First impressions matter. In private labeling, the first impression your customers receive of your product is its packaging. Branding and packaging should be an essential part of your private label marketing strategy. Larger labels use brand recognition to build trust; it shouldn’t be any different for you and your private label product. You need customers to see a brand they recognize so they keep coming back to buy from you again and again.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out your competitors on Amazon. How are other private labelers that sell similar products packaging their goods? How can you improve upon their design? Once you’ve decided on branding for your product, you’ll need to decide what type of labeling and packaging to use. Here are just a few options available to you.
Silk Screen Printing
This is one of the most commonly used methods for printing text and logos on a myriad of surfaces: plastic, rubber, glass, and stainless steel to name a few. You can use this cost-efficient method to print directly on the product or on its packaging. A caveat: Ask the printer for samples before you order. Longevity can be an issue with silk screen printing, so you’ll want to put the sample through a few stress tests.
Thermal Transfer
Thermal transfer is more complicated than silk screen printing. While you can still print directly on the product or packaging, it involves a higher temperature range, and there are restrictions on the types of materials that can be printed upon. Since it’s more complicated, it’ll cost a little more, but it will be better quality.
Laser Printing/Engraving
Competitive pricing is one of the biggest benefits of laser printing. There won’t be a setup fee for creating a mold or template, so even though the price per unit of the printing job will be higher, you’ll save money by cutting out that setup fee. Print quality is also typically better than silk screen or thermal transfer.
Machine Embroidery
Embroidered logos have a high-quality finish and have higher durability and longevity compared to other processes we’ve mentioned. Of course, embroidery is mainly done on cloth-based materials like clothing, bags, and hats. The cost will be a bit higher, but you have two options here. Embroider directly on your product, or embroider a patch that can then be applied to your product.
Adhesive Labels
This might seem like an obvious choice—and one that doesn’t look as professional as printing directly on the product or its packaging—but it can actually be very effective if it’s done right. It’s a great option if you want a highly personalized look. It’s also good for brands that are simple or natural, as they give the impression of being somewhat organic.
Hang Tags
Similar to adhesive labels, hang tags can give a highly customized look. When a product lacks the surface area to stick a label on, you can brand your product with a hang tag. On items like jewelry or clothing, a hang tag on a string works like a charm. A popular option for hang tags is the same stock that’s used for business cards: ivory cardboard 300 GSM. It’s widely available, which means it can be bought and manufactured at a fairly low cost.
Custom Packaging
The best option for private label packaging is of course probably the most expensive. To create truly effective custom packaging, you either need to be good at design or hire someone who is. A very well-designed package hints at a valuable product and appeals to a hyper-visual audience. If you want influencers to showcase your product on social platforms like Instagram, beautiful custom packaging is key.
No matter how you choose to package your private label product, the key is to make it stand out in a sea of competition. If custom packaging is within your budget, we definitely recommend it. Creating a first-rate brand and coordinating packaging will help you catch your audience’s eye and gain their trust.
Private Label University can help you with every step of the private labeling journey. Our training courses take place throughout the year, with one of our most popular being the Colorado LIVE event. We’ll have three this year, so click the link below and get signed up! We’ll walk you through building your private label business so you can hit the ground running.
