Get Your Christmas List Organised With Address Labels & Mail Merge

December 5th, 2018

Yup, it’s Label Planet’s annual Christmas mail merge post; whether you’re a pro or a beginner, here’s how to use a mail merge to print a perfect set of Christmas address labels.

Christmas labels using Word Mail Merge

Christmas Address Labels – The Items You Need To Get Started

To perform a Mail Merge you will need:

  • A4 sheets of sticky labels.
  • A saved label template, compatible Avery template code, or layout and measurement information.
  • A saved list of addresses.

A compatible Avery template is one that has the same label size and layout as your A4 labels. If a label size has any compatible Avery codes, we will list them on the relevant product pages, product packaging, and template information pages.

Using a built-in template is simplest; if you can’t find a compatible code because Avery don’t supply your label size, you will need to save a suitable template to your device OR have detailed layout and measurement information for your label size to hand. We supply label templates AND measurements for all of our label sizes; visit our Label Templates home page and select your label shape and label size.

Your list of addresses should be saved in an Excel Spreadsheet, Outlook Contact List, Office Address List, Word Data File, Access Database, or Text File.

Christmas Address Labels – The Mail Merge Process

We recommend using the Mail Merge Wizard. Select the Mailing tab, click on Start Mail Merge, and select Step By Step Mail Merge Wizard. This opens a Mail Merge Panel on the right hand side of your screen, which guides you through these SIX STEPS:

ONE: Select Document Type – select labels.

TWO: Select Starting Document – select your template.

You have three options: select “Change Document Layout” and “Label Options” to use a built in Avery template (set Label Vendor to Avery A4/A5 and select your code) OR create your own label template (click on New Label and fill in the measurements). Alternatively, select “Start From Existing Document” to open a saved label template.

THREE: Select Recipients – select your list of addresses.

This adds the Next Record rule placeholder to all of your blank labels (except the first one). If you are using a saved label template, you must add these placeholders yourself using the “Rules” tool in the Mailings tab. 

FOUR: Arrange Your Labels – add your design (including placeholders for information from your address list).

You can add placeholders individually (use the “More items” option) or use preformatted options, such as Address Block. Add your design (and placeholders) in the first label before using the “Update all labels” button to complete your template. This button is not available if you are using a saved template so you will need to copy and paste your design into the remaining labels.

FIVE: Preview Your Labels – check that your information and design fit together on each label.

SIX: Complete The Merge – finish the merge and print your address labels.

ALWAYS TEST PRINT ONE SHEET FIRST BEFORE PRINTING YOUR WHOLE LIST OF ADDRESSES.

You must use the media bypass tray (if your printer has one) and check your printer is using the correct settings.

Christmas Address Labels – Top Tips

For a chaos-free Christmas mail merge, we recommend following these top tips:

  • Use a built-in label template or create a label template if you can because this allows you to take advantage of several automated tools that are not available if you use a saved copy of a label template.
  • Keep your design simple and try to avoid elements that will complicate the printing process (such as multicoloured backgrounds and/or coloured borders around the edges of each label).
  • Remember that your address information will take up a lot more space on your address labels that the placeholders used to represent them.
  • Remember that some addresses are longer than others; make a note of the longest address in your list and make sure that you check how this address appears when you preview your address labels in step five.
  • MOST IMPORTANTLY TEST PRINT THE FIRST SHEET BEFORE PRINTING ALL YOUR ADDRESS LABELS.

Use the “From” option under Print to select enough addresses to fill one sheet of blank labels.

Christmas Address Labels – Troubleshooting Tips

If things start to go wrong, try these troubleshooting tips to avoid a label template nightmare before Christmas:

  • Can’t Find Your Avery Code: “Printer information” must be set to Page printers and “Label Vendor” to Avery A4/A5. If your Avery code is a Zweckform code, set Vendor to Avery Zweckform. If your code isn’t listed, it may refer to a discontinued product. Check for an alternative compatible Avery code.
  • Two (Or More) Labels Show The SAME Address Information: the Next Record rule must be in EVERY label EXCEPT the first one. It must come BEFORE any other placeholder in your design. Remember, if you use a saved template you need to add this rule yourself.
  • Address Block Doesn’t Show Full Addresses: Word might not have matched sections from your address list to the address block properly. The Match Fields tool allows you to indicate where each part of the address block is stored in your address list.
  • Some Addresses Don’t Fit: some addresses are longer than others. You can either adjust your deign to accommodate the longest address in your list OR edit the longer addresses to make them fit.
  • Your Address Labels Are Misaligned: there are TWO common patterns of misalignment, which you can fix as follows:

Misaligned in the SAME direction by the SAME amount: adjust the page margins of your template to correct the alignment. Click on the Layout tab, select Margins, and choose “Custom Margins”. Increase/decrease the top page margin to move your designs down/up and increase/decrease the left page margin to move them right/left.

Misalignment gets worse down/across/out from the centre: usually caused by printer settings. Check that the page size is A4, no scaling options are applied (i.e. less than 100% or “Fit to…” options), and that no options such as “Ignore Printer Settings” or “Use Default/Driver Settings” are applied. Run your device’s main software update tool to check you have the latest printer driver installed. You should also use your printer’s media bypass tray (if it has one).

If this doesn’t help, there may be a problem with your template; check that the size and layout measurements are correct.

Order Christmas Address Labels From Label Planet NOW For Pre-Christmas Despatch & Delivery

You should order Christmas address labels early because you need to leave enough time for:

  • Despatch and delivery of your order.
  • Designing and printing your address labels.
  • Sticking your address labels onto your post.
  • Posting items for delivery before Christmas.

Stocked items (those with a minimum order quantity of 25 sheets) are available for same day despatch from stock in packs of 25 sheets. Quantities of 500+ sheets of stocked items are made to order, although some paper items are stocked for same day despatch. Items with a minimum order quantity of 500 sheets are unstocked and made to order. Despatch is likely to take five working days because of the increasing demand for Christmas labels.

Small orders (fewer than 250 sheets) despatch by Royal Mail’s first class service; we recommend upgrading to our special delivery service (delivery by 1pm on the next working day) if you have a deadline to meet.

Large orders (250+ sheets) despatch by next working day carrier (once stock is available). Delivery to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands is via 2-working day carrier.

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Avoid A Chaotic Christmas & Order Your Christmas Labels Now! Despatch & Delivery Information For Christmas 2018

November 28th, 2018

With less than a month until Christmas, now is the time to order your Christmas labels. Here is our despatch and delivery information for Christmas 2018.

despatch and delivery from label planet

Despatch & Delivery Of Christmas Labels For December 2018

We will despatch orders (where stock is available) until Friday 21st December when we close for our Christmas Break.

Despatch and delivery times depend on the specific products and quantities you order, whether an item is stocked or made to order, and stock availability.

  • STOCKED ITEMS: 25 sheet packs available for same day despatch from stock (where available). Orders for 500+ sheets are sent from our warehouse; if stock is unavailable, your labels will be made to order.
  • UNSTOCKED ITEMS: these items have a minimum order quantity of 500 sheets and are made to order. They usually take up to five working days for despatch; around Christmas, it takes the full five working days (eventually shifting to 5-7 working days). Get in touch to check on the current lead-time for the specific products and quantities you wish to order.

Small orders (fewer than 250 sheets) despatch via Royal Mail’s first class service. Around 93% arrives next day but items can take five working days to arrive. As first class mail often experiences delays at Christmas, we recommend upgrading to Special Delivery, which guarantees delivery by 1pm on the next working day. There is an additional charge for this service (this is the amount that Royal Mail charge us); upgrade by phone or online.

If you order on a Friday and want Saturday delivery, you will need to upgrade to Saturday Special Delivery – this service can only be requested by phone.

Large orders (250+ sheets) despatch via next working day carrier as standard. Orders for delivery to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands are sent via 2-day working carrier. We have some timed delivery services available; please contact our Customer Service Team to find out more.

Last Posting Dates For December 2018

Here are the LAST POSTING DATES for orders of Christmas labels from Label Planet.

Please note that these despatch dates are dependent on stock availability.

Order Quantity Delivery Address Delivery Service Last Posting Date
250+ sheets Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands 2 Day Carrier

Thursday 20th December

(up to 3pm)
250+ sheets UK Mainland Next Day Carrier

Friday 21st December

(up to 3pm)
25-225 sheets Republic of Ireland

Royal Mail’s International Standard Service

(delays possible)

Tuesday 18th December

(up to 4pm)
25-225 sheets

UK

(UK Mainland, Islands with UK Postcodes, and Northern Ireland)

Royal Mail’s First Class Service

(NOT guaranteed next day – delays possible)

Thursday 20th December

(up to 4pm)
25-225 sheets

UK

(UK Mainland, Islands with UK Postcodes, and Northern Ireland)

 Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed Service / Saturday Delivery Guaranteed Service *

Friday 21st December

(up to 4pm)

Order Now To Ensure A Chaos-Free Delivery Of Christmas Labels

As ever, our top tips for ordering Christmas labels are to order as soon as possible and to consider upgrading to our special delivery service if you are ordering fewer than 250 sheets.

If you need to order large quantities and/or made to order items, you should definitely order as soon as possible before lead times extend beyond Christmas. You can always contact our Customer Service Team to check on the availability of any items or to request an estimate of the lead time for the items you wish to order.

Remember, you need to leave enough time for your order to be despatched and delivered, to design and print a label template onto your Christmas labels, to stick your Christmas labels onto your items, and then to get your items to where they need to be – all in time for Christmas.

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Make Your Post Personal & Professional With Address Labels From Label Planet

November 21st, 2018

Address labels are the perfect way to make your post more presentable. Whether you’re looking to add personality or professionality, we’ve got address labels to make your post look perfect!

Address Labels – A Practical & Pretty Addition To All Your Post

While you can use address labels simply to make your post more decorative or professional in appearance, there’s a lot to be said for the practical benefits of printing address labels.

Printing address labels can save you a lot of time – especially if you’ve got a long mailing list. There are plenty of automated tools to speed up the process even further. For example, mail merges are a brilliant tool, whether you’re a business or organisation getting in touch with customers, clients, or supporters or simply an individual who has a very long Christmas card list.

Printing labels is also a lot less strenuous than handwriting your own address labels and you get a perfectly uniform set of labels – brilliant if your handwriting tends to get a bit wonky.

You may worry that printed address labels aren’t as personal as handwritten ones but there are hundreds of ways to personalise address labels to make sure that they are truly unique. Decorative designs, fonts, and photographs can all be included to make your address labels your own.

Printing address labels allows you to combine the practical and the pretty to ensure that your post gets where it needs to go AND lets people know who it’s from – before they even open it! For example, you could include a personal message (or design) or company/organisation details and branding.

Address Labels – Product Options To Suit Every Purpose

Whether you’re trying to make your post more personal or professional, we’ve got the perfect products for you!

address labels from label planetWhite Address Labels

If you’re looking for something classic, you can’t go wrong with a white paper label. White labels are easy to read and provide the perfect background for colourful designs and/or photographs. There are three options to choose from:

  • White Labels: our standard paper labels are made with matt white paper and are suitable for inkjet and laser printers. Ideal for basic address labels – and perfect if you’re working a tight budget.
  • Gloss White Labels: for a subtle touch of decoration, our gloss labels are an ideal choice. They have a bright and shiny surface, which makes your information/design stand out against matt envelopes and packaging. We have Gloss Labels For Laser Printers, Semi-Gloss Labels For Laser Printers (for a more subtle degree of shine), and Photo-Quality Gloss Labels – ideal if you want to add photographs or high resolution artwork to your address labels.
  • Premium Paper Labels: if you prefer a matt finish, our premium paper labels are perfect. They are made with a specially coated paper, which is ideal for printing high resolution artwork and photographs. These paper labels can be printed with an inkjet or a laser printer.

Coloured Address Labels

For a super quick and effective way to add a touch of decoration to your post, coloured address labels are the ideal solution. They give you an instantly decorative background for your text and designs, although you may need to make sure that you choose suitable colour schemes to make sure your print remains legible against the coloured background. They’re also a brilliant way to reflect your company/organisation brand colours and are especially popular for special events, both personal and professional in nature. Again, there are three options to choose from:

  • Coloured Labels: our pastel coloured labels are available in seven shades; red labels, orange-red labels, yellow labels, green labels, blue labels, pink labels, and cream labels. You can print them using a laser or inkjet printer.
  • Gold Labels & Silver Labels: our metallic coloured labels are a popular choice for festive items, celebrations, and special events – particularly for seasonal items and for weddings. They have a satin metallic finish and can be printed using a laser printer.
  • Kraft Labels: our brown Kraft labels have a ribbed finish for a subtle touch of pattern and texture. Especially popular for homemade and craft items, these address labels offer a natural finish that is perfect for adding a personal touch to your post.

Transparent Address Labels

Transparent labels are a brilliantly versatile way to create address labels. They are ideal if you have decorative envelopes or packaging; firstly, they avoid the problem of trying to colour match patterning (and brand colours) and they allow you to avoid plastering a less decorative address label over your carefully chosen pattern. They can allow you to add your address information on to items seamlessly – so your envelopes / packaging appear pre-printed with the correct details. We offer three options for transparent labels:

  • GCP: GLOSS transparent labels, suitable for use with inkjet printers only.
  • GTP: GLOSS transparent labels, suitable for use with laser printers only.
  • MTP: MATT transparent labels, suitable for use with laser printers only.

Order Address Labels From Label Planet – With Super Fast Despatch & Delivery To Get You Set For Christmas!

Our Address Labels section includes the materials listed above in the FIVE label sizes that are most popularly used as address labels. These are:

  • LP4/99: 4 labels per sheet, 99.1 x 139mm (compatible Avery labels L7169)
  • LP8/99: 8 labels per sheet, 99.1 x 67.7mm (compatible Avery labels L7165)
  • LP14/99: 14 labels per sheet, 99.1 x 38.1mm (compatible Avery labels L7163)
  • LP21/63: 21 labels per sheet, 63.5 x 38.1mm (compatible Avery labels L7160)
  • LP65/38: 65 labels per sheet, 38.1 x 21.2mm (compatible Avery labels L7651)

These are all stocked items, available to purchase in packs of 25 sheets for same day despatch.

We despatch orders of fewer than 250 sheets by Royal Mail’s first class service. Around 93% arrives next day with the rest taking a few days extra (up to five working days). If you’ve got a deadline to meet, you can upgrade to Special Delivery, which guarantees delivery by 1pm on the next working day.

Orders of 250+ sheets despatch via next working day carrier. Delivery to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands takes two working days.

Orders of 500+ sheets despatch from our warehouse where stock is available. If stock is unavailable or your items are made to order (i.e. have a minimum order quantity of 500 sheets), despatch will take up to five working days. This leadtime will increase as we get closer to Christmas.

We offer a free sample request service so you can test a couple of options. We also provide free label templates in Word and PDF formats. Download these from our Label Templates section; first select your label shape and then your label size.

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Label Planet Answers Frequently Asked Questions About … Avery Labels

November 14th, 2018

For many, the name “Avery” is synonymous with self adhesive labels. So we’ve put together a list of answers to the most FAQs we get about Avery labels.

label planet labels, label templates, and avery labels

Do You Supply Avery Labels?

No – we do not sell any Avery products.

Our self adhesive labels are produced independently in the UK using high quality materials and manufacturing processes. However, some of our products are “Avery compatible”.

What Do You Mean By Compatible With Avery Labels?

When we say our products are compatible with Avery labels, we mean that they use the same label size and layout (although the materials we use to make our labels will differ from those used by Avery).

This means that you can use an Avery template to print labels you have bought from us; you could even use a Label Planet template to print labels you have bought from Avery.

Some Avery labels use a very similar size and/or layout to our products, where the difference is 1mm or less; in these cases, we list the relevant Avery code along with the ^ symbol to indicate that there is a VERY slight difference between our labels and those of Avery.

How Do I Know If Your Labels Are Compatible With Avery Labels?

If one of our products is compatible with Avery labels, we list the relevant Avery codes on the product page, template information page, and product packaging * for that label size.

* Stocked items sold in 25 sheet packs only. Bulk and made to order items are despatched from our warehouse using different packaging.

Our product pages and packaging show only the most common Avery code. The template information pages show ALL current Avery codes that are compatible with our products.

You can view the relevant template information page by clicking on the purple “Label Templates And Printing Information” link on the product page OR by visiting our Template Home Page and selecting your label shape and then your label size.

We have also put together two cross reference pages:

Avery Codes With Compatible Label Planet Sizes – use this page if you have an Avery code and want to find out if we supply labels in that size.

Label Planet Codes With Compatible Avery Sizes – use this page if you have a Label Planet code and want to find out if it is compatible with Avery products.

Why Do Some Of Your Labels Have More Than One Compatible Avery Code?

Some of our Avery compatible products have more than one compatible Avery code. This is because of the way Avery creates product (and template) codes.

Label Planet and Avery supply a range of label sizes, many of which are available in different materials/adhesives. This means you can use one template to print multiple products that share the same label size and layout.

At Label Planet, our product codes have two parts; the first is the size code and the second is the material code. Our templates are named using the relevant size code. We supply one set of templates for each size (not for each product).

For example, our label size 99.1 x 139mm is available in a range of materials. The product code for our standard paper labels in this size is LP4/99. For our gloss paper laser labels in the same size, we use the code LP4/99 GW. The template code for both of these products is LP4/99.

Avery use unique codes for their products – and use the same codes for their templates. This means that they have templates for each product (not each size).

To continue our example, Avery supplies the 99.1 x 139mm label size as two paper products; L7169 is paper labels for laser printers and J8169 is paper labels for inkjet printers. Their gloss paper laser labels in the same size have the product code L7769.

Avery have templates for each of these codes, which means Avery templates L7169, J8169, and L7769 are actually identical.

This also means that our LP4/99 (and LP4/99 GW etc) labels are compatible with Avery codes L7169, J8169, AND L7769.

In fact, we’ve found SIXTEEN compatible Avery codes for our LP4/99 label size – they’re all listed on the LP4/99 template information page.  

Why Can’t I Find An Avery Code In My Software?

Given that Avery labels are such an established part of the labelling industry, software with built-in label templates will often include a set of Avery templates.

If you’ve got an Avery code but you’re struggling to find it in your software, this could be because…

  • You haven’t selected Avery A4/A5 as the label vendor. There may be three sets of Avery templates; Avery A4/A5 (label sizes supplied on A4 or A5 sheets), Avery Zweckform (label sizes supplied on A4 sheets, more commonly used in Europe), and Avery US Letter (label sizes supplied on Letter sheets, used in the US). Each range has its own set of product codes so you won’t be able to find your code if you aren’t looking at the right set of Avery products.
  • You are using an Avery code that has been discontinued by Avery and has therefore been dropped from your software.
  • Your software doesn’t include that particular code in its list of built-in templates. The set of built-in templates available may be revised when software is updated. The most popular and common templates available at the time the software is created or updated is usually included BUT these sets tend to offer a selection of templates rather than every template currently in existence. This can mean that older codes or less popular sizes may be removed or left out of template sets.

It may be worth trying to find another Avery code that uses the same label size and layout. For example, if you are printing Label Planet labels with multiple compatible Avery codes, and the first code you try isn’t available in your software, work through the list of codes to see if another one is available.

Why Can’t I Find An Avery Code For Label Planet Product Code LP…/…?

If we haven’t listed any Avery codes for one of our products, this is because Avery simply don’t supply labels in that particular size. We have, however, created Word and PDF label templates for all of our label sizes for customers to use free of charge. These templates can be downloaded from our Template Home page (select your label shape and size) or by clicking on the “Label Templates and Printing Information” link on the relevant product page.

Got Any More Questions & Queries? Check Out Our Help Pages Or Get In Touch!

We’ve put together a range of guides, tips, and resources to create a Help Section that aims provide help and advice on designing and printing your own self adhesive labels – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro! This section includes guides on designing and printing labels, top tips and a troubleshooting guide, along with our template section.

If you find that your particular question or query isn’t answered on these pages, get in touch with our Customer Service Team. You can give us a call during office hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or email info@labelplanet.co.uk at any time.

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Label Planet’s Brief Guide To Self Adhesive Labels

November 7th, 2018

If you’re buying self adhesive labels and find yourself overwhelmed at the sheer amount of options available, this is the post for you! We’ve put together a brief guide to what self adhesive labels are – and why there are so many options available.

label planet labels templates samples

What Are Self Adhesive Labels?

Self adhesive labels are labels made with a particular type of adhesive known as a “self adhesive” or “pressure sensitive adhesive”. A pressure sensitive adhesive is an adhesive that is tacky (sticky) at room temperature and requires only the pressure of a finger/thumb to form a successful application.

How Many Different Forms Of Self Adhesive Labels Are There?

Self adhesive labels come in many different forms; common examples include sheet labels (like our A4 labels), roll labels (where the labels are on a continuous backing sheet that is wound around a central core), and fan-fold labels (also carried on a continuous backing sheet but one that is perforated and then folded back and forth along these perforations). Some are intended for use with printers, while others are intended to be left blank or handwritten only.

Generally speaking, self adhesive labels are three-tier constructions; they have a top layer (the Face Material), a middle layer (the Adhesive), and a bottom layer (the Backing Sheet). The face material and adhesive separate from the backing sheet to form the “label” proper. Self adhesive labels may have additional layers to help produce a particular appearance or fulfil a particular function.

At Label Planet, we have chosen to specialise in A4 sheets of self adhesive labels, which are designed for use with standard desktop laser and inkjet printers.

Why Are There So Many Different Options?

You can use A4 labels for thousands of different label applications. Different applications require particular sizes, materials, and/or adhesives to ensure that the labels can create and sustain an adhesive bond under the unique circumstances and requirements of that particular application.

Therefore, while we “specialise” in one particular type of self adhesive labels, we still have a LOT of options. Our product range includes over 100 label sizes in over 30 material/adhesive combinations because we want all of our customers to be able to find an option that suits their application.

Label Sizes:

We supply “standard” label sizes. These sizes determined by the proportions of an A4 sheet; they are the result of dividing an A4 sheet into a specific number of labels, while leaving as little waste material around and between the labels as possible. We do not supply bespoke sizes; you would need to contact a label manufacturer to request bespoke label sizes.

Label Materials:

Our sizes are then available in various material/adhesive combinations. Each combination provides a range of properties suitable for different applications. For example, we provide…

  • Paper or Synthetic Materials.
    Paper labels are a basic (and budget friendly) option suitable for general applications. Synthetic labels offer specialised properties for more demanding applications; for example, those requiring transparent labels, waterproof labels, or asset / security labels.
  • Inkjet Labels or Laser Labels.
    Different printers use VERY different printing methods. Inkjet printers disperse inks onto a surface, where they are partially absorbed before drying in place. Laser printers use heat (and pressure) to bond a dry powder (toner) onto a surface.Some materials suit one particular printing method (others suit both). We therefore supply laser labels and inkjet labels to allow our customers to get the best possible print quality.
  • Coloured Labels, Transparent Labels, and Gloss Labels / Matt Labels.
    For many customers, appearance is key. We therefore provide options for coloured labels, transparent labels, along with gloss finishes (bright and shiny) and matt finishes (dull and flat).
  • Permanent, Removable, and Special Adhesives.
    Pressure sensitive adhesives are either permanent or removable. The former create strong adhesive bonds that make labels difficult to remove. The latter create adhesive bonds that hold labels in place while needed before removing easily and cleanly (without damaging the surface or leaving behind adhesive residue).We supply permanent labels and removable labels along with specialised adhesives designed for specific applications. Examples include our high / super tack adhesives (create strong adhesive bonds even on unusual materials and/or curved surfaces), marine adhesive (for outdoor applications), VOID adhesive (for security labels), deep freeze adhesive (for items used/stored in freezer conditions), water wash off adhesive (for reusable containers), and super removable adhesive (for temporarily labelling delicate items).

Choosing The Right Self Adhesive Labels From Label Planet

There are a variety of ways to find the perfect self adhesive labels for your application.

Our alphabetical list and home page links let you visit our different product range pages. Use our All Labels page to view all of our range pages at once. Alternatively, use the Label Finder to create a shortlist of suitable options based on your requirements. Enter the things your labels MUST be and the Finder will list of all of our products that suit.

We offer a free sample request service, so you can try a few different sizes and/or materials to find the perfect option for your application. We also provide free label template for you to use to design and print your own labels.

If you need any help and advice, our Customer Service Team is on hand 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, to help you find the perfect sticky labels.

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Halloween Tricks & Treats From Label Planet To Stop Your Sticky Labels Giving You A Scare!

October 31st, 2018

This Halloween, Label Planet has got plenty of tricks and treats to help you avoid the nightmare of sticky labels that are determined to give you a fright.

label planet labels templates samples

Petrified About Picking The Wrong Product? Try The Label Finder & Our Free Sample Request Service!

There are a terrifying amount of choices when it comes to picking the perfect sticky labels. If you’ve never waded through the weird and wonderful world of label adhesives and materials before it can be a nightmare trying to find the one that’s right for your application.

Our Label Finder is designed to narrow down your choices based on the requirements that you need your sticky labels to meet. All you have to do is select the things your sticky labels must be or do. The Finder then then gives you a list of the products that meet your specifications. You can select various factors including size, shape, colour, finish, printer compatibility, and application-specific requirements such as waterproof labels.

If you’re struggling to pick between a couple of options or need to make sure that a particular material/adhesive suits the circumstances of your application, then why not use our free sample request service. Tell us which products you want to try and we’ll send out a sample pack. Provide as much detail as you can about your application and we’ll make sure you get the most suitable samples.

Terrified About Tackling Troublesome Label Templates? Visit Our Label Templates Section today!

We have spent YEARS working with label templates and we’ve come across some truly terrifying template troubles. To help our customers fight back against the nightmare that is tricky templates, we’ve created a dedicated Label Templates section. This section includes individual label template information pages for ALL of our label sizes. Each page includes Word & PDF templates, detailed measurement and layout information, compatible Avery codes, and top tips.

You’ll also find links to our advice pages, including top tips and guides to designing and printing label templates. We’ve also written a Troubleshooting Guide to help customers escape from pretty much every template nightmare they might encounter.

To edit Word label templates , you can use any word processing software / application that can edit the .docx file format. Examples include Word, Word For Mac, and Pages. PDF label templates can be edited using any graphics package or application that can edit the .pdf file.

Not A Scooby Doo What To Do To Design And Print Your Own Sticky Labels? Take A Look At Our Help Pages Or Get In Touch!

Like our Label Templates Section, we’ve spent years adding to and refining our Help Section to make sure that we provide our customers with the help and advice they may need when designing and printing their own sticky labels.

Our Help Section includes links to ALL of our information pages and resources. This includes our Sample Request Service, Label Templates, Top Tips, Guides To Designing & Printing Sticky Labels, Troubleshooting Guides, FAQs, Material Specification Sheets, A Glossary, and links to our two blogs – this, our Sticky Labels Blog, and our Label Templates Blog.

If you can’t find the answer to your particular question in these pages, get in touch with our Customer Service Team. We have plenty of clues as to what you should do to solve the mysteries of designing and printing sticky labels.

You can send us an email at any time or give us a call during office hours; we’re available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM LABEL PLANET!

Whatever your plans are tonight, we hope you have a terrifying good time!

To banish the terrifying troubles of label templates and the shocking scares of sticky labels, here are the links you’ll need to get your hands on Label Planet’s tricks and treats…

Label Finder // Request A Sample // Label Templates // Help Section

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This Is The FIRST Last Post Warning – Yes, It’s Time To Plan Your Last Minute Orders For Christmas Labels!

October 24th, 2018

We are officially commencing our countdown to Christmas – and those all important last posting dates that will determine whether or not your Christmas labels will arrive before Christmas.

despatch and delivery from label planet

WHY YOU NEED TO PLAN AHEAD & ORDER CHRISTMAS LABELS EARLY

Many of our customers will already have ordered their Christmas labels – some early birds ordered way back in August! But for those of you that haven’t got around to thinking about Christmas labels yet – here’s why it’s so important to order early.

Christmas labels don’t need to arrive before Christmas.

They need to arrive before you have to despatch your labelled items so that they will arrive at their intended destination before Christmas.

This means that you need to allow time for:

  • Your order to be despatched.
  • Your order to be delivered.
  • A label template to be designed.
  • That label template to be printed onto your Christmas labels.
  • Your labelled items to be despatched to wherever they need to go.
  • Your labelled items to arrive at their destination BEFORE Christmas.

People often underestimate how long it takes for all of these steps to happen – and it’s no fun spending the weeks (and days) before Christmas in an absolute panic. So, order now and avoid a chaotic Christmas (at least in terms of your Christmas labels – we can’t promise that our labels will make the rest of your Christmas any less chaotic!).

DESPATCH & DELIVERY OF CHRISTMAS LABELS FOR 2018!

To guarantee pre-Christmas despatch and delivery and avoid chaos this Christmas, order your Christmas labels NOW!

We despatch small orders (fewer than 250 sheets) by Royal Mail’s first class service. This service will see more delays as Christmas gets closer. We recommend upgrading to our special delivery service, which guarantees delivery by 1pm on the next working day.

Small orders despatch same day, Monday to Friday, up to 4pm.

We despatch larger orders via next working day carrier. We have some special delivery options available (including pre-noon) – please contact our Customer Service Team to find out more and upgrade.

Please note: delivery to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands is via a 2 day carrier service.

Large orders despatch same day, Monday to Friday, up to 3pm – where stock is available.

We send 500 sheet boxes from our warehouse via next working day carrier; if your product has a minimum order quantity of 500 sheets it is NOT a stocked item and will therefore be made to order. This usually takes up to five working days – although standard paper labels often despatch sooner. At this time of year, our manufacturing lead-times increase (usually to 5-7 working days, although some items may move to 7+ working days), so we strongly recommend ordering non-stocked items or larger quantities as early as possible to avoid delay.

We recommend contacting our customer service team to confirm lead-times/stock availability if you need non-stocked items or large quantities.

LABEL PLANET PRESENTS: A PREVIEW OF THE LAST POSTING DATES FOR 2018!

We hereby present the last posting dates for orders of Christmas labels for 2018.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE DATES ARE A GUIDE AND ONLY INDICATE THAT YOUR ORDER WILL ARRIVE WITH YOU BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Always order Christmas labels early to avoid delays, disappointment, and disasters!

Number Of Sheets Delivery Address Delivery Service Last Posting Date
250+ sheets Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, and the Channel Islands 2 Day Carrier

Thursday 20th December

(up to 3pm)
250+ sheets UK Mainland Next Day Carrier

Friday 21st December

(up to 3pm)
25-225 sheets Republic of Ireland

Royal Mail’s International Standard Service

(delays possible)

Tuesday 18th December

(up to 4pm)
25-225 sheets

UK

(UK Mainland, Islands with UK Postcodes, and Northern Ireland)

Royal Mail’s First Class Service

(NOT guaranteed next day – delays possible)

Thursday 20th December

(up to 4pm)
25-225 sheets

UK

(UK Mainland, Islands with UK Postcodes, and Northern Ireland)

 Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed Service / Saturday Delivery Guaranteed Service *

Friday 21st December

(up to 4pm)

* Special Delivery guarantees delivery by 1pm on the next working day; this is available by phone or online. Saturday Delivery guarantees delivery by 1pm on Saturday (for orders placed on Friday21st December!); this is only available by phone.

Order Your Christmas Labels From Label Planet Today!

If you’re keen to get organised, head on over to our home page to order your Christmas labels today. Visit our List Of All Materials page fto view all of our materials / adhesives or enter your product code in the Product Search bar.

Visit our Help Section for tips and advice on designing and printing your own Christmas labels. This includes our top tips and troubleshooting guide, along with our Label Templates section – which contains Word label templates and PDF label templates for all of our label sizes (along with compatible Avery codes, where applicable).

Our Customer Service Team is on hand, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, to help with any questions or queries you may have about ordering Christmas labels.

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Find A Fitting Finish With Label Planet’s Guide To Matt Labels And Gloss Labels

October 17th, 2018

Self adhesive labels come in many different finishes; in this post, we’ll take a look at the two most popular options – matt labels and gloss labels.

Label Planet Labels Logo

Matt Labels And Gloss Labels – First Things First: Just What Is A “Finish”?

“Finish” refers to the surface properties of materials as determined by their appearance and texture. This may include the level of gloss and the smoothness of their surface. The finish of self adhesive labels tends to refer to the level of gloss.

A gloss finish is extremely efficient at reflecting light; it reflects light in a concentrated pattern over a smaller area, which results in a bright and shiny appearance. Matt surfaces diffuse (scatter) light causing it to spread out over a wide area, creating a flat and dull appearance.

Other finishes (such as semi-gloss, silk, and satin) are less efficient at reflecting light than a full gloss finish but more efficient than a matt finish.

Matt Labels And Gloss Labels – What Are The Benefits & Drawbacks Of Each Finish?

As with any property of materials, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of finish. Some are practical considerations that will determine which finish is more suitable for your application. Others are more of a subjective factor, related to the look of your self adhesive labels.

Gloss Labels

This decorative finish is often popular because it offers more subtle decoration compared to, say, coloured labels. The bright and shiny surface creates an attractive and professional finish, which can draw attention to important information. Gloss labels have special coatings, which add extra beneficial properties. For example, coatings tend to create a smoother finish and can offer protective properties, resulting in tougher and more durable sticky labels. They may also offer limited protection from environmental elements such as moisture. While paper labels can never be fully waterproof, our gloss and semi-gloss paper labels are “splashproof” and can be wiped clean and dry if lightly splashed with water.

Matt Labels

Matt labels may not be as decorative as gloss labels but this can be a benefit. Their subtle flat finish allows additional print to be added onto matt surfaces without drawing attention to the fact that this has been done. Some matt labels (especially matt transparent labels) become almost invisible after application, making it seem as though your additional print is actually part of the labelled item. Matt labels tend to be uncoated (with a rougher surface), although additional coatings can improve the finish. They can also be made with waterproof materials to create waterproof matt labels suitable for outdoor (or indoor) use. A less reflective surface can also be beneficial when the print must be easy to read – by humans or by machines. Gloss labels may be harder to read when light sources reflect off the surface. Matt labels are a better option for barcode labels and QR code labels. While some readers do not rely on detecting fluctuating levels of reflected light, traditional optical scanners do. The reflective surface of gloss labels may prevent barcodes and QR codes scanning correctly. The (usually) rougher surface of matt labels is often more receptive to handwritten or drawn designs along with craft materials, such as foils and stamps.

So Which Finish Should I Choose?

Ultimately, the choice between matt labels and gloss labels is up to you. Generally, it depends on the appearance you want for your self adhesive labels (and your labelled items). If you don’t have any practical considerations to bear in mind (which might rule out one or other of the finishes), it really does just depend on the finish that you prefer.

Order Matt Labels AND Gloss Labels From Label Planet

Visit our List Of All Materials page to view all of our materials; the description includes the finish of each product. Our product pages also list the finish of each product.

As well as gloss and matt finishes, we also supply semi-gloss labels, our gold labels and silver labels have a satin finish, and our Kraft labels have a ribbed matt finish, which adds a subtle touch of pattern and texture.

We offer a free Sample Request service so you can take a look at our materials and decide which finish fits your labelling project best. Label templates are available to download from our Label Templates Home Page and our Help Section includes a variety of guides and tips on designing and printing self adhesive labels.

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Void Security Labels From Label Planet Keep All Items Safe & Secure

October 10th, 2018

Security labels and tamper evident labels increase the security of items. This week, we’re taking a closer look at our silver void security labels.

security labels - silver void labels - label planet ltd

VOID Security Labels – What Are Security Labels?

The term security labels may be applied to any label designed to improve the security of labelled items. Security labels can improve the security of items in a number of different ways. They may act as a visual deterrent against tampering or theft, provide a means of tracking an object, and/or contain special features that prevent the production of counterfeit items.

Security labels known as Tamper Evident Labels provide visual proof of tampering. This can also act as a visual deterrent against such tampering occurring in the first place.

Tamper evident labels provide visual proof of tampering in different ways; removing a label usually leaves a section of that label behind.

VOID Security Labels – How Do Void Labels Work As Security Labels?

VOID security labels leave behind a message (usually the word “VOID”) on the label itself, the previously labelled item, or both. This method involves adding an extra layer to the label construction. There are three types of VOID security labels…

  • Total Transfer: the extra layer carries a printed void message. It separates from the face material (top layer) to leave the extra layer (and the void message) on the previously labelled item.
  • Non-Transfer: the extra layer carries a printed void message. It remains attached to the face material. The absence of the label and the void message on the back of the label serves as proof of tampering.
  • Partial Transfer: the extra layer is connected to the face material using a pattern release coating OR is connected to a pattern release adhesive. The extra layer divides in two – half remaining on the back of the face material and half on the adhesive. This leaves the void message on the reverse of the label itself and on the previously labelled item.

Our void security labels use a partial transfer, leaving a void message on the label and the previously labelled item. Any attempt to re-stick the label back down will not be able to disguise the split in the extra layer created during the first removal.

VOID Security Labels – What Are The Benefits Of Void Security Labels?

Our void security labels are made with silver polyester and a partial transfer VOID adhesive. They are tough, durable, and waterproof labels, which makes them ideal long life tracking labels. They will remain firmly in place for the lifetime of a labelled item or for the duration of storage and/or transportation. The material also suits applications with fluctuating or extreme temperatures (hot or cold), which is often an issue for appliances and electronics.

The colour draws attention to your information. This could include a company logo and/or contact information, health and safety warnings, instructions for use, or general security information.

Our silver polyester has a high quality matt finish. This produces a decorative and professional appearance, which is perfect for high value goods.

The adhesive bonds well with a range of materials and surfaces types. They can be used on (slightly) curved surfaces but flat surfaces are better. The polyester has a strong “memory” and is likely to “ping” up if applied over an edge or around a tightly curved surface. To label edges and curves, use a larger label size to provide a larger surface area for your adhesive to bond.

VOID Security Labels – What Kind Of Security Applications Do Void Security Labels Suit?

Security Labels On High Or Added Value Goods

Void labels act as a visual deterrent against tampering and theft. They also provide visual evidence of tampering. This improves the security of labelled items and can help to prevent unauthorised reselling.

Security Seals On Product & Document Packaging

Seal packaging used to store and/or transport high value goods or important documents. Opening the packaging marks both the seal and the packaging itself. Sticking the label back down cannot disguise a broken seal because of the divide in the extra layer.

Warranty Labels On High Or Added Value Goods

Goods sold with a warranty may have security labels applied. If products are tampered with in a certain way, the damage to or removal of warranty labels proves that the warranty has been voided by an individual’s actions or treatment of the product. They can display details about the warranty supplied with a particular product or contact information for the relevant manufacturer, distributor, or servicing company. They can also detail the servicing history of an item, including servicing dates and results. Warranty labels are especially popular for use on high value appliances and electronic devices.

VOID Security Labels – How Do I Print Void Security Labels & Tamper Evident Labels?

Our SVP material does require a little extra care to get the perfect print.

This is because the polyester material is metallised – coated with a thin layer of metal. Laser printers use heat (and pressure) to bond toner in place. The layer of metal reflects heat from the fuser unit, which increases the overall temperature applied during printing. You therefore need to use a print setting that applies less heat to get the correct print temperature.

The wrong settings may prevent your toner bonding properly and/or may cause your sheets to curl up and jam inside your printer.

We highly recommend test printing a few sheets to determine which print setting works best. Check your printer’s manual and/or the manufacturer’s website in case they have provided recommended guidelines for self adhesive labels and more specialised materials.

Order VOID Security Labels From Label Planet

Visit our SVP range page to find out more, see what label sizes are available, or to place an order.

Products with a minimum order quantity of 25 sheets are available for same day despatch from stock. A minimum order quantity of 500 sheets indicates made to order items. Despatch is currently take five working days because of the increase in production in preparation for Christmas.

Remember, you can also request a sample if you would like to give these products a trial run. We supply label templates free of charge, which can be downloaded by heading to our Label Templates Home page and selecting your label shape and label size.

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Using Sticky Labels As Seals – Tips &Tricks and Recommended Products From Label Planet

October 3rd, 2018

Today, we’re taking a look at all of the different ways you can make seals – for products, packaging, and documents – using sticky labels from Label Planet.

sticky labels as seal stickers

Sticky Labels As Seals: Printed Vs Unprinted Seals

Seals are really versatile tools that can help promote your brand or personalise products, packaging, documents, envelopes, and gifts. You can use printed, unprinted, or handwritten sticky labels to create your perfect seals.

Print your company name or logo to add extra branding to products, packaging, and correspondence. Add a personal message, photo, or design to postal items or gifts, especially those for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or Christmas.

Alternatively, you may simply need sticky labels to keep your products, packaging, and documents safely and securely sealed. For a subtle finish use white labels or transparent labels. If you prefer a touch of decoration, try coloured labels or gloss labels (see Recommended Materials For Seals).

Sticky Labels As Seals: Permanent Vs Removable Adhesives For Seals

You must choose the right adhesive to ensure your seals will actually seal things. First you need to choose a permanent or removable adhesive.

PERMANENT ADHESIVES: these adhesives create strong adhesive bonds that are difficult to break. Ideal if items need to be securely sealed during storage and/or transit before being opened.

We supply a range of permanent adhesives; generally speaking, our standard permanent adhesives will form perfectly good seals.

If you are applying seals onto unusual materials (e.g. plastics, fabrics etc), curved surfaces, or over edges, you may wish to choose a super tack, high tack, or marine adhesive.

Our freezer adhesive is best for sealing items stored and/or used in freezer conditions. This adhesive was designed specifically to create and sustain adhesive bonds in deep freeze conditions.

Finally, if you are looking for security seals, we would recommend our tamper evident labels – SVP and TEV (see Top Tips For Security Seals).

REMOVABLE ADHESIVES: these adhesives create temporary bonds and won’t damage items when sticky labels are removed. Perfect if opening or removing a seal must not damage previously sealed items. For example, if you are sealing important documents or gift items – especially those made of glass or paper – removing a seal made with a permanent adhesive could damage those items either by tearing the surface or leaving behind adhesive residue.

Our standard removable adhesive is ideal for most temporary applications. If you are labelling items made of glass or paper, or gift items, we recommend our super removable adhesive.

Removable adhesives are best suited for use as seals that are to be applied directly onto items (rather than packaging), where those items are also to be retained by the recipient (meaning those items must not be damaged).

Sticky Labels As Seals: Top Tips For Label Sizes & Shapes

Most people choose a non-rectangular shape for seals as this offers a more decorative appearance. Round labels / circular labels are the most popular – although square labels and oval labels are also commonly used. Any shape can create suitable seals. The most important factor is the surface area available to create an adhesive bond.

If you are applying your seals onto a perfectly flat surface, you can use any material/adhesive/shape/size combination. Problems may arise with curved surfaces or edges (e.g. when sealing a box or holding a gift bag closed).

All materials have “memory”; this property causes materials to try to return to their original shape after deformation. For example, after folding seals over the edge(s) of a box or gift bag they may try to “ping” back up. To prevent your seals pinging back into their flat state (thereby unsealing your items), the adhesive bond must be strong enough to overcome the memory of the material.

You can do this by selecting a stronger adhesive (e.g. a high tack, super tack, or marine adhesive), a more flexible material (e.g. paper labels instead of polyester labels), or a larger label size (providing a larger surface area over which the adhesive can bond with your item leading to a stronger adhesive bond).

Sticky Labels As Seals: Recommended Materials For Seals

Most of our customers want decorative seals – although some materials are subtler than others. Here’s our guide to the most suitable materials for creating sticky seals:

  • Paper Labels: a budget friendly option, which can be printed with a colourful design for a more decorative finish.
  • Premium Quality Paper Labels: ideal for printing high resolution photographs or digital artwork. These sticky labels have a subtle matt finish and a super smooth surface for a high quality professional finish.
  • High Tack / Super Tack Paper Labels: suitable for unusual materials, curved surfaces, or sealing edges.
  • Gloss Paper Labels: we supply semi-gloss labels, gloss labels for laser printers, and photo quality gloss labels (for high resolution photos/artwork). The bright, shiny finish offers a subtle decorative finish in an instant.
  • Coloured Labels: a quick and simple way to create decorative seals; choose from seven pastel shades for a subtle bloom of colour, five fluorescents for a burst of colour, gold and silver for a touch of luxury or seasonal flair, or a brown ribbed Kraft paper for a subtle touch of pattern and texture and a natural, homemade finish.
  • Transparent Labels: a professional and decorative way to seal all sorts of items, transparent labels are a popular option.
  • Tamper Evident Labels: provide visual proof of a broken seal (see Top Tips For Security Seals).

Sticky Labels As Seals: Top Tips For Security Seals

Customers often ask for security seals to use on their products and/or packaging. These seals provide visual evidence when tampering has occured. We supply two types of tamper evident labels:

  • Silver Void Labels: silver labels with a special “VOID” adhesive. The adhesive layer splits on removal, leaving the word “VOID” on the previously labelled item.
  • Tamper Evident Vinyl Labels: these sticky labels have a strong permanent adhesive and a fragile vinyl face material; when you try to remove these sticky labels, the vinyl fragments into tiny pieces making it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to remove the label in its entirety.

NB: the purpose of tamper evident labels is to protect high value goods. If you simply need to keep products sealed until a customer opens them, use a standard paper label with a permanent adhesive. Paper labels tend to rip and/or leave behind adhesive residue when removed. The damage clearly indicates an item has been opened (and is far more cost effective).

Order Sticky Labels From Label Planet To Start Sealing Your Stuff!

To order sticky labels from Label Planet, simply head on over to www.labelplanet.co.uk. You can find all of our different materials and adhesives on our List Of All Materials page.

Remember that you can always Request A Sample free of charge to make sure our products will work for your application. We also supply label templates for all of our label sizes, so if you’d like to add a design or message to your seals, simply download a label template from our website and get printing.

Products with a minimum order quantity of 25 sheets are available for same day despatch from stock. A 500 sheet minimum order quantity indicates a made to order item. As we are nearing Christmas, these items are taking five working days for despatch so order early to avoid disappointment.

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