The Dos and Don’ts of Effective Retail Label Design

Categorised in: Blog

As a shopper, there is nothing more frustrating than fumbling around with a product, trying to find the price, size or ingredients, for example. 

Whether a swing tag or a stuck-on label, product packaging should contain all the required information in a clear and easy-to-read manner. Not only are there legal implications to poor labelling, but your shoddy labels might even be losing you sales!

To help you make the most out of your retail labelling, our design team has drawn up this list of dos and don’ts.

Do’s

• Be clear and concise: Supply only the required information. Otherwise, your customer might need a magnifying glass to read the label! Include the essential details like product name, brand, description and size,
• Comply with industry standards: Ensure that your labels are in line with the requirements of your industry.
• Focus on visual appeal: The label is a silent salesman, so clear images and consistent branding across your products are vital if you want to stand out on the shelf.

Don’ts

• Avoid information overload: Providing too much information on a label is just as bad as not including enough. It can be off-putting for the customer, who could quickly abandon your product and seek another. 
• Readability issues: Tiny fonts, fancy typefaces and poor colour contrasts can make your label difficult to read. Use easy-to-read fonts and a pleasing contrast of colour between the background and text. 
• Outdated label information: Out-of-date information is confusing for the customer. Keeping information up-to-date is vital to retaining the customer’s trust and loyalty. After all, outdated packaging can subconsciously put into question the health and safety of your product as consumers begin to question the best-before dates. 
• Compromising on quality: Low-quality labels will fade, peel or render illegible. Invest in good-quality, durable labels that withstand everyday wear and tear.

Why Barcodes Are So Important

Barcodes are one of the key elements to include on your labels, as they offer many benefits, including: 

• Better inventory management: Adding a barcode helps retailers manage inventory levels and avoid running out of stock of your products.
• Error reduction: Barcodes offer an instant and accurate way of identifying products. This facilitates quick, error-free checkouts to keep the customer happy.
• Sales insights: Barcodes help collect data on what customers buy, allowing for better decisions about orders, product placement and promotions.

Contact Uniprint Global today for high-quality, custom-designed barcoded labels that are informative, attractive and efficient.

FAQs and Answers

1. Why is clear labelling important for retail products?
   Clear labelling ensures customers can easily find essential information such as price, size, and ingredients, improving their shopping experience.

2. What are the key elements to include on a retail label?
   A retail label should include the product name, brand, description, size, barcode, and necessary industry compliance details.

3. How can poor label design affect sales?
   Poorly designed labels can confuse customers, fail to comply with legal requirements, and negatively impact brand trust, leading to lost sales.

4. What are common mistakes in retail label design?
   Common mistakes include overcrowding information, using unreadable fonts, outdated details, and poor-quality materials that fade or peel.

5. Why are barcodes important on retail labels?
   Barcodes help retailers manage inventory, reduce checkout errors, and collect sales insights for better decision-making.

6. What font and colour choices are best for retail labels?
   Easy-to-read fonts and high-contrast colour combinations improve label readability and enhance the overall customer experience.

7. How can outdated information impact a product’s sales?
   Outdated details on labels can confuse customers and raise concerns about product freshness and safety, reducing trust and sales.

8. How does label quality affect durability?
   High-quality labels resist fading, peeling, and wear, ensuring they remain legible and professional-looking throughout the product’s lifecycle.