Labels Play A Critical Role The Healthcare Industry—No Second Opinion Needed!

Thoughts of hospital and medical supplies might conjure up images of a healthy amount of bandages, swabs, and tongue depressors, as well as linen storage with an unending supply of unflattering hospital gowns. But it takes much, much more than cotton balls and ill-fitting gowns to make a medical care facility run well. Along with all the medications, monitors, medical devices and paperwork, labels play an integral role in the smooth and safe operation of a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility. Before you request a second opinion on that, let’s take a look at some of the ways labels are put to work in the healthcare setting.

Patient identification and charting labels immediately pop to mind when discussing medical labels. These play a vital role in safety and organization. Whether affixed to conventional paper charts, applied to lab orders, or adhered to patient wristbands, patient ID labels provide clear, concise information that is easy to read and won’t fall victim to spills or daily wear and tear.

Prescription alerts and allergy notification labels are just as important in the healthcare setting, and can be found on charts, wristbands, and prescription bottles. Thermal or direct transfer stocks facilitate easy printing of patient information on site. These labels work wonders at keeping things moving in an efficient and quick manner. Emergency rooms are no place for ink cartridge crises!

Equipment identification labels assure that medical equipment can be returned to the proper department, and can also document proof that each device is serviced regularly. Operating instructions or caution labels affixed to hospital beds, IV pumps, and other machinery and medical equipment ensure proper usage and minimize the risk of accidents or injury.

For younger patients, what would a trip to the doctor or hospital be without some fun stickers? Sticker sheets are a phenomenal way to keep little ones’ imaginations engaged while in an unfamiliar environment that might be a bit scary. Medical-themed sticker sheets can even serve as a helpful tool to introduce children to some basic concepts of the healthcare world. Dressing up teddy in a lab coat and stethoscope can help allay some fears or anxiety children may be experiencing. These sticker sets also transition beautifully to promotional or community event giveaways, as they can be customized with the name and address of healthcare facilities. Parades, blood drives and health fairs are the perfect spots to hand out some fun healthcare-themed stickers sporting logos and branding – high interest, yet low sugar!

Other popular uses include:

  • Hospital visitor passes
  • Tamper-evident stickers for lab specimens
  • Lab communication labels (Refrigerate, STAT, Serum, etc.)
  • IV labels
  • Maintenance inspection record labels
  • “Sterile” labels
  • Allergy notifications
  • Prescription bottle instructions or warnings
  • “I Got My Flu Shot!” stickers

Additional options that are vital in hospitals and clinics include:

  • Thermal or Direct Transfer Stocks: Print patient information on site
  • Tamper Evident Stocks: Crucial for prescriptions and medications
  • Barcoding & Consecutive Numbering: A must-have for equipment and patient identification
  • Durable Stocks and Finishes: Perfect for abrasive and harsh environments, bleach and industrial medical cleaners won’t damage these hard-working stocks and finishes!

Medical and healthcare industry labels improve the internal processes of healthcare facilities and enhance the care and experience of patients. Whether it’s a fire engine red warning sticker on equipment or medicines, or a smiling teddy bear sticker, hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are home to many, many labels and stickers. Trust Label Works to meet the needs of your clients and customers. Contact our customer service department today at 800.522.3558 or customercare@labelworks.com to learn more about our medical and healthcare label options.

Looking for a sample back of medical and healthcare labels? Look no further. We’ve compiled a sample pack your customers can touch and feel and features popular label applications. Simply click here!

Or personalize your own sales flyer geared towards the healthcare and medical market here.

Rising Demand for More Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Labels

Every year, the world produces 1.3 billion tons of waste. That’s a staggering amount, especially when you consider that from 2017-2018, the world produced 745.8 million tons of wheat and 479.8 million tons of rice. As a planet, we produce more garbage than we do wheat and rice combined. Holy landfill! By the year 2100, projections indicate yearly waste generation could reach 4 billion tons. That’s enough garbage to fill Busch Stadium from top to bottom four times a day. It makes one wonder if we won’t be living in space by then to escape all the garbage!

To put things bluntly, we have a garbage crisis on our hands here on the blue and green planet. And every small piece of refuse adds to the landfill plight. Recycling and reduction in waste have become paramount. Sustainability of the planet depends upon coming up with innovative ways to reduce the amount of garbage being sent to landfills. Labels are no exception to this endeavor. Consider the vast number of labels on bottles, cans, boxes, and other disposable products. Label backers contribute to the landfill problem, as does material waste from the creation of label stock. Are we destined to become one large landfill divided by ocean water?

Luckily, there are a growing number of green options today for labels and packaging. All of these options help reduce the impact on our planet, while helping boost sustainability. The job of protecting our planet doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of environmentalists. Consumers are looking for options that are eco-friendly and promote sustainability. Curious about label options for eco-conscious companies? Read on.

First, it’s important to consider where the packaging and labels will ultimately end up. Landfills? Compost bins? Recycled? Different stocks and/or adhesives can be chosen depending on the ultimate destination of the packaging and label. For biodegradable packaging, it only makes sense to select a biodegradable label as well. Compostable adhesive labels work well on packaging that is certified compostable. One toss into the compost bin – label and all! These types of labels are becoming more prevalent as the interest in composting rises and the tide slowly turns from single-use plastics.

Earth-minded companies that are committed to using packaging that is recycled are often interested in labels that are the same. Recyclable adhesive labels can be recycled right along with the packaging, and do not have to be removed. This cuts cost, work, and helps drive home branding messages that speak of commitment to recycling.

Newer practices in production allow labels to be created using a reduced amount of materials. Again this help cut waste, which reduces the manufacturing impact on the environment.

At Label Works, we’re committed to broadening our eco-friendly and sustainable label and adhesive options. This includes choosing stocks that come from well-managed forests. This provides environmental, social, and economic benefits. And this doesn’t mean just one or two options. These stocks are all FSC® certified stocks that are smartly sourced with our planet in mind:

  • White Gloss
  • White EDP
  • White Matte Removable
  • White Laser
  • White Laser Removable
  • Direct Thermal
  • White Semi-Gloss
  • 100% Recycled – Produced with 100% Post-Consumer Waste
  • 30% Recycled Semi-Gloss – Produced with 30% Post-Consumer Waste

We also have recycling-compatible adhesives on stocks:

  • 100% Recycled – Meets the TLMI testing protocol RCA LRP 2v5 for recycling compatibility

Offering sustainable label options isn’t where we stop, however. At Label Works, we recycle all cardboard, paper, plastics, and liner waste facility-wide. Our liner waste is shipped to a recycling facility where it is shredded and then burned as fuel at a local facility rather than taking up permanent residence in a landfill.

Want to learn more about ways in which labels have evolved to become more earth-friendly? Contact Label Works to discuss label options that are eco-conscious, while being as impactful as ever.

SOURCES:

Production of Wheat

Production of Husked Rice

Added Professional Print Touches for the New Year

Whether your customer is updating their existing print order or creating something entirely new, the New Year is a good time for them to add a bit of extra polish and professionalism to their suite of stationery products. How can they do that? Here are our four tips.

1. Coordinate
Nothing says “You are in good hands” quite like a well-put-together appearance. From employee dress to consistent signage, your customer has probably considered this already, but they might not have considered the importance of coordinating their image across their print pieces, too.

That doesn’t mean that everything has to match exactly, though. The design they print on white letterhead for everyday use, for example, could feel more stately on an ivory stock. And speaking of ways to make designs feel consistent without making them match exactly…

2. Let Brand Colors Take Center Stage
Whether or not your customer wants to put their logo on a given print piece, using their brand colors for every piece is a good way to make every print piece they use feel like a cohesive whole. For some pieces your customer could highlight their logo, but others could simply feature that logo’s colors to create a different look that still connects back to their brand.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative
Sometimes changing things up is a great way to pull together a more creative set of print pieces. Does your customer have an abstract or geometric logo? Consider printing it very light across their letterhead for the look of a watermark or letting it extend beyond the cut edge of their business card for a creative accent. Does your customer usually use their logo as the central design in their print—except in one photo-heavy brochure? Consider using that logo as an accent or highlighting it on the back of the brochure alongside your customer’s contact information.

This creativity doesn’t just add visual interest—it allows your customer to be more flexible with their print pieces. After all, with a little bit of flexibility in their brand look, they can create a wider variety of designs for their print.

4. Consider Texture
One way to bring together your customer’s print pieces with style is to use only one or two stock textures throughout their print order. Using the same stock to unify your customer’s business cards, letterhead, and stationery envelopes is a great way to give everything a consistent feel.

And, for additional polish, Navitor offers CLASSIC® Linen and Laid Papers. Not only do these stocks provide a subtle texture that will add a touch of elegant appeal, but the CLASSIC® brand is one that your customers can rely on. Choose linen papers for a cloth-like texture and laid for a handcrafted feel. To learn more about these stock textures, check out the Neenah website for more information on CLASSIC® Linen and CLASSIC® Laid.

How do you help your customers create a polished print order? Do you help them coordinate their print pieces? We’d love to see your tips in the comments below.

Check Out Label Sales Tools in 2019

Happy New Year! Now is the time we all say ‘Hello 2019’ and ‘Hello’ to creating this year’s plan to target new label, decal and sticker sales growth. Go ahead and mark it off your ‘to do’ list because Label Works already has the plan taken care of.  Check out our FREE, ready to use sales tools below to see how growing business is really as simple as 1-2-3.

First off, we all know clients love seeing materials that speak directly to their market, day-to-day needs and goals. So why not use a sales presentation that does exactly that? Just use and repeat the steps below for any vertical you’re targeting this year and ta-dah your presentation is ready!

  • Zoom Catalog – Use this resource to re-brand our free marketing pieces with your own company name and logo. Your individual sales reps can also customize these with their contact info. Start with our e-catalog then move to one of our many Sales Flyers. These flyers highlight types of labels, their uses and available options for each market. Simply find the customer type that you’re speaking to, create a PDF of the flyer or print it out and share!
  • Physical Sample Kit – Gone are the days of having to show your customer samples that do not pertain to them and trying to get them to use their imagination to fit them into their world. Our sample kits are designed to include stickers that speak to specific markets. As you open the kit, you can share how every label within it speaks to your customer specifically. Ideas will start flowing! How cool is that?! These kits make a wonderful tool to mail out directly to customers as well.
  • Vertical Market Deck – We all love happy endings! Our vertical market deck, made up of 18 different 5 x 7” post cards, provides you with a success story to share with your customer that is relevant to their industry. Not only that, it is also an end customer facing piece that shares various label ideas and benefits that will help spark additional conversation. How do you use this tool you ask? It’s easy! Simply pick out the card that matches the industry you’re meeting with, pair it with the branded sales flyer and physical sample kit and you have the perfect presentation combination! Keep this tool at your office, in your vehicle or even utilize the e-version that is available to share via email!

One important key to growing sales in this product line is to simply make sure your potential and existing customers are aware that you sell it! Whether you like to call them labels, stickers or decals, we’ve got you covered. Using the above tools, as well as help from your label expert team at Label Works, makes this easy. Happy Selling in 2019! We’re excited to partner with you again this year!

Label Works Receives Premier Print Award, Certificate of Merit

Label Works PIA Award

Recently, The Premier Print Awards, presented by Printing Industries of America (PIA), were announced with Label Works winning a Premier Print Award – Certificate of Merit in the Special Innovations category for our Warehouse Winery label.

Creating eye-catching labels for customers is a source of pride for Label Works. When Warehouse Winery requested a distinctive look for their labels, the Label Works team knew that full color printing using Color-Logic’s Process Metallic Color System was the perfect combination. With Label Works being one of only three certified label printers in the United States to offer Color-Logic, Warehouse Winery’s labels would truly stand out as Color-Logic label printing is extremely limited in today’s market.

Color-Logic Partner

The Color-Logic system allows printers to create up to 250 different metallic colors in a single print run along with different effects such as gradations, watermarks and dimension; when applied to labels, the system allows customers to have a unique looking label printed without the expensive costs for foils, embossing or dies for different shapes. Traditionally, printing with metallic inks or trying to create a metallic effect with two or more colors is difficult; with Color-Logic, the Label Works’ designer manipulated portions of Warehouse Winery’s design to incorporate metallic effects while allowing the rest of the label to print as a traditional full color label. During this process, Label Works created several different designs for the customer to review using a variety of the effects offered through Color-Logic so the customer could choose the appearance that most appropriately displayed their ideas.

The label was printed digitally on an HP Indigo 4500 with the Color-Logic Enhancements; the final printing included four color process plus white ink and a matte UV Varnish on silver stock.

Label Works - Wine Warehouse

Against the matte finish, the Color-Logic effects pop: the metallic red of the “No. 10”, the metallic blue for “Warehouse Winery”, the green and purple seal on the lower right side and the raven holding a cluster of grapes to the left of the “10.” With Color-Logic, Warehouse Winery could add the effect of having the bottom of the “10” appear with a metallic effect while not interfering with the wine type “Frontenac Merlot” in dark blue below it.

For more information on how Color-Logic can help create eye-catching labels for you, contact Label Works today!