Tag Products Endure Tough Times

Top performers in industrial environments, tags also have a softer side.

Samples sell. They also inspire. In fact, distributors looking to increase their tag sales can get great ideas for value-added designs, as well as potential new customers, by simply perusing suppliers' sample packets.

For instance, materials from Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis' tag and label manufacturing division in Wolfe City, Texas, include products utilized in manufacturing, retail, maintenance, customer service, public safety, property management, and warehousing and shipping, just to name a few. "We even have a distributor who places orders for toe tags used in morgues," said Barbara Woodruff, office manager. "We are one of three designated companies that produce government-required tags that cotton gins use to identify cotton bales."

"The tags indicate grade information and provide a history of the bales as they work through the system so that if a problem arises, the workers are able to track it down," explained production advisor Phil Ticer.

At Trebnick Systems, Springboro, Ohio, tag samples showcase a variety of synthetic substrates, such as high-performance Valeron, that are suitable for hazardous environments and temperature extremes. They also support President Gregg Trebnick's observation that certain markets tend to use tag solutions, while others seem to prefer labels. "The majority of our tag products satisfy manufacturing and warehousing needs, whereas in health-care, you see more label usage," he said.

Trebnick uses Valeron, polyester and other synthetic materials to produce tags for livestock, lumber, postal bags, textiles, beams, decking and a multitude of other industrial applications.

However, tags are extremely versatile products and extend to many markets. Suzy Crowell, customer service supervisor at Ennis, pointed out that the company does a surprising volume of door hangers, including four-color process jobs, for apartment complexes. "The tags are used to welcome new residents, acknowledge birthdays, and note that the maintenance department has completed a repair or that pest control is coming," she said. Frequently ordered tag products at Ennis also include baggage tags, parking permits, shelf talkers, government-required occupational safety danger/warning tags, fire extinguisher tags, and Tyvek tags that are attached to carpeting, mattresses, pillows and furniture.