LabelValue Label Blog

Feature Friday: Dymo Postal Scales

Do you find yourself making frequent trips to the post office to mail packages? There are few things more frustrating than wasting time and money driving to the post office – especially if you make the trip frequently for business purposes.

Save yourself the time and expense by investing in a postal scale.

The Dymo postal scales work seamlessly with the Dymo Stamps software. All you need to do is place your package or envelope on the scale, click “weigh” from your computer and select the option to print.

Your scale will download the latest postal rates and calculate your postage in seconds. Moreover, if your package is too large for the mailbox or you need to send via express mail, the major postal carriers offer courier pickup directly from your home or business, freeing your time to focus elsewhere.

For more information on postal scales, visit us online at LabelValue.com.

Increase Facebook Fans with Facebook Labels

You know the rules for growing your Facebook fans. You regularly post interesting information. You engage with your audience. Your status updates include useful tips for using your products. However, many of your customers don’t know you have a Facebook page to go to for coupons and information. So what do you do?

Facebook Labels!

Placing Facebook Labels on your products will let your customers know you have a page and encourage them to go try it out.

Lisa from Expedia Cruise Ship Centers writes,

“LOVE these! I use them on Thank you cards.”

Grow your business by placing Like labels on all of your products, packaging, invoices or receipts to drive current and potential customers to your Facebook fan page. With laminate coating for improved durability and water resistance, these brightly colored, vivid labels will hold up on your products and quickly catch the eye of your customers.

And these Facebook labels are completely customizable! We can print a Facebook label in many sizes for your business – just call one of our sales consultants at (800) 750-7764.

Use QR Codes to Sell Products

Browsing the aisles of wine at the liquor store it’s hard to know which bottle to select. However, upon closer inspection, you may notice that some bottles have a barcode on the front. This barcode, commonly known as a QR, or quick response, code is a dimensional barcode that represents information. The codes can be scanned with a smart phone to display text or a website on the phone’s browser.

If you are on the fence about purchasing a product or perhaps just need more information, this quickly accessible information can provide just the information you need to compel you to purchase.

QR codes are expected to take a larger role than ever before in 2012, since nearly 50% of the mobile population owns a smart phone. This change in our mobile population has resulted in a noticeable increase in QR codes. While QR codes have been around for some time, they can now be found on products, billboards and signage wherever you go. It’s anticipated that in the near future, QR codes will be found in the corner of the television during regular programming, especially news programs, where viewers can quickly access more information on the show or news story.

For products, providing customers with information on the product can be all that is needed to convince them to purchase. You can also provide them with coupons or recipes, additions features that enhance the product. QR codes can also allow customers to take part in contests or take them to your Facebook or Twitter pages.

Inexpensive to add, your business is missing out on a prime opportunity if you don’t add QR codes to your product.

For more information on QR codes or how you can utilize them in your own business, visit us online at LabelValue.com.

Top Reasons your Company Should Use Name Badges

Does your business or organization use name badges for identifying employees or visitors? Check out these top reasons for why you should consider using customized name badges.

1. Easy introductions. If you work for a large company, especially if you are new to the organization, it is sometimes difficult to remember everyone’s names. Name badges are helpful to spare employees the embarrassment of forgetting coworkers’ names. Name badges become a vital communication tool, encouraging employees to communicate more regularly with those whose names they might not otherwise recall.
2. Encourages professionalism. Nothing says “cheap” like a name badge with the individual’s name handwritten in marker. Custom name badges with the company name and the individual’s printed name will provide the professional results you are looking for. It is also a cheap form of advertising with your logo proudly displayed.
3. Maintains security. It’s sometimes difficult to know who is an employee and who isn’t in large companies. Requiring employees and visitors to wear name badges for identification purposes will help management better maintain security in the building. Visitors wearing name badges of a different color makes it easy to spot contractors and other visitors.

If you are a small organization, you likely have no use for name badges, but large companies will benefit substantially from requiring employees and visitors to wear name badges for identification. For more information, or to purchase name badges for your company, visit us at LabelValue.com.

Embossing Labels

Label manufacturers use embossing to draw the custom’s eye to a product, compelling them to pick the product up for a closer look and, ideally, buy. This process is commonly used on bath and body or cosmetic labels. If a customer finds a bottle visually appealing and notices details on the surface, the immediate instinct is to reach out and feel the textured surface. If the product is picked up, studies have shown that the customer is twice as likely to purchase the product.

Manufacturers raise the surface of a label by applying a texture in a process called embossing. The process can also include integrating a foil substrate onto another, to create the appearance of a foil stamp that will catch the customers’ eye.

There are three types of embossing methods manufacturers use. The first is the traditional embossing tool that includes two cylindrical die cuts made out of steel. The two are installed into a die station and aligned with the right amount of distance from each other, imprinting the facestock with a pattern that can be both seen and felt. The second type is called magnetic embossing dies, which are commonly used for paper-foil laminates and are ideal for short run custom labels. Potoplolymer is the last method for embossing. This method provides an alternative to steel plates and allows for both hot and cold foil plating, which can be attached to the end of any label feed process.

Embossing transforms products to help them to stand out among all the flat, lifeless packaging on the store shelves. When combined with an attractive label, a textured label works to engage the senses to create a natural desire within the customer. However, in addition to attracting customers to the product, the act of embossing fills microscopic cracks and crevices within the paper that would otherwise cause bleeding. The end result is an accurately printed label.

To learn more about embossing or to get a quote for embossing cosmetic labels, visit us at LabelValue.com.

Feature Friday: Days of the Week Inventory Labels

LabelValue.com is happy to announce our newly released product: Days of the Week Inventory Labels. These brightly colored 2” x 1” inventory labels will make tracking the cycling of perishable goods easy. Eye catching and pre-printed in bold, clear text with the days of the week, these labels will be instantly recognizable on your perishable items. They are made of aggressive permanent adhesive with a service temperature ranging from -65 to 220 Fahrenheit, making them the perfect choice for use in restaurants, grocery stores, or for anyone else who sells perishable goods.

Available as a bundle of seven rolls, every day of the week, you can buy all of your inventory labels at a reduced, “bundled” rate. Free shipping is available for this product.

To purchase the Days of the Week Inventory Labels, visit us at LabelValue.com.

Organize your Desk

I wrote earlier this week about the importance of organizing your home to guarantee a fresh start to your year. However, one of the most important areas you can organize your life, one that warranted a closer look, is your office. Whether you need to organize your desk at home or work, a structured desk can increase productivity and allow you to be more focused in your workspace. Check out these tips from Productivity 501.

1. Get rid of pens and pencils. It’s easy to fill your desk with writing utensils you don’t need and even want. If you aren’t going to use it, toss it. The more clutter you toss, the more organized your desk will be.
2. Location for pocket items. Have a place set aside for small items like keys, phone, wallet, Bluetooth, etc. Ideally, the location should already be wired for electronics that need to be charged.
3. Location. Location. Location. The key to organizing is to organize according to how often you use objects. If you use something daily, it should be located in a spot that is more accessible than something you use only once a week.
4. Move electronics out of sight. Cut down on clutter by putting wireless routers, modems and other electronics out of site.
5. Files. You should be able to access important files without having to get up from your desk. A well organized filing system is one of the most important things you can do to instill structure.
6. Scanning. If you have a scanner, consider scanning documents to keep files stored electronically as a PDF.
7. Cleaning supplies. Keep your cleaning supplies easily accessible so you can grab it quickly.
8. Wires. Tape wires together to make your desk look more orderly and reduce wiring.
9. Extra storage. If you don’t have enough drawer space, bring in a book shelf with baskets or bins with lids that are labeled to use as extra storage. A small file cabinet under or to the side of your desk is also a great solution.
10. Lighting. Make sure you have good lighting to make it easier to work.

For more tips or to buy file folder labels to better organize your office, visit us at LabelValue.com.

5 Steps for Successful Selling on eBay

Would you have ever guessed that the registered users on eBay would ever grow to exceed the population of all but the four largest countries in the world? With its easy user interface and multiple selling options, eBay has grown far larger than anyone could ever have anticipated.

If you’re considering starting your own online business selling goods on eBay, do keep it mind that it is a business and that it will require some planning as well as some old-fashioned hard work. Understanding how to get buyers to your online store and to purchase is the key to success.

Check out these five guaranteed techniques for building your online business:

1. Write professional descriptions. Your descriptions should be visually appealing and compelling to read. Black text on white background is easiest to read. Use color only for highlighting the text you want to emphasize. Keep paragraphs short to make it easy for readers to scan. Your description should emphasize benefits rather than features.
2. Learn the basics of Search Engine Optimization. Learn how to rank well on Google and Bing are important, but avoid the temptation to buy your way to the top of the list, as you will hurt your ranking more than help it.
3. Photos. Provide lots of good photos of your products. Natural lighting will look best, so avoid using flash.
4. Save time whenever possible. Explore all the tools available to make listing products easier. Selling Manager Pro automatically relists items and eBay offers tools for managing your product inventory. Use PayPal to print prepaid postage labels, allowing you to avoid frequent trips to the post office.
5. Keywords. Use the commonly searched keywords to make it easier for people to find your products. Use keyword rich titles and descriptions so your listing will appear in search results when potential customers are performing online searches.

Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food

One of the most important steps you can take to ensure that your pet will maintain optimum health is to select the right dog food. One of the easiest ways to do this is to read the nutritional labels on the bag before purchasing.

While many pet owners want to follow the recommendations of their veterinarian when buying food for their dog, the reality is that veterinarians, in spite of their years of training, aren’t nutritionists. The best way to make an educated decision regarding dog food selection is to perform your own research and read through the nutritional label on the bag before purchasing, as you will then be able to make an informed decision about which food will best satisfy your pet’s needs. If you are looking for additional advice after research, consult of a canine nutritionist.

During your research, keep in mind that dogs are s subspecies of the grey wolf, meaning they require a diet high in protein. Many dog foods, however, are full of carbohydrates, grains and other fillers that dogs were not designed to eat. Many dog foods also contain ingredients that aren’t natural for your pet to eat, so read the nutritional labels carefully and make sure you recognize the ingredients in the food.

For more information or to purchase veterinary labels, visit us at LabelValue.com.

Organize your Home

Everyone knows that the New Year is a great time to remake yourself with those New Year’s Resolutions, getting your life a little more in order. However, the New Year is also a great time to get the environment around you in order. Not only will getting your home in order maximize efficiency in other areas of your life, it will it will make you feel structured and organized to start the year off right.

Kitchen

Store your mixing bowls, knives, and cutting boards where you use them. Place the small appliances you use regularly on the counter, ones used on occasion in a convenient cabinet or on a convenient shelf, and items used rarely on a deep lower shelf. Take an inventory of everything you own and rid your kitchen of duplicates, damaged items and things you no longer use. Use drawer dividers to arrange utensils and Lazy Susans for organizing spices.

Bathroom

Group together like items in plastic bins or washable bags and throw out old cosmetics and skin care products. Store small items like hair accessories, nail polish and brushes in easily accessible plastic bins with easy-to-read removable labels, making it easy to change the label in the future if necessary.

Closets

Organized closets will make busy mornings easier and, quite frankly, make your life and home feel a lot less cluttered. Use adjustable shelves so you can change the arrangement of the closet as your needs change. Install shelves or cubbies at the base of the closet. Install shelves up to the ceiling to store items you don’t use often. Keep small items in bins, baskets and boxes to minimize clutter. Reassess your closet every six months for any changes that need to be made.

Linen Closet

Store sheet sets together in one pillowcase.

Utility closet

Keep cleaning supplies in a bucket or bin so you can carry them from room to room easily. Keep long handled brooms off the floor.

Laundry room

Arrange items according to how you use them. Anything you need regularly should be easily accessible. Sort items by whites, colors and delicates in different bins or rolling carts.  Use a drying rack for delicate items.

Office

Manage your office paperwork by keeping four separate organizers for personal correspondence, bills, catalogs and papers to file. Use accordion files to easily find paperwork.