tackling trouble areas Increasing Brand Awareness With In-house Label Printing From private labeling to complying with chemical safety regulations, the ability to print custom labels on demand can save time, money and frustration. By: Peter Chalmers J Just like businesses in virtually every sector, cleaning and maintenance providers are looking for new ways to save money and stretch tight budgets even further. Some have joined the private label trend, using cleaning products that are manufac-tured by a third-party and marketed under their own brand. Others are making cleaning supplies last longer by purchasing solutions in bulk or concentrated form, rebottling the products and applying custom labels. Private label production is a great way to cultivate brand loyalty, and bulk and con-centrate purchases are an excellent method companies can use to ensure their supplies last longer. But, in both cases, it’s important for an operation to make sure their supplies are properly labeled. In an industry in which harsh solvents and other potentially toxic chemicals are com-monly used, you can improve the safety of your workers, customers or building occu-pants by applying accurate labels to bottled products. Managers of cleaning departments and building service contractors can help workers easily identify products, including harsh chemicals, and organize information through in-house labeling. Labeling For Concentrates Service companies that rebottle concen-trated cleaners and solvents for use at each client’s site are under increasing pressure to make sure the bottles are labeled properly. For larger operations, these require-ments can quickly outstrip the capabilities of in-house printers designed for gen-eral office use, particularly considering the need to print labels with inks and materials capable of withstanding heavy use and spilled chemicals. Some companies turn to printing ser-vice bureaus to commission labels, but the cost of a small run — one hundred or fewer labels, rather than the thousands often ordered by larger operations — is often prohibitive. An in-house printer that can handle the types of inks and materials needed to accu-rately label cleaning solution bottles is the ideal solution for many. Moreover, a printer with full-color font and graphic printing capabilities can improve your company’s brand image. Marketing Private Label Solutions The right in-house label printer can also benefit cleaning solution manufacturers looking to resell their products on a white label basis. Many companies use proprietary clean-ers, which are often formulated by a third-party for their exclusive use. Branding is an important component of private labeling, but you need the proper 36 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • May 2013 Image courtesy of Primera Technology Inc.
CMM – Archives May 2013: 36
