A large part of my role as Director of purchasing consists in finding the best products for our clients. Some products are sent to us by suppliers, others I’ve found with the intent of improving our current offer, and those that interest us today are requested by our clients.

Recycled labels and Colordyne: a perfect match

One of the biggest challenges with labels made from recycled fibres is their reaction to inks and printing modes. Some labels tend to absorb more ink, others are less resistant. Sometimes we’ll test a label with one printer and the result will be excellent, while the same label on a different printer will not have great results at all.

Source: www.eco-friendly-digest.com

We recently found a very satisfactory recycled product for one of our clients who that the Colordyne colour printer. Made from 100% recyclable household waste, these labels are available in a white that’s brighter than most recycled paper.

Turn challenges into strengths

Besides the practical aspect, there’s also the visual one. Often, recycled labels are matte (uncoated). The slightly beige and threadlike aspect of the paper is less appealing or, even when they’re white, companies may lament the absence of a glossy finish.

This is why the ideal users of this type of label are companies that manufacture products that are handcrafted, organic or environmentally-friendly.

If you already use this type of label, tell us about the type of paper and how you use it by leaving us a comment below. If you are looking for information about this topic, contact me and I would be delighted to answer you.

IMS has decided to show you behind the scenes showcasing of its employees who are specialized in key positions within the company. Every month you can read about a new employee and the description of his or her position in Star employee!

Employee name: Nadine
Position: Customer service agent
Years of experience: 2

Nadine, could you please explain what you do at IMS?

Nadine: There are several aspects to my job as customer service agent, but basically, I’d say that I enter customer orders and follow up with the other departments involved in the order process so as to ensure that the clients receive the right order on time.

Which aspect of your work is the most appealing?

Nadine: Human contact! With clients, of course, but also with my colleagues. Together, we try to understand the projects submitted by clients so that we can resolve all problems or unforeseen events that may arise. Our objective is obviously to provide clients with the best possible results.

Do you handle all types of label orders?

Nadine: I did when I first started at IMS, but over time I developed a certain expertise, if we can call it that, in projects involving the sleeve, or heat-shrinkable label.

What are some particularities of sleeve projects?

Nadine: In general, these projects are more complex. There are more stages: sleeve design, printing and application tests, coordination between departments and with the client. There are many technical elements to know as well.

Learning all of this information doesn’t happen right away…

Nadine: No, it’s a gradual learning experience. What makes things easier is that we’re given regular internal training sessions. The more we know, the better the results!

So you basically interact with every department.

Nadine: Yes. Customer service is like the nucleus. It’s the common link between clients and employees: salespeople, estimators, employees from production and shipping, etc.

What are some required qualities for those looking to become a customer service agent?

Nadine: One thing for sure, it’s essential to be customer-oriented. Being a good listener, resourceful and resistant to stress are also important qualities to have, in addition to having a real desire to know and understand one’s clients, their needs and obligations, to find a way to succeed with each project.

A sharp increase in the number of mobile solutions, technological advancements and increasing internationalizing markets have all created a growing need for customer service, which is becoming a determining factor in the success of companies worldwide. Customer loyalty is more of a challenge than previously, which is why it’s important to put clients at the heart of company concerns.

The outlook for customer service jobs is quite good: there are many offers and these are generally well paid. One of the reasons for this is that it’s difficult for companies to fill these positions. For those who are interested in this profession…

… and who are looking to earn a diploma, we suggest:

- consulting websites of the colleges from your region. Many of them offer continuing education programs that target customer service.

… and who have experience in customer service, we suggest:

- researching companies specialized in this type of training. Most of them offer training programs in house or in company warehouses.

- discussing with the person in charge of human resources in your company.

Recently, I learned from my colleagues that IMS perfected a solution for labelling and applying semi-automated labels for wine bottles. They worked hard so that this solution, first considered useful for vineyards and other wine and local alcohol producers, could be presented to visitors at the PACKEX Toronto trade show, from May 14-16, 2013. Meanwhile, feast your eyes (no drinking glass required) on these labels!

Pirates “à la carte”!

The Fireball whiskey and Black Cove spiced rum are based on the pirates theme with an old treasure map background. The first, which portrays a devil, alludes to many legends from the region; the second, with its dominating black colour, depicts a pirate atmosphere.

Race pace!

The Coureur des Bois is Canadian whiskey mixed with maple syrup, with an outdated look that opens a page to our wonderful history. And ice wine, from the Vignoble du marathonien, portrays its original character that’s quite different from classic branding.

Bright and shiny!

The rosé wine, Champs de Florence from the Domaine du Ridge, is sold in a bottle where both the labels on the bottle and on the neck have sunny colours. The Chemineaud Alegria has colours that are just as bright; the only difference is that its label is a sleeve.

Starring the apple!

The Pomme de glace du Verger St-Denis, the Pomme de glace du Domaine Pinnacle and the Feu sacré du Verger Lacroix all have something in common: the apple. The first two labels, more classic, are both poetic and sophisticated. The third, with more sparkle, depicts a more modern and energetic version of an apple.

Cold front!

The last example is its category’s only member. I wanted to highlight the very interesting use of the label on the back of the bottle, which contains printed patterns of snowflakes that can be seen, clearly enough, through the ice cidre Neige de La Face cachée de la pomme.

I mentioned above the “automation” of labelling, but in fact it would be more accurate to talk about semi-automation. It’s a good halfway point between the manual application and completely automated application of labels.

Ideal for handcrafted production

Several companies don’t have the volume necessary for a sophisticated and completely automated assembly line. Especially manufacturers of handcrafted or local products; companies in full growth for whom the application of labels by hand is an obstacle, but who aren’t yet ready to purchase these large equipments.

Applicator models 550 and 560 from the manufacturer Autolabe

Autolabe offers two semi-automatic labelling machine models that are ideal for handcrafted production. They are simple to use: you put the container on the machine, activate it with a pedal, the machine applies the label and you remove the newly labelled container and replace it with another one.

Autolabe’s model  550 is able to roll a label around cylindrical containers, and model 560 can tamp a label down on flat or slightly curved containers. This way, you can apply between 10 and 15 labels per minute, which is a significant increase compared to manual application. In addition to facilitating label application, this equipment will ensure that your labels are always perfectly applied on your containers.

A crooked label doesn’t make your product look more authentic

A product with a crooked label send a message to a consumer that something was overlooked and this may negatively influence his or her purchasing decision. And don’t worry about the semi-automation label application reducing the handcrafted quality of your product. Au contraire! People love local products and they appreciate a neat appearance.

The Dogwood Alliance, an environmental organization, published a report entitled Greening Fast Food Packaging: A Roadmap to Best Practices where it identified eight indicators for assessing sustainable consumption and packaging in the junk food industry. Increasing the use of recycled fibres and reducing carbon footprints were some of the major indicators mentioned in the report. Basically, everyone should participate in this common effort. Concerning packaging, several green solutions were promoted besides the reduction of the quantity of packaging which, let’s admit, is often exaggerated.

Source: http://blog.bestpack.com/

IMS is always up to date on the latest environmental trends so as to find ways to collaborate with the movement. We offer labels with polylactic acid (for sleeves), made entirely of plant material. We also actively participate in the GoZebra program which consists in collecting old printers for recycling in exchange for a discount on a new printer.

Of course, adjustments must be made continually, not only as corporate citizens but also as individual citizens. If you’re interested in this topic, leave us your comments or contact one of our packaging or labelling experts so we can discuss our environmental commitments.

Employee loyalty management, customer loyalty management

Today, it’s getting harder to find long serving employees. Many companies, faced with high employee turnover, are looking for the secret to solidify their own employee loyalty management. Ideally, a company wants employees who treat customers as if the company was their own, who take to heart its success and who are looking to grow with the company.

However, the secret of loyalty management also applies to clients. And clients like to count on employees with experience, employees who know not only the history of their company but also its evolution. Long serving employees, thanks to their experience and their knowledge of various aspects of the company, will know more easily when it’s appropriate to bend the rules to satisfy a client. Because when you’re a client, you don’t like to hear, “sorry but no, it’s company policy.”

In my opinion, a client, by definition, shouldn’t have to do more than the minimum to get a quality product or service. If all employees collaborate toward the realization of a common goal, centred on customer satisfaction, they’ll have a stronger desire to continue to be a part of the adventure, just like at IMS. Let’s continue to offer our clients the best of our expertise!

In addition to the three applications mentioned above, barcode applications in the retail industry also consist in the management of discount coupons and gift certificates, client verification of prices, management of loyalty programs, etc.

Logistics at its best

For customers, there are certainly several advantages to using barcodes, but there are even more for retailers. Barcodes provide a myriad of data that, when it’s all connected, allows for efficient and profitable business management, particularly by following the distribution channel. Here are two examples:

Example 1: Efficient procurement management

Example 2: Improved management of hygienic conditions for food products

Of course there are more examples than the two mentioned above. The goal is to give you an idea of the importance of data capture for companies. If using barcodes improves your company’s efficiency, then please leave me a comment about it. Success stories are like candy for product identification experts like those at IMS. I look forward to reading your comments!

Datamax-O’Neil manufactured its mobile power unit so that it can be perfectly inserted under the printer. It can be used with the “Basic,” “Advanced” and “Professional” models of the E-Class Mark III series.

This power unit is no less than a very powerful rechargeable battery. The MPU-4000, which uses lithium polymer technology, can print up to 4000 4”x6” shipping labels without needing to be recharged.

Datamax-O'Neil's MPU-4000 mobile printing unit fits perfectly under the printer where it connects.

Finally an alternative to the direct mobile thermal printer!

Up to now, mobile printing mainly targeted companies that needed more short-lived labels, since the majority of mobile printers are direct thermal. For example, they’re perfect for printing cash receipts, shipping labels or nametags, but they’re not available in many compatible formats and they can’t be printed on resistant material like vinyl or polyester. The mobile power unit now allows for mobile printing with a thermal transfer printer, on a cart or even in a vehicle.

For more information, please consult the product’s specifications sheet. We will also publish an article on this product in May in the next issue of our newsletter, the Sticky Note. Subscribe by going to the homepage of our website.

IMS has decided to show you behind the scenes showcasing of its employees who are specialized in key positions within the company. Every month you can read about a new employee and the description of his or her position in Star employee!

Employee name: Louis-Eric
Position: Technician and Coordinator, Technical Department
Years of experience: 7

Explain briefly what you do at IMS.

Louis-Eric: I’m the coordinator of the technical department, but as I have a technician’s background, there are actually two aspects to my job. As coordinator, I organize the activity of the technicians and I guide them in their work so that our clients are entirely satisfied. In addition, my experience as a technician allows me to solve more complex problems and to share my knowledge with the technicians.

Are these two aspects of your job complementary?

Louis-Eric: In our case, one would be impossible without the other. To coordinate the department, you need experience as a technician because the coordinator is responsible for helping other employees in the department as well as ensuring the quality of their work. As our department is also in charge of testing new products, you need a good amount of technical knowledge in order to properly evaluate the products.

So you don’t only evaluate products from a user’s point of view.

Louis-Eric: No, no, not at all. Evaluating how the machine operates is important, but we want to go further than that. We want to understand the mechanics of the equipment so as to correctly judge if we’ll be able to adequately perform the maintenance, easily obtain spare parts in case of damage, etc. We won’t sell equipment to our clients if we can’t guarantee excellent after-sales service.

The clientele seems to be at the heart of your preoccupations.

Louis-Eric: Absolutely! It’s more than simply selling products to our clients. We need to be able to guide them and to give them advice when they’re ready to make a purchase. This is why we go to see our clients to evaluate their needs onsite.

So the technicians should dress to impress…

Louis-Eric: …and have patience, pay attention to detail and be inquisitive! But image and attitude are essential. As I always say, a technician should solidify the image of the company because this is often the last person at IMS that the client will have contact with.

The profession of a technician from the technical department of a supplier like IMS is not officially represented by an association or professional group. This makes it difficult to discuss advances within the profession. However, there are many challenges. For example, as clients each use their equipment differently, the complexity of the job lies in correctly determining the diagnostic. Moreover, understanding the needs of our clients is crucial because this helps a company stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

Although the technology is the same and the mechanical aspects of the equipment change only slightly from one supplier to another, thermal transfer printers are part of a unique line of products. Your success as a technician may depend on your academic background. For those who are attracted to this profession…

… and who are looking to obtain a diploma, we suggest the following programs:

- Electronics technology (available in many CEGEPs) OR

- Industrial maintenance technology (available in many CEGEPs)

… and who have experience as a technician, but not with thermal transfer printers, we suggest:

You try your luck. As thermal transfer is a very precise form of technology, continuing education programs are few and far between in the sector. It’s often the employer who provides the training, which is the case with IMS. Adequate knowledge of similar equipment and the desire to learn are often sufficient.

1. SourceTAG
Type: software
SourceTAG is a gem for gardeners. This online labelling software allows you to design labels, tags, signs and banners from an extensive database of horticultural images, texts and photos in high definition or from your own files, making it easy to create your label and print right away or save for later. This program is so efficient that I’ll write a blog post about it in April.

VIP Color's VP495 inkjet colour printer

2. VP495 by VIP Color
Type: As opposed to the VP485 model, the VP495 printer uses pigmented ink, which is more resistant to water and UV rays. In addition to its professional quality finish, labels printed with the VP495 can tolerate an entire season of outdoor use. As it’s an on-demand printer, you can print labels, banners or displays all on the same machine.

Thermal printer B-SX4 by TOSHIBA TEC

3. B-SX4/B-SX5 by TOSHIBA TEC
Type: thermal printer
Certain thermal printers are ideal for standard barcode label printing. As for the B-SX printer series, it performs particularly well with thicker materials, such as plastic or polyethylene, which are often used in horticulture. Its “near edge” thermal print head gets worn down less quickly than a “flat head” print head does when in contact with rigid materials. In addition, its solid case is extremely resistant to environments where humidity and dust are common.

4. Specialized labels
Type: media
When we think of horticulture, humidity, dust and wind often come to mind. This is why the material used for the media must be resistant and adapted to those conditions. For example, to identify potted plants, better opt for plastic tags on which thermal transfer printing (ideally on a B-SX!) won’t fade. Loop labels will be hard-wearing if they’re made of polyethylene. Similarly, self adhesive labels for pots, soil bags or other products should be made with a strong, permanent adhesive which will make the label resistant to water and dust.