Annals of Sticktivism: Journalism Warning Labels

There has been plenty of bellyaching recently about the state of modern journalism, from the increasingly accepted use of unnamed sources to veiled (or not so veiled) political biases in ostensibly neutral publications.

Frustrated no end by this sort of thing--especially among the free publications he often found while traveling the London Underground--UK resident Tom Scott decided to take matters into his own hands.

His "Journalism Warning Labels" function like a DIY guerrilla media criticism class for travelers. They're available in both the UK and the US and formatted for print-out on standard sized Avery labels.

How do they work? Simply locate the offending article, select the most appropriate label from your sheet, stick it on or near the article, and leave the publication in the subway, bus, or coffee shop where you found it. Those who peruse the paper later will be forewarned.

Delicious Branding: Three Seeds Natural Skin Care

We've all heard the saying: you are what you eat. But what about the products we put on our skin? The skin, after all, is a porous membrane, and whatever we slather on after a shower might as well be sitting on our dinner table. Three Seeds Naturals handmade skincare products was founded in November of 2009 with a vision of products that were simple, natural, and delicious.

When founder Sarah Maloy thought about natural skincare products, she thought about all the wonderful scents that really bring the four seasons to life. It turns out that in Greek mythology, the seasons were set in motion by Persephone and Demeter, and three pomegranate seeds. Thus Three Seeds Naturals was born--all-natural Sugar Body Scrubs, Everyday Body Lotion, Ultra Moisturizing Creamscents, and Lip Balms. All products are available in Three Seeds Naturals five signature scents: Fresh Lemongrass (Spring), Coconut Lime (summer), Almond Vanilla (Fall), Vanilla Fig (Winter) and their signature scent, Pomegranate. These natural products have a hit with customers at local craft fairs, and now, via the Three Seeds Naturals website, they're available everywhere.

As Three Seeds is a start-up business, Maloy needed a quick, easy, and affordable way to really make her products look professional. Many of these products come in round jars, where CSM's stickers go on top and provide branding from any angle. They've also helped Maloy bring to life the spirit of her brand, as she has a different color sticker for each season. She's found that her stickers look great on the shipping boxes, as well.

Why Custom Sticker Makers? "CSM is really quick and easy to use," said Malloy. "I was able to use the online ordering tool to easily and accurately place my order. I really appreciate being able to get a price estimate before making any decisions or contacting anyone. I've also contacted the folks at CSM with questions and they are always friendly and responsive. And the stickers look great!"

(Interested in natural skincare? Follow @3seedsnaturals on Twitter.)

Brand-Building: POM Wonderful Packaging

By now, just about everyone has seen the distinctive labels and packaging of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice. But have you ever stopped to consider exactly what it is that gives their products such visual appeal?

A recent interview with Lynda Resnick (aka the POMQueen) on Brandmix got me thinking. First, the shape of their bottle imitates the curves of the pomegranate fruit, giving it some stand-out power among beverages. Secondly, the logo featured on their packaging imitates those attractive curves with a spacious, confident font that substitutes a heart for the ‘O’ in POM. That, plus the ‘Wonderful’ tells you something right off the bat: whatever it is in this unusual bottle, you’re going to love it.

This makes plenty of sense in terms of a focus for this brand, because prior to its entry in supermarkets everywhere, almost no one (other than the foodies) had any idea what a pomegranate was. POM's logo and packaging works to overcome that objection right away: it doesn’t matter whether you know what it is. People love this stuff. It’s wonderful.

For everyone who works with labels and logos in selling products, there’s an object lesson here. What’s your ideal customer’s single biggest objection to purchasing your product? And how can you work to address this (or negate it) with the feel, focus and aesthetic of your packaging and label design?

i-TAG: Branding, Identity and Alzheimer's

Currently, there are over 5 million people with Alzheimer’s—a number, unfortunately, that’s expected to grow in coming years. When these folks wander off, if they’re not found within 24 hours, up to half of them will suffer serious injury or even death.

Enter i-TAG, an identity solutions business serving the caregivers of individuals with Alzheimers with a simple little GPS device worn on a string. Using the i-TAG system, if a loved one with Alzheimers wanders off the property, an alert is sent to caregivers via email and text. They can then consult the i-TAG web portal and find their loved one in real time—without having to spend all day driving around, or calling in the local police.

i-TAG uses custom stickers to brand these handy little GPS devices with a clever, easy-to-remember slogan: “i-tag-along.” It's a tag that applies equally to other applications of the device, which include keeping track of wandering kids in chaotic situations like field trips.

“[CSM offers] a good quality sticker that fits perfectly on the i-tag-along GPS device,” said Jenaro Centeno of i-TAG. “The quantity choices along with price points are also positives.”

Bebe Dulce: Sweet Stuff Babies & Moms

Bebe Dulce means “sweet baby” and Bebe Dulce carries some of the sweetest stuff for babies and Moms you’re likely to find anywhere. Started by Claire Eads of Aspen, CO, in the fall of 2008, the Bebe Dulce line of appliquéd onesies, pacifier clips, princess tutus and gifts for Moms is now sold in 25 stores in four states, and has also been written up on the Gerber Babies blog, Aspen Peak Magazine, and Austin Kidbits, to name just a few.

For a company that took its first babysteps amid the economic blackout of 2008, Bebe Dulce has prospered to a surprising degree. It seems that even in a down economy, people are still looking for unique baby-stuff that’s supersoft and easy to clean. But stylish and innovative branding in the form of custom stickers doesn’t seem to have hurt this start-up, either: Bebe Dulce uses custom stickers to add their logo and information to all of their gift bags—as labels on their body relaxation products—and even to seal their gift wrapping!

“I choose CSM for our sticker needs because you are reliable and fast,” said Claire Eads. “Typically, I need my stickers in a hurry. I just add a note on my order of when I need it and it is always here!”