Packaging needs to be on point in order to stand out on shelves and online.  But with so many beauty products fighting for attention, bold color choices or unique container shapes may not be enough.  Specialty labels with eye-catching finishes, tactile coatings, or a combination of both deliver the wow factor that is influencing today’s consumer purchase.

Don Earl, president of Overnight Labels says, “Every week we see more and more requests for label embellishments, which are produced using a variety of techniques with varnishes, laminations, substrates, and equipment.” Because of the converter’s expertise in this area, Overnight Labels has actually created their own proprietary textures and finishes like leather and snakeskin.

“Sometimes the packaging industry has not yet caught up to a designer’s imagination, so we like to do our own new product development,” said Earl.  It’s almost like being a chemist, experimenting with different formulas to find the perfect combination of elements.  Done well, the consumer is left with a unique sensory experience just by holding a product in their hand.”

Earl says. “Adding dimension to a label opens up an array of design options that range from strong to subtle and soft to scratchy.”

Tempted to Touch

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Brand owners know that their packaging needs to be on point in order to stand out on shelves and online.  But with so many products fighting for attention, bold color choices or unique container shapes may not be enough.  Over the last few years, specialty labels have been the break-out stars in the packaging world.  Shiny finishes, tactile coatings or a combination deliver the wow factor that is influencing today’s consumer purchase.

Seeing is believing.
Click here for a free sample kit.

Tempted to Touch

Adding a textured dimension to a label opens up an array of design options that range from strong to subtle and soft to scratchy.  Here is a breakdown of some of the most popular possibilities:

• Soft Touch is a type of coating that gives the label a velvet-like texture and enhances its look. It also serves as fingerprint-resistant barrier.
• Embossing produces a raised area very often used in the type, logo or patterned background.  This aesthetic provides a rich depth that instantly signals an expensive feel.
• Glitter Coating amps up the glam by adding glitter particles to spot UV coating. Consumers can’t help but reach out and touch when they see packaging with this eye-catching decoration.
• Pearlescent Coating is glitter coating’s more subtle counterpart. It produces a shimmering, reflective effect that feels lush to the touch.
• Spot UV Coating brings a unique element by emphasizing specific areas of the label. Using a thicker coating has a 3D effect and can be used quite effectively in the overall design.
• Sandy Finishes offer a slightly coarse feel similar to fine sandpaper and adds a small surprise to consumers when they check out the goods.

How Does It Happen?

Tactile labels are produced using a variety of techniques with varnishes, laminations, and equipment such as a UV Rotary Silk Screen unit.  Some converters like Overnight Labels have an expertise in this area and have actually created their own proprietary textures and finishes like leather and snakeskin.

tactile snakeskin effect

“Sometimes the industry has not caught up to packaging designer’s imagination, so we like to do our own new product development,” said Don Earl, president of Overnight Labels. It’s almost like being a chemist, experimenting with different formulas to find right combination of elements to produce a unique sensory experience just by holding a packaged good in your hand.”

Seeing is believing.  To receive a sample kit that includes a wide variety of finishes, including award-winning examples, click here.

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From the way we work to how we shop, Covid-19 caused seismic shifts in the beauty industry, especially in the area of packaging.  Although trends come and go, most agree that the importance of  tamper-evident labels is here to stay.

Seeing is believing.
Click here for a free sample kit.

There was already some growth in this category as states started legalizing cannabis. But now these seals are essential for consumer peace of mind.  This very functional security label was born out of the infamous 1983 incident when someone laced Tylenol bottles with cyanide resulting in seven deaths.  That event led to the development an entire category of tamper-resistant packaging including the breakable plastic rings, individual seals on over-the-counter medications and tamper-evident labels.

Regardless of the type, it is clear that tamper evident labels improve the security of any item by forming a seal that will indicate if someone has attempted to open it without permission.  They also act as an impactful visual deterrent.  Some options include:

Jar and Bag Seals: These basic pressure sensitive labels wrap around the top of your product to show that they have not been opened.  An added plus is that they provide extra space for branding.  Commonly used shapes include narrow rectangles, circles, square s, and barbells.

Perforated safety tabs: Functions as a seal by adding material, usually film, that overlaps with the lid or opening of a product. It’s attached using a perforation that rips from the main label when opened.  Cosmetic companies often use this for lip sticks, gloss, and balms.

Void Labels: Help identify a compromised item by leaving a message on both the label and the product that it is adhered to. When the label is removed from the substrate, it leaves an imprinted “void” pattern, which means it has been tampered with.

Neck Bands: Great for bottled products and are commonly used in the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and health & beauty industries.  In addition to security, these heat shrinkable seals offer several benefits such as covering the fill line, increasing the design space, and helping to keep the cap and neck ring clean and dust free.

Thinking of adding a tamper-evident label to your product?  Email samples@overnightlabels.com or click here for a sample kit.