Consolidated Label Blog

Safe Labels for Direct Food Contact: Fruit, Vegetables and Other Produce

Your average pressure-sensitive label adhesive can be considered unsafe to apply directly onto a raw food product, so it is important that the label materials be selected with care.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates what types of label and adhesive materials that may be used in food-contact for fruits, vegetables and other fresh food products. These label materials are commonly used for brand-stamped fruits, Price Look-Up (PLU) codes, and flexible packaging.

Some label materials may meet the requirements of one or more FDA regulations, but not all. It all depends on your product and where you expect to put the label. For example, a label used on an orange or banana peel is considered an "indirect food additive" because the actual food stuff is not affected by the adhesive elements on the peel. However, the label is still considered a "food contact substance," and falls under a separate set of FDA guidelines.

We have an unlimited selection of safe food materials, produced by our vendors, and even carry a few of these stocks in our inventory to reduce lead times. Material selection can be a complicated process, and completely unique to both the nature of the product and the label design. Call our customer service team today, and they'll be glad to discuss and recommend the best materials for your product.

If you'd like to know more about FDA regulations on label materials and adhesives, refer to Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. Specifically, Part 175.

175.105 refers to the qualified components for use as adhesives. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=175.105

175.125 refers to qualified pressure-sensitive adhesives. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=175.125

-See section A for labels used in poultry and dry-food, as well as processed, frozen, dried, or partially dehydrated fruits and vegetables.

-See section B for labels used for raw fruit and raw vegetables.

January 30, 2012 | Posted by Chris at 10:45 AM in labels, marketing, retail, products

QR Codes on Product Labels and What You Should Be Considering

Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional graphics that can be scanned by smartphone cameras to automatically retrieve text, photos, videos, and URLs. Being mobile-friendly, these codes are used to attract an audience to online materials via an offline stage. To find out more, visit our introductory article about QR codes.

Creating these codes is the simplest part! There are numerous websites devoted to creating custom QR, easily found by searching for "QR code generator." The ZXing Project QR Code Generator is the simplest to use. Simply input where you want the code to land, and it will generate the scannable image that you may save and print.

However, choosing what to do with your QR code is a bit trickier. Many small businesses make the mistake of simply inputting a link to their website through the QR rather than create a more engaging or rewarding destination on the other end.

Digital Strategist Kyle J. Britt at BooneOakley—an ad company known for its creativity in new internet marketing—said: "The most active usage of QR codes results in downloaded material. This isn't an opportunity to 'look cool.' It's an opportunity to showcase yourself, and what you have to offer through new technology."

Things to Consider with QR

1. Who is your audience?
   Recently, Nielson reported that about 28% of mobile users have smartphones, and even less know how to use them. If you can't imagine your audience quite "hip" enough to be scanning QR codes, then it might not be necessary at this time.
2. What are your goals with QR codes?
   Whether to boost awareness, or to gain consumer loyalty, you should focus your efforts on how the QR destination will impact the consumer in a manner relative to your brand and product. Sending them off to your website or Facebook profile is about as effective as a salesman pointing to an aisle and saying, "It’s over there." You have an opportunity to engage with customers at the point of purchase – and you have their full attention. What do you need for them to understand about you?
3. How will you reach these goals with QR?
   Track the number of scans your QR gets to understand and identify its effectiveness. Tie the link to a free Google Analytics account, or other internet metrics service, and witness how the user interacts with the destination you've given them.
4. How will you get them to scan it?
   The effort of whipping out a phone and activating the scanner app can be exhausting for some people. Also, QR is not popular enough to assume that everyone knows what it is just yet. While very popular in Japan, QR is relatively new to the US, so make sure you include a bit of instruction on how to use the QR wherever you place it. A simple "use your smartphone to scan this code" may be sufficient enough, but don’t presume they won’t need further incentive to take the effort to scan it.

What can I do with my QR Code?

Here are some ideas that you can link to your QR for maximum effect:

Introduction – Tell smartphone users to scan the QR for quick testimonials and further product information that was too big to put on the label in the first place!

How-to Instructional Videos – Great for including recipes, build-it-yourself help, or alternatively fun ways to enjoy your product.

Events – Advertise local and wide events with QR—even link the code to paperless tickets—and start engaging your customers directly.

Coupon – Paperless or printable coupons can be effective towards acquiring consumer loyalty with your product, with zero cost on materials.

Rewarding Media – A link to a photo, album, video or other digital media that connects with your brand identity and gives the customer something extra for choosing you.

Social Media – Encourage customers to follow you on Twitter, check-in at Foursquare, comment on your Yelp or Facebook profiles by sending them there instantaneously. Promise of rewards or benefits is always a nice incentive.

Contact Info – Automatically import your phone or texting service number to invite a direct connection with your customers.

The possibilities with your QR are endless! You can even customize the QR to include logos and different colors now! It's up to you to decide, and we encourage you to be creative with it. The destination you chose to send your consumers via QR could be an impression you don't want to lose.

Troubleshooting with QR

A quick checklist of tips to avoid problems that you may encounter with your QR codes:

1. Are you using the right format? Some businesses have spread to other types of barcodes, including Data Matrix, which are still relatively foreign to smartphones. QR is currently the format of choice between iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
2. The size of the QR code is crucial. If the actual code is too small (like the size of a quarter), most low-resolution cameras won't be able to read it, making nearly all your printed QRs completely inert. For big, billboard QRs, most phones use digital zoom that lowers resolution, again making the code unreadable.
3. The longer the link, the harder it is to scan it. Link-shortening services such as bit.ly can help you make your QR scanned easily on the first try.
4. Test it again and again. Use as many different phones, as many different applications, as possible to scan to test if your QR is performing correctly across the board.

June 23, 2011 | Posted by Tracy at 1:20 PM in marketing

Private Label Products Have Better Odds than Ever Before

Can you make it better? Can you make it cheaper, more efficiently? Then maybe you should sell it – now!

The time has come when "knock-off" and "generic" brands are beating the odds against internationally brand-recognized products.

It's no surprise that the leading minds in market research are continuing to prove that private labels, or store brands, are on the rise. According to the most recent survey by Acosta's "The Why Behind the Buy," their bi-yearly analysis of shopping behavior and trends, the average grocery bill has dropped an average of $20 a month per household when compared to 2010. Considering that nearly all food products have been steadily rising, a $20 savings is a very significant drop.

Private labels competing against wide-recognized brand names are winning, according to Neilson. Their surveys show that 72% of American buyers believe that private labels are good alternatives to their big name competitors, as well as a 4% increase of consumers since 2005 stating that they are "just as good." This trend in buying store brands hasn't begun out of the bigger brand's failure to satisfy the customer, but because of external factors that drive up the price of a widely distributed product.

The nation is still at war with gas prices, which not only affect consumers at the pump, but inside the store. Raised gas prices swell up distribution costs; 18-wheel truckers delivering the food to your local grocery stores are, too, frustrated at the highest prices of gasoline the nation has ever seen. With other external factors accumulating, bigger brands must increase prices or suffer a great loss.

On a global level, the United Nations reported record highs in world food price index between December 2010 and February of this year, now stable on an average of 233. That's a 73% increase of all averaged food costs from May 2010. While these figures are disconcerting, lower-cost food products are the next available option when it comes to savings.

That's when local or small private label brands—with just marginally reduced prices than their big brand competitors—make the sale. After this recession is over, consumer loyalty may continue to carry your private label to the top.

June 10, 2011 | Posted by Tracy at 11:25 AM in labels, marketing, retail, products

Guidelines for Labeling Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Products

According to the FDA, all labels printed for use in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry must be designed and applied so that the labels remain in place - and can easily be read no matter the conditions of distribution, storage, and use. Labels printed for pharmaceutical, medical, and healthcare industries can range from vitamin labels to over-the-counter medicine labels to prescription medicine labels. For safety the labels must meet Consolidated Label's strict list of quality requirements, but also the regulatory requirements set forth by the Food and Drug Administration.

It is the label manufacturer's responsibility to make sure that the print is legible and will remain that way throughout the product's life span. Label integrity is important for all products, but is imperative for the pharmaceutical and healthcare market.

Ordering Labels

When you place your order with us, we'll prepare a proof and sample so you can verify the accuracy. Before we print, the samples must be thoroughly inspected, proofread, and approved. You'll need to verify that the proof conforms to your specifications.

Printing Labels

After you've thoroughly reviewed and approved the samples, your labels are placed into production. Consolidated Label maintains documentation of proofreading and acceptance activities to prove that inspection was performed.

If you're printing multiple pharmaceutical labels, the products should be separated according to the degree necessary to prevent any mix-ups or switches. Product separation can be physical or spatial, or can be completed by performing press runs at different times to avoid confusion. To avoid a labeling mix-up Consolidated Label maintains tight production controls. If the only labels being run are dissimilar products the production controls can be slightly less stringent. Before printing a new medical label, the areas around the presses are completely cleared from previous print jobs. This provides less room for any printing errors. Proper control of storage is also necessary in preventing any mix-ups or switches when dealing with labels printed for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Label Inspection

After your labels have run and before they are issued for use, you must carefully examine them to ensure they comply with your specifications. Your examination must include any control numbers and expiration dates used on the labels. A written record of this issuance check must be created, including the name and date of the person performing the examination.

Every label printed at Consolidated Label is inspected thoroughly, and labels printed for the medical and pharmaceutical industry are handled with extreme care. Industry standards that must be met for safety reasons, and we take great pride in our process quality. This is accomplished through strict multiple inspections, and extreme care in processing, printing, storing and shipping these labels to you.

Consolidated Label has 20 years of experience printing high quality labels and we're a leader in medical and pharmaceutical labels.

If you're interested in ordering pharmaceutical or medical labels, you can get a no obligation, instant online label quote. Or, if you have a high-volume order feel free to contact one of our Label Consultants.

May 19, 2011 | Posted by Tracy at 12:15 PM

The 5 Advantages of Digital Label Printing

The price and quality of Flexographic label printing has been the clear winner for custom labels. Flexographic labels have the advantage for high volume product label orders, but there are setup costs for each label job – preparing your custom label artwork to create printing plates, setting up the label press, mixing inks for color matching, and machine calibration.

The cost and setup for labels can be expensive if you're a smaller company or you just need fewer product labels. This is where digital labels have the advantage.

Digitally printed labels are vibrant high-quality labels. If you're new to custom labels, or considering making the switch from flexographic labels to digital labels, we've put together this guide to help you understand the advantages of digital printing.

1. Quick Turnaround – Digital label printing doesn't require plates – so you don't have to pay for a printing plate for each color in your label. No plates also means a shorter setup time so your labels are printed faster. Custom labels printed on a digital label press can be printed in less time, so you receive your labels faster.
2. High Quality – When it comes to product labels, vibrant high-quality graphics grab the most attention. Our HP Indigo digital label press prints at a resolution of almost double that of traditional flexographic labels. Your labels will have crisp clear images and life-like colors.
3. Price – No plates and less time setting up presses means costs for digital label printing are very low for short run labels as compared to flexographic labels.
4. Short Run Labels Capability - This cost benefit is maximized for relatively small quantities of custom labels or "short run labels". Another savings with digital label printing - you can order only the product labels you need right now, rather than ordering custom labels in bulk simply to get the best price.
5. Design Flexibility – In order to be competitive, you need to constantly improve your product label designs. The cost of reprinting labels can be prohibitive due to plate charges and setup fees. If you have multiple product label designs, costs can add up even quicker. Again, with digital label printing there are no plate or setup fees, so we can start printing your new custom labels right away.

With digital label printing, you can print 1,000 custom labels and each individual label can contain different information. This is known as variable data printing. Variable data printing opens up great new creative possibilities for your custom labels: you can add names from a database, consecutive numbers, multiple barcodes, or even print multiple versions of the same label!

With over 20 years of custom label printing, we have the experience to deliver the best labels possible.

July 26, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM

Delivering Excellent Customer Service

Excellent customer service is about getting people to talk about your service in a positive way. Remember: your customers have an almost infinite array of choices when it comes to choosing a product or service provider, so it's the service that will set you apart.

3 ways to deliver remarkable customer service:

1. Make customers, not sales. A customer is repeat business, a sale is a one-time deal. Think about how costly it is to recruit a single customer. Don't you get better return on investment when you have them in for the long haul? Focusing on making customers as opposed to making a sale helps you pinpoint the things your company can do to develop a lasting relationship with a customer.
2. Be responsive, learn from your mistakes. Life is hectic these days, so customers want and need immediate resolution to their problems. Customers buy solutions to problems, not just your product. The quicker you handle their calls, emails, questions, and problems, the easier you've made their life - and that's an invaluable solution. Use complaints as a tool to develop quality processes that ensure that mistake never happens again. Another reason to respond quickly: research shows that repeat business increases up to 95% when complaints are handled promptly.
3. Go above and beyond. Look for ways to go above and beyond in helping your customers. Do they need a rush order? Make it happen. What can you give your customers that they simply can't get anywhere else?

Want to experience remarkable customer service? It's at the core of all we do - from our dedicated customer service representatives providing personalized, attentive service, to our quality controls, we're always looking for ways to exceed your expectations. Give us a call today!

July 19, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 7:30 AM

Branding & Labels

What is a brand?

A brand is your product's identity. What started as a simple mark to tell which cattle belonged to you has evolved to include all elements of a product's identity. All elements of your product's design and "personality". This includes your product labels.

When you're designing your custom printed labels, it's important to keep in mind what you can do to improve the odds that your label will attract your consumer's attention. How can you use different colors, imagery, or different label materials?

Consolidated Label is always looking for the newest innovations in custom product labeling, and we continually invest in these new technologies to help you develop and convey your unique brand image.

If you'd like some more information about how label and packaging elements like design, color, and finish can help distinguish your product, call us today at 800-475-2235 and ask for a copy of our brochure, The Five Second Decision: Getting Your Product from Shelf to Cart.

July 12, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM in design, labels, marketing, packaging

Developing Label Designs That Sell

Are you looking for a way to design or even refresh your product label? Unsure where to start?

Developing better product labels starts with understanding what your competition is doing. Spend some time in the aisles where your product(s) are sold. You'll start to see design elements common amongst the brands featured there and patterns will start to emerge. For example, when it comes to juice labels you'll find bright natural colors, and fruit imagery; browse the labels for household cleaning products, and you'll see a lot of white (symbolizing pure, clean) and airy, natural imagery.

This observation is how you begin to understand your "category language" - the established visual elements that convey the basic ideas of your product. Pay attention to the images and colors used in your product's category - those are the core parts of the category language.

Once you understand the building blocks of your category's language, you can break the rules. Look at your competitors, break down the common visual elements, then pick something else to do differently and stand out. Do keep some standard elements for familiarity, so your custom product label still communicates in a "dialect" your customers understand. For example, try using a different, bolder color while maintaining the standard imagery of your product category.

July 02, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 7:00 AM in design, labels, marketing, packaging, products, retail

Shrink Sleeve Labels Increase A Product's Shelf Visibility

While shopping at the grocery store, I noticed a shift in the labeling of many household cleaning products. Instead of pressure sensitive labels for household cleaning products many national brands are shifting to shrink sleeves.

When you look at national brand cleaning products on the shelf next to the store brand, it's easy to see the instant visual impact vibrant shrink sleeves have. Take a look at two examples:

Which brand jumps out at you?

Considering that the average decision to pick up a product is made in less than 5 seconds, the vibrant graphics on the Tilex have the clear lead.

Shrink sleeves also have a few other advantages for labeling household cleaning products.

• First of all, many cleaning product containers are ergonomically shaped - for example the hand grips on the bottle necks on the above products. Shrink sleeves can be molded around distinctive package shapes.
• You can also use shrink sleeves to build in tamper-evidence in one easy label solution, possibly reducing your overall packaging cost.
• Because the printed ink is actually inside the sleeve, the graphics aren't vulnerable to liquids. That means that the product maintains it's distinctive look, even if the bottle gets wet with product or water. You can see that the store-brand labels above would easily peel off or be damaged should the product get wet.

June 14, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM in labels, packaging, shrink sleeves

Our UPC Code Quality Process

When you place an order for custom labels with us, your order goes through several stages of Quality Control. This post specifically talks about the QC processes that barcodes undergo. Barcodes are tested several times throughout our label production process. We scan every barcode on readers at each step of the way. Here's how our process works:

1. Our Art Department generates the barcode using a special program and the number you've provided.
2. When the proof is made, the Artist handling your order scans the barcode to verify it passes barcode scanning requirements.
3. Before we send this proof to you, our Art Audit team again scans the barcode and a printed report indicating the barcode has passed is attached to the hard copy of the proof.
4. During printing, the first label submitted for approval is also scanned by our Press Audit team and that report is also attached to the Inspection Sheet.
5. Pharmaceutical labels undergo another scan at shipping, and this report is attached to the required certification.

All reports are attached to your order files and archived for five years.

June 07, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM in labels, packaging, Quality Control

Shelf Impact!'s Package Design Workshops | Home

Learn about retail trends, consumer preferences, and strategies to help you create packages that deliver bottom-line results!
via www.shelfimpact.com

Sounds like a really informative program for packaging designers and companies looking to get the most bang out of their shelf presence.

June 03, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 7:12 AM

Shrink Sleeves Shrink Your Competition

We're always looking for the best ways to help our customers sell more product. After talking with other packaging industry experts about how competition on store shelves is driving changes, we spent some time researching emerging packaging trends our customers can use to grow their product sales. What did we find? Shrink sleeves are going to be key differentiators on store shelves - right where your customers are making their purchasing decisions. We believe this is the "next big thing" in product packaging.

Shrink sleeves can:

• Get your product noticed. Shrink provides a vibrant 360-degree billboard for your product - which is sure to stand out next to plain labels. Combine shrink sleeves with a uniquely shaped container for even greater shelf impact.
• Reduce product container costs. Shrink sleeves offer full container surface coverage making it possible for consumer product manufacturers to inventory a single white container, using shrink sleeves to add color, graphics, and distinguish different product lines. This can help drive down container costs by eliminating the need for containers in multiple sizes/colors for a product line.
• Appeal to your customer's safety concerns. With shrink sleeves, it's simple to incorporate tamper-evident features by extending the sleeve up the neck of the container. Customers get a visual indication of tampering when the neck sleeve is damaged or removed.
• Keep your product looking its best. Because shrink labels are printed "inside out" they have a built in barrier against scratching and damage to your design. This keeps your product looking its best on the shelf and beyond.

Curious about what shrink sleeves can do for your product? We have the capability to prototype small quantities in house. Give us a call at 800-475-2235 for more information.

June 01, 2010 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM in labels, marketing, packaging, products

Custom Labels in 5 Easy Steps

Did you know that your label is one of the best ways to market your product? If you're new to label buying, we can help. Consolidated Label prints custom labels for almost every product, including food, candles, bottles, medical equipment, personal care, household goods and much more. At Consolidated Label, we know your product is unique and so are your needs. Tell us about your label application and we'll help you through the whole label process.

To help you get started, we've broken the process down into 5 easy steps, to make sure you get highest quality label possible.

1. Measure
   You'll need to measure the container on which your label is going to be applied, so we can determine the size of the label required. Tip: To measure curved bottles, jars, etc., photocopy a ruler and wrap it around the container to determine label length.
2. Choose a Die
   Once you've figured out the size of your label, you'll need to choose a die to cut the shape of your label. Consolidated Label has over 2500 label dies in inventory, but if you'd like something unique, we can create a custom die.
3. Choose a Material
   Selecting the right label material is essential. If the wrong material is chosen, your label may wrinkle, not adhere properly, or even come off. Here are a few basic questions which can help us guide you to the best label material.
   • Will the label get wet?
   • Will the label be in direct sunlight?
   • Will the label be applied while your product is frozen?
4. Artwork
   Label artwork is what sells your product. You've probably given your label design a lot of thought, and you may have your label artwork finalized. If your artwork is camera-ready (designed by a graphic artist or yourself in an industry-standard format), e-mail it to your Customer Service representative. Our Art Department will review your label artwork and make sure it's ready for press. If you don't have a label design just yet, there are plenty of places online that can help. If you need some ideas, check out our Label Gallery. Tip: Try searching for local freelance graphic designers.
5. Approve & Print
   After our Art Department has prepared your label art, we'll send you a proof. This is the last chance for review before your labels are printed, so you'll need to thoroughly check your proof for all errors including: spelling, size, color, etc. We want your label to be perfect! If something's not right, don't worry – revisions can be made at this time. When your label is 100% correct, give us your approval and it's off to the presses!

Rest assured that the Consolidated Label commitment to quality doesn't end here. After your custom printed labels come off the press, our Inspection Team matches them to the proof to ensure color, size, and material are all correct. Once your labels have passed our thorough inspection, we'll wind them to your specified number of labels per roll, package them up, and ship!

A few things to keep in mind:

• The lead time for the label printing process varies from 5-10 working days, after you approve your label artwork.
• Shipping time can vary as well; depending on your location receipt of your labels from our plant can range from 1-6 days.
• Printing a custom label for the first time does require some initial set-up fees for art and plates, however, these charges don't apply for label reorders.
• The art fees cover preparing your label for the presses. Plates print the image onto the label material, and the number of plates you need equals the number of colors for your label. Let's say your label is 2 colors, purple and green. You'll need one plate for purple, and one plate for green. Generally speaking, the fewer the printing colors, the cheaper the label.

Using 2 colors? We can print your label to match your logos, business cards, and more if you request a Pantone match. The Pantone Matching System is a standard, worldwide color language used to provide accurate reproduction and matching of colors. You may request Pantone swatches from your customer service representative. If you'd like a photo-quality label, we recommend 4 color process printing (CMYK).

If you're ready to get started, get an instant online label quote!

December 09, 2009 | Posted by Tracy at 5:00 AM