can print any unique font, vibrant color, or crisp image you need – on any type of material and shape!
With over 30 years in the industry, M&R Label is the one-stop shop for your custom label needs for businesses across the United States. We’re proud to create and print label & packaging solutions for a variety of clients in many industries. Ask to see our portfolio for samples. As your chosen custom label printer, we guarantee exceptional service, high quality materials, and creative label design.
