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What Is a Co-Packer and How Do You Find the Right One?

⚞ The Highlights:

A co-packer (short for contract packager) packages your product for retail so you can focus on making it. Some co-packers also manufacture the product for you, which makes them a contract manufacturer.
The right co-packer depends on your product type, your volume, the certifications your category requires, and how much of the process you want to hand off.
Vet candidates on capacity, quality certifications (SQF, BRC, GMP), relevant experience, minimum orders, and lead times. Then start with a small trial run before you commit.
Expect per-unit or per-case pricing plus setup fees and minimum order quantities. Get all of it in writing up front so the quote is the number you actually pay.
One detail brands miss: your co-packer’s labeling line has specific requirements for how your labels are made and rolled. Getting the label spec right is the difference between a smooth run and a jammed line.

A co-packer, short for contract packager, is a company that packages your product for retail so you don’t have to. You hand off the filling, labeling, assembly, and packing, and you get back finished product that’s ready for the shelf. The term is often used interchangeably with contract packager, and when a co-packer also makes the product for you, people call it a contract manufacturer or co-manufacturer.

For a growing brand, a co-packer is usually the answer to a simple problem: demand has outrun what you can package by hand. We work with dozens of co-packers to print the labels that go on their lines, so we see both sides of this relationship every week. Below is what a co-packer does, how to find one that fits your product, what to expect on cost, and a label detail that trips up more brands than it should.

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer is a third-party company that packages your product to your exact specifications. That can mean filling bottles, applying labels, assembling multipacks, or boxing finished goods for distribution. The core idea is that you own the product and the brand, and the co-packer owns the equipment, the labor, and the packaging know-how to get it retail-ready at volume.

What does a co-packer actually do?

Most co-packers handle some or all of these jobs:

Filling. Putting your product into its container, whether that’s liquid into bottles and cans, powder into pouches, or dry goods into jars.
Labeling. Applying labels, shrink sleeves, or other decoration to the container on automated lines.
Assembly and kitting. Building variety packs, gift sets, subscription boxes, or promotional bundles.
Case packing. Boxing finished units and palletizing them for shipping to retailers or distributors.
Sourcing. Some co-packers buy your packaging materials for you, from containers to closures to labels.

The scope varies a lot from one co-packer to the next. Some only handle the packing step after your product is made. Others run the whole process from raw ingredients to a palletized finished product, which is sometimes called a turnkey or full-service operation.

Co-packer vs. contract manufacturer vs. private label

These three terms get mixed up constantly, and the difference comes down to who makes the product and who owns the recipe. Here’s a quick way to keep them straight.

	Co-Packer (Contract Packager)	Contract Manufacturer (Co-Man)	Private Label
What they do	Package a product you already made	Make and package your product to your formula	Make their own product for you to brand
Who owns the recipe	You do	You do	The manufacturer does
Best for	Brands that make the product but can’t package at scale	Brands with a recipe but no production capacity	Brands that want a ready-made product fast
Typical scope	Filling, labeling, assembly, case packing	Production plus packaging (turnkey)	Their recipe, your label

In practice, the lines blur. A single company may offer all three, and a full-service co-packer often does light manufacturing too. The label you put on the product is yours in every case, which is where we usually enter the picture.

What kinds of products use co-packers?

Co-packers work across food, beverage, supplements, personal care, household goods, pet products, and more. Any brand that sells a physical product in volume is a candidate. Think of a hot sauce maker filling and labeling bottles, a kombucha brand canning at scale, a supplement company filling capsule bottles, or a coffee roaster bagging and sealing. Once hand-packing stops keeping up, a co-packer takes over.

Why work with a co-packer?

Most brands bring in a co-packer for one reason: it frees you to focus on the product and the brand. Someone with the right equipment handles the packaging at a speed and scale you can’t match by hand. That trade has real benefits, and a few honest trade-offs worth knowing before you sign anything.

What are the benefits of using a co-packer?

Lower cost at volume. Co-packers buy materials in bulk and run efficient lines, so per-unit packaging cost usually drops compared to doing it yourself.
Speed and capacity. An automated line packs in an hour what a small team packs in a day, which matters when you’re chasing a retail launch or a seasonal window.
Room to scale. You can add SKUs or grow volume without buying equipment, leasing space, or hiring a packaging crew.
Compliance help. Experienced co-packers know the food-safety and labeling rules for your category and build them into the process.
Fewer headaches. Sourcing, quality checks, and logistics move off your plate and onto a partner who does this all day.

What are the trade-offs to know going in?

A co-packer is a partner, not a magic button. Handing off packaging means handing off some control, so go in with eyes open:

Minimum order quantities. Many co-packers set minimums that can feel steep for an early brand. Ask early so there are no surprises.
Less hands-on control. You’re trusting someone else with quality and timing, which makes clear specs and good communication essential.
Lead times. Your product now sits in someone else’s production schedule. Plan releases around their calendar, not just yours.
Setup and change costs. New projects and design changes can carry setup fees. Worth knowing before you iterate on packaging.

Worth knowing: The most common co-packer complaint we hear from brands isn’t price. It’s surprises, like a minimum they didn’t expect or a label that jammed the line on day one. Almost all of it is avoidable with clear specs and a trial run before the full production commitment.

Do you need a co-packer, or a contract manufacturer?

Ask one question: do you already make the product? If you make it and just need help packaging at scale, you want a co-packer. If you have a recipe but no way to produce it, you want a contract manufacturer (co-man) that handles both making and packing. Plenty of brands start with a co-man for production, then keep the same partner for packaging, which is why the roles overlap so often.

Working with a co-packer and need labels that run clean on their line?

We print labels for dozens of co-packers and can match your labels to their applicator specs, so your run doesn’t stall on day one.

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How to find the right co-packer

Finding a co-packer takes a mix of directory research, industry networking, and old-fashioned reference-checking. Most co-packers do very little marketing of their own, so the good ones can be surprisingly hard to surface with a plain Google search. Here’s where to look and how to sort the fit from the rest.

Where do you find a co-packer?

Industry directories and associations. The Contract Packaging Association keeps a member directory and a request-for-quote tool. Thomasnet lists thousands of co-packing and contract-packaging suppliers you can filter by location and certification.
Matching platforms. Services like PartnerSlate connect brands with co-packers and co-manufacturers by product type and requirements.
Category-specific resources. Beverage brands often start with BevNET’s co-packing listings; specialty food brands use specialty-food co-packer directories.
Trade shows. Events like PACK EXPO and ProPak put a lot of co-packers in one room, which is one of the fastest ways to compare capabilities in person.
Word of mouth. Your peers are the best filter. Ask other founders in your category who they use and, just as usefully, who they’ve left.

What should you look for when vetting a co-packer?

Once you have a shortlist, weigh each candidate against the things that predict a good run:

Capacity. Can they scale with you without dropping quality? A facility tour tells you a lot about how they handle peak season.
Quality assurance. Look for documented quality-control processes and real certifications, not just a claim on the website.
Relevant experience. A co-packer that already runs products like yours will hit fewer surprises. Beverage, food, and supplement lines each have their own quirks.
Flexibility. Understand their lead times, minimums, and how they handle a rush or a last-minute change.
Communication. You want a partner who answers the phone and flags problems early. This is the single biggest driver of whether the relationship lasts.

Which certifications matter?

The certifications you need depend on your category, but these are the ones that come up most often:

SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000. Globally recognized food-safety standards. Retailers frequently require one before they’ll stock a product.
GMP and HACCP. Good Manufacturing Practices and hazard-analysis systems that show a co-packer runs a clean, disciplined operation.
FDA facility registration. Required for food and beverage co-packers in the U.S., and a quick thing to verify in the FDA database.
Organic, Non-GMO, or kosher. Product-specific certifications you’ll need if those claims appear on your label.

Quick note: If a claim like “organic” or “non-GMO” is going on your label, your co-packer needs the matching certification to back it up. A label claim your packing facility can’t support is a compliance problem waiting to happen.

What questions should you ask before you commit?

Before you sign, get clear answers on the things that turn into disputes later:

What’s your minimum order quantity, and can it be split across SKUs?
What’s your typical lead time from approved artwork to finished product?
Do you source packaging and labels, or do I supply them?
What are your setup fees, and what triggers a new one?
Can I visit the facility and see a run in progress?
Can you share references from brands in my category?

How much does a co-packer cost?

There’s no single price for co-packing. Most co-packers charge per unit or per case, and some charge by production weight or volume, with setup fees for new projects on top. The variables that move your number are run size (bigger runs lower the per-unit cost), product complexity, packaging format, and how much sourcing you hand off. Get a detailed, itemized quote up front so you can compare partners on total landed cost, not just the headline rate.

Why should you start with a trial run?

A trial run is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Before you commit to a long-term agreement or a large volume, run a small batch. It tests their quality control, their communication, and whether your packaging runs cleanly on their equipment. A trial run is also where label problems show up while they’re still cheap to fix, which is where the label handoff comes in.

The label handoff most brands overlook

Here’s the detail that causes more day-one delays than almost anything else: your labels have to be built for your co-packer’s specific labeling line, not just for the container. A label that looks perfect as a proof can still jam an automated applicator if the roll is wound the wrong way or the core is the wrong size. Because we print labels for dozens of co-packers, we see this happen, and it’s almost always preventable.

Who supplies the labels, you or the co-packer?

It goes both ways. Some co-packers source and print labels for you as part of the job. Many others ask you to supply your own labels to their spec, which gives you control over quality and finish but puts the responsibility on you to get the roll format right. Confirm which arrangement you’re in before your first run, because “we assumed you were handling it” is a bad thing to discover on packing day.

What label specs does your co-packer need?

If you’re supplying labels, your co-packer’s line will have requirements for how those labels are manufactured and rolled. The ones that matter most:

Unwind direction. Automated applicators need labels wound a specific way (which edge leads, and whether the label faces in or out). Get this wrong and the labels feed upside down or backward.
Core size. The cardboard core the label roll is wound on has to fit their equipment, commonly a 3-inch core, but confirm it.
Roll diameter. Every applicator has a maximum roll size it can hold. Too big and the roll won’t fit the machine.
Label material and adhesive. The material has to suit both the container and the application speed. A label that peels or curls on a fast line will cost you the whole run.
Labels per roll and gap. The spacing between labels and the count per roll affect how the line feeds and how often it has to stop for changeovers.

The fix is easy: ask your co-packer for their labeling-line spec sheet before you order labels, and hand it straight to your label printer. If you’d like a primer on one of these, our guide to determining your label unwind position walks through the most common source of confusion.

How do you avoid line jams and delays?

Coordinate the three parties early: you, your co-packer, and your label printer. Share the co-packer’s applicator specs with your printer before the labels are made, run a small proof through the actual line if you can, and confirm barcode placement and scan-readability on the finished container. A little coordination up front is far cheaper than a stopped line and a missed retail date.

Making the partnership work

Finding a co-packer is the start. The brands that get the most out of the relationship treat it like a long-term partnership, not a transaction.

How do you transition packaging to a co-packer?

Plan ahead. Talk through timelines, expectations, and likely obstacles before anything moves.
Manage inventory. Coordinate existing stock so you don’t run out during the switch or get stuck with waste.
Start with a pilot. Run initial batches to catch process adjustments before you scale.
Document everything. Materials, artwork files, label specs, and assembly instructions all go in writing, backed by a formal co-packing agreement.

How do you keep the relationship healthy?

Communicate regularly. Routine check-ins catch small issues before they become reprints or delays.
Review performance. Look at what’s working and what isn’t on a set cadence.
Revisit terms as you grow. Volume and SKU counts change. Your agreement should keep up.
Keep the feedback two-way. The best co-packers will tell you how to make your product run better, and the best brands listen.

Next steps

If you’re getting ready to bring on a co-packer, three things will make your search smoother: get specific about the challenge you’re solving, write down your non-negotiables (certifications, minimums, timelines), and line up your packaging and labels early so nothing stalls on the first run.

And if labels are part of that picture, that’s where we come in. We print labels for brands and for the co-packers who apply them, so we can help you get the material, finish, and roll format right the first time. Take a look at our six questions to ask a digital label printer, or get in touch and we’ll help you sort out the label side of your co-packing setup.

Frequently asked questions

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer, short for contract packager, is a third-party company that packages your product for retail to your exact specifications. That can include filling containers, applying labels, assembling multipacks, and case-packing for distribution. You own the product and the brand; the co-packer provides the equipment, labor, and packaging expertise to get it retail-ready at volume. When a co-packer also makes the product for you, it’s usually called a contract manufacturer or co-manufacturer.

What is the difference between a co-packer and a contract manufacturer?

A co-packer packages a product you have already made. A contract manufacturer (co-man) both makes and packages your product to your formula. In both cases you own the recipe and the brand. Many brands use a contract manufacturer for production and keep the same partner for packaging, which is why the two terms often overlap.

How do you find a co-packer?

Start with industry directories and associations such as the Contract Packaging Association member directory and Thomasnet, use matching platforms like PartnerSlate, check category-specific resources such as BevNET’s co-packing listings for beverages, meet co-packers at trade shows like PACK EXPO, and ask peers in your category who they use. Because most co-packers do little marketing, referrals and directories often surface better options than a plain search.

How much does a co-packer cost?

Co-packers typically charge per unit or per case, sometimes by production weight or volume, with setup fees for new projects. Your cost depends on run size, product complexity, packaging format, and how much sourcing you hand off. Larger runs lower the per-unit cost. Ask for a detailed, itemized quote up front so you can compare partners on total landed cost rather than the headline rate.

What certifications should a co-packer have?

It depends on your category. Food and beverage brands should look for a recognized food-safety certification such as SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000, plus GMP and HACCP practices and FDA facility registration in the U.S. If your label makes claims like organic, non-GMO, or kosher, your co-packer needs the matching certification to support them.

Do co-packers supply the labels or do I?

It varies. Some co-packers source and print your labels as part of the job, while many ask you to supply your own labels to their specification. If you supply them, your labels must match the co-packer’s labeling-line requirements, including unwind direction, core size, roll diameter, and a material suited to the container and line speed. Confirm the arrangement and get the applicator spec sheet before you order labels.

Why do my labels have to match my co-packer’s line?

Automated labeling equipment has fixed requirements for how a label roll is wound and sized. If the unwind direction, core size, or roll diameter is wrong, labels can feed upside down, jam the applicator, or not fit the machine at all. A label that looks perfect as a proof can still stop a production line, so match the roll format to the co-packer’s spec before the run.

Should I start with a trial run before committing to a co-packer?

Yes. A small trial run tests the co-packer’s quality control, communication, and whether your packaging and labels actually run well on their equipment, all before you commit to a large volume or a long-term agreement. It’s also where label and application issues surface while they’re still inexpensive to fix.

Ready to get your labels co-packer-ready?

If you’re lining up a co-packer, we can make sure the label side goes smoothly. We print for brands and for the co-packers who apply their labels, so we know what a clean run looks like. Request a sample pack to see and feel the materials, or get in touch and we’ll help you match your labels to your co-packer’s line.

Want to get the label details right before your first run? A few of our other guides:

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How To Prevent Labels from Peeling in the Refrigerator

No brand wants a great looking product only for the label to peel off in the customers’ fridge. Fortunately, with the right materials, adhesives, and preparation, you can keep your product’s labels firmly in place even in chilled environments.

Why Labels Peel in Refrigerated Conditions

Let’s start with the usual suspects behind label peeling in the cold. The culprits usually include:

Moisture and condensation
Improper adhesive or material selection
Poor surface preparation
Temperature fluctuations

Below we take a closer look at how each of these factors can cause problems, and how to make the right decisions to avoid issues down the line.

Choose the Right Label Material

Your label material makes a huge difference in refrigeration performance. Consider these materials:

Welded Paper Stock: Combines the tactile appeal of paper with a BOPP film core for moisture protection and excellent opacity. These labels resist degrading in ice bucket immersion and condensation while still allowing for embellishments like embossing, foil, or die cuts. Welded paper stock is ideal when you want a premium look that also performs under chilled conditions.
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) and MDO (Polypropylene): Durable, moisture-resistant, and ideal for beverages, dairy, sauces and more.
Polyester (PET): Strong and moisture-resistant, commonly used for refrigerated medicines and supplements, specialty foods, and more.
Vinyl (PVC): Flexible and sticks better to curved surfaces like squeeze bottles (MDO works great for curved surfaces and squeeze bottles as well).

For most plastic or glass containers, we recommend using water-resistant films or welded paper stocks, which give you the durability to withstand chilled environments and moisture.

Select Adhesives That Stick

Most standard adhesives struggle in cold, damp environments where moisture and condensation interfere with adhesion. Instead, consider freezer-grade options:

Acrylic Adhesives: Excellent moisture resistance and long-term adhesion.
Freezer-Grade: Immediate strong adhesion at lower temperatures.

Prep Your Surfaces Properly

We’ve seen it plenty of times: labels that just won’t stick because the container wasn’t clean or dry. Here’s how to avoid that:

Always clean and dry your containers before applying labels.
Apply labels at room temperature whenever possible. Cold surfaces mean weaker initial bonds.
Allow enough dwell time (ideally 24 hours) before refrigerating to make sure your adhesive fully sets.

Add Extra Protection with Finishing

A protective layer goes a long way toward preventing peeling, smudging, or abrasion:

Lamination: Adds a water-resistant barrier and increases durability.
UV Coating: Protects against moisture and keeps labels looking vibrant.

While finishes like lamination and UV coating can add a small cost, they often prevent smudging or damage that could otherwise make your product look worn before it even reaches the shelf.

Test Before You Scale

It can be important to test your labels in real-world refrigerated conditions, especially before committing to a large full run. This helps you feel confident that they’ll perform the way you need them to. Here’s how (don’t worry, we can help with this):

Conduct freeze-thaw cycles and check for peeling.
Simulate actual handling and transport conditions.
Evaluate adhesion after at least 24 hours in your target refrigerated environment.

Quick Checklist to Avoid Label Peeling

Choose the right material. We recommend EverOpaque, BOPP, PET, vinyl, or wet-strength paper.
Select acrylic or freezer grade adhesives that will perform at the correct temperature.
Clean and dry all containers before application.
Apply labels at room temperature.
Allow 24-hour dwell time before refrigerating.
Consider protective finishing like lamination or UV coating.
Always test labels thoroughly in real conditions.

Prevent Your Label from Peeling in Refrigerated Environments

Label peeling in cold storage doesn’t have to be a problem. With the right materials, adhesives, preparation, and testing, your labels can withstand even the chilliest conditions. Not sure where to start? Contact us and we’ll help you select labels that stick, no matter the temperature.

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Allow Us to Reintroduce Ourselves

At Blue Label, we’re subscribers to the idea of continuous improvement. This means we constantly strive to do a little bit better. Whether it’s updating a method to clean a printing press that prevents a breakdown, finding a new adhesive that is more reliable, or improving artwork software to catch more potential errors, we are always striving to improve.

That same principle applies to our name itself. Over the past few years, we have continued to work on what we do best: high quality labels and packaging with fast turnarounds. While doing this, we added new product lines. A few years ago, we started offering hang tags and keg collars. In 2019, we began producing shrink sleeves with the same high quality and quick turns our customers expect from us. All this to say, we are constantly evolving to better meet the demands of the people we serve.

With the evolution of our processes and product offerings, we felt our name needed to evolve too. From here on out, we are changing our name to Blue Label Packaging Company. We specialize in printing high quality packaging and labels with industry best turnarounds times, and that’s what we’ll always do. Blue Label will continue to focus on the customer service and the constant improvement that is the heart of our company.

A breakdown of the main aspects of Blue Label's new branding.

If you are taking the time to read this, I’d like to thank you for supporting Blue Label. This company has seen a lot of success over the past few years, and that success has made a lot of people’s (and quite a few dogs’ and cats’) lives better. We are very thankful for the opportunity to serve our customers and hopefully working with us has made your life a little easier.

So, allow us to introduce our new name: Blue Label Packaging Company. Just like the Blue Label you’ve always known, but slightly better.

Thanks for everything,
Andrew

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How to Taper a Label for Your Products

Are you wondering how to put a label on a curved surface and how to apply them straight? Designing for a flat surface is pretty straightforward. A straight edge will still be straight, a square will still be a square, etc. Curved or inclined surfaces are more difficult. Depending on the shape of your container, especially if it’s tapered, this can be trickier than you expect.

A container is tapered when it isn’t perfectly cylindrical and gradually changes in width. An easy way to tell if your container is tapered is to compare it to something that’s completely flat or straight, whether it’s something like a rectangular box or a ruler. If you stand both items next to each other and the side of your container isn’t flush against something flat, it has some degree of tapering to it. Candle tumblers, cosmetic jars, and some hot sauce bottles are common examples of tapered containers.

Why Can’t You Use Rectangular Labels on Tapered Containers?

Tapered labels can create some problems for even the most basic of label shapes. Straight lines appear uneven when placed on tapered containers, even if the change in width is very slight. This can lead to crooked label placement or noticeable creases or bulges that result in an unprofessional overall packaging design.

While it may seem easy to simply switch to a non-tapered container, these labeling challenges shouldn’t scare you away from utilizing uniquely-shaped packaging that stands out to your consumers. Even standard beer bottles feature a tapered neck, so you may not be able to avoid some form of tapering depending on your container.

You also may not want to change your container. Tapered shapes can attract eyes and create an exclusive silhouette for your brand. Instead of settling for standard containers, you can create a curved dieline that will allow your custom product labels to account for the gradual tapering of your container.

Labels that were tapered for custom-shaped bottles.

Looking for Custom Labels?

We put our all into every custom label we make. No exceptions. And with no minimum order quantities and a 5-day turnaround for digital label printing, we take pride in helping you perfect your first impression.

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How to Adjust Your Label to Fit a Tapered Container

One option is to downsize your label so that the effect of the tapering isn’t as noticeable. However, this limits the amount of label space you have to showcase your brand, describe your product, and include any necessary regulatory information.

The other option is to tailor your label to better suit the shape of your container or tapered bottle. If you still want your label to look rectangular, you’ll need to create a curved dieline. You’ll need to do some math to figure out the right shape, but the process may not be as tricky as you think.

Step 1: Decide where your label should go

Before you can solve anything, you’ll need to acquire some information. First, figure out exactly where you want your label to stick to your container. Since the width of your container gradually changes, it’s important to measure exactly where a label needs to go or else your measurements could be wrong. This also means you should have an idea of whether you want a partial or full wrap for your label as that will greatly impact the width. Once you’re set, use a pen, pencil, tape, or some other item to mark where the top, bottom, and sides of your label should go.

Step 2: Measure your dimensions

Once you have your container marked, you’ll want to measure the following:

Width of the top of your label
Width of the bottom of your label
Height of your label

Regular rulers won’t be too helpful in this stage since you’ll need something that can curl around your container and measure the top and bottom parts of your label. If you don’t have a loose tape measure, contact your Blue Label representative and request a custom flexible ruler or you can download and print a paper ruler. Another is to wrap string around your container and mark or cut it to fit the right lengths.

Please note that if you measure completely around your container, those measurements will make for a full wrap label dieline. If you don’t want a full wrap label, you’ll want to factor in your desired gap into the measurements. Once you’re all set, you can use your measurements to create a curved shape in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 3: Use Adobe Illustrator to create a curved dieline

In order to turn your measurements into an actual curved shape, you’ll need to do some geometry. Fortunately, there’s a convenient online cone calculator that will do the hard work for you. All you need to do is plug in the height and widths from your container to generate the following measurements.

Arc angle
Radius 1
Radius 2

A cone with measurements used to taper product labels.

These numbers will allow you to create your exact custom container label shape in Illustrator. First, take each radius and create a pair of circles that share a common center (also known as concentric circles). Now you can use the drawing and transform tools to create a triangle that shares an apex point with the center of the two circles. The triangle should use the arc angle generated by the calculator and extend past the larger of the two circles. In the end, the two circles and triangle will intersect to create a curved dieline for your container.

Example dielines for rectangular and tapered labels.

Step 4: Identify an ideal rectangular shape

Even though you have a curved dieline, you still need to figure out how to warp your design to fit your container. To start, you’ll want to convert your curved dieline into an ideal rectangular shape.

Before you find your shape, make sure to add a bleed area that extends your design artwork at least 1/16” past the edges of your curved label dieline. This will add some extra insurance that your labels don’t have any accidental white spaces once they’re cut. It’s also important to add this now because you’ll need to measure the top and bottom chords of your label to identify your ideal rectangular shape. A chord is the straight line between two corners of a curved dieline.

Once you use Illustrator to find these measurements, you’ll then need to average the top and bottom length together. You can now build out your ideal rectangular shape with the measurements for the average chord length and your original height and use the Illustrator warp tool to curve your artwork.

Make Sure Your Labels Stay Ahead of the Curve

Preparing a label for a tapered container may seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t mean you have to settle for something you don’t want. At Blue Label Packaging Company, our experts work directly with you to ensure that your tapered labels are catered to your needs. That way, you don’t have to sacrifice your container or other important aspects of your packaging. If you need a professional designer to help you create a specific look for your products, we can even point you toward our approved designer directory.

Ready to wow your customers with tapered product labels by using our custom label printing? Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about your label design and project.

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Types of Labels for Unique Containers: What You Need to Know

Uniquely-shaped product containers can make for eye-catching packaging. However, designing the right label to fit on the container may present some challenges. You’ll have to get creative as you factor in the shape and size of the containers and the different materials you can use to create your label. Below, we’ve outlined several different label considerations for your uniquely-shaped containers.

Specialty Die Cut Labels

Designing a specialty die cut label is the most common way to create the most versatile packaging for your container. These labels can be cut to your exact specifications, no matter the shape of your container, ensuring a perfect fit all around.

Die cut label

Tapered Labels

Tapered bottles or containers are unique in that they aren’t perfectly cylindrical. A standard label won’t lay flat when adhered to your container, which is when tapered labels come in handy. Instead, tapered labels can be made to form perfectly by calculating the degree of tapering on your container. Using this type of label will ensure it won’t crease or slant on your tapered container.

Double Sided Labels

Containers made of clear material may benefit from double-sided labels. These labels give you twice the space to market your products and can add depth and originality to your uniquely-shaped container. While important information like nutritional content and FDA warnings need to be clearly displayed on the front of your label, the second side can be used to add a surprise or accent like a patterned background or catchy slogan that you might have not have space for on the primary side.

Specialty Materials

In addition to the type of label, you’ll also want to consider the material of your label. For instance, if you’re in need of a label for a uniquely shaped bottle or tube that will be squeezed a lot, MDO film is a flexible, moldable material that’s much less rigid compared to a paper stock. For products like lotions or shampoos, when you squeeze the bottle, the MDO resists wrinkling and creasing. MDO is just one of hundreds of specialty materials that can be chosen to accommodate your containers needs and functionality.

Custom Packaging Labels

Whatever type of packaging or containers you use, it’s important to work with a digital label printing company that can create high-quality labels to meet your unique needs.

Blue Label is a digital printing company that will work with you to create custom labels for your unique packaging. Our state-of-the-art HP Indigo digital printing presses allow us to find the best solution to provide you with labels that not only attract eyes, but also best suits the needs of your product.

If you need help with your label design, check out our Designer Directory to find the right partner for your product. Once you’re ready to start your next project, contact us to talk to one of our experts about how we can create custom labels for your brand.

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Minimalist Design Trends for Product Labels

The minimalist movement is making its way into label design as more brands are forgoing flashy and opting for simple. You’ve surely heard the phrase, “less is more,” which can be especially true when it comes to the design of your product and bottle labels.

A minimalist’s mantra is to remove the unnecessary. In an era of information overload, brands are realizing that customers appreciate minimal labeling. It’s an effective trend that works because of its simplicity. (more…)

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6 Questions You Should Ask a Digital Label Printer

It takes a lot of hard work to put out a great product, so you shouldn’t damage your brand’s image with a subpar label. Great packaging plays a critical role in promoting your products, so it can be very advantageous for small businesses to invest in digital label printing.

However, you shouldn’t settle for just any digital label printing company. Some research and pointed questions can help you find the right label printing company for your business. To help your search, here are six key questions to ask a potential printing partner to gauge if they have the right blend of capabilities and customer service for your company.
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