"I have heard the term 'Print is dead' so many times and it is simply not true. Labels and tags are the future," she said. "They will always be needed, and as technology continues to create new adhesives, face sheets and print methods, the sky is the limit."
Brown's optimism is backed by encouraging statistics. According to the Freedonia Group's July 2013 study on the label market, product demand in the United States is projected to climb 4.2 percent annually to $19.1 billion in 2017. To stay on track, labels and tags are getting a little help from their friends. Thanks to digital enhancements like QR codes, these pieces are positioned to engage their audience in exciting ways. Richard Phelps, owner and director of marketing for Allen-Bailey Tag & Label Inc., Caledonia, N.Y., offered more information.