Packaging Success Starts with Innovative Thinking

Whether you are shopping online or in an actual brick and mortar store, retail and virtual shelves are jam-packed with products. A major factor in determining the success of these products is the packaging. Packaging delivers one more brand message to consumers in the final stage before purchasing. A quality product is table stakes for repeat buying, but how much weight do you think packaging holds in that equation? More than you know. To break through the clutter of hundreds of other competing products, it pays to be different. We’re talking about being innovative and unique in order to get a product noticed. Packaging builds brands and gives a product personality. First impressions count, and even if we don’t want to be judgy, people do judge a product by what it comes in.

Grab attention
Let’s first look at ways to capture eyes in the aisles. Today there are a plethora of standard paper stocks as well as unique textures and specialty paper options in a wide range of weights to help differentiate the package. High-quality cartons that stand out with innovative printing and finishing methods while meeting product specifications and adhering to brand standards generate more attractive packaging and lucrative results.

Be recognizable
Consumers form an opinion about a brand the moment they see the packaging. Make it count. And once noticed, it’s vital that consumers can easily determine what the product is and make any brand associations that are important to them. There are both traditional offset and offset-quality digital printing methods that upgrade your branded packaging to a branded experience. Bring together quality print with premium materials for full-color impact and memorable outcomes.

Elicit emotion and action
Create awareness and excitement while showcasing elements significant to the brand and its mission. Maybe it’s quality, maybe it’s conscientiousness. Perhaps crisp folds, perfect sizing, strength or possibly flexibility makes the brand statement. It could be choosing to use certified recyclable materials, such as those endorsed by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI® (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), which are sourced from the highest available percentage of post-consumer recycled content from local mills. The power of great packaging gives a perceived image and value to the product. How it looks provides for better experiences and raises its profile.

Add a little extra
Custom finishes and coatings add pizazz and pop to retail packaging. Processes like debossing, embossing, foil stamping and spot color printing transform the appearance of products on the shelf. Finishing processes such as UV gloss coating, spot UV, soft-touch lamination, aqueous satin, and gloss coatings, intricate die-cutting, and raised UV give it a snazzy, polished look. These extras highlight design elements, elevate the tactile experience, and add dimension.

Set yourself apart
It’s not the complete package until it’s the complete package. Including related products such as labels, inserts, bottleneckers and hang tags rounds out a comprehensive, well-branded and highly visible product package solution. Tapping into the creative inspiration of organizations like the Retail Packaging Association, and working with consultative partners that bring comprehensive solutions and marketing savvy to packaging programs is your best bet.

Make design the focus of the packaging
Better packaging design sells more products. That’s the bottom line. It’s in the innovation where packaging can accomplish all of what we’ve covered here. Brand managers and package designers spend countless hours exercising their creative chops to develop the right look for their products. The packaging and unboxing presents an experience for the consumer that adds to the product’s appeal. Organizations like the Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA), dedicated to promoting the benefits of paperboard packaging, recognize the importance of certain products, and influence preference for these materials in packaging design and selection. Companies that put innovation principles to work and rethink the design of their packaging create magical moments when consumers first spot it when they pick it up and feel it — all the way through their unboxing experience.

The takeaway
Opportunities for packaging innovation can be driven by pivots in consumer behaviors, attitudes, and interests, as well as other macro trends in the marketplace. But true innovation comes from blending consumer desire and product usability with production feasibility and brand voice. Sprinkle in cool packaging options and embellishments to ultimately connect brands with consumers and create moments that matter.

Our expertise, your value-add
We’re here to walk you and your customer through the process of designing and ordering standard or custom packaging. With our innovations, our Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) membership, and our experience in diverse industries, we are an excellent resource for creative packaging solutions that meet your customers’ needs. It’s this innovation and experience that allows us to deliver The Best Packaging Experience in the industry.

Looking for inspiration? We provide finished package samples for a number of strategic markets to inspire you and your customers. Request a sample kit. The best place to start is by contacting your sales rep. If you’re not sure who your rep is, give us a call at 866.628.3290. We’re here to answer any of your questions.

Voting and Polling Place Safety in the Midst of a Pandemic

No question, voting will look different this year than in the past. Election safety needs have changed dramatically due to COVID-19. Some people are apprehensive about voting in person. Understandably, Americans are looking at all the different ways they can vote in this coming election. Voters and poll workers alike need assurances they can vote and volunteer safely. Putting voters and poll workers at ease with information and safe polling places calms fears and streamlines the voting process. This year you can expect to find more directional signage guiding the traffic flow in and out of polling places via eye-catching wall decals, floor decals, A-Frame signs, sail signs, and stencils.

Communication to voters
In the weeks leading up to the election — this year more than ever — reminding voters where, when, and how they can cast their ballot is necessary. There are many questions on the minds of a large majority of voters and direct mail is a tried-and-true way to communicate with such a mass audience. Not only do politicians rely on direct mail to sway voter opinion, election, and campaign offices trust its reliability to reach voters and encourage election participation. Contactless communication tactics get the message across from a socially distant and safe spot such as door hangers, window decals, and bumper stickers. Large format banners and sail signs announcing early voting and ballot drop off locations draw the attention of voters.

Understanding all the options
Thankfully there’s more than one way to cast a ballot this fall. Each state plays by their own rules, but most include a registration process, offer early voting, absentee ballots, in-person voting, and drop-off voting. USA.gov’s navigation-friendly site is a reliable resource for answers to common and general questions about voting in the United States. To get specific on what options each state offers, FiveThirtyEight has compiled and colorfully illustrated a frequently-updated state-by-state guide to voting in the age of COVID-19. Posters with these options in local libraries, government offices, and recreational facilities will spark higher voter turnout in the community.

Absentee and mail-in voting
The system has its 15 minutes of fame this fall is absentee voting. The terms absentee voting and mail-in voting are often used interchangeably. Absentee ballots refer to ballots that are requested and then mailed when a person can’t vote in person. Mail-in ballots refer to the ballots in the context of policies that allow people to vote by mail. However, some election officials have started using the term “mail-in ballots” or “vote by mail” as states expand absentee ballot eligibility during the pandemic to include people who aren’t actually absent from their precinct at the time of voting. At least 35 states have changed their mail-in absentee voting policies, allowing all voters to apply for an absentee ballot in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Candidates and local governments are using direct mail to get the word out on a mass scale to inform people of the options available to them.

Ballot drop-off
Some states and localities offer ballot drop box locations where voters can drop off absentee and mail-in ballots in sealed and signed envelopes. Some supervised, others unsupervised with security cameras, most have requirements for where they must be located, how many a county must-have, the hours they must be available, and specific security standards. Residents can find useful voter information for their state and region at U.S. Vote Foundation. Each drop-off voting location should be clearly marked with signs and banners giving arriving voters clear instructions throughout the process.

In-person voting
Of course, there will be those dedicated and determined voters that either enjoy the process and prefer to partake on-site, or question whether their vote will be counted if it isn’t cast in-person. For the legion of in-person voters, attracting them to and informing them at the polling place will be essential this election season.

  • Outside spaces
    Attracting passersby to polling places will require highly visible, colorful, and patriotic signage. If the polling place offers curbside ballot drop off, they’ll need to make sure voters know about it. Signs will inform, direct, and keep everyone safe.
  • Once voters arrive
    Areas will require clear indicators where lines form and where to drop off ballots. The demand for extremely noticeable elements for directing and informing will call for portable and durable outdoor signage as well as indoor signage.
  • Inside the polling place
    Safeguarding the health of all who enter the building is critical, and positioning kiosks and barriers will protect both volunteers and voters. Posting CDC guidelines for social distancing and handwashing protocol as well as offering complimentary hand sanitizer stations are a certainty this year. The use of floor decals, retractable banner stands, wall decals, and window decals will inform and direct voters of the safest manner in which to move about the space.
  • Post ballot casting
    Keeping the crowd moving, minimizing exposure, and expediting voters through their process with full knowledge of where to go will require items like A-Frame signs, directional decals, and sail signs to help voters find the exit.

COVID-19 has added new twists to an already complicated election year. Voter turnout could be abysmal given social distancing constraints and other pandemic-driven restrictions. In order to understand all the voting options and have assurance that it is safe to cast their vote this year, voters need communication, communication, and more communication. We’re dedicated to providing health and safety readiness products that support communication, inform voters, and prepare polling places leading up to and through Election Day. For election season safety product ideas, follow this link to polling place health and safety readiness products in the age of coronavirus.

Company Update: Operations are Strong

We’re committed to keeping your business going and continue to update our health and safety measures across our facilities.  As stay-at-home orders lift and reapply, as companies open and close, we know these times are excruciating. It is our commitment to keep operating, to be the least of your worries.

Resources for Distributors
Over three months ago, we assembled resources together to keep you updated on plant statuses and product ideas. Over 10,000 distributors sought out these resources.  

Recently, we just launched a new Comeback Solutions resource page on Navitor.com where we have free tools to use with customers plus hundreds of member-only tools as well. Each week we send an email update to our members with company updates and more.

Health and Safety in Manufacturing
We have a designated Incident Response Team to consistently monitor worldwide health conditions and adjust company policies accordingly. Implementing the guidelines provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we’ve rolled out sanitation measures and preventative hygiene practices in each of our facilities. 

We’re committed to serving you – here are some of the tactics we’re using to keep our facilities safe: 

  • Location-specific COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Coordinators lead rapid changes necessary to comply with CDC recommendations. These Coordinators also lead regular meetings with location leadership.
  • Each Navitor location has a customized written COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
  • Employees who can work remotely have been doing so.
  • We require cloth face coverings in all facilities across the country.
  • We also require employees to complete electronic symptom questionnaires prior to their shifts and follow through with any confirmed positive test results with self-quarantine and enhanced cleaning.
  • Implementation of enhanced cleaning/disinfection procedures according to a schedule.
  • Social distancing compliance of 6 feet or more means reworking production processes as well as installation of physical barriers where necessary.
  • All employees have been required to take COVID-19 safety training.
  • Lastly, we are sharing information transparently, timely, and in the manner that best suits our distributor partner’s needs. From websites to letters, to personal communications through our sales teams, everyone is working to ensure you’re safe and our customers can count on us to deliver to them the service and products that keep their businesses running.

The safety and well-being of our employees is critical to supporting your business growth and the promises you make to customers. Our commitment is to continue to bring you high-quality products and ideas for how to help support your community throughout the stages of this pandemic.   

14 Steps We Are Taking to Stay Safe and Keep You Going

At Navitor, we care deeply about our employees, customers, and our communities. To safeguard the health and safety of our employees to ensure you receive what you need to keep our communities safe, we wanted to share our protocols and procedures. We will continue to monitor and review guidelines and recommendations and will adjust plans as necessary. We believe our distributors have made and will continue to make a major impact on the overall health of our local communities across the nation because you have access to a wide range of ideas and solutions for restaurants, retail establishments, schools, hospitals, and more.

The following is a summary of COVID-19 Prevention Practices that we are currently following:

  1. Require all employees whose duties allow them to work remotely to do so
  2. Require the usage of cloth face coverings for all employees working in our facilities
  3. Conducting electronic symptom checks daily through an emergency texting platform housed in our corporate office.  We are following up on any “yes” answers to verify the employees are not in the facility
  4. Conducting frequent cleaning and disinfection on frequently touched surfaces using EPA listed disinfectants for COVID-19
  5. Enforcing CDC guidelines for the safe return of anybody who has developed symptoms or who has tested positive
  6. Conducting enhanced cleaning of areas used by anyone who has tested positive
  7. Conducting contact tracing for anybody who has worked within 6 feet of a person who has received a positive result in the 48 hours prior to the start of their symptoms
  8. Require employee training on cloth face-covering usage and personal symptom checks
  9. Review workplaces for proper social distancing
  10. Install distancing barriers in locations where employees cannot maintain 6 feet of spacing
  11. Restrict internal business travel
  12. Limit location visitors to critical visits only
  13. Conduct weekly update calls with a single point of contact for each location regarding proper COVID-19 procedure
  14. Conduct daily COVID-19 subgroup planning calls and daily COVID-19 Executive Reviews

Your Partner for Architectural Signage

We know that architectural signage projects are different than a regular print order due to the custom nature of the product. It can be a complex process to audit an existing building’s signage and determine what additional signage is required to meet ADA laws or reflect a company’s new brand image.

That’s why we partner with you from the first call to the install.

Working for You
As with any big project, budget and on-time completion are at the forefront of our discussions. Our experts will collaborate with you to present different options at various price ranges. Starting with a site audit, our team will assess the current situation and help create the future vision. Following the completion of the job, we provide a signage report that can be used for reorders.

Inspiring Creativity | Transforming Spaces
A blank piece of paper can create anxiety for a client. We have tools available to spark creativity and aid in the design process. Our Architectural Signage & Visual Graphics Solutions catalog offers:

  • Over 50 pages of inspiration
  • Before and after photos showing the transformation that occurs when adding vibrant signage to different environments
  • An overview of our project management process – including details about the initial inquiry, assessment, proposal, production, installation, and completion of the job

Whether it’s temporary or permanent, architectural signage is critical to establishing a company’s brand. From a practical restroom sign to a feature wall recognizing donors, your options are limitless.

Tap into Our Expertise
We’re here to walk you and your customer through the process of ordering architectural signage. With years of experience in diverse industries, there is an excellent chance we’ve worked on a project similar to what your customer needs. It’s this experience that allows us to partner with you to bring a creative signage solution to your customer.

The best place to start is by contacting your sales rep. If you’re not sure who your rep is, give us a call at 866-628-3290. We’re here to answer any of your questions!

Weather the Elements with Outdoor Labels

The sun is shining, the temps are starting to rise and it’s time to head outside! Ok, that’s not exactly the case here in Minnesota but a dreary snow-filled day is no match for outdoor labels.

Luckily, Label Works has top quality options to meet all your outdoor label needs. We offer 1 to Process color printing on 8 standard outdoor stocks, including a removable stock option – perfect for labels that are not intended to take permanent residence on a surface. Plus, we also offer our new, reflective stock. This stock bounces the light back to the source, creating high-visibility in low-light, dark or poor weather conditions.

A free, gloss lamination is provided to our outdoor labels to protect them against moisture, scratching and outside elements while adding an extra sheen to enhance your label design. Looking for the added protection, but not a fan of high-gloss? We have just the thing! Our matte lamination provides the same great barrier against the elements…plus, it’s the perfect choice for labels that need to be written on.

Yet another option for protecting outdoor labels from fading and cracking is our sunscreen lamination. It protects labels by combating UV rays and may extend the fade resistance of some inks. It might not smell of coconut, but it sure works wonders to ward off those pesky and abusive sunrays!

But don’t let the name deceive you…these labels are great for indoor items that just need a little extra protection. Think freezer labels, shampoo labels and any other label that may need a shield from the elements.

How can we meet your outdoor label needs? Click here to get started or contact us at 1-800-522-3558 or customercare@labelworks.com to chat about all we have to offer for outdoor labels and more!

Custom Letterhead and Envelopes: A Perfect Pair

When consumers go out to their mailbox, what they see can make a big difference in whether their mail gets opened. Polished, branded envelopes and letterhead are an essential way to add your customer’s brand to every mailing.

Why Coordinate?
The first reason your customers probably think of for buying letterhead and envelopes together is to create a complete stationery suite, and that’s a great place to start. Stationery envelopes are meant to coordinate with your customer’s letterhead order, which means that they can easily match the stock and print to create a stationery look with the utmost professionalism.

And coordinating stationery pieces does create a more professional look. It will make your customer’s messaging look put-together, and that can help consumers see your customer as more professional.

Beyond Stationery
Envelopes aren’t just the finishing touch for your customer’s stationery suite, though. They can also bring your customer’s brand to every mailing they send out. Stationery envelopes are just one part of a complete coordinated print set for your customer’s business, and bringing it all together can help them look as professional as possible to consumers.

Business envelopes printed with your customer’s logo are a great way to bring their brand to everyday mailings like invoices and account statements even before the envelope is opened. Even better, consumers will know exactly who sent their mail, so they’ll know at a glance who the mailing is from. This makes invoices and account statements more noticeable.

And if your customer has a larger mailing to send out, envelopes can bring their brand to catalogs, large booklets, paperwork packets, and more. Not only are these pieces branded, but they can also help protect these larger pieces better than sending them as a self-mailer will.

Which are your customers’ favorite envelopes? Leave us a comment below to tell us more about how your customers use envelopes in their business.

The Business of Badges: How You and Your Customers Can Both Benefit

Almost every industry uses ID badges. You see them on bank tellers, store clerks hotel staff and bartenders. Flight attendants, nurses, and even realtors commonly wear name badges.

Badges provide an opportunity to reinforce a company’s brand while also lending a sense of professionalism. Knowing someone’s name also gives customers a sense of familiarity. And badges encourage employees to go the extra mile, knowing customers might mention them by name.

We offer an extensive selection of name badges to suit any industry.

New Offerings for 2020
Our badge line now includes two new options:

  • Full color printing on alder wood for a natural, aesthetic
  • Sublimation printing on silver or white aluminum for a more industrial feel

Reusable Name Badges
High turnover industries like retail and hospitality particularly appreciate our reusable badges. The ability to use the badges for different employees reduces costs and waste.
Our three reusable name badge options include a full color imprint with different functions:

  • Chalkboard (used with chalk or chalk marker),
  • Plastic (used with a dry erase marker)
  • Window-badge (used with customer-supplied printed name)

Engraved Name Badges
Engraved badges offer supreme durability. Choose from plastic, metal (Flexibrass), or wood. Engraving is permanent and long lasting.

Full Color Print & Sublimation Name Badges
These specialized printing processes can be used with plastic, wood, metal or acrylic for a polished appearance. These badges are ideal for customers with intricate or colorful logos.

Photo ID Badges
Custom ID badges are beneficial to workplaces where additional security is needed. They help distinguish between employees and non-employees.

Name badges are a useful tool for all types of businesses. And any time is a good time to promote them. Badges are a great way for businesses to accentuate their brand and make employees more approachable to customers. Let us know what kind of badges you use in the comments below!

Boost Sales with Folders

Presentation folders are a great marketing tool for your customers. And they are an ideal sales opportunity for you because they are as practical as they are versatile. Let’s look at the top three reasons to offer these popular products to your customers:

1. Flexible customization options: Whether your customer wants the impact of full color or the precision of spot color print, folders can be customized to perfectly suit any company’s brand.

2. High-profit potential: With an average retail order value of $800, presentation folders can greatly increase your sales.

3. Opportunities across multiple markets: Folders are used by virtually every business that has an office. But here are the leading vertical markets you should consider targeting:

  • Education & Academics
  • Automotive
  • Construction & Contractors
  • Finance & Banking
  • Government
  • Healthcare & Medical

Do you have prospects in these markets? Tell them about our extensive product offering – including standard folders, expandable folders, legal folders, mini folders and more. Of course, these aren’t the only groups looking for personalized folders. Every customer could potentially be a prospect!
Check out our folders today!

And don’t forget about our other complementary print products like certificate holders, table tents and card carriers. These are also strong sales opportunities to tie in with your next customer order.

Did we miss a vertical market where you’ve had success selling folders? We’d love to continue the conversation with you in the comments below.

New Year, New Business Cards: Help Customers Make Meaningful Connections in 2020

The start of a new year brings new opportunities. It’s the perfect time to make changes – and one change your customers should consider is upgrading their business cards. A unique business card reflecting a company’s personality can really stand out in a stack of generic cards.

In fact, according to Entrepreneur, business cards continue to provide a vital way to distinguish brands from competitors. In face-to-face meetings, business cards are often the first time clients are exposed to a brand. And if someone passes on a card to a colleague, it’s likely the only information he or she has about the company.

So business cards need to make a powerful first impression.

We offer a wide range of solutions that can be customized to reflect any company’s distinctive brand. For example:

  • Corporate customers with high-end services or products: Consider elegant cards with a thick paper stock and raised printing. Our Raised Foil Business Cards are available with a variety of foil colors options, and the shimmering effect can serve either as a stylish accent or the centerpiece of the design.
  • Fashionable, trendy businesses: Offer business cards with a distinguishing colored core that grab attention. Plus, our Crystal White Glitter Color Core Business Cards have a sparkly finish, and at a 45 pt. thickness they are sure to stand out.
  • Customers in creative fields: Propose an eye-catching shape – such as a circle or oval – to differentiate your customer’s company. We offer Shaped Full Color Business Cards in six silhouettes. There’s no rule that says you have to stick to rectangles!
  • Edgy companies promoting innovation: Recommend raised spot gloss. This specialized printing process really packs a punch whether it’s used to emphasize important elements or used as a design element on its own. Our Raised Spot Gloss Business Cards bring designs to new heights.

A professional and creative business card leaves a lasting impression. To quote the author of the Entrepreneur article, “The physical exchange and engagement creates a connection that can’t be recreated by LinkedIn or your website.” You can help your customers reach their customers – and their 2020 business goals – with our new modern offerings.

What business cards have caught your customers’ eyes recently? We’d love to hear more in the comments below.