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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.
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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.
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Sticker 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.
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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.
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5 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.
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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.
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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!
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What Material Are Bumper Stickers Made Of?
Bumper stickers are a way for many people to express their likes or opinions. They are commonplace now, found on cars throughout the world. Their origins trace back to a screen printer in Kansas City, MO, Forrest P. Gill in the 1940s. He used adhesive-backed paper and fluorescent paint. Fast forward a few decades, and things have changed. So, what material are bumper stickers made of now? Bumper Stickers—More Applications Than Just the Bumper Before discussing what material bumper stickers are made of, it’s important to note that the bumper isn’t the only spot for application. Now, people put them all over a car, including the trunk and rear window. After all, a bumper is only so big, and many love the idea of lots of stickers that demonstrate their passion or support. The Materials and Process of Making Bumper Stickers The highest quality bumper stickers are made from vinyl. In our case, we use 3M vinyl, a material that has the attributes to withstand exterior conditions. Using anything but vinyl on bumper stickers results in an end product that won’t last very long. The material bumper stickers are made of goes beyond standard vinyl. It has multiple layers to ensure its durability. Lamination Bumper stickers include a laminate layer. That’s where much of the protection comes from regarding the elements. They have a UV layer that’s 3.2-mil. thick. You can choose from gloss or matte. The laminate protects the sticker from fading and makes it scratch-resistant. Those characteristics are critical for bumper sticker longevity. The Vinyl The vinyl layer is 3.2-mil. thick and is block and bubble free. Having this feature enables the sticker to go onto surfaces smoothly. In addition, it has a permanent adhesive, so it stays stuck. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t remove the bumper sticker. Removal with this type of vinyl is easy. In just a few seconds, you can peel the sticker off. After you do, you’ll find no remaining residue! The vinyl is waterproof as well and won’t react to moisture like other materials will. The Backing Liner The next aspect of bumper sticker materials is the backing liner. It’s silicon-coated and allows for easy installation. The sticker removes smoothly from the liner and onto the bumper. Ink The ink is just as important as the vinyl. The ink has to stand up to the elements, as well. If it’s not ink that’s for exterior applications, the design will soon fade. We use Epson 3M UltraChrome GS3 ink. It’s a co-branded solution, especially for printing on 3M vinyl. It stays vivid and clear even after exposure to the sun and wet weather. The Adhesive As noted, the adhesive is permanent, but you can actually remove them without too much effort. The adhesive is also waterproof. When the stickers encounter moisture, which they will regularly, it doesn’t affect the hold of the bond. Cheaper versions can begin to peel at the edges if water gets between the sticker and the surface. The 3M vinyl has a five-year expectancy. Can Bumper Stickers Be Made of Other Materials? There are other options other than self-adhesive vinyl for bumper stickers. Let’s look at some of the alternatives. PVC (Polyvinylchloride) PVC is a plastic derivative. Typically, PVC bumper stickers are clear or translucent. That limits the design and color scheme. Magnets Some consumers have moved from stickers on their vehicles to car magnets. A magnet adheres much differently than vinyl. It will stick to the metal parts of a car and generally have the same type of coating as vinyl. You can request these in many shapes and sizes. The drawback is that they can fall off. Self-Cling Vinyl Self-cling vinyl is another option. It’s specific for glass or window applications. It clings to the window, so there is no adhesive. That makes them easy to remove and reapply. In most cases, the cling adheres to the interior, as it would likely lose its cling if it were on the exterior. What’s the Best Material for Bumper Stickers? The material that best suits your needs will depend on application—glass versus metal. If you only want to stick these on a bumper, self-adhesive, weatherproof vinyl is the best option. If considering glass, then a cling will do. What Type of Material Are Custom Bumper Stickers Made Of? Custom bumper stickers describe those in which you create the design and choose the shape and size. You can order bumper stickers that say or include images of just about anything. Bumper stickers are a great promotional idea for businesses and organizations. They often represent political and social ideologies. In most scenarios, self-adhesive vinyl will be the best material for custom bumper stickers since you can print anything on them. PVC or clings have limitations here. Vinyl is also affordable, and you can purchase them in bulk. How to Order Custom Vinyl Bumper Stickers Ordering your vinyl bumper stickers is easy with Stickerbeat. First, you choose your size. There are several standard ones, or you can customize them. Next, select the quantity. After that, you’ll upload your design. Post checkout, our graphic designers receive your art. They’ll review it and create a proof sent to you electronically. You then approve it or request changes. Once you give it the okay, the printing begins. We offer free three-day shipping, so it will arrive fast. In considering what bumpers stickers are made of, now you know your options. Start shopping with Stickerbeat today.
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How to Get Stickers Off a Laptop Safely
Stickers are meant to stick, but that doesn’t mean you want them to stay there forever. So, how do you get stickers off a laptop? Is it hard? A mess? Is it something to avoid? Will it harm the computer? Laptops are a common place for stickers. They often come with stickers regarding warranties, license keys, or barcodes. Additionally, people like to personalize their electronics with these decals. Businesses adhere them to laptops that provide to workers, sometimes with “Property of” or logo stickers. The concern that many have over getting stickers off laptops is regarding any possible damage to the equipment. Laptops are expensive and sensitive. However, if you need to remove stickers, it’s possible. But should you? Should You Remove Stickers from a Laptop? That all depends on who owns it. If it’s a company- or school-licensed laptop, then it’s probably not a good idea to remove stickers the organization placed on there (unless you have their permission). If you own the laptop, you can make this decision more freely. Although, you might want to check to ensure it doesn’t negate a warranty. For those stickers applied by you on your property, removing them is completely up to you. If you want to get rid of stickers, you may have concerns about the proper way to do so, especially if you're going to resell the laptop. The steps you take will depend upon the type of sticker. The Removal Process Depends on the Type of Sticker Removing stickers from laptops depends upon the type of decal. Stickers aren’t all the same. There are different materials and production processes. The everyday stickers that come in books for kids are much different from professionally made vinyl stickers. Those low-cost stickers are made from cheap vinyl or sticker paper. It can be a chore to remove these types of decals. They will not pull up easily and require some type of cleaning agent and possibly a lot of scraping. Anyone who’s ever had to unstick these from walls or any other surface will understand the struggle. High-quality stickers are a completely different category. While they do have a strong adhesive to ensure they don’t curl or peel, they aren’t impossible to remove. Why High-Quality Vinyl Stickers Are Easy to Remove from Laptops When you purchase custom stickers from a reputable provider, the vinyl they use is top-notch. For example, Stickerbeat uses 3M Scotchal™ graphic vinyl. This 3M vinyl is so much more sophisticated than cheaper materials. It has specialized adhesive, which allows for adherence on a flat surface like a laptop. To adhere them, you peel off the backer paper and apply. It lays down smoothly with no bubbles. Here's what makes them so superior: Lamination: They have a 3.2-millimeter UV layer of laminate that can be matte or gloss that protects it from fading and scratches. Block-out bubble-free adhesive: A permanent adhesive is on the back, but removal is easy with virtually no debris. Backing liner: A silicon-coated backing liner makes them easy to peel off. Waterproof adhesive: Stickers printed on 3M material are 100% waterproof, so the sticker nor its adhesive is ruined. So, how can such a hardy sticker just come right off a laptop? It’s not quite magic—it’s just the quality of the material. It takes only seconds to remove it, and it doesn’t leave residue behind. If this is of concern to you in the future for personal or work computer equipment, be sure to purchase 3M vinyl stickers. Want to see how easy our stickers are to remove? Watch the video below. https://youtu.be/AMkvj78KOcs What If You’re Not Removing High-Quality Vinyl Stickers? Above is the best-case scenario is getting stickers off laptops. However, that’s not going to be the case for every situation. For those stickers that aren’t high-quality and provide easy removal, what can you do? Here are our recommendations for safe sticker removal. Abrasives You can apply mild abrasives such as a magic eraser or baking soda paste directly to the sticker. It will “wear” them away. Another option is using a dampened microfiber cloth and some elbow grease. You need to be very careful if using this approach, as too much rubbing or abrasive can cause damage to the laptop case, whether that’s metal or plastic. Oil-Based Substances There are a variety of oil-based options that might do the trick. Those include mineral, olive, and tea tree oils. These options loosen the adhesive and wet down the sticker so that it’s easier to remove. To do this, you’d put a small amount of the oil on a clean rag then place it on the sticker so it absorbs the liquid. This method works best for paper stock or uncoated stickers, as they are more susceptible to moisture. After a few minutes, you’ll then need to scrape the remaining pieces of the decal off the laptop. You’ll want to wipe down the equipment with a clean cloth after removal. Solvents Solvents are a common option, including WD-40, alcohol, glass cleaner, or Goo Gone. A solvent dissolves the sticker and the adhesive. If using a solvent, apply a small amount of the liquid to a clean cloth. Use the cloth to wet the edges of the sticker. Then wait a few minutes for the solvent to do its work. You should then be able to peel it off quickly. Follow up by cleaning the laptop's surface with a lint-free cloth to remove any lingering bits of solvent or adhesive. Then finish with a damp rag to ensure all liquid is gone from the laptop. Don’t forget this step, as the remaining solvent can degrade plastic. Heat Guns If you’re looking for a neat approach and don’t want to use chemicals, a heat gun could be an option. It will need to be on the lowest setting. Point the heat gun (or hairdryer) at the sticker for about 30 to 45 seconds. If the heat feels too intense, go for less than 30 seconds. You may need to do this several times. Then the sticker should peel off easily without residue. If it’s not budging, you may need to use a scraper to lift the sticker. Are These Methods Safe for All Laptops? The safety of these practices depends on where the stickers are. Those on the top of laptops are less concerning because that’s not where the essential electrical pieces are. Stickers that are on the keyboard are more precarious. If you have concerns, you can look to the manufacturer. For example, Apple doesn’t recommend using solvents to clean their products or remove stickers. They also warn against using liquids, abrasives, and paper towels. In that case, you will likely need to use a scraper or flat plastic tool to lift the sticker. Stickers That Stick When They Should and Unstick When Needed The best way to ensure you can remove stickers from your laptop is to use the right kind of sticker. The sticker products printed by Stickerbeat don’t require liquids, solvents, abrasives, or heat for an easy removal process. You just peel up, and the sticker comes up with no residue. Learn more about our stickers and how to purchase them today.
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