Lightning Labels Blog

Golden, CO’s State 38 Distillery manufactures spirits for consumers who appreciate the finer things in life. Since 2013, State 38 has held a deep appreciation for the legacy of bourbon, whiskey, agave, and other spirits. Based on their growth through the pandemic and beyond, it appears customers hold a deep appreciation for them as well.

Using pure and meticulously selected ingredients—such as local hand-milled grains, organic blue weber agave, and crisp Rocky Mountain water—State 38 provides a uniquely satisfying Colorado experience. Products are available both on-site and in a variety of Colorado liquor sto

Denver’s Bierstadt Lagerhaus believe in traditionally brewed lagers devoid of strawberries, gummy worms, pizza, and all manner of other “beer additives” currently in vogue.

Four ingredients comprise their beers, made in an 87-year-old resurrected German brew kettle from a strict Reinheitsgebot process: water, yeast, malt, and hops. Notes Ashleigh Carter, head brewer and co-owner: “We have brewed a lot of beer over the years, and it is our belief that traditionally brewed lagers are classics for a reason. They have stood the test of time.”

While championing a classic recipe, Ashleigh enjoys the beer environment in the US today.

AnneMarie Campbell, Lightning Labels VP of Marketing, lives and breathes teamwork in her personal and professional pursuits. The avid New York Yankees and Giants fan volunteers for her church and the Junior League, and teams up as often as possible with three brothers, sister-in-laws, seven nieces and nephews, and her mom.

In her marketing role, AnneMarie is responsible for planning, digital strategies and implementation, email promotions, and collaborating with the sales team on brand representation. She also manages the budget and oversees the website, focusing on continuous improvement to optimize it for the best customer user experience.

There's a new beer can format on the scene, and it's providing new opportunities for craft breweries. This is the Crowler, larger than a traditional can and sealed on site in a brewery or taproom. As such, custom crowler labels are becoming more in demand from breweries.

As an alternative to traditional aluminum cans or a glass bottle six pack, a beer Crowler is an exciting new way to package your beer. But there is one clear connection between Crowlers and traditional beer cans: Both types of containers need well-designed beer can labels to look their best.

Why is the Crowler on the Rise in the Craft Beer World?

The Crowler is a very distinctive kind of 32-ounce beer can.

When your business sells lip balm, your custom label decisions may seem very limited. After all, a lip balm tube is one of the smallest packages on store shelves. Is there really space on that surface to make a strong statement regarding your brand?

The answer is yes, there is plenty of room for design elements on a lip balm tube. You simply have to follow labeling best practices and get a little creative.

What Makes Lip Balm Labels Unique?

Labeling for lip balm isn't quite like packaging design for any other kind of product. By focusing on what sets lip balm apart from other products, you can formulate a fine-tuned custom label strategy that will help your items look great.

There are a few basic musts when it comes to candle label design:

• You need tough label materials that can stand up to heat (which minimizes safety risks and keeps the candles looking good over time).
• You must include the candle fire safety warnings recommended by the National Candle Association to reassure buyers you're serious about product quality and correct usage.

Beyond these priorities, however, you have plenty of candle design options. Your choices can determine how your products look on store shelves, influencing how customers react to your brand.

Why Focus on Candle Label Design?

Your candle business shouldn't take design for granted.

When creating label designs, you don't just have to think in two dimensions. It pays to consider the texture of your product labels as well. If items have raised elements on their labels, shoppers may be tempted to take a closer look, or pick the products up. This is a great way to earn extra attention for your carefully designed branding.

An embossed foil label or embossed sticker is pleasing to the eye and irresistible to touch, and it can show off the premium, high-quality nature of your products. Embossing also combines well with other label printing techniques such as hot foil stamping, which adds a metallic tinge to your product packaging.

When designing product labels, it's tempting to just think in terms of imagery, text and texture. But there's an extra way to add some shine to your packaging strategy — literally.

Hot foil stamping is a process that imprints real foil into your custom labels, giving them metallic accents in a variety of shades. When dealing with fast-moving retail scenarios, where it's hard for any product to stand out, a gleaming foil label accent can catch customers' eyes.

Using Hot Stamp Labels to Elevate Your Products' Appearance

Hot stamp labels give items a premium feeling. The shiny, metallic look tells customers they're getting a high-quality item, one that has been created with care.

A glass bottle is a classy type of container for your products. Whether you're selling beverages, perfume or anything in between, your choice of packaging shows effort and a dedication to the items' appearance.

Your choice of glass bottle labels should continue this impression of careful design and focus. High-quality custom labels that clearly display your branded logos and imagery — and perfectly suit your bottles — are essential.

When working with the right bottle label printing partner, you have plenty of custom label options. This means you don't have to compromise and can create a complete package that clearly shows off the appeal of your brand to potential customers.

Pete Romas, Business Operations Manager, Analytics & Reporting for Lightning Labels, has filled many roles in his given professions, from printing to pizza.

He started with Lightning Labels six years ago as a marketing & sales coordinator, then became Business Operations Analyst before moving into his present role.

His family’s pizza business—where he ran the register, helped prep dough and sauce, sauced and cheesed the pizzas, and handled delivery and catering—no doubt prepared him for the many hats he’s worn at Lightning Labels.

“I really enjoy team collaboration—working with the team, figuring out issues, releasing stress by automating someth