A label portal might be exactly what you need to take your products to the next level.

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By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Label PortalsAs a manufacturer, you might be used to communicating with clients over email, phone, and even text messages. But you also probably know how easy it is for projects to get behind or for information to get lost when you don’t have a unified way of managing client interactions and projects.

You may need a label portal!

A label portal can help your customers by pulling together projects, tasks, and communications under one roof.

We are currently building a portal for a chemical company. They needed a personalized portal where their end customers can order customized labels, have them applied to their products, and then shipped out from our warehouse. (Previously, they were printing black laser type on pre-printed labels. It was a time consuming process and the results weren’t up to level of quality our client wants.)

The system we are building for the chemical company allows their customers to go to a new, online portal where they can upload their logo, add text and a phone number, and purchase cases of their products. When we get an order through the portal, we print the labels in 4/C and adhere them to our client’s product. And then ship them out! Our client is so happy because the labels looks so much more professional now.

A label portal enables consistent branding to show off the colors, messaging, and imagery that represent your products. We can infuse labels with some personality and communicate your mission and vision to existing and prospective clients. These custom portals allow your end customers to get more done faster, with the help of automation and streamlined communications.

Would you like to talk about how a custom portal for your company or organization could streamline your processes and ramp up the quality of your existing label solution? Give me a call!

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Is the use of foil a sustainable choice for Print and Packaging?

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By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Is the use of foil a sustainable choice for Print and Packaging?All of us are heavily focused on the environment and the demand for sustainable packaging solutions. We have turned to metallics and foils to help our customer’s brand stand out on the shelf. Special effects can transform and influence a consumer’s purchase decision.

The Foil & Specialty Effect Association (FSEA) sponsored a sustainability study conducted by Georgia Tech’s Renewable Bioproducts Institute to demonstrate that paper and paper boards with foil-stamped metallic transfer foils can be repulped with 75% coverage. The aluminum in the metallic transfer foil could be broken down into small particles and were removed from the fibers during screening.

Another study by Van Dyk Testing Center resulted in the same conclusions as the FSEA study – fiber based transfer metallic decorated materials are recyclable and currently are most likely being sorted by MRFs to be included in the recycling stream.

These finding will help packagers meet their sustainability goals without compromising their designs and branding initiatives, considering that decorated foil packaging had an 80% higher appeal and a 44% better chance of attracting customer attention.

If you are interested in talking about metallic and foil special effects for your next print project to show off your brand, let’s talk!

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Label Trends for 2024

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By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Brands that use labeling are going through some big changes this year to gain market share.

They’re not just thinking about cool designs, but are incorporating some new design trends to connect with their customers. Some of the trends shaping the industry include QR codes, anti-counterfeiting, sustainability, and inclusivity.

The biggest trend in packaging is reduction of plastic, using glass, paper, aluminum, or materials that facilitate easier recycling. Labels can be printed and removed during recycling, unlike printed plastic.

Custom Labels

Custom labels are also gaining momentum – allowing customers to personalize their jars or having multiple designs that they can collect. J. Rieger just launched vodka sodas with vintage Tiger designs that are collectable.

Rieger Tigers Labels

QR Codes

The emergence of interactive labels through QR codes has connected the customer to the brand’s social media presence. By scanning the codes, consumers can gain instant access to a wealth of information about the product, fostering a deeper connection with the customer.

Anti-Counterfeiting Labels

Anti-Counterfeiting Labels

Because counterfeiting is rampant, manufactures of labels must work with customers to keep their products safe. Using invisible ink or tamper-evident labels are a must to protect the band’s reputation. If a consumer buys a counterfeit brand, they can lose all confidence in the product and not purchase it again.

Need some fresh ideas?

If you involve our production team early in the creative process, it will lead to the best outcome. Collaborating with us opens many possibilities that a designer may not be aware of. Die-cuts, foils, and embossing can enhance he creative message you are trying to get across.

Red Dog BBQ Label

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What’s in Your Merch Box? The Element of Surprise

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By Betsy Bennholz, Promotional Products Sales Manager at MEDiAHEAD

Ah, the thrill of the unknown! Merch boxes are like Pandora’s box, but with less Greek tragedy and more unicorn stickers. The anticipation of not knowing what awesome items await inside is a joyous roller coaster ride for the senses. The possibilities are endless.

Merch Box What’s in Your Merch Box? The Element of Surprise

The best items for a merch box depend on the target audience and the purpose of the merchandise. Here are some popular choices that tend to work well and hints to keep your branded items on the coveted prime real estate of a desk or the walking billboard of a person’s body:

  1. Exclusive or Limited-Edition Items: Anything that can’t be easily obtained elsewhere tends to generate excitement. This could include a cup or laptop decal, a unique animal shaped stress reliever, an absorbent desk or car coaster, or a reusable, foldable tote bag.
  2. Practical and Useful Items: Quality merchandise that people can use in their daily lives tends to have a longer lifespan. This could include items like mugs, water bottles, tote bags, or notebooks, often featuring creative designs or quotes related to the brand or theme.
  3. High-Quality Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and other apparel items are classic merch box staples. The key is to ensure they are made from high-quality materials and feature attractive designs that people would want to wear beyond just supporting the brand.
  4. Personalized or Customizable Items: Offering the option to personalize or customize merchandise adds a personal touch. This could be through custom engravings, embroidered initials, or allowing customers to choose their preferred colors or designs.

Ultimately, the best items for a merch box are those that resonate with the audience, align with the brand’s identity, and offer value beyond just being a promotional item. Variety and creativity also play important roles in making a merch box memorable and desirable. We can create this experience from start to finish! Let’s talk.

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Deceptive Labeling: Food for Thought

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By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Deceptive Labeling: Food for ThoughtSince we entered the packaging and labeling industry, I have been fascinated and horrified by deceptive labeling on popular products that I see every day in the grocery store.

If you peruse any aisle, you will see all kinds of food labels touting products as being “healthy choices.” Cholesterol-free, gluten-free, natural, whole-grain and non-GMO, my favorite – no added sugar are just a few examples.

But is it actually healthier?

Many consumers believe these claims mean the food they are purchasing is healthier for them and their family. When what it really means is the companies advertising these products are taking advantage of the lack of understanding of the public to increase their profit.

“The supermarket is full of misleading food marketing, all of which is aimed at unsuspecting customers who simply want to purchase healthy foods for their family,” according to the US Food and Drug Administration. “Unfortunately, consumers don’t always have a good understanding of the verbiage used on the labels.”

The term NATURAL is another one that stands out to consumers.

Deceptive Labeling: Food for ThoughtCurrently, there is no official definition of natural. Consumers may pay more for the product with the natural label claim even though it is no different from the product next to it without the natural label claim.

Although there is an FDA front-of-package labeling initiative to combat misleading food-marketing practices, it will take years and possibly even decades to overcome all the inappropriate and misleading claims.

Educate yourself, learn about ingredients and read the ingredients on every package. I’ve been following Bobby Parrish, who has some excellent tips to help you correctly read labels at the grocery store!

You can find him on Facebook or @bobbyparish on Instgram.

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Smart Marketing is a Peanut Vendor Wearing a Peanut Suit

Mr. Peanut GuyBy Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Catching the attention of customers in a unique way is nothing new – what is more attention grabbing than a peanut vendor in 1890 wearing his product?

Be funny.

To generate leads that convert into paying customers, businesses need to employ smart marketing strategies in multiple areas. An effective way to market your business and generate leads is humor – recognizable companies like Blue Beetle or the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile make us giggle when we see them.

You must also create compelling content.

To capture the attention of your target audience, you need to create content that is fun and relevant to them. Your content should be well-written, informative, and provide VALUE to the reader. It’s hard – content is one of most people’s least favorite thing to do, even though it is necessary to keep your customers engaged. There is nothing worse than seeing companies bla bla bla about their goods and services, while you slowly fall asleep.

By taking yourself lightly and not getting too serious, your brand becomes more likeable. It’s like how we think people who smile are friendlier than people who frown. Let your brand smile and laugh a little too. People do business with people and brands they like.

Social Media

We are all using social media now, and it is a powerful tool that can be used to reach a large audience with relative ease. Posting engaging content on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn can help you attract new customers, but they are only part of their decision-making process. And again, have some fun – droning on and on about equipment or products gets boring – show your people having fun and include other companies that your customer might be interested in knowing about.

Conducting targeted campaigns are another effective way to generate interest in your company – the days of mass mailing are dead. You must mail or place ads in front of individuals who are most likely to be interested in your products or services. With today’s technology it is so much easier to execute this than 20 years ago.

It’s simple, find your niche, know your audience, and create a unique brand personality like Mr. Peanut man! And if you need help printing those marketing ideas, we are here to help!

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Women-Centered Marketing

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Women-Centered Marketing

It’s been a summer for women, at least from an economic perspective. Female audiences have ruled the box office with Barbie, and live events With Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Women have held a lot of economic power for years – there are more of us in the workforce, and we have all had wage increases compared the last decade. With more money and control over how we spend our money than ever before, we are spending it on goods and experiences that align with our personal interests.

It’s no wonder that Barbie, Beyonce and Taylor Swift have seen so much success.

Women-Centered MarketingBeyonce and Taylor Swift focused on women’s empowerment and used social media effectively to rally their female audience around their tours. Spending encompassed not only tickets, but hotels, restaurants, travel and sparkly clothes! My friends and I all bought fun outfits to go to the Barbie movie, and it was packed with other friends doing the same thing.

No wonder the movie has grossed $1.342 billion and is the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros.’ history.

Women’s sports have also had a record-breaking year, record views and sponsorships. The women’s FIFA World Cup brought in Record viewership across the globe.

Because of this success, marketers will rush to push pink and sequined merchandise.

They’re missing the point of marketing to women. It’s not about pink – it’s that when customer groups feel seen, heard and understood, they show up in a big way.

Barbie, Beyonce and Taylor Swift showed us that it’s always a big marketing win when you can make that happen.

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Not Funny Marketing Fails

Marketing FailsIn the age of digital media, all eyes are observing a brand’s every move. That’s great for brand awareness, but it can easily backfire on a company if they miss the mark, and the retribution is quick and can easily travel to social media platforms.

Here are a few examples of marketing fails that made us wince:

Kendall Jenner TV Spot. Kendall Jenner settles a Black Lives Matter standoff between protesters and police by offering a police office a can of Pepsi. The result? Outrage.

McDonald’s: Filet o Fish TV Spot. A young boy talks to his mother about his dead father and that one of the things they both shared was a love for filet-o-fish sandwiches. Exploiting grief to sell sandwiches left a bad taste in many people on social media.

Ford: Print Misfire. The year of the #MeToo movement, Ford actually ran an ad where three women were bound, gagged and stuffed in the truck of their new Ford Hatchback. What the heck were they thinking? Cringy.

Marketing FailsAnd the absolute worst, customers of Adidas who participated in the Boston Marathon in 2017 received a very poorly worded email from the company – the subject line read.”Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!” This message was sent on the heels of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured more than 250.

Avoid Being Tone-Deaf

Most of these marketing fails bombed because they were essentially tone-deaf. Always consider the implications behind your messaging. When you’re making jokes, look at them from all angles to make sure they won’t offend anyone.

Funny always wins big, but don’t sacrifice your brand’s values and beliefs for a few chuckles!

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Gifting strategies could make a difference with your clients and employees.

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Forget giving loyalty points – gifting is the new customer retention strategy. As remote EVERYTHING continues to rise, keeping connected to clients and loved ones will be key.

Gifting companies had record breaking years in 2020 and 2021. 1-800-FLOWERS had record growth, along with startups like &Open and Gracia.

Many of our marketing portal customers have added gifts and merchandise to their sites.

Why Gifting MattersEmployees can order wearables that they want with gifted dollars as a reward for length of employment or going that extra mile.

It’s always a good idea to send “care packages” to employees that are stuck at home and feeling unappreciated. We mailed succulents, candles, Christopher Elbow chocolates and warm fuzzy blankets with personalized cards.

Our latest project is working with a local company to personalize cards that our clients want to send with their gifts that we warehouse here. They have many design templates for birthdays, holidays, Thank You for the Order or Welcome to Your New Home, that we can match up with an appropriate gift that they specify.

Some of our larger companies are adding the feature to their portal so that their salespeople, through their CRM like Salesforce, can send gifts or cards to their clients for special occasions or just because!

If you want to talk more about gifting options through a marketing portal, please give us a call!

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Are you incorporating virtual reality into your marketing?

Virtual RealityConsumer and Enterprise VR market revenue is expected to reach 6.71 billion by the end of 2022, and 12.9 billion by 2024.

VR, short for virtual reality, is software that immerses users in a three-dimensional, virtual interactive environment – usually by a headset, to simulate a real-life experience. Many VR experiences take place in 360 degrees.

Can you imagine an engineering firm being able to demonstrate what it’s like to walk into a building as if they’re really there? Many businesses are already using VR to demonstrate and promote their products.

The Difference Between VR and Augmented Reality

Before we dive into some examples of businesses that have used VR for marketing, it’s worth noting that virtual reality has a few key differences from another term you might be familiar with, augmented reality. Augmented Reality (AR) is the overlaying of computer-generated objects on top of the real environment. You still use some kind of display device and an application… The application recognizes some element in the real environment and then places objects (graphics) in relation to it with differing levels of interactivity. The biggest advantage of AR is accessibility. Everyone has an AR viewing device within their smartphone!

Seeking inspiration for your own VR marketing campaign?

Virtual RealityBelow are nine of our favorite campaigns.

  1. Gucci Town
  2. Sephora’s Try-on Kiosk
  3. Wendy’s and VMLY&R: Keeping Fortnite Fresh
  4. A Tribal Past: Bear River, a Nation: What can eeling teach us?
  5. Adidas: Delicatessen
  6. Lowe’s Holoroom How To
  7. Boursin: The Sensorium
  8. Toms: Virtual Giving Trip
  9. DP World: Caucedo

Participants can explore art and towns, virtually test makeup, transport beef to freezers, learn about other cultures, follow a mountain-climbing journey, inspire charitable giving, explore cheese and show property around the world virtually.

VR technology can be used in so many ways for marketing products and services… the only limiting factor is your imagination!

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