While it’s easy to think of packaging as being a simple process, there are many factors you should consider while designing your product packages. The design needs to be eye-catching and professional looking. However, you also need to consider the package’s size, weight, and shape.
If you’re not careful with these details, it can be easy for your smaller business to miss out on opportunities that could otherwise benefit both consumers and owners. For example, according to Statista, in 2020, more than 94 million hardcopy peripherals or computer printers were sold globally.
Here are some things to consider when creating your product packages:
How Many Labels Do You Want to Print Daily?
The first thing to consider is how many labels you need to print daily. If your company prints many labels, like 1,000 or more per day, you’ll want a large print head on the printer. The advantage of having a larger print head is that it can handle larger label sizes.
However, if your printing needs are low, or if the majority of your orders have small labels, then it may be unnecessary for you to invest in expensive equipment. In this case, investing in a small desktop label maker may be needed for efficient label printing at home.
Do You Need a Vinyl Cutter for Any Other Purposes in Your Business?
If you are interested in creating stickers, banners, decals, or other custom products for your business, you should consider investing in a vinyl cutter. A vinyl cutter allows you to cut any design out of a piece of vinyl. Then, use this piece as a sticker or place it over an existing product. Vinyl cutters can be used for many things, such as creating custom product labels and promotional banners.
As per Mordor Intelligence, in the US, the printed signage or promotional banner market was valued at approximately $10.5 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 0.4% in the coming years.
You can even use a vinyl cutter to make custom decals for your vehicle or the windows of your office building. You can purchase these machines in many different sizes and with many features. Some are designed specifically for small businesses, while others are better suited for large companies that need to produce multiple products each day.
How Often Do You Want to Replace Parts?
Printers are made up of many components, and each one has a different lifespan. Some parts have shorter lifespans than others if used frequently or under heavy stress. For example, the average life expectancy of a printer’s printhead is only about two years before it needs replacing, in contrast with your laser printer’s toner cartridge, which usually lasts 3-5 years, depending on use and model.
Several costs are involved when purchasing replacement parts, such as labor costs for removing old equipment and installing new ones. In addition, you must not forget the shipping fees for ordering replacement parts from the manufacturer and returning defective ones to them.
Do You Want Your Product Labels to Be Laminated?
This question is necessary to ask because lamination makes your labels more durable. If you plan on putting your labels on products used in the kitchen or bathroom, you should consider having them laminated. That way, they can withstand water or other substances without being damaged.
The global market size for laminated labels is expected to reach approximately $100 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of around 4%, as forecasted by Market Research Future. If you want to make sure your labels are strong enough for long-term use, then lamination is essential.
Lamination also improves the appearance of your product packaging by adding a layer of gloss. It gives it a professional look and helps it stand out from other products in retail stores.
How Quickly Do You Want Your Packages Printed?
The above question is crucial and will affect the type of printer you purchase. For example, a lower-speed printer with a smaller print resolution may do the trick if you’re printing in small batches.
However, if you plan on printing large quantities at one time, getting a high-speed printer with a larger print resolution and fast drying times is best. It will save money on ink and toner cartridges in the long run and save time when getting these products out into stores faster than ever before.
What is the Maximum Speed of Your Color Label Printer?
When printing product packages in an SMB, speed is an important consideration. The maximum speed of your printer will depend on the size of your labels. If you are printing small labels, it will be slower than large ones.
A typical maximum speed for a color label printer is around 30 inches per second (IPS). It means that if you have a 4 x 6-inch label and use paper at 100# gloss or 40# matte, it can print up to 60 labels per minute (lpm). However, if you use 80# gloss or 70# matte, the maximum number of lpm decreases to 55 lpm and 50 lpm.
The maximum speed of a label printer is also dependent on the type of material you are using. For example, if you are printing on vinyl or adhesive-backed labels, it will be slower than when printing paper labels. It is because vinyl and adhesive-backed labels tend to slide around in the printer as they are being printed.
What Kind of Resolution Should Your Color Label Printer Have?
The resolution of a printer is measured in dots per inch (dpi). A higher number means that there are more dots and, thus, more detail, but it also means that the printer will be slower. You can get away with a lower resolution and still have great results for most applications.
The resolution of your label depends on two things, the print head on your label printer and the paper you are printing on. The higher quality of these components, the clearer your labels will appear.
If you are printing onto paper with a high thread count, such as 100% cotton, you will get better results than printing on standard office paper.
Make Sure the Printer You Choose, Meets Your Needs
To ensure your printer is the right fit, think about how many labels you’ll print daily. A high-end printer might be overkill if you’re a small business and only do one or two runs a week.
If you’re buying a printer, you’ll want to consider how much it costs per page. You’ll also want to think about how long each cartridge will last, so you know when it will need to be replaced. If these features are crucial to you, ensure that that printer has them.
Choosing a printer can be a bit of a challenge. Therefore, it’s necessary to think about what you want your printer to do and how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping.