Which type of customized label should you choose? A label selection guide for 4 customer profiles
💡 💡 At a Glance
Four Steps to Complete Label Procurement: Environment → Printing → Material → Process
Last week, a client running a food e-commerce business came to me: "I want custom labels, but I don't know which type to choose."
I asked him: "Where do you sell?"
He said, "Douyin + Pinduoduo + JD.com self-operated."
I said: "You're in the e-commerce fast-moving consumer goods category—matte lamination + hot-foil LOGO, 80×50mm, 0.4 RMB per piece."
He asked, "Why?"
I said: "Labels aren't 'one-size-fits-all'—the right label depends on what kind of customer you are. This article won't cover label classifications—instead, it covers 4 typical customer profiles + what label suits each one."
4 Typical Customer Profiles
90% of custom label customers fall into these 4 categories.
Profile 1: E-commerce FMCG
Typical Customer: Douyin / Pinduoduo / JD e-commerce sellers with many SKUs and sales driven by detail-page imagery.
Characteristics:
- Many SKUs (10-100+)
- Moderate sales volume (1,000-5,000 units per SKU per month)
- Detail-page images are the consumer's first touchpoint
- Unit price: 30-150 RMB
Recommended Label:
- Material: 80g coated paper + matte lamination
- Finishing: four-color printing + hot foil LOGO
- Size: 80×50mm (standard e-commerce size)
- Adhesive: general-purpose permanent
- Cost: 0.4-0.6 RMB per piece
Why this setup: E-commerce detail pages require "close-up viewing," and matte lamination + hot foil can deliver a premium feel even at small sizes. 80g coated paper is the industry standard thickness.
Profile 2: Supermarket Food
Typical Customer: Regional food manufacturers and supermarket suppliers whose products enter KA chain stores (Walmart, Carrefour).
Characteristics:
- Few SKUs (5-20) but high volume (10,000+ units per SKU per month)
- Products placed on supermarket shelves (shelf display)
- Consumers scan from a distance
- Unit price: 10-50 RMB
Recommended Label:
- Material: synthetic paper (waterproof) or coated paper + matte lamination
- Finishing: four-color + nutrition label (GB 28050 mandatory) + barcode
- Size: 60×40mm (small size fits supermarket display)
- Adhesive: food-grade adhesive (GB 4806)
- Cost: 0.3-0.5 RMB per piece
Why this setup: Supermarket environments are variable (freezer / refrigerated / humid), so synthetic paper is more durable. The nutrition label is nationally mandatory (GB 28050), and the barcode is used for checkout.
Profile 3: Industrial Manufacturing
Typical Customer: Electronics factories, machinery factories, and medical device manufacturers whose products require traceability + serial numbers.
Characteristics:
- Very many SKUs (100+ models)
- Products require serial-number traceability
- Harsh working environments (high temperature / chemicals / oil contamination)
- Unit price: 100-5,000 RMB
Recommended Label:
- Material: PET (high-temperature and chemical resistant) + high-tack adhesive
- Finishing: four-color + serial number + barcode + QR code
- Size: 50×25mm (small size applied on product surface)
- Adhesive: 3M industrial-grade adhesive (high-temperature and chemical resistant)
- Cost: 0.5-1 RMB per piece
Why this setup: PET withstands 120°C high temperatures + alcohol and chemical corrosion—essential for industrial environments. Serial numbers enable full life-cycle traceability.
Profile 4: Cross-Border Trade
Typical Customer: Exporters / cross-border e-commerce sellers (Amazon overseas sites / Shopify) shipping products to Europe, the US, and Japan.
Characteristics:
- 5-50 SKUs
- Products sold to multiple countries
- Must comply with regulations of various countries (FDA / CE / RoHS)
- Unit price: 50-500 RMB
Recommended Label:
- Material: waterproof synthetic paper + matte lamination
- Finishing: multilingual design + QR code + barcode
- Size: 80×60mm (accommodates multilingual content)
- Adhesive: general-purpose permanent + tamper-resistant
- Cost: 0.6-1.2 RMB per piece
Why this setup: Cross-border shipping requires water and moisture resistance (long-term humidity during ocean freight), multilingual content (5-10 countries), and QR codes (consumer scan-to-trace).
Quick Reference Table for Label Selection by 4 Customer Types
| Customer Type | Recommended Material | Process | Size | Cost | Key Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce FMCG | Coated paper 80g | Matte lamination + hot stamping | 80×50mm | 0.4-0.6 CNY | No mandatory |
| Supermarket food | Synthetic paper | Four-color + nutrition label + barcode | 60×40mm | 0.3-0.5 CNY | GB 28050 + GB 4806 |
| Industrial manufacturing | PET | Four-color + serial number + barcode | 50×25mm | 0.5-1 CNY | Industry standards |
| Cross-border trade | Waterproof synthetic paper | Multilingual + QR code + barcode | 80×60mm | 0.6-1.2 CNY | FDA / CE / RoHS |
If you want to see QR code practice—refer to how to make QR code labels?, or directly contact LeXiang Packaging consultants, customized solution + compliance checklist delivered within 24 hours.
FAQ
What types of custom labels are available?
Divided into 4 major categories by customer scenario: (1) E-commerce FMCG — matte film + hot-stamped LOGO + 80x50mm, suitable for e-commerce detail page display; (2) Supermarket food — waterproof synthetic paper + barcode + nutrition label, complies with GB 4806; (3) Industrial manufacturing — PET high-temperature resistant + serial number + barcode, applicable for factory traceability; (4) Cross-border trade — FDA + RoHS certified + multilingual labels. Each category has a clear material and process combination.
What materials are used for e-commerce labels?
Three preferred materials for e-commerce labels: (1) Coated paper + matte film (80-120g) — inexpensive, suitable for outer express box sticking; (2) Synthetic paper (PET/PVC) — waterproof and tear-resistant, suitable for electronic products; (3) Thermal paper — direct printing, suitable for in-warehouse turnover labels. Beginners are recommended matte film coated paper, high cost performance, 0.5 yuan per piece.
What materials are used for food labels?
Food labels must pass GB 4806 certification (food contact materials). Three recommended materials: (1) Coated paper + matte film + food-grade adhesive (most commonly used); (2) Synthetic paper (waterproof and moisture-proof, suitable for cold chain); (3) Easy-tear labels (destroyed upon opening, suitable for anti-counterfeiting). Ink should be food-grade soybean ink, ordinary ink cannot be used.
How to choose industrial labels?
Three core requirements for industrial labels: (1) High-temperature resistance — choose PET material (resistant to 120°C), do not choose coated paper (turns yellow at high temperature); (2) Chemical resistance — choose alcohol/ink-resistant adhesive; (3) Serial number traceability — unique code for each product. Recommended: PET synthetic paper + serial number + barcode + strong adhesive, 0.3-0.5 yuan per piece.
How to choose cross-border labels?
Three certifications for cross-border labels: (1) FDA (USA) — required for food/cosmetics/medical devices; (2) RoHS (EU) — environmental certification for electronic products; (3) CE (EU) — compliance mark. Material selection: waterproof synthetic paper + multilingual design + tear-resistant. Budget suggestion: FDA testing 2000-5000 yuan per product, label unit price +0.1 yuan.
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