Short run printing can be used to produce labels in one or two colors - or more. In the past, before digital graphic printing was invented, often it didn't make good sense to print short runs, and the processes used to print labels dictated cost-effective orders be printed in rather large quantities.
And by that I mean in quantities of ten thousand or more. Ordering in bulk has kept the cost of labeling stickers at a minimum price. Well, the good thing is that this is all in the past, to some degree. The invention of digital printers has made short run production much easier and cheaper - although larger quantities are still going to be less costly per sticker because production and material costs are often lower.
Modern Printing Labels - "20-Year Old" Wine Labels
Printer manufacturers, such as Hewlett-Packard and Heidelberg, came up with the innovation of the digital graphic printers later in the 20th century. The presses were able to reproduce hundreds to thousands of runs in full color at a price of prints previously made in one or two colors. Because anything can be done with a short run of labels now, one can even create an "antique" label that makes the wine look aged for 20 years!
Smaller, boutique wine and beer producers are no longer limited to using cheap one color labels, and basic print designs in order to afford bottle labeling. Sticker labels for beers and wines are produced in hundreds for a cost within a small business owner's budget. No more simple artwork this time. The graphic prints on wine and beer labels look more refined and up-to-date.
There is no assurance as to whether that small label can make - or break - a particular wine or beer sell successfully, but it could. Take for example, if you eat at a fine dining restaurant, professional chefs usually garnish meal plates to improve your meal's presentation. It is a part of their cooking "art" to make meals more enticing and mouth-watering. As I have eaten at many fine restaurants myself, I believe that refining a meal's presentation psychologically positively influences the taste of food. The same thing goes with an attractive full color wine label. It may psychologically influence the taste of any wine - for better or worse.
Finding Reasonable Bottle Label Printing Prices
It may be tough to find label printing shops in North America, or even in Canada. There are companies that can deliver good and satisfactory products, but there are only a few I have come across that actually print bottle labels. One can use Thomasnet or other websites to try to find label printers, although for the recent decade, it seems like you might find them with a Google search as well, although you may have to try some varied terms, and go 10-20 pages deep into Google to find one.
The printing presses used are basically the same, so it makes little difference as to which one you contract to do your labels. Ultimately, it may come down to who has the best customer service, and the widest variety of labeling options. So, ask lots of questions, and get to know them first.
Why would it matter which beer you drink? What difference is that $3 bottle of wine versus the $50 bottle of wine? Is grass-fed beef better than grain-fed. Does it matter who printed the wine tag on that bottle of $3 wine, or would your beer taste the same if it was printed by someone other than a really great printer? What difference does it make to drink a $4 dollar beer as compared to a $60 dollar beer? Would beef be better for cows fed with grass or those fed with grain? Would you take into consideration as to who printed the label on that $4 dollar bottle of beer? Would the taste be better if the tag was printed by a professional sticker label maker?
Well, maybe not. But, whatever product you have, marketing is very valuable. You have to make your product enticing to your target consumers. Would you rather decorate your wine bottle or meat product with cheap looking graphics, or classic full color prints? You would be better off with a printer who values consumer interest as they do in their own business.
The idea is not limited to bottle of wines or beers as this also applies to other products that require labeling. What I can suggest is for you to do a background check of any label printing company you find with the BBB, or Better Business Bureau, or consumer websites like consumeraffairs.com and the like to evaluate if the company has a good reputation. If you do this, you'll find the best and most trusted printers available.
Any online company that you want to purchase products or services with, should show up in the BBB site when you do a company check. Do note that if a company has an A rating, you might have found what you are looking for. You can go further by checking on consumer sites like mentioned above. Be patient and diligent in your search. You could save yourself from a lot of hassle if you do this.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry K. Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!
He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!
