Is it time for your brewery to release its latest and greatest flagship product? Or what about that special seasonal featuring awesome recipe ideas and unique, local ingredients combined into one powerful pint? If you answered yes to either of these two questions, then you're probably also thinking; "how do I get this killer brew into the hands of as many people as possible? How do I make it POP on shelves?" You may also be thinking about Bridgerton. No judgement here–it's a popular show.
If you’ve selected cans for your latest release, your labelling options come down to Pressure sensitive labels (PSLs) or shrink sleeves. Here are some important questions to ask as you make the decision on what’s best for your beverage and your brand:
How many of these heavenly cans are hitting the market?
Forecasting your packaging requirements is difficult at the best times (even harder in today's 'unprecedented' times of great TV)! So order what you need on demand with Summit Plus and the For the Love of Beer program. Our digital PSL and Shrink Sleeve offerings ensure that we are competitive no matter what option you choose.
Am I applying my labels in-house or using a third-party application service?
This one seems obvious, but it’s important to consider how the labels will be applied to cans and who exactly will be doing it when deciding which route to go. Using PSLs can allow you to apply in-house with the right equipment (like a labeler or your own two hands), but if you’re leaning towards shrink sleeves then a third-party applicator is necessary due to the speciality equipment required. Don't worry though, we know of one or two that are pretty great at what they do!
HOW SOOn is this beer going to be giving a repeat performance?
If you’re set on this product going into cans for the foreseeable future, then either label option can be made to work for you using Summit’s FTLOB program. While we recommend ordering as many as you need, rest assured that we can get you more of either label style within a reasonable timeframe should you need them. With our pre-scheduled FTLOB production dates, you’re never more than two weeks away from our next production run, so if this product is flying off the shelves, we are able to get you more of what you need, when you need it.
Where do I need my labels to look their best?
Take the time to think about where your labels need to look their best. Is it in a cold storage display window? Shrink sleeves have crisp artwork registration and 360 degrees of design space, so you can really make them stand out on the shelf amongst the competition and communicate a lot of information on an individual package. If your cans are going to be in coolers filled with ice, then a water-resistant PSL is going to withstand the conditions and look just as good coming out of the cooler as it did going in. While there are no absolute answers to these questions, it’s important to consider how your label is going to interact with your customers and where you need it to shine brightest.
These are just some of the important things to consider when launching a new product in cans, but you know that! It's a tough world out there and the shelves are filled with beverages of all kinds. You've already done the hardest part- making a beverage that shines BRIGHT. Now, let us help you get it in the hands of all those at home binge watchers. At Summit, we are proud to be able to offer both label solutions to our customers, so get in touch if you have any questions about the route that will work best for you.
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