Playing Tag

When it comes to selling tags and labels, there are several strategies to keep in mind. By identifying the latest technological trends and staying educated, distributors can answer questions a client may have about materials and the end-use of a product. To ensure all parties get exactly what they want, Print+Promo turned to the experts. Read on as they provide useful tips for selling tags and labels.

Identifying Trends
Staying on top of what is new and exciting in the market makes a big difference in maximizing business opportunities. Pat Larson, marketing manager at Repacorp Inc., Tipp City, Ohio, cited RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology as a noteworthy trend in the tag and label game. "The hot trends in labels and tags are RFID and digital," she said. "There is a lot of growth in retail item-level tagging and in closed-loop applications."

Larson also observed an increase in digital runs. "Digital runs are hot, especially when printing multiple SKUs or versions of a label," she remarked. "Laser cutting and digital printing eliminate the need for costly plates and tooling, making short runs very affordable for small businesses, 
private labeling, seasonal labeling, regional labeling and market research."

Digital print, along with variable imaging, has proven to be a hit at Toledo, Ohio-based Kay Toledo Tag Inc., a Div. of Ennis. "Our digital printing and our variable printing are at an all-time high demand right now, especially with the synthetic materials like lockout tags for a lot of the medical industry for protecting human life," said Danielle J. Kay, CSM, sales and marketing. "We keep up with these trends by making the right purchasing decisions for our presses and software."

New Technology, New Abilities
Following the latest developments in technology can also help distributors make the most of selling tags and labels. Larson mentioned that although RFID is nothing new, it's something that many distributors might not be using to its full potential.