July 21st, 2010
We recently got a request from a couple getting married and looking for a foil stamped label to adorn gift bags and other wedding favors. Unfortunately, the foil stamped labels were not within their budget. When we are faced with budgetary constraints, and we can’t find a way to produce the label desired at a price the customer can afford, we try and think outside of the box.
One of our creative ink specialists came up with a great solution, which not only achieved the look the customer wanted, but also fit into their wedding budget. Instead of using a gold foil stamp on a gold stock, we used a dull gold varnish on a bright gold stock to create the contrast and appearance of a foil stamped label. Using the dull varnish made the bright foil stand out and shine, much like a true foil stamped label. The best part? This method was a fraction of the cost of traditional foil stamped labels since we could produce it under our quick roll label program.
While nothing beats the real thing, we were happy the solution we were able to come up with satisfied the customer’s needs. Since the label is for a special occasion, and isn’t part of a product’s marketing or branding strategy, there was some flexibility in how we were able to produce it. When printing a “one-use” custom label with enhanced features like foil stamping or embossing, always ask if there is a different and more cost effective way to achieve a similar look.
July 19th, 2010
We have all walked through a grocery aisle and seen words like, “Supports Immunity”, “Helps Memory”, or “Metabolism Booster” pop out from product labels ranging from the produce department to the ice cream freezers. When terms like these are used on a product, it is obviously to catch your attention and create an impulse to buy. Unfortunately, many of these claims are misleading. While a product may help your memory or assist in losing weight, unless there is scientific evidence to back up the words, the label in violation of the FDA.
You are probably thinking, “I see labels like these all the time?” Well, you are right, food labels with marketing claims like these run rampant, and the FDA is setting out to fix it. The major issue at hand is the FDA doesn’t have enough resources to go after every incorrect or misleading food label. For the most part, the FDA does not need to approve a label before a product is introduced to the public, especially if there are under 100,000 units (small producers). Now, the FDA is working to improve their requirements, while also making it easier for compliance.
Michael Taylor, the Deputy Commissioner for Foods at the FDA states, “The FDA must pick its battles – and set its priorities – in a way that will benefit the public health. To that end, we have launched a major campaign to improve nutrition labeling – a campaign whose goal is to ensure that consumers can rely on food labels to make informed choices, build healthy diets, and reduce their risk of obesity and chronic disease.”
To that end, we at InTouch Labels are also going to work harder to help ensure our customer’s are in compliance with the new regulations and style changes for their food labels. We aren’t here to police every label that passes through our presses, but it is our job to help guide labelers through the printing process, and in the world of food labels, the printing process does involve the FDA. If you are using a claim that cannot be proven, it is in your best interest to update the label design with indisputable information. This won’t only ensure you are following the FDA’s guidelines, but it will also show your customers that you believe in your product based on factual merits.
Don’t worry if you feel there isn’t a good way to market your product without these catchy statements. There are plenty of words and design choices you can make that will make your product stand out and get sold. If you need help coming up with some good designs for your food label, contact our design department. We offer all our expertise at no charge, so don’t hesitate to at least see what we can come up with!
July 16th, 2010
After a lovely dinner at Not Your Average Joe’s in Boston, my leftovers were carefully packed in a cardboard container and delivered to my table. When I got the box, I noticed a descriptive label attached to the top of the package. The label gives basic cooking instructions for the leftover meal, along with the item and date of purchase.
The cool thing about these labels is they are a simple solution to a common problem. How many times have you looked in your refrigerator and found a container of leftovers and had no idea what it is? Now, if it has been there for a few weeks and you can’t remember the last time you ate out, it is probably best to toss it, but if you live in a busy household where leftovers are constantly making there way into the fridge, these labels can come in very handy.
The labels feel like a low-gloss stock, with three ink colors, black, blue and red. The company’s logo is positioned at the top, along with their website. It is smart to leave space for hand-writing changing information, like the item and date. These types of labels could be quickly produced for any restaurant that offers “doggy bags” or take-out menus.
My favorite part of the label is the last line, “When in doubt, throw it out.” I feel these are always good words to live by.
July 15th, 2010
When printing custom labels for the first time, or even when reprinting a label with changes, we are often asked about the proofing process. Many people desire to see a printed proof of the actual label. In some cases, this is smart, and in others, it isn’t necessary. So, when should you ask for a printed proof, and when can a PDF suffice?
First, let’s go over the different types of proofs available. The most commonly used proofing process is a PDF. This is an electronic proof which will represent how the finished label will look. PDF’s are typically produced at no charge. This type of proof is ideal for checking the label’s size, shape (die outline), art placement, and text. Since a PDF is electronic and will be viewed on a computer monitor, it is not a great way to verify color matches or other color issues. Different computer monitors can represent colors very differently. It is almost impossible to match a color from a digital file to a printed piece. In fact, if you were to ever view a Pantone color on a computer screen and hold up the actual chip from the Pantone book, I bet they won’t match.
So, what is your next option? If you need to check a color, we would recommend a printed proof. The label is generally not cut to shape, but is printed using the same press the labels will run on. This will ensure the color you want is perfectly printed. Usually customers who request a printed proof have something to compare the proof against, either previous labels or other printed collateral. If you get a printed proof, you need to hold the proof up against the comparison material. We have had customers try to match colors from memory, and it rarely works out.
The last option is the most complex and of course, the most expensive. In cases where you must see the actual label, we offer press proofs. A press proof will be the actual label, cut to shape, with an adhesive backing. A press proof is ideal if the label must fit into a specific area or you are producing a large volume of labels and need to be sure they are exactly right before producing the large run.
If you are having trouble determining what proof is best for you, ask yourself these questions…
Do you need to match a specific color?
Are you printing a large quantity?
Will you need to see the actual printed label prior to printing in order to satisfy quality or printing concerns?
If you answered no to all these questions, a PDF proof will work. If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you should consider either a printed proof or a press proof. Based on your custom label, you will know which of these two options will be better. If you have any questions about proofing, please feel free to contact us!
July 13th, 2010
If you have been to a liquor store lately (I have!) you may have been amazed at the number of craft beers available. Ranging from pale ales to exotic flavors, craft beers are small breweries that put most of their time and money into creating a top-notch product, and far less in advertising, which is why some of these unique brands can be somewhat unknown.
One way these breweries try to stand out from the crowd is through their labels. Many have flamboyant designs, like Shmaltz Brewing, which feature sideshow acts on their Coney Island Island series. Others are more subtitle, only having the brewery name on the label. Either way, these small breweries are storming the beer industry. Their unique, fun, sarcastic, and sometimes politically incorrect label designs can really catch your attention.
The interesting thing about craft beer labels, unlike wine labels, is there is no air of arrogance around these label designs. It seems more breweries rely on creativity and personality then sophistication and elegance. In the world of beer drinking, this seems like a good call. Rob Leonard of New England Brewing Company notes, “For the past year or so, we’ve been putting our personalities into the labels. We’re having fun with it. It helps – anything to catch someone’s eyes when they are looking at the shelves.”
New England Brewing’s Gandhi-Bot Double India Pale Ale has a robotic Gandhi. “You think of Gandhi and he’s cool, so let’s immortalize him in robot form,” said Leonard about the new label design.
The craft brewer niche is growing at a rapid pace, which means the label designs will only get better as the competition becomes more fierce. It is great to see how much importance is put on the label design, as opposed to other advertising and marketing mediums. Many of these small brewers believe once you try their product, you will be sold, so if the label can reel you in, they have got you.
July 12th, 2010
Whole Food Market, the non-stop growing organic grocery store chain is putting the hammer down on bath & body products claiming to be organic. You may not know this, but soaps, shampoos, and other body products aren’t regulated by the USDA in the same way organic food products are. In fact, there aren’t really any regulations for labeling organic personal care products…until now. If you are selling a personal care product in Whole Foods, you will soon face some major labeling changes, which could ultimately mean you have to change your entire product. Joe Dickson, a quality standards coordinator at Whole Foods states, “Just like the national organic standards for food were an attempt to protect our customers, this is an extension of that same thinking to this aisle.”
Not all producers are happy about this change. As it turns out, not all the ingredients in some of these products can be produced organically. For example, one producer noted that glycerin cannot be organic because no one makes it organically. Another worried that one of their key ingredients, mineral salt, which makes their product effective, is not considered organic, so they will have to alter their entire formula and hope the product still works. Another concern is being able to make organic products with long lifespans since most don’t use soaps or shampoos immediately and expect a decent shelf life.
From Whole Foods’ standpoint, they have a mission and a vision for their company, and they are now large enough to truly enforce their desires. If you are an organic personal care product producer, Whole Foods would be a dream retailer, so they certainly have the power to hand down these types of regulations. From a labeling perspective, if the rules are followed, the labels will be just as easy to produce as any current bath and body label. If you plan to produce and market a product at Whole Foods, be sure to check their regulations before printing your labels. Whole Foods is requiring everyone to fully comply with these new regulations by June 2011.
July 12th, 2010
We all are used to seeing funny, political, sarcastic, and sometimes just plain crazy bumper stickers on automobiles throughout the world. We are lucky enough to see some real gems before they hit the marketplace, which can keep our office entertained for a least a few hours…especially when we secretly stick one on an unsuspecting co-worker’s car.
Well, it appears bumpers stickers might be getting bumped for something much cooler…bumper stickers for your sneakers. I stumbled upon this hilarious image (obviously fake) and thought this would be such a fantastic idea. I’m not sure you will spot something like this on the heel of Carrie Bradshaw’s Manolo’s, but I could certainly see “kids” from 10 – 25 sporting some fun sayings on the back of their shoes.
July 7th, 2010
You may not know this, but some of our country’s best produce comes from New Jersey. Having been to the produce growing areas of southern New Jersey, I can attest to the freshness and quality of the produce from that region. Jersey is especially known for its tomatoes and corn, which are often used as ingredients in locally produced items like tomato sauce.
Recently, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced that any company using locally grown ingredients in their food product would be able to put the “Jersey Fresh” logo on their food label. Initially, only seven companies were allowed to use the logo on their labels, but after the initial pilot test, the use of the logo is being opened up to any producer who can prove they use fresh New Jersey produce in their food item.
The Department of Agriculture will closely monitor and inspect all food producers who use the logo to ensure they are complying with all the rules and regulations when using the logo on a label. Many producers are happy with the proposed inspections because it will ensure there is value in the Jersey Fresh logo.
July 6th, 2010
Since today seems to be all about contests, I came across the hilarious Wacky Warning Label Contest sponsored by The Daily Caller. The judges have selected the top five finalists, and plan to announce a winner on July 8…that’s Thursday!
Here are the finalists:
A speaker for use in a car with a mobile phone warns: “Never operate your speakerphone while driving.”
A motorized go-cart warns:Â “This product moves when used.”
A swine growth supplement warns: “For animal use only” (I actually think that is probably a good warning…people can do stupid things.)
A bluetooth headset warns:Â “Use of headset that covers both ears will impair your ability to hear other sounds.”
And last but not least…Swim goggle with an elastic strap caution:Â “Do not pull goggles away from face as they may spring back and cause injury.”
I’m happy to say we haven’t had any “duh” warning labels come from our customers, but the sad truth is the warning labels are there for a reason. The reason is usually because someone tried what the warning is cautioning against.
July 6th, 2010
We recently wrote about the cool new fruit labels Chiquita is using on their branded bananas. The new stickers consisted of fun characters, drawings and saying, making them not only humorous, but also interactive because consumers could go to Chiquita’s website and create collections, play games and more. Now, Chiquita wants to hear from you!
Chiquita is encouraging consumers to design stickers, which will eventually be distributed on millions of bananas throughout the US. Chiquita will pick eighteen winners who, in addition to seeing their creations at grocery stores across the country, will also win a t-shirt and other merchandise from Chiquita.
Judy Chen, a corporate marketing group leader at Chiquita said, “We created the Chiquita Banana Sticker Contest to encourage consumers to interact with the Chiquita brand and make the brand their own. It’s a fun way for consumers to engage with the brand through self-expression.”
Entries must be submitted by July 18, 2010. The top 50 designs will be announced on August 23, 2010. The public will then vote for the winners, who will be announced on September 13, 2010. If you think you have a good idea for the famous blue banana stickers, submit it!
