I can tell you all about pressure-sensitive labels!

As the mother of a 3 1/2 and a nearly 6 year old...we have them everywhere in the house. Sponge Bob, Hello Kitty, various animals, letters and shapes galore. Seems as if every visitor to our house, every birthday party, provided yet another opportunity to have stickers put into the hands of children who know no restraint -- no surface off limits.

That's part of why this caught my eye when I saw this article this morning.

"According to a recent study, U.S. label shipments will grow 5.7 percent annually through the year 2008 based on new label technologies, substrates, adhesives, and coatings. The value of the North American pressure-sensitive label market in 1998 was $3.93 billion. According to the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, by 2003, the market reached more than $5 billion with a compounded annual growth of 6.4 percent. More then 98 percent of distributors expect their custom label sales to increase, as well."

Gosh, I could have told you that labeling was destined to be a big business! (She says, peeling off the crumpled Jimmy Neutron sticker off my heel.)

Actually, the article goes on to describe the opportunity....and when you think through the substrate, design, ink, durability options for both business and consumer markets, it makes your head spin with possibility. If your printing business is looking for a new angle -- a little oomph, adding labeling might be a great way to generate interest in your company, and it certainly gives you something to market. I haven't looked much on the web, but I can imagine with photo uploads, letting businesses and customers design their labels own online could be a great entry to additional business.

What do you think? Is this an area you specialize in? What are the challenges of running a traditional printing business with a line of customized labels?

Peeling off and going back to work.... your turn!

Wendy

Specialty Printing Pressure Sensitive Labels

from: Adding value ... specialty imaging: in today's marketplace, where one-stop-shopping and customized pieces are commonplace requirements, specialty printing applications--specifically labels--are one of the most lucrative opportunities available to printers. by Freddo, Chris

source: Printing News, May 1, 2006.

via: HighBeam™ Research

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