Printscene — Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire
Custom Product Labels for Small Businesses: What to Consider Before You Print
Your label is often the first thing a customer sees. Whether you sell handmade candles, artisan food, skincare or anything else, a well-printed custom product label does two things at once: it tells people what is inside and signals that the product is worth buying. Getting the right label before you go to print saves time, money and the hassle of costly reprints.
Written by Printscene
- Topic: Product label printing
- Audience: Small business owners
- Read time: 7 min
Why custom product labels matter for small businesses
Large retailers have branding teams and design agencies behind every label they produce. Small businesses rarely do. A professionally printed label helps level the playing field. It puts your product alongside others on a shelf — in a shop or online — and gives customers confidence in what they are buying.
There is a practical side too. Labelling requirements exist for many product types. Food products need ingredient lists, allergen information and best-before dates. Cosmetics require INCI ingredient names. Even general retail products often need safety markings, country of origin or care instructions. Getting this right from the start avoids expensive reprints and potential compliance issues later.
The good news is that custom product labels for small businesses are more accessible than ever. You do not need to order tens of thousands of a single design. Short digital print runs mean you can get professional-looking labels without committing to warehouse quantities.
What type of product label do you need?
Labels come in more varieties than most people expect. The right type depends on your product, how it will be stored and where it will be used.
Face adhesive labels
The standard flat sticker-style label that adheres to the front, back or side of a product. These are the most common choice for jars, bottles, boxes and bags. They can be cut to almost any shape and printed in any size, making them extremely versatile for small business product packaging.
Wrap-around labels
A single label that wraps around a cylindrical container such as a jar, bottle or tin. Printed as one long rectangle, they give maximum surface area for your branding and all the information your product needs. They are a popular choice for jams, sauces, drinks and cosmetic tubes.
Booklet and multi-layer labels
When you need to include a lot of information but want to keep the physical label compact, booklet labels fold out to reveal extra panels. These are common in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products with multiple languages or long ingredient lists. For small businesses selling across markets, they offer a practical solution in one compact format.
Hang tags and tie-on labels
Not adhesive — these are printed cards or tags that attach to a product with string or a loop. Common in clothing, handmade gifts, candles and food products where sticking directly to the packaging is not practical. Hang tags allow you to include more design detail and a more premium feel without the constraints of an adhesive label.
Choosing the right label material
Material choice affects how a label looks, feels and holds up over time. The wrong material causes labels to peel, smudge or fail in certain conditions.
Paper labels
Cost-effective and easy to print on. Good for dry products kept indoors, such as candles, gift products and retail packaging. Paper labels can look premium if printed and finished well, but they do not tolerate moisture. If your product will be refrigerated, handled with wet hands or used in a damp environment, paper will wrinkle and peel.
Polypropylene labels
A synthetic material that handles moisture far better than paper. Clear polypropylene gives a no-label look that sits directly on the container surface, while white polypropylene is closer to paper in appearance. Polypropylene labels are a practical choice for skincare, bathroom products, food jars and anything stored in a fridge or damp environment.
Polyester labels
More durable still. Polyester is tear-resistant, handles temperature extremes and stands up to chemicals. Common in pharmaceutical and industrial applications, but also worth considering for premium product lines where long shelf life and resilience matter.
Vinyl labels
Highly flexible and weather-resistant. Vinyl labels stretch without cracking and adhere reliably to curved surfaces. Good for outdoor products, bottles with complex curves and items that need to withstand rough handling during storage or distribution.
Quick tip: Think about where your product will be stored, how it will be handled and whether it will encounter moisture, heat or cold. The right material for a jam jar is different from the right material for an outdoor equipment label. If in doubt, ask your printer — they can advise on the best stock for your product.
Label shape, size and finish options
Before you design anything, work out the physical dimensions and shape of your label. Measure the surface you are labelling and leave enough clear space around the edges of your design so nothing looks cramped or risks being cut off.
Standard shapes and custom die-cuts
Rectangles and squares are the most common and often the most cost-effective to print and cut. Circles and ovals are popular for lids. Custom die-cut shapes — including brand logo shapes, arched tops or any bespoke outline — are possible but add to cost and production time. For most small businesses starting out, a clean rectangle or circle in the right size is the smart choice.
Finish options
Gloss finish makes colours vivid and images sharp — a popular choice for food and drink labels. Matte finish has a softer, more premium feel that works well for handmade and artisan products. Laminate overlays add protection: gloss laminate adds shine and scratch resistance, matte laminate gives a velvety surface. Waterproof labels combine the right stock, adhesive and coating to withstand moisture from all directions.
Design tips for print-ready label artwork
Work in CMYK colour mode, not RGB. Set your bleed to at least 3mm so there is no white edge if the cut shifts slightly. Keep important text and logos at least 3mm from the cut edge. Use fonts no smaller than 6 to 7pt for legibility at label scale. Export your final file as a PDF with embedded fonts and all images at 300dpi. If you are unsure whether your artwork is print-ready, bring it in or email it and we will check before anything goes to print.
Compliance: what labels legally need to include
Legal requirements for product labels vary by category. It is worth confirming these before you brief your designer so the label only needs to be designed once.
UK food labelling rules require the product name, ingredients in descending order by weight, allergen information in bold, quantity, best-before or use-by date, storage instructions and the business name and address. Cosmetic and skincare products must carry INCI ingredient names, the period-after-opening symbol and details of the responsible person. Other categories — candles, toys, electrical products and textiles — all have their own requirements. Check with your industry body or Trading Standards before finalising your design.
Note from PrintScene: We print labels to your specification and artwork. Regulatory compliance is the responsibility of the brand owner. If you are unsure what your product label legally needs to include, get advice from your industry body before finalising the design.
Minimum quantities and ordering custom labels from PrintScene
Label printing costs work differently to standard document printing. Setup costs cover cutting dies for custom shapes and colour profiling. These are spread across the full print run, which is why the cost per label drops as quantities increase. Digital label printing has made short runs of 100 to 500 labels much more economical than they used to be, which is ideal for small businesses testing a new product or working with evolving designs.
We print custom labels for businesses across Derbyshire and beyond, handling small runs and larger orders across a range of materials, shapes and finishes. To get started, bring your artwork in or get in touch with your requirements and we will talk you through the options. You can also view our stickers and labels service page for more on what we offer.
Ready to order your custom product labels?
Get in touch and we will help you choose the right material, finish and quantity for your product.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a small quantity of custom labels?
Yes. Digital label printing makes runs of 100 to 500 labels practical and affordable for small businesses. Get in touch to discuss your quantity and we will give you an accurate quote.
What file format should I send my label artwork in?
PDF is the preferred format. Set the file to CMYK colour mode, include 3mm bleed and embed all fonts. If you use Illustrator or InDesign, export with embedded links and fonts. If you are unsure, send what you have and we will check it before going to print.
Do you offer waterproof labels?
Yes. We can print on waterproof materials suitable for labels that will encounter moisture, refrigeration or outdoor conditions. Ask about the right stock and coating for your specific product.
How long does label printing take?
Turnaround depends on quantity, material and current workload. Contact us to confirm lead times for your order. If you have a deadline, mention it early and we will confirm what is possible.
Are there minimum order quantities?
This depends on the specification. Get in touch with your requirements and we will confirm what is achievable and at what quantities.
Can you help with label design?
We are a print and sign company rather than a design agency, but we can advise on what works and what to avoid for print. If you need full design support, get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.