Window stickers are an effective way to advertise your brand and to get your message out there. Now with the advances in printing technology, long gone are the days of big white rectangular stickers seen on cars, shop windows and signs with these being replaced with vibrant promotional stickers of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Windows stickers are available in a range of different styles for a range of different applications such as inside and outside environments, temporary stickers which can be removed easily or permanent stickers that will stand the test of time.

You can also choose to have the vinyl in clear gloss, meaning that it will have a clear background (perfect for logos) or a solid background which means you can fill more of the area with your message and branding.

Here at DataLabel, we have over 5,000 cutters in a range of different sizes and shapes including rectangular, oval and circle and we can customise bespoke shapes to make the sticker unique and stand out from the crowd.

Our state of the art printers can print at 1440dpi, providing a high quality product and we use eco-friendly ink which not only lowers our environmental footprint, but provides exceptional resistance to fading from UV radiation.

We also have an in-house design team that can help advise you on how to get the best out of your stickers. Whether you need a small run of stickers for a fleet of vans or thousands of stickers for promotion we can help, simply tell us you requirements and we can advise you whether they are best supplied as single stickers, on a sheet or on a roll for ease of use.

Window stickers can be used for a number of applications including advertising on cars, in shops and offices, but can also be used as seasonal decorations, parking permits and even as maintenance reminders.

We can typically deliver your stickers within 3-5 days, but are more than flexible to meet your need if you need them quicker. To chat to one of our sales team or to request a quotation simply fill in our enquiry form or call us directly on 01293 551520.

Posted in General by Philip

Packaging is the perfect blend of form and function; it not only protects the contents from damage and tells the customers about the product, but it’s also a powerful tool for advertising your brand. In its essence packaging should inform consumers of the product benefits while making it attractive, especially in today’s competitive environment.
Packaging is the final finishing touch to a product and it must first and foremost protect the contents from damage, but it can be so much more with the right planning and design. Whether it’s just a sticker or hang-tag, or custom made packaging, these little extras convey an attention to detail and should not be overlooked.
Here, we’ll discuss how to make your packaging stand out from the crowd, convey your message through branding and attract customers.

Packaging and Branding

Packaging does its job in its naked, unadorned state, but to attract customers it must convey a meaningful message. This is done by adding brand logos, useful information about the product and key visuals that appeal to your target audience.

Before getting the full value out of your packaging, you need to have your brand identity planned. You should look at colour palettes, font styles, brand logos and your brand message carefully, making sure that all of these components stand on their own and don’t get lost in the bigger picture. Is your logo big enough? Does your message and ethos stand out? And is your imagery clear and concise.

Types of Packaging

Due to today’s technical advances, packaging now comes in a range of sizes and styles. Bigger companies usually have the capital to customise all aspects of their packaging, but for small companies and those starting out it is best to start with a simple design as tooling for custom packaging can become expensive.

Just because you are starting off with a generic shape or size doesn’t mean that your packaging has to look plain, the packaging can still be customised with bespoke logos and branding, custom labels and stickers or tags.

Designing your packaging

Hiring a professional packaging designer can help you plan out the best way to approach your packaging and can give you valuable guidance on layout, sizes and colours to get the most out of it.

You can of course design your own packaging and labels, after all, you designed your products. Start by making some templates of your chosen packaging and make various design layouts. You may also want to print out your designs and make mock ups, making sure that the product fits securely and that the colours match your brand.

Posted in General by Philip

Food giant Mars has pulled out of the Evolved Nutrition Labelling (ENL) enterprise, citing a lack of widespread support and lack of credibility and consensus as the main reasons. The company is now calling for an EU wide labelling system for food.

The ENL initiative was unveiled last year and in similar to the traffic light system used on UK food labels. It uses a colour coded system, giving customers information on sugar, salt and fat content in food and drinks. One of the main differences of the ENL system is that the colours would be assigned to portion sizes below 60g unlike the UK system which works on a ‘per 100g’ system.

“To this end, we will continue to engage and lead in advocating for an EU-wide, interpretative approach to nutrition labelling. We need a pan-European solution, for all EU consumers to benefit from it and to reduce complexity and cost to businesses.”

FoodDrinkEurope has also called for a coordination throughout EU member states, stating that the introduction of national food labelling systems (such as those in France and the UK) undermines the EU single market.

Posted in Custom labels by Philip

The Royal Society for Public Health which is dedicated to the public’s health and wellbeing is calling for a change in the way alcoholic drinks are labelled. The RSPH claims that there is an “awareness vacuum” on how alcohol affects health and wants to see alcohol producers include the government’s guideline of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week on their labels.

The RSPH also suggests having a drink-drive warning on labelling and that the use of a traffic light colour coding system (similar to those used on many food items on UK shelves) could help drinkers be more aware of the effects of alcohol and help them to make better choices when it comes to their drinking habits.

But John Timothy, from the Portman Group, the responsibility body for drinks producers in the UK disagreed with the RSPH’s findings, saying:

“There was little public interest in a radical overhaul of drinks labelling and strong opposition to cramming more information on packs”.

Mr Timothy reiterated that the Portman Group continually updates its advice to alcohol producers so that consumers are given accurate, accessible health information.

What do you think?

Do you feel that alcohol should have a traffic light system like food products, should the government take a harder stance and ban branding on alcohol like they do to tobacco or are alcohol labels fine the way they are?

Let us know in the comments below.

Posted in Custom labels by Philip

Wedding favours have become a common tradition, just like the first dance, wedding speeches and drunk guests, and are a great way to treat your guests and show them that you really appreciate their support.

In the build up to a wedding there is so much to think about that wedding favours can become an afterthought, but with a bit of planning you can present your guests with a favour they will remember forever.

Here are a few handy hints for picking the perfect wedding favours and some different ways to personalise them for your guests.

Making Your Own Wedding Favours

If you opt to make your own wedding favours, it is important to consider how much time and extra work it can involve. Be sure that whatever you choose is easy to create as you will be making lots of them for your guests. Make a few samples first to help you know if you are on the right track and if you have enough time to make them all. Once you have the process perfected, why not enlist the help of some family and friends to take the weight off.

Also, make sure that you have a few extra wedding favours ready as backups in case some get damaged or lost before the wedding day.

The great thing about wedding favours is that you can be as creative as you like, and with any type of gift putting the extra thought into it really makes it a unique gift. One thing to consider before starting a project like this is to ask yourself it if would be something that you would enjoy and is it something that you would be happy to receive.

Edible Wedding Favours

Edible wedding favours such as sweets and snacks are a popular choice that your guests can enjoy on the day or take home to enjoy later. Think small when choosing edible wedding favours, things like fudge, chocolate truffles and mini jars of homemade jam are perfect gifts that can be personalised with labels to mark the special day.

Practical Wedding Favours

Practical favours are another popular choice as these can easily be personalised and are great trinkets for guests to keep, reminding them of your wedding day for years to come. Some ideas for practical wedding favours include bottle opener keyrings, personalised soaps, engraved shot glasses or cookie cutters. You can even make a charitable donation in your guest’s names, giving them a card explaining the work the charity does and the people or animals they help.

Whatever you decide on for your wedding favours there is one golden rule that shouldn’t be ignored. Try to avoid putting your names, photos or wedding date on everything, as this could turn an otherwise useful gift into a cringe worthy trinket.

Personalised Labels and Packaging

The one exception to this rule is the packaging for your wedding favours. It’s absolutely fine to put a personal touch on boxes and bags, ribbons, wrapping paper and labels. Personalised packaging not only makes a great presentation piece, it is also less likely to put guests off.

Whatever you choose as your wedding favour, be creative, choose something that you would want to receive yourself and have fun, and remember, that personal touch is sure to make an impression with your guests long after the special day.

Posted in General by Philip

Traffic light labelling on food, we’ve all seen them when we go shopping, but did you know that it is not mandatory for producers to use this system on their packaging and that only two-thirds of products on our supermarket shelves currently carry this kind of nutritional information.

According to the Local Government Association this is fuelling unhealthy eating habits and Britain’s obesity crisis. They propose that Brexit is the perfect time for the UK to standardise food labels, thus making nutritional information mandatory on all of the foods and drinks we consume. As it stands, the EU is in charge of regulating product labelling, but the UK government may choose to implement its own guidelines when the UK leaves the European Union.
In 2013 the Department of Health announced the traffic light labels designed to allow consumers to quickly see how much fat, saturates, sugars and salt are in a particular product, but this is only a voluntary system meaning manufacturers can ignore it.

This has been blamed for the obesity crisis gripping Britain because some manufacturers use the traffic light system and others use more complex schemes giving nutritional information in percentage guideline daily amounts (%GDA). This can cause confusion for consumers who may be unwittingly buying products that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

The Faculty of Public Health has previously stated that the %GDAs labelling schemes can cause confusion and impede consumers from making healthy choices as it suggests that these daily amounts are targets to reach, whereas they are actually limits not to be exceeded.
Why is food labelling so important?

According to latest figures, almost two thirds of British adults and a third of children are overweight or obese and that figure could rise substantially unless precautions and information is provided.

The traffic light system adopted by a range of manufacturers is a great way for consumers to quickly see the amount of fat, saturates, sugars and salt is in a product and make an educated choice as to what to buy.
Clear nutrition labelling on the front of food packaging is an important way to educate the population and to help consumers make healthier food choices. The fact that some manufacturers choose a different nutrition system can make it confusing for consumers.

Posted in Custom labels by Philip

Whether you are looking at designing labels for commercial products, wedding favours or handmade products it is important to get every detail right, not just because of the branding or marketing efforts, but to avoid revisions and reprints that could become expensive.

Here, we will discuss some helpful tips to consider when designing your next label project.

Using colour, texture and typeface to convey your message and brand

It is best practise to design all of your printed media such as labels, flyers and stickers in CMYK as opposed to RGB; this will produce more vibrant colours and darker blacks giving a more professional look.

Typeface and colour choice are also important considerations when designing labels because some combinations can make it harder to read from a distance, especially metallic or reflective labels which may be eye-catching but could be difficult to read when combined with certain colours and textures.

There is also the perceived psychological interpretation of colours when designing labels and stickers for products and packaging. Silver and gold labels can project luxury, sophistication and a hi-tech feel, whereas rustic-looking labels are ideal for conveying earthiness, reliability and sustainability.

Designing the label with the container in mind

This may seem obvious to many people, but making sure that the label fits the product container is easily missed by designers, especially if they have a great idea and jump straight into the design phase without studying the packaging.

Proper measuring is as important as the actual design when making a label that compliments the product. What shape is the container? Round, square, tapered or textured, these considerations must be taken into account in the design phase to ensure that the label fits smoothly and gives all of the information needed to the consumer.

It is also important to decide how much of the product you want to show, an example of this is if you are using an opaque container then a larger label can be used, whereas if the product is in a transparent container such as jam or honey then a smaller label may complement it better.

Creating designs that are distinctive and memorable

Creating label designs that are distinctive and memorable will make your products stand out from the crowd and is a great way of attracting customers to buy and promote your products. Whether the products will be sold in stores alongside competitors’ products, sold through a stand-alone website or through an online buyer and seller community, presentation is key.

A clean, eye-catching and distinctive design can be the difference between a sale or not, so ask yourself these three questions to see if you are on the right track during the design process:

• Is the labels design distinctive compared with its competitors?
• Does the label clearly and accurately reflect the product and the brand?
• Will the products target audience find it captivating enough to purchase?

Get feedback from customers

Creating your label design and getting it to market is only the beginning of the marketing efforts and being proactive with the design will ensure that your products stay relevant to your customers and will continue to attract your target audience.

Invite your customers to take part in a survey asking what about the packaging attracted them to the product in the first place. This information is a great way to spot changes in the market, mood and lifestyle of your customers meaning that future label designs can stay relevant even with changing demographics.

The information gathered can also be used to learn from any mistakes from the initial design such as hard to read fonts, colour clashes and whether you are using the right type of label.

By putting into practise some of these suggestions when designing your labels it will undoubtedly make your designs stand out from the crowd and will produce a process to make future label designs not only more relevant but also more efficient.

Posted in General by Philip

Technology is forever expanding, from the way we communicate to everyday work ethics and skills. It makes an impact across education, proving to be an invaluable resource in schools for student’s learning development. Pupils now have the ability to produce progressive results by using online research as well as the latest software programs and tools, a far cry from the traditional methods of pen and paper, and literature in print.

Parental perspective

Whilst there may be many advantages to technology in education, there can also be certain drawbacks too, which has created cause for concern for some parents. 28% of parents worry that technology in schools can lead to a reduced attention span, whilst an alternative study found that 88% of parents believe that the technology available to students has pushed them forward to learn and take full advantage of their education.

How is technology changing education?

Whilst technology benefits many areas of learning, parents are considering the pros and cons of it’s continuous rise. They believe their kids are lucky to be involved in this generation with the advances of the latest technology, however voice their concerns that it may take over their surroundings and cause distractions towards learning.

Tablets and iPads have changed teaching and learning, creating a much more interactive environment that both student and teacher can benefit from and get engaged with. For students to physically hold, touch and swipe through their work is a great interactive aspect in lessons. The simple user interface can be easily picked up by all ages, and touch screen tablets incorporate a different style of teaching that can prove to be a turning point in various levels of education.

Generally, the consensus is that both teaching and learning can be made fun with technology; it becomes much more interactive and engaging. Teachers are able to direct individual learning needs with the aid of technology, however, there are many drawbacks of incorporating the latest tech, too.

What are the drawbacks?

Using technology too frequently, or constantly staring at screens too closely can lead to strained vision. There can be a lack of attention given by students, as well as the risk of technology being a distraction, affecting work and concentration levels. In severe cases, some students are lead into injuries and lack motor skills. Of course, there is always hardware or software problems, causing delays that are sure to be a drawback for students.

Is the investment in modern technology worth it?

That said, the benefits of technology are clear to see, certainly when it comes to developing everyday skills that are the bread and butter of modern society. Some forms of software programs cannot be implemented in traditional methods, so a whole host of possibilities become available for education and learning. Through the latest software, students of all ages can access a huge variety of fantastic tools and resources.

The instant access to information is a huge benefit for students, even when at home, students can gain information through research and fast access. There’s also opportunities for individual learning. Technology can easily create long distance interaction, communication and learning.

Having the ability to improve on skills such as communication, problem-solving techniques and reading and writing allows us to bring education into the modern world with minimal restraints.

The overall outcome for students using technology should be, to use in moderation, if possible. If students are able to take extra care and not over-use the equipment, technology will be beneficial, not a hinderance.

Posted in Feature by Philip

Technology now allows brands to advertise and increase exposure at the touch of a button, but for decades stickers have been and still are an effective marketing tool that companies use to promote their brands and products.

Here we will guide you through why you should look at stickers as a powerful and low cost marketing medium that can push your brand to the next level. Promotional self adhesive stickers now come in all shapes and sizes, and with modern printing techniques can be made weather resistant and easy to peel making them ideal for windows, gadgets, signs, phones and even people.

Studies have shown that people trust the recommendations of friends and family above anything else and that 90% of these recommendations happen offline. Having a promotional sticker which is easily identifiable, starts conversations and conveys the right message is a great way of promoting your brand for very little outlay in cost.

As opposed to other mediums of advertising, stickers are not perceived as advertising at all, in fact displaying a sticker, whether it is on a gadget, car, notebook or laptop is widely observed as being a personal endorsement of a brand, product or message.

Even if a promotional sticker is not displayed in public view they can still be a very cost effective advertising tool. Handing out a quality made sticker to you customers has more value than other advertising mediums such as flyers, business cards and brochures as they are harder to throw away and have the potential to engage the recipient time and time again, especially if the content is relevant and well designed.

Promotional stickers aren’t just an item that you give away, they can also be used on brand products and packaging, and even applied to serviced equipment.

If promotional stickers are done right they can also become profitable products in their own right. Your brand name, logo or slogan can become a powerful advertising platform, especially if you have a unique angle to market to a specific sector or demographic, have fans and advocates and can come up with a design that people want to show off.

So you see, stickers can be used in a number of ways to advertise, improve brand awareness, show off new products and services or convey a message. Sticker marketing is a lowest-cost, highest exposure marketing tool which is largely overlooked by both large and small businesses in favour of expensive online marketing.

How Data Label can help:

Whatever your label requirements, feel free to contact our customer focused and friendly team on 01293 551520 who will be more than happy to talk through your options. Alternatively, fill out our simple online enquiry form and we’ll call you at a time that’s more convenient

Posted in General by Philip

We’ve created an infographic on how food supplies and identification labels hold up over time, all in the name of surviving the apocalypse.

Surrounded by flesh eating zombies, or an end of the world catastrophe, what would you do to prepare yourself? How long would you be able to last on the food supplies available?

Do you have the information you need in order to cope and survive? Will food supplies hold up over time? Could you gain information from the important labelling sell by dates?

How does food hold up over time?

What types of foods will hold up over time and which foods should you be looking for in a survival situation? If damage has been done to stored away foods, would the food still be edible even if you can’t read the sell by date?

There are many different types of foods that have sell by dates, either those that are refrigerated or stored in a dry place, all with their own life expectancies. Surely the majority of food would slowly become expired over time?

It’s clear that dairy products won’t hold out too long in the fight, so make sure you take advantage of the foods when you can. For example, milk, cheese, and butter will only last up to one day if there is no power. Your best survival foods are those tightly compact into food survival kits for emergencies. Emergency rations, and food biscuits lasting up to five years.

Another factor to consider is how food is stored and how secure it is. The cause of destruction, whether it be environmental damage, explosions, earthquakes or flooding could jeopardise the facts and information on labels.

There undoubtedly won’t be many manufacturing companies or active shops still making or supplying the goods, once a disaster strikes and takes over, so getting your supplies ready and being prepared is key to having enough essentials to last even a short while until you can plan your next move.

Durability of labels

How durable are informational signs and important to read labels? Retaining information is important for all survivors, not just for finding out what food is edible in the fight for survival but also for any potential warnings or directions they can give.

How long in the fight can labels and signs last for? When considering the worst of extreme weather conditions or any major war breaking out, what are the effects that can occur to important labels and information?

If damage arises, will it be readable? When surviving you most likely won’t have any luxuries like the Internet to seek out advice, guidance or any information from. So keeping labels intact is crucial.

Where you’d hold up over time

So if you’re concerned about how you will manage in an apocalyptic situation, why not measure up against the top movies and TV shows which face end of the world catastrophe’s and see what will last the time and what won’t.

Posted in Feature by Philip