Apparel accounts for almost a quarter of all U.S. online retail sales, and it also has the highest return rate. According to Coresight Research, about 26% of clothing items will be returned this holiday season, costing retailers about $150 billion in return shipping and restocking fees. Clothing returns are bad for the planet, too, with […]
Top Benefits of Nearsourcing Your Supply Chain
During the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. consumers became keenly aware of a startling statistic: about 20% of all U.S. imports are made in China. Billions more products are produced in India, Bangladesh, and Japan. That means that when catastrophe strikes—in the form of war; natural disaster; or a global pandemic—the U.S. supply chain will inevitably be […]
Creative Marketing Strategies to Gain New Customers
If you’ve just launched your own business, your number one concern is most likely acquiring new customers. If you’ve followed our blog for a while, you are probably familiar with the most popular marketing tools, like Pay Per Click advertising, SEO, and email marketing. However, if you’ve tried all these methods and still aren’t seeing […]
9 Manufacturing Productivity Tips to Maximize Efficiency
“Smooth sailing” isn’t a phrase just for the open ocean. A smoothly-run, efficient manufacturing plant can bring you quite an array of benefits, including higher production rates, reduced expenses, and lower employee turnover. If you’re looking for ways to make your small business more productive, here are a few manufacturing productivity tips that can help […]
The Top 3 Benefits of 2D Barcodes
A few months ago, we mentioned that, by 2027, all traditional UPC bar codes will be replaced by 2D barcodes. That means that the zebra-striped strip you’re used to seeing on virtually every product will be replaced by the square-shaped code you’ve probably seen on menus during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2D barcodes can store […]
How to Use Color Psychology in Branding Materials
Creating your own label, product package, or business? Eventually, you’re going to need to pick out some colors. It may be tempting to use your own favorite colors for your brand materials. However, you can reap far better results by approaching your color selection strategically. By employing the principles of color psychology, you can subliminally […]
Help Launch Your Business with These 10 Free Design Tools
If you’re launching your own startup business, you’re probably pretty strapped for cash. One of the best ways to save money is to DIY your own marketing materials, including your website, logo, promotional materials, or product label. If you’ve decided to tackle these essential items on your own, here are ten free design tools you […]
How to Create the Ultimate Garage Workshop
For many folks, spring is the optimum time to clean out storage spaces like closets, attics, basements, and garages. If your garage is mostly used to store things you don’t want to deal with, you may be wondering how to convert it into something more useful, like a workshop. Here’s how to create a garage […]
11 Proven Ways to Reduce Returns for Your Small Business
Online shopping is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, so are returns. As we noted in last month’s blog, Americans returned about $816 billion worth of merchandise last year, representing about 17% of all retail purchases. With the amount of returns rising steadily, your best bet as a business owner is to adopt a preventative strategy. […]
Label Design for Beginners: How to Make the Perfect Label
In our first series on label design for beginners, we’ll discuss creating pressure-sensitive labels. These are essentially “sticker” labels that are applied to jars, tubs, and cans, are far and away the most popular type of label. They’re easy to apply; relatively inexpensive; durable; and available in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. […]