Short-Run custom labels for the Specialty Foods Market: Part-1

DSC02611, originally uploaded by SignsNeverSleep.

First of all, let me say that I am a big fan of Russell Farm Salsa, and I was eating it and a big fan long before we got the job to do their labels.  The salsa is produced right here in North Woodstock, NH, is hand-made in small batches, and is terrific.

I am going to be presenting a detailed number of posts in regards to the making of these labels, because I think Lincoln Sign Company can help many people in the specialty foods market and hopefully they will find this article and give us a call.

Kristin (who works in the shop) knows Carol (who makes the salsa) and mentioned to her that we sometimes do custom labels for customers.  Carol was interested in this possibility because although she currently has labels that she uses for her product, she was not entirely happy with them for a  number of reasons and was looking for a better way to get them produced.

Here are the issues that Carol was having concerning labels for specialty foods:

#1:  She was producing the labels herself on an ink-jet printer at home - and then cutting them out in a circular shape with a quilt cutter.  This was of course very labor intensive, and also pretty expensive when you consider how expensive printer ink is. 

#2:  She had a hard time getting colors to be consistent from label to label, which was very annoying

#3:  Her labels were not waterproof, and the color would run if the got wet

#4:  Her labels were very susceptible to damage and discoloration

#5:  The labels were just not giving her product the "polished look that she wanted"

#6:  Purchasing a large run of professionally printed labels was just too cost prohibitive, as she would have to place a VERY large order.

Lincoln Sign Company has a piece of equipment, in-house that solves all of the above issues, which I will talk about in the next installment of this article.

Comments

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These are very attractive decal "labels" I just followed a link from Boing boing and have been reading your blog for about an hour now!

I work for a small company, we do custom ink and supplies for the offset printers in our area- and I find your blog a great idea and neat tool to connect with potential customers and show them your business and what you " do".

thanks for the creative tour-I know more about signs than I did before. :)

Tamara