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How tough is the competition for consumer products? The average grocery store carries more than 39,000 products and if you sell online, that number increases exponentially. Although e-commerce gives consumers more shopping options than ever before, the digital environment is often one where smaller brands can thrive. Exposing customers to a broader range of options increases the variety of an existing product, creates opportunities to attract a wider and more diversified audience and provides current customers with additional options. Plus, because an extension to a current product line rarely requires new equipment to produce, it can increase economies of scale and lower unit costs. On the other hand, line extensions don&#;t come without their challenges. For example, managing a line extension can increase packaging complexity, taxing marketing and packaging teams. But, implementing steps such as multi-version labeling can simplify these challenges. Here are 4 benefits of using multi-version labeling that simplify the process.
Multi-version labeling is a manufacturing process that allows marketing and packaging teams to combine the benefits of variable information and short-run production with the lower unit costs typical of long-run manufacturing. A multi-version label enhances your brand and reduces the time it takes to manage multiple SKUs.
Multi-version labeling and variable data printing are similar techniques but use different inputs to produce the end product. For example, variable data printing uses the same layout and design throughout the entire run with a blank area where variable information, such as names, messages, lot numbers, expiration dates and more, is printed. Variable data printing requires a digital design file and a spreadsheet or database file for the variable data.
Multi-version labeling allows you to vary the images used on a preset design. These labels print from a digital file the label manufacturer compiles that contains each label&#;s artwork.
In addition, variable data printing and multi-version labeling complement each other. Designing a multi-version label using a thermal transfer paper that includes a blank white area allows you to print pertinent variable information such as expiration dates and lot numbers prior to applying the label to the product.
Both multi-version labeling and variable data printing simplify managing multiple versions of similar products.
Foods, beverages, bath and beauty, and household products are just a few examples of items that come in various assortments, flavors, scents and formulations. Managing all the options creates problems that multi-version labeling helps to alleviate.
Designing, updating, ordering and inventorying each unique label adds time and complexity to managing your product line. Using a preset design and varying the images to coincide with different items, decreases the number of unique pieces you need to maintain, reducing design demands and reorder time.
In addition to the cost of your time, it also reduces costs by increasing production efficiencies. Typically, when producing a label, each unique item requires the manufacturer to stop the press, change plates and restart once the new plate is installed. Multi-version labeling allows you to use the same layout and design but print multiple label versions without stopping the press. This increases production efficiency which translates into lower unit costs and substantial bottom-line savings.
Designing effective labels for multiple items in a product line and managing each one throughout the product life cycle is a time-consuming process. A single layout design allows you to develop just one version of the label and add variable data, eliminating the need for multiple unique label designs.
Multi-version labeling also provides personalized design opportunities that you can use to feature any number of options including colors, tag lines, designs targeting different audiences, special promotions and more.
Variable data can simplify the product tracking process. Applying a unique number to a product label or adding a small informative label to raw materials streamlines product tracking throughout the supply chain. This variable data allows manufacturers, distributors and consumers to easily identify a product if an error occurs and expedites the manufacturer's ability to fix it.
See how easy it is to design and order a multi-version label.
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A company introduced a new brand of natural preserves, jams, and jellies. Although each category had the same brand name and required a similar label, the product names, flavors, ingredients and other information for these 20 new SKUs were different. In addition, with a new line of products that the company sells both online and in some retailers, predicting demand was difficult.
So to simplify the challenge of managing 20 unique SKUs, forecasting expected demand, ordering the appropriate amount of product labels and hoping for the best, they decided to use the multi-version labeling process. This allowed them to use their master brand design and vary the images to coincide with each product. Instead of printing 20 unique labels that each required its own design, there was one primary label design and 20 images that coincided with each item. This saved time, reduced the cost of the graphic design process and simplified product label inventory management. Even more important with a new brand, it reduced the cost of the product labels. Using multi-version labeling allows them to design a master version containing the common elements for all 20 flavors and then copy the design to create a new version by simply editing the variable elements. Plus it allowed them to order in small lots, as little as 500, until they were better able to forecast product demand and the product label print quantities required to keep an appropriate amount in stock.
Further, the master design contained a blank white rectangle area that they used to apply lot numbers, expiration dates and other variable data when the product was labeled. In addition to foods, beverages, bath and beauty, and household products, life science companies use multi-version labeling for clinical trial medications.
United Ad Label, and our parent company RRD, provide an unmatched level of multi-version labeling options. With manufacturing facilities located nationwide and a knowledgeable technical team, we deliver the economical and high-quality labels you need to timely and effectively market your products.
In marketing, packaging and labeling have always been essential tools as several companies from various industry sectors use them. The product labels play a vital role in increasing brand visibility, brand royalty, and brand love. But, most importantly, it can help improve market demand for any product. You would communicate the value of the product to the customers, whenever you manufacture a product. One such way to do that is to use product labeling. It&#;s one of the essential means of communication between the brand and the consumer. The product labeling contains very important information that is printed on the product packaging. It allows the customer to distinguish from one brand to another. A product packaging is different from labeling as it might have the brand colors, the material, logo, as well as the shape of the package, etc. However, product labeling is not about just branding and product promotion, there is far more important information that consumers take note of when they check the labels. The product labeling can be as less as simple one or two lines on the back of any product or it can be as much as the whole back-end of the product is full of written information. All these requirements of the labeling come from the regulatory body and there are several regulatory bodies for all products. The food and drugs administration (FDA) is the regulatory and governing body for the food product. Hence, any new product in the market has to adhere to the packaging and labeling guidelines of their respective country&#;s regulatory bodies. Moreover, the product labels come in different varieties i.e. tags, content prints, stickers on the packaging. Besides the quality of the products, the quality of its labels also matters.
Importance of Product Labels
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A) Product Contents
Through labels, we get to know the contents and ingredients of the products that we are using or consuming. For food products, it&#;s necessary to check out this area of the packaging especially for consumers who have health issues. For example, if you want to limit your salt intake, the food label will make it easier for you to know the sodium content of the product. Or If you have any food allergies, you just need to check the ingredients and identify if the food that triggers your allergies is present or not. This part of the product labels helps us maintain our health.
B) Product Instructions
The labels serve as a guide on how to properly use the product we purchased. It&#;s all on the label whether it should be used daily or once a week, before or after sleeping, with water or without water. This section also tells you the amount or dosage appropriate for what age. This way we will be able to utilize the products correctly and we can maximize its effects for us as well.
C) Product Warnings
For some people, some products that might give side effects whenever used or consumed. The label provides us a place where these product warnings can be found. You might want to take extra time checking out the product warnings if you are pregnant or you may have some certain illness such as heart diseases or hypertension.
D) Information by Law
Just to inform consumers first and foremost, the law requires them to place certain information on their packaging, for a few products. An illustration of this information is the line &#;Smoking is dangerous for your health&#;.
E) Pricing
Pricing is an important form of the product label. Here, you would be able to compare the prices of products from different brands. This will help you select the best brand for you while allowing you to sneak in some savings.
F) Promotion and Marketing
A label of a product can market the product all on its own. The consumers may be attracted to a brightly colored label and end up purchasing that product. A product can be key to helping a consumer pick out your product amongst the others on the shelf if your product has a unique label. The labels are now used for cross-brand marketing, sweepstakes, recipe information, gaming, and couponing, with today&#;s technology and advancements in label manufacturing.
With these things in mind, it&#;s important to remember that labeling your products can be a useful sales tool.
How to find product information on the label
Product Identification for Product Traceability
The ability to track a product through the manufacturing process and to the end-user is achieved with product traceability. A product in the hands of a customer can be traced back through the manufacturing, shipment, delivery, and raw material purchasing process such that the supplies of the original raw material can be identified. The product traceability labels are used to improve quality and recognize the source of a problem or other issue. Usually incorporating an identification number or barcode, product traceability requires product identification labels. To identify batches or individual items, identification labels may be used. To accomplish this, a variety of labeling technologies are available.
Vinyl or polyester labels are at times used for product identification labels and are excellent for tracking products where security is not a major concern. Using an industrial label printer, a variety of labels for numerous applications may easily be made. In a few cases, a specialized supply is required to address industry-specific product identification needs. There are few labels even to detect if contamination is critical. Even if small parts of the label get into the product, they can easily be detected. Sometimes, a temporary label may be needed during some manufacturing processes. It&#;s advantageous to have labels that can be used as needed and then easily removed. However, all these types of labels may be easily counterfeited or removed. So, when brand reputation is a concern or if the product is a high-value product that may be counterfeited or stolen, a different type of label needs to be used for product identification.
Ultraviolet Watermark
You can create custom product identification labels that incorporate a watermark that&#;s only visible under UV light, making these labels hard to duplicate.
Tamper-Evident "VOID" and Tamper-Evident Destructible Labels
With these labeling supplies, the product identification labels cannot be removed or reused.
Variable Information Labels
Product identification and additional information such as batch ID codes, production date, use-by dates, manufacturing location or lot numbers are provided by variable information product labels. This information may be in the form of barcodes, text, and numbers, or both. These labels may also be brand reputation labels, or traceability labels and all of the label material options listed above are usually also used for labeling that needs variable information.
Durable Goods Labeling
Also called &#;nameplates&#;, these product identification labels on durable goods must be tough and able to withstand at times harsh conditions. Every labeling options listed above are utilized for product identification labels on durable goods. Besides, other options that are frequently used such as metalized poly tapes &#; These are sometimes used for product identification labels as they are easy to make and provide a brushed metal look. An ultra-aggressive adhesive vinyl has an incredibly strong adhesive when an extra-strong adhesive is needed.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Consumer Products Stickers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.