News
Save the Date Magnets: Excite Guests with a New Twist on Invitations
Considered to be the pre-invitation for events, Save the Date announcements are a popular way to make sure guests have early notice. There are many options when creating these cards. One that sticks out, literally, is Save the Date magnets.
Learn more
Stay Safe and Showcase Branding with Stickers for Hard Hats and Construction Safety Helmets
Hard hats and construction safety helmets play a critical role in protecting workers. They also make a perfect canvas for stickers. Stickers for hard hats and construction safety helmets elevate it from just another piece of safety gear. You can create custom stickers that have meaning for your brand and crew.
Learn moreSticker Swapping: Why Exchanging Stickers Is Fun and Good for Business
If you haven’t heard of sticker swapping, you can easily draw parallels back to your youth of trading cards. A sticker swap is a simple exchange of branded stickers. It’s a popular exercise for small businesses, woodworkers and other groups.
Learn more
How to Make Your Own Stickers with Expert Advice from the Sticker Pros at Stickerbeat!
How to Make Your Own Stickers with Expert Advice from the Sticker Pros at Stickerbeat. As an adjunct to any marketing program hoping for actionable recall and receptivity, using our custom sticker products can be very cost-effective for your small businesses, especially if its managed and tracked well.
Learn more5 Ways You Can Display Your Sticker Collection
Sticker collections aren’t just for kids! While we all remember the “sticker books” from our childhood, now the possibilities are endless to show off the stickers that are a sign of your personality, interests, and fandom. So, what are the best ways to display your sticker collection? We’ve got lots of creative ideas ahead.
Learn more
Running an Effective Sticker Marketing Campaign
Learn to use stickers as part of a marketing campaign. Discover different types of advertising stickers and strategies for using them most effectively.
Learn more
How to Start a Sticker Business in 2021
Do you have a passion for design and entrepreneurship? Then you may be wondering how to start a sticker business. Such shops are popular on Etsy, RedBubble, Facebook Shops, and more platforms. They can be an easy way to add a new revenue stream in 2021. Creating a sticker business includes many pieces that must come together. In this post, Stickerbeat provides you with insights, advice, and tips on how to start your sticker business. Should You Open a Sticker business? That’s the first and most important question to consider. When launching any type of business venture, you have to consider the pros and cons before you make the decision. There are many questions to pose to come to the answer. Let’s look at some of those. What Type of Stickers Would You Sell? There is a wide range of stickers, decals, and labels that you can offer. You might want to be narrow with your products or more diverse. Here are some sticker categories: Barcode labels: Lots of businesses use these, so you’d be looking at a different audience—business owners. That could be fruitful, as they’d order high volume. It will require specialized printing for the barcodes. Packaging labels: This category would also involve selling to businesses. Many small businesses need custom labels but don’t have the time or equipment to create them. Some possible buyers in this niche include bakeries, soap artisans, gift basket companies, wineries, and many other gift-related proprietors. Bumper stickers: Bumper stickers are an expression of ideology for many. Drivers love to share what they love. If considering this, you could have some standard designs or allow for personalization. Personalized stickers: Individuals, companies, and groups often want personalized stickers for events or products. You are most likely to find success as a sticker store when you offer lots of options versus only standard ones. With this route, you’ll also need a way for customers to upload images or graphics to go on these labels. Designing Stickers to Sell If you’re going into the sticker business because of your passion for design, then that can be a real differentiator for your store. You can design your own stickers within design platforms completely from scratch. You could also take illustrations and combine them to create something new. It all depends on your skill level and how much time you have to devote to the project. Buy Designs for Stickers You may have a great eye for design but don’t have the time or tools to design completely unique stickers. In that case, you can buy designs. There are many artists that offer sticker templates in a wide assortment. Even if you do your own design, it might be a good idea to get some of these, too, so that you have more options for your store. What Features Should Your Stickers Have? Regardless of the type of stickers, you offer in your store, you’ll want them to have specific features to ensure they are high-quality. Use vinyl as the material. It’s the highest quality to produce any type of sticker. It includes a 3.2-mil. block-out bubble free adhesive. This ensures the adherence is permanent, but you can still remove them with ease without leaving any residue. Ensure stickers have lamination. A lamination layer makes your stickers even more resilient. It protects them from fading and scratches. Choose waterproof stickers: Water can quickly damage cheap stickers. In most applications, a sticker will come into contact with moisture. The vinyl’s adhesive doesn’t let water seep in to ruin it. Additionally, with durable ink, the colors won’t diminish even in high-exposure areas. A true waterproof stickers can even handle going in the dishwasher. Include a backing liner. When customers receive their stickers, you want to make sure they are easy to apply. A backing liner does just this. It removes smoothly every time. What Do You Need in Place to Open Shop? To start a sticker business, you’ll need to go through these steps. Determine what platform you want to sell on. There are lots of marketplaces, and they all have different rules and costs. Compare at least two before you say yes. Look at how easy it is to set up your e-commerce store, what fees that take, and how many people they have as registered users. In making this decision, you also should consider where you want to sell. Some platforms are more global, so if you prefer to only sell in the U.S., which might change your decision. Create a brand. Every shop needs a brand, so you’ll need to start by naming your business. A naming exercise may seem cumbersome, but it’s absolutely worth it. Your company’s name will impact your success and ability to attract customers. Having a logo and some design elements will be critical as you build out your store. You’ll want that log to illustrate what your business stands for and what makes it unique. Circle stickers are a great way to display your brands logo. Another aspect of branding is setting up social media profiles, as these will be necessary to market your business. Decide which ones will benefit you most. Stickers are visual, so they’re a great match for Instagram and Pinterest. Set pricing. You’ll need to develop a pricing list based on the cost of goods and your margin. You won’t initially be able to figure that out until you decide how you’ll produce goods. You should also research competitors to see what their pricing looks like so you don’t go too high or too low. Get a business license. You’ll need to get a business license from your state in most cases. You can easily set up an LLC through a service like LegalZoom. Formulate the workflows. Customers will place an order on your website. Then what happens? You’ll need to break down processing the order, sending proofs and notifications to the buyer, going into production, fulfilling the order, and shipping. Develop a business plan. It’s important to document how you’ll start and grow your business. Define all the expectations, costs, and requirements. Some key things this should include are marketing plans, budget, the throughput you can handle, how you’ll take payment, and more. Should You Buy Equipment or Outsource Production? This is one of the most crucial decisions in starting a sticker business. If you go the route of fulfilling production in-house, it will require some capital start-up funding. You’ll need to purchase these items. Special, high-quality printers designed for commercial sticker production are not the same as an everyday printer! You need a printer to create your sticker products. Keep in mind, however, that buying a printer isn't the same quality or as affordable as going through a reputable sticker provider. You can browse a wide selection online, but it may be worth viewing this in-store to get a feel for how they work and what size they are. Here are questions to ask when buying a sticker printer: Does it have the capability to print on vinyl? Some printers cannot feed thicker materials, and some will make indents in it as it’s feeding it through. That is a huge problem because you don’t want holes in your stickers. Is there special ink? The answer is likely yes, and it won’t be cheap. Make sure you understand what ink works best for the printer and vinyl before you buy. Can the printer print to the border of the vinyl? This might be a big issue if it can’t since you’ll have problems with registration marks on certain label shapes or with some art. Is the software that comes with the printer easy to use and customize for your stickers? If it’s not user-friendly, you’ll frustrate easily. Does it have a scanner? If you design your own stickers, you’ll need this functionality. Most printers come with a scanner, so why not look into whether you’re going to need one in your business for any reason. Vinyl and ink While you could just use sticker paper, we’ve already advised of why vinyl is superior. If you use sticker paper, quality will be an issue. So, you’ll need to invest in vinyl and the correct link to print on it. You’ll need to research pricing and sourcing for both these materials. You should have more than one source on each, so you don’t fall short on inventory. Cutting machines or vinyl plotters First you need a machine or plotter to cut your stickers. Many options exist on the market, with more coming out every year. Some are more popular than others and have various features. That also means they have different price points. These machines require software for precision cutting, so consider that as part of the expense and learning curve. If you want to cut out intricate silhouettes, you’ll need equipment to do this accurately. Those costs can easily shoot up into the thousands, or even hundreds of thousands very quickly. Also, you’ll have to wait for the equipment to arrive. Then you’ll need to set it up and run a bunch of tests. While not hard to navigate, you will have a learning curve if you’ve never run a printing operation. With all this in mind, the better solution is likely to outsource. Here’s why: You don’t have to make any capital investments. Professional sticker companies have advanced technology and the ability to produce high volume that you may be unable to replicate. They use the best materials but get much better pricing than you do because they purchase in higher quantities. The more you order from them, the less per-piece cost, so you can take advantage of economies of scale. They have first turnaround times, so you shouldn’t have delays in order fulfillment. Comparing Vendors: What to Look for in a Sticker Company If this seems like a better avenue for your business, then you certainly compare sticker vendors. Here’s what to look for when doing this. Check the material to ensure its high-quality vinyl. 3M is the top tier, so anything less than that may not have all the attributes you want, like being waterproof and being easy to remove. Estimate costs of stickers orders by looking at shape, size, and quantity. All these things will contribute to the price. For example, custom sizes are more expensive than standard ones. Analyze the assortment. Not all vendors will have a large portfolio of options. At a minimum, they should offer die cut stickers, circle stickers, rectangle stickers, oval stickers, bumper stickers, reflective stickers, transfer stickers, clear stickers, holographic stickers, kiss cut stickers, square stickers, and rounded corner stickers. See what their shipping rates are and fast they can get them to you. Many vendors offer free shipping that arrives within a few days. If you can reduce shipping costs, that will be important for your business to make more profits. Explore their customer support options: You want to make sure the business is responsive to customers in case you need immediate help with an order. Read reviews of each sticker company. You’ll know quickly based on what customers say regarding quality and reliability. Partnering with Stickerbeat If opening a new sticker store is your dream, Stickerbeat can help you reach it. We make it easy and convenient to purchase stickers at high volume from our store. With a wide variety of styles and sizes that can all include custom art, there’s no order we can complete. We only use 3M vinyl for sticker printing, so you’ll have the highest quality stickers for your customers. They are durable and won’t peel off because of moisture or heat. We ship fast, so you can have your product fast. A great and affordable rates, you’ll be able to turn a profit. Start your sticker business today with Stickerbeat!
Learn moreHow to Get Stickers Off a Laptop Safely
Laptop stickers are a great way to add some personality to your device, but when it's time to remove them, they often leave behind a stubborn adhesive residue that can spoil the sleek look of your tech. This sticky leftover can be a hassle to get rid of, and it's easy to feel frustrated trying to restore your laptop’s smooth surface. Not only does it look messy, but the residue can also attract dirt and dust, making your computer look grimy. Let’s explore some simple and effective ways to remove sticky residue and restore your laptop’s original shine. Why Sticker Adhesive Is Difficult To Remove Sticker adhesive can be notoriously stubborn for a couple of reasons. First, the adhesive is often made from a blend of synthetic polymers that create a strong bond, allowing it to adhere firmly to surfaces like plastic or metal on laptops. This means you're not just tearing paper when you try to peel a sticker off, you're also battling a bond that was specifically designed to stick and withstand wear and tear. Additionally, the heat and pressure generated from normal laptop use can strengthen this bond over time, making it even more challenging to eliminate the residue. Moreover, as the adhesive dries, it can become harder to peel off. Trying to remove this residue can feel like an unwelcome exercise in patience, often leading to the risk of damaging the finish of your laptop if you're not careful. Many of us can relate to this frustrating situation. Choosing the Right Tools Removing sticker adhesive doesn’t have to be a hassle if you have the right tools. Products like Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol can help break down sticky residue without harming your laptop’s finish. Using a soft microfiber cloth alongside these solutions lets you wipe away the mess gently, minimizing the chance of scratches. For a creative alternative, a simple pencil eraser can work surprisingly well. The rubber lifts residue without the need for harsh chemicals. The key is to clean your laptop carefully, preserving its surface while removing the adhesive. With the right approach, you’ll renew your laptop’s sleek look and help it stay in excellent condition for years to come. Step-By-Step Guide To Removing Stickers From Your Laptop Whether it’s a promotional sticker or just an old label you want to get rid of, the sticky residue can diminish your device's appearance and make it difficult to keep clean. Fortunately, with a few simple techniques and the right materials, you can restore your laptop’s surface to its original shine. Here is a step-by-step guide to removing plastic stickers from your computer: Gather your supplies: Start by collecting your materials. You'll need a soft microfiber cloth, a bottle of Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol, and optional items like a pencil eraser or a warm, damp cloth. Setting the stage ensures you won’t have to scramble mid-process. Test a small area: Before diving in, apply a small amount of your chosen adhesive remover to a discreet spot on your laptop to ensure there isn’t a reaction. This quick test can prevent your laptop’s finish from unforeseen damage. Apply the solution: Pour a small amount of Goo Gone or rubbing alcohol onto your microfiber cloth — not directly onto the laptop. This helps control the amount of liquid you're using and minimizes the risk of excess spilling. Gently rub the area: With the dampened cloth, gently rub the sticky area in a circular motion. Patience is key here; it allows the solution to penetrate the adhesive without applying too much pressure. You want to dissolve the glue, not scratch your laptop. Wipe off residue: As the adhesive starts to lift, take a clean part of the microfiber cloth and gently wipe away the gooey mess. If you notice any stubborn bits, don’t hesitate to reapply the solution and repeat the rubbing process. Finishing touches: Once the sticker residue is removed, wipe the area with a warm, damp cloth to remove any leftover adhesive remover. Finally, dry the surface with a clean microfiber cloth and stand back to admire your laptop’s newfound shine. These simple steps make it easy to remove sticker adhesive while protecting your laptop’s finish. With the right tools and a little patience, you can restore its sleek, polished surface and keep it looking as good as new. Watch the video below to learn how to properly remove a sticker from your laptop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMkvj78KOcs Tips for Removing Stubborn Adhesive For stubborn adhesives that won’t budge with standard methods, a hairdryer can be a game-changer. Applying gentle heat for a few seconds softens the residue, making it easier to peel or wipe away. Specialized adhesive removers, like adhesive wipes, are another great option since they contain powerful solvents designed to tackle tough, sticky messes. A plastic scraper or an old credit card can also help lift the adhesive after applying the remover. Just be sure to use a light touch to avoid scratching your laptop’s surface. If you prefer natural solutions, a simple mix of vinegar and water can break down the residue without the need for commercial products. As always, test any method on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it’s safe for your device. Preventing Future Sticker Adhesive Issues on Laptops When decorating your laptop, selecting the right stickers can save you a lot of hassle. Before purchasing, look for stickers labeled "removable" or "repositionable." These stickers are designed to peel off cleanly without leaving behind any sticky residue, making your life much easier later on. High-quality brands will offer die cut stickers that are easy to remove. Glitter stickers can also be a beautiful and playful option. Many are crafted from materials that won’t damage your laptop's surface or that are impossible to remove. Another tip is to avoid heavy-duty adhesives often found on promotional stickers. These can be a nightmare to deal with. Instead, support local artists or small businesses that offer high-quality stickers, as they’re more likely to prioritize user-friendly removal. By choosing wisely, you can enjoy enhancing your laptop's appearance without the anxiety of tedious residue cleanup later. Cleaning Your Laptop After Sticker Removal Thoroughly cleaning your laptop after removing sticker residue is a key step in keeping it looking and functioning at its best. Leftover cleaning solutions can sometimes leave behind streaks or damage sensitive components, ruining the sleek appearance you worked so hard to restore. Nothing is worse than tackling sticky residue only to find cloudy marks or spots left behind. A microfiber cloth is perfect for achieving a smooth, scratch-free finish. It’s gentle on your laptop’s surface, making it ideal for cleaning up after a sticky mess. Pair it with a mild cleaning solution, like distilled water and vinegar, to remove any lingering residue without risking damage. This approach leaves your laptop looking polished and tidy, and it gives you peace of mind, knowing your device is clean and safe. A little extra care ensures your computer is ready to shine, whether you’re working, gaming, or heading out on your next adventure.
Learn moreBarcode Labels: What Are They and How Can Your Business Use Them?
Find out what barcode labels are and how businesses use them for registering pricing to inventory management. Get your barcode labels from Stickerbeat.
Learn more