Cosmetics & Skincare Packaging, Food & Packaging

How to choose a label for your product and what information must be on it

Many factors influence the perception and eventual sale of your product, one of these factors is the label.

Labels play the functional part of carrying all the necessary information for the consumer of the product. Nonetheless, the design, feel and durability of your label are things to consider as well. These properties make impressions on consumers and may complement or play against your product. To prevent the latter from happening, you need to choose wisely.

Choosing a label can get overwhelming; knowing the right texture, adhesive, look to match your precious product are not easy but with the guideline below, we hope to help make your decision easier.

Choosing the right finish

With hundreds of products lining up the shelves in stores, you want your product to stand out for all the good reasons

For every product made, there’s a particular impression you want your products to make on the consumer. You may want your product to feel luxurious, eco-friendly, kid-friendly, simple, etc. These perceptions are all a part of your brand image and the finish of your label can convey that.

Gloss: Labels with gloss have a shiny look that makes it reflect light. They are vibrant and look seamless when used on clear and translucent packages.

Matte: Unlike gloss labels, matte has a duller look and does not reflect light. But they also flatter the product when used on the right surface and for the right product.

Laminate/Varnish: Varnishes and laminates are used as overlays for the labels to give them increased longevity. Some label prints might wear off or get smeared due to handling, as a result, overlays are important. Varnishes work better in environments with little moisture exposure while laminates are good for products with rough handling and exposure to harsh chemical contents. They can be gloss or matte as well.

Choosing the right material

Different types of labels require different materials and different adhesives, depending on what suits your products. The two common types of label materials are paper and polyester.

Paper label: This is the most common type. It is readily available and affordable. If the labels of your product need to be temporary, paper labels are more suitable. However, with a permanent adhesive, your labels could last much longer than average paper labels with a basic adhesive.

Polyester label: These are synthetic labels with more durability than paper labels.  On the other hand, they are more expensive than paper labels.

Proofing your label

Take into account the elements your products would be exposed to when choosing a label. Some products would mostly be kept in the freezer, as a result, the label of the product must be freeze proof. The same applies to products which might be exposed to water and other environmental elements.

Polyester and polyethylene labels make good weatherproof labels. On the other hand, paper labels can be coated with a water-resistant material to protect them from minimal exposure to water.

Waterproof labels must also make use of a similar adhesive for the best effect.

When making your label waterproof, using an inkjet printer to print your label would make it less efficient because inkjet printers are waterbased. Laser printers, on the other hand, are the right printers for waterproof labels.

 

Choosing the necessary information

Having decided on the right label, adhesive and finish for your plastic product, the next important thing is to make sure you have the right information on it.

Your label must include:

Name of product

The name of your product, logo and other brand identities must be the first thing on your product, or else it ruins the point of having a label in the first place

Manufacturing and expiry dates

If you are packaging food items, your manufacturing and best before date must be included on your label. This works better for your brand if your label is weatherproof and durable.

Contact info, social media handles, product hashtags

We are still in the digital age where your offline business needs to be linked to its online audience. Customers often like to reach out and post their new items (your products) on their social media pages. Displaying your contact info as well as your prominent social media handles and hashtags related to the product on your label will help them find you and encourage them to engage with you.

Directions for use

A guideline for the use of your product should be outlined as deemed fit. However, not all products will need to include this on their label.

Ingredients

Listing the ingredients precisely is important for consumers as some follow strict rules relating to what they consume. Make your ingredient list as transparent as possible to build customer trust.

Health warnings

If there are allergens in your products or if they are not suitable for certain groups of people such as pregnant women, be sure to include this on your label. As with the ingredient list, it also boosts customer trust in your brand

Recycle

Remember to encourage your consumers to recycle their plastic packages after the product has been consumed.

If you still feel stuck on choosing the right label for your product, we are ever willing to help. Be sure to contact us at *

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