YourLabelsNOW Blog

In an article written by Laura Ruane, USA TODAY, QR codes are literally showing up everywhere, even on headstones.  When Edouard Garneau passed away in 2011, his wife, Faye ordered his tombstone.  But she wanted to add something special to tell more about her husband.  So the monument maker added a QR code that could be scanned with the use of a smart phone and will take them to a website about Edouard.  There they can find his obituary, a photo gallery and more information about him.  This is just another way that the QR code is changing the way the world can view information.  With just one snap you can find info on just about anything.  If you have a question about a QR code or would like to add a code to your custom label project then contact yourlabelsnow.com today! 

We have customers who are always asking questions about how they should set up the bleeds and tolerance on their custom label design.  We wanted to just quickly breakdown what bleeds and tolerances are and help to better explain how you can ensure that your custom label design is set up correctly and to avoid delays in the pre press process.

Bleed:  When referring to the bleed this would be any images, backgrounds or borders that will bleed off the edge of the design.  So anything that you want to print all the way to the edge would need to "bleed" off the edge.  We ask for a 1/8" bleed all the way around the dieline to ensure the bleed will be enough.

Tolerance:  The tolerance is the distance from the dieline that all text, images, and objects must fall.  We ask that all of these items fall within a 1/16" of the dieline to ensure that if there is any amount of movement while being diecut that nothing will be cut off.

Below is a diagram to better illustrate the bleed and tolerance:

If you have any additional questions about your custom label project or design please call us at 877.299.774 or contact us.

What is a QR Code?
A QR (Quick Response) Code is part of the barcode family, however QR codes can handle much more data than the standard barcode.  This enables them to handle much more complex tasks.  QR codes are considered two-dimensional, basic barcodes are one-dimensional. 
What can a QR code contain?
A QR code can handle much many different tasks including a web address, a download to a coupon, contact information, development of an email or text message, or even a link to a video. 
How can I read a QR code?
A QR code can be scanned on a smart phone with the download of a free reader app, making them very useful to attract customers. A smart phone user can simply snap a photo of the code and will automatically be directed to the contact point for the code.  Even customers without a smart phone can take a jpeg image of the code and upload it to a decoder which are free and available online.

How can this benefit your label design?

 QR codes can be supplement label information and can add value to your product.  Maybe you use a QR code on your product instead of an instantly redeemable coupon and a customer can read the QR code and use it on that purchase.  You can also use a QR code with extended information such as recipes for a food or beverage product or you can drive customers to your social media profiles and contact information.  On consumer products a QR code would be helpful to read reviews on the product, or read additional information about product uses, ingredients, or warnings.  Customers can also use QR codes on their business cards, print ads, or catalogs.  This can lead customers to more in depth information about your products or draft an email directly to your sales or customer service departments.

We have all of the software available in house to create the QR code to lead your customers to the location you would like. If you have a project that you would like to add a QR code to please talk to your yourlabelsNOW.com representative about how we can provide you with the perfect solution. 

In the finale of the highly popular NBC show, the final two contestants, Marlee Matlin and John Ritch, squared off in a package redesign and an in-store marketing campaign.  With the help of past contestants they were to develop the entire campaign inspired by the 1970s and 1980s for 7UP Retro.  They were given the authentic 7UP logos from the 70s and 80s and from there they could go whatever direction they wanted.  They were also given the challenge of producing a TV commercial to promote the new brand image and plan a launch event for their product 7UP Retro. 

Matlin's campaign freatured disco-ball designed can, a TV spot with a cameo from 1970s 7UP ad icon, Geoffrey Holder, and a launch event with an exciting performance by the Harlem Globetrotters.  She was competing for her charity, the Starkey Hearing Foundation.  Rich's campaign had a bold zebra striped can design and , a unique 30 second commercial featuring Dee Snider from Twisted Sister.  He hosted a 1980s-themed launch event with a performance by Def Leppard.

Host, Donald Trump announced that Rich won the competition and a record setting amount for Saint Jude's Children's Hospital and 7UP donated $50,000 to each of the contestants charities.  In its new packaging, 7UP Retro will be made with real sugar to celebrate the brand’s heritage and crisp, clean lemon-lime taste that has set the drink apart for decades. The brand has also released limited edition six-packs of 7UP Retro in green glass bottles at select retail locations.

In an interesting article published in Packaging World Magazine (dec 2010) Jim George discusses many advances in the labeling world and how digital printing is helping to add value to several store shelves.  With so many labels filled with nutritional information, company information, graphics, and so much more, shelf appeal is becoming difficult to gain because all of the labels look the same.  Below are some ideas on how you can make your labels stick out from the competition and grab your target market. 

1) Clear labels for that "No Label Look"

Clear labels are becoming increasingly popular in several product categories including food & beverage, health & beauty, and many more high end product labels.  yourlabelsNOW.com can create that "no label look" by printing on our clear stock.  The inks on their

own are not opaque enough to give the result a customer would be looking for so we add white ink behind the 4-color process to

make the ink appear as it has been printed right on the bottle or package. 

2) Instant Redeemable Coupons

When the label is very small, communication with consumers is difficult. The label offers a confined space for grabbing shoppers’ attention through marketing approaches such as special offers or coupons.  yourlabelsNOW.com has the capability to print coupons and extended content labels through our conventional flexographic capabilities. 

3) Simplifying Multiple Messages

When thinking about cobranding or communicating several messages on your label your design and print quality are the two most important aspects.  In the example in the article George talks about Honest Tea and their new product Passion Fruit Green Tea with Maqui Berry.  On this product they wanted to convey their relationship with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.  They also wanted highlight some of the ingredients in the product that they have not used in their products, or any other products on the market. This design highlighted the brand while also passing along the other two messages.

Please let yourlabelsNOW.com help you on your next project.  We can bring your ideas to life with unlimited solutions!  Get a quote NOW or contact us with questions about your project.

As we move into wedding season there is lots of excitement and buzz in the air!

The most talked about wedding of the year is coming up, as Prince William and Kate Middleton will tie the knot on April 29, 2011.  That royal wedding will be filled with all of the luxuries you would expect for a prince and his soon be princess, like stamps, jewels and many more details to make their day special!  InStyle Magazine put together a list of the top 10 products inspired by the royal wedding.  You can check out all of the keepsakes here.

As wedding season really kicks up in the next few months yourlabelsnow.com can make all of the details come together to make your day as royal as William and Kate's.  When thinking about what you can do to add some special touches to your wedding let yourlabelsnow.com create the perfect custom labels to personalize everything!  

We can print labels to go on your favorite wine bottles with a special thank you message from the bride and groom as we did for Molly and Tony’s special day!  We can also create labels for favors or gift bags awaiting your out of town guests filled with goodies for their stay.  No matter what your request we have the perfect solution for you and with affordable short runs of custom digital labels we can print exactly what you want at the most competitive prices!    

Please call a yourlabelsnow.com representative today at (877) 299-7744 or get a quote on your project NOW!