Labels work harder than you think. They aren’t just stickers; they’re mission-critical tools. Whether you're a small-batch distillery, a global cleaning product brand, or an industrial supplier, chances are you’re grappling with remarkably similar labeling challenges.
At The Label Printers, we work with clients across countless industries, and one thing we’ve learned is what helps a spirits distiller could also apply to a manufacturing company. A labeling solution that works for pet food might be exactly what is needed for industrial parts.
And when you work with a label vendor that brings this type of cross-industry insight to the table, you tap into smarter solutions, faster timelines, and fewer headaches.
Shared Labeling Challenges Across Very Different Industries
Limited Inventory Space
You know what some small food producers and large manufacturing companies have in common? They often don’t have the inventory space or the budget to store bulk orders of custom labels. Instead, they rely on just-in-time delivery to ensure there's no breakdown in production or need to find storage space.
At The Label Printers, we print over 1.75 billion labels annually – many shipped directly to clients in line with their lean manufacturing and Kanban systems.
For many of these companies, bulk orders that otherwise might seem efficient can create more hassle than help. The right label vendor will work with you to streamline ordering cycles, support your inventory programs, and ensure your labels arrive precisely when needed, without overstocking or underdelivering.
But even the most robust forecasting and scheduling plans can’t account for order spikes and customer expedites. Sometimes on just-in-time isn’t “in time” enough! The Label Printers also supports those customers who can’t afford to be short of labels during peak demand. Customized, cost-effective managed inventory and distribution programs can be tailored to meet the unique needs of even the most chaotic supply demands.
Strained Resources
Everyone’s doing more with less. That might mean a distillery owner juggling production and sales, or a packaging engineer at a large manufacturer managing multiple priorities.
In both cases, label decisions often get made on the fly, leaving little time to research materials, review artwork, or correct avoidable mistakes. That’s why working with a custom label vendor who knows your business is vital to success. A partner that offers pre-vetted materials, pre-approved specs, and upfront consultation helps your team stay on track.
Regulatory and Compliance Requirements
In food, you’re juggling nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and allergen warnings – all under FDA and USDA oversight. In industrial applications, you're dealing with OSHA, ANSI, UL, and GHS compliance. Each brings its own set of requirements for language, formatting, symbols, and layout.
Missteps here don’t just delay timelines. They can result in costly fines, product recalls, or even consumer harm. In fact, undeclared allergens accounted for 35% of all U.S. food recalls in 2023, and mislabeling globally contributed to $9.6 billion in costs in 2022.
The Label Printers supports highly regulated sectors by offering spec reviews, testing documentation, and regulatory-aligned formats.
Batch Traceability and Transparency
Another similarity is the need for batch-level traceability. Brands must be able to identify, isolate, and report on product lots instantly.
Serialization supports both quality control and marketing insight. When executed strategically, variable data printing enables effective traceability without increasing costs – something TLP delivers through advanced digital printing systems.
Meanwhile, RFID smart labels are becoming standard in industrial supply chains for real-time tracking and operational transparency.
Real-World Example
👤 Client: Food & Beverage, Facilities, and Uniform Services Provider
👉 Challenge:
The company services a wide variety of industries from multiple locations around the country using the same labels. However, each location is responsible for ordering their own labels with no coordination. This was causing volume, cost, and lead timing issues across locations.
✅ Solution:
We suggested utilizing a simple blanket agreement with the company’s corporate headquarters to manufacture their annual volume of labels, allowing each location to issue release orders against that overall volume.
📊 Results:
The company’s issues were resolved by:
- Reducing lead time to shipping transit time, since the labels were produced and ready to go.
- Each location could release exactly the number of labels they needed with no fixed quantities.
- Every location benefited from a single bulk volume price.
This client realized cost savings of several hundred thousand dollars over the span of multi-year agreements.
The Hidden Advantage of Cross-Industry Experience
Borrowing Solutions That Work
Sometimes, a solution developed for spirits bottles exposed to moisture and alcohol turns out to be perfect for chemical containers. Or a durable adhesive used in industrial machinery works wonders for frozen food packaging.
With thousands of substrates, adhesives, laminates, and coatings on the market, performance-based selection is a game-changer. Your label vendor should be fluent across sectors and quick to apply proven fixes from one world to another.
You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel
Whether you’re labeling peanut butter jars, pet shampoo, or power tools, your challenges might look more alike than you think.
The best part? You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Work with a label vendor who’s seen it all, solved it all, and is ready to help you stay ahead.
Ready to simplify your labeling and unlock smarter solutions? Talk to a label expert about your needs.
Or, download our Custom Label Buying Guide to avoid labeling pitfalls and choose the right specs with confidence.
