Labels & Stickers for Small Business

Labels are the consumable that keeps an inventory system honest. Price stickers, barcode labels, shelf-edge labels and shipping labels all come in different sizes, adhesives and printing methods, and buying the wrong roll for your printer is the most common and most avoidable mistake.

Check three things before ordering: the size your printer supports, whether it prints direct thermal (no ribbon, fades over months) or thermal transfer (with a ribbon, lasts for years), and the core size of the roll. Direct thermal is right for shipping labels and short-lived price tags; thermal transfer suits labels that must last on stock or equipment.

Adhesive matters too. Removable labels come off gifts and resale items cleanly; permanent labels stay on bins and asset tags; freezer-grade labels are needed for cold storage.

What to look for when buying

• Match label width and roll core size to your printer's specification sheet.
• Use direct thermal for shipping, thermal transfer for long-lasting labels.
• Choose removable adhesive for price tags on products customers will keep.
• Buy a sample roll before committing to a bulk case of a new size.