Shipping labels may appear to be a small detail in logistics, but in reality they’re one of the most critical components in ensuring your products reach customers quickly, safely and with a professional impression. For many businesses, especially e-commerce brands, the label on the outside of a package is often the first tangible interaction a customer has with the company. If it’s unclear, smudged, or poorly designed, it can slow down deliveries and hurt your brand image. In this article, we’ll explore the most common mistakes businesses make when dealing with printed shipping labels and how to avoid them.
Why Shipping Labels Matter
A shipping label contains all the essential details for carriers—addresses, barcodes, and tracking numbers—to move your package from Point A to Point B without delays. Errors or oversights on these labels can lead to misrouted shipments, damaged packaging, or even lost products. The good news is that most of these issues are preventable with proper planning and quality control.
Not Understanding the Types of Shipping Labels
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is treating all shipping labels as the same. There’s a wide variety available, from thermal and laser to eco-friendly and waterproof options. Selecting the wrong label for your packaging type or shipping conditions can lead to fading ink or peeling adhesives during transit.
For example, companies shipping liquids or refrigerated items should consider waterproof shipping labels to ensure barcodes remain scannable even if the exterior of the package gets damp. Similarly, fragile or luxury goods can benefit from personalized shipping labels that reflect your brand’s identity while still meeting carrier requirements.
Overlooking Label Placement
Even a perfectly printed label can cause problems if it’s not placed correctly on the package. Placing the label over a seam, near a fold, or on textured areas of a box can result in scanning failures. Always position the label on a flat, clean, and dry surface, avoiding edges or corners. This small step can significantly reduce scanning issues at distribution centres.
Failing to Proofread Before Printing
Typos in addresses, incorrect postal codes, or outdated contact information are surprisingly common errors that can lead to undeliverable packages. Before running a large batch of printed shipping labels, verify that every detail—address, weight, and service level—is accurate. Many carriers also provide online tools to validate addresses before printing.
Ignoring Carrier-Specific Guidelines
Different carriers (Australia Post, FedEx, UPS, DHL) have their own rules about label size, barcode placement, and even adhesive quality. Ignoring these requirements can result in surcharges or delays. Make sure you understand your carrier’s specifications and ensure your label templates comply with them.
Choosing Low-Quality Printing Materials
Cheap paper, low-resolution printing, or weak adhesives can cause labels to fade, smear or peel off during transit. This is especially risky for shipments travelling long distances or through varied climates. Investing in quality stock and printing technology will reduce misreads and returns. Many companies opt for custom shipping labels printed on durable stock to combine branding with performance.
Skipping the Branding Opportunity
Shipping labels aren’t just functional—they’re also a branding touchpoint. Many businesses still use plain white labels when they could be incorporating their logo, colour palette, or tagline. While carrier information must remain clear and scannable, there’s usually space to add subtle brand cues. This is where personalized shipping labels can make a big difference, helping your package stand out from a sea of generic parcels.
Not Considering Packaging and Label Integration
Another common oversight is treating packaging and labelling as separate processes. In reality, they should work together. For example, glossy or wax-coated boxes may require stronger adhesives. If your packaging uses darker colours, you might need labels with contrasting backgrounds for easy scanning. Thinking about label compatibility at the design stage can prevent headaches later.
Forgetting About Sustainability
Consumers are increasingly eco-conscious, and shipping labels are part of that conversation. Using recyclable, biodegradable, or responsibly sourced materials can enhance your reputation. There are now many environmentally friendly options for printed shipping labels, including recycled paper and soy-based inks, which don’t compromise on quality.
Not Planning for Growth
Small businesses often underestimate how many labels they’ll need as orders grow. This can lead to last-minute printing rushes or inconsistent designs. It’s wise to set up a streamlined labelling process early on, including digital templates, reliable printers, and bulk ordering of blank stock to ensure consistency across all shipments.
Testing Labels Before Full Rollouts
A smart but often overlooked step is to test new labels under real conditions before switching your entire operation. This means applying them to actual packages, shipping them through your carriers, and checking that they hold up. Testing helps you catch issues like ink smudging, barcode misreads, or adhesive failure before they affect hundreds of customers.
Integrating Labels with Inventory Systems
Manually typing shipping details for every order increases the chance of human error. Integrating your label printing with your order management or warehouse system ensures addresses, weights, and tracking numbers populate automatically. This saves time and improves accuracy, particularly as your business scales.
Planning for Returns
Many businesses forget to include clear return information on their labels. Adding a pre-printed return address or even a peel-off return label can simplify the process for customers and improve satisfaction. It also reduces the chance of parcels going missing when customers need to send items back.
Packaging Design and Labels: A Combined Approach
Finally, think of your shipping labels as part of your overall packaging presentation. A beautifully designed box paired with a sloppy label sends mixed messages to customers. Investing in cohesive packaging—boxes, tape, inserts, and labels—helps reinforce your brand identity and reliability. Companies specialising in custom box design can often create packaging solutions that seamlessly integrate with your labels. In fact, when your label size, placement, and colour palette are planned alongside your packaging, you reduce waste and improve operational efficiency. Businesses that partner with experts in custom box design frequently discover cost savings as well as a stronger brand impression.
Conclusion
Avoiding these common mistakes with shipping labels can save you time, money, and customer complaints. From selecting the right materials to integrating with your packaging and inventory systems, every step matters. By choosing durable, high-quality and well-designed labels—whether they’re custom shipping labels, waterproof shipping labels, or personalized shipping labels—you enhance both your operational efficiency and your brand reputation. Taking the time to plan your labelling strategy properly will ensure your packages look professional, travel securely, and delight your customers when they arrive.
Comments
0 comment