Cannabis and CBD brand owners have their work cut out for them when it comes to packaging and labeling products.

It’s not earth-shattering news, it’s not rocket science, it’s hardly a tough sell: Fighting SKU proliferation helps your business run better. Inconsistently organized product lines, overly prolific flavors lists or out-of-date policies towards inventory gets in the way of growth for business.

Branding will always influence the experience of sipping a glass of wine. The label, and the way it looks, simply can’t be separated from the wine, and the way it tastes.

If your brand is setting out to develop, update or refresh your packaging, or search for new packaging suppliers, you’re probably not doing it for sport.

Consumers are starting to invest in fewer, nicer things. They’re no longer accumulating just to accumulate, but seeking out products that feel authentic, unique and designed to last.

There isn’t a clear-cut answer to this question. In fact, “versus” is the wrong word to use when comparing digital and flexographic label printing; neither technology is inherently better or worse than the other.

Digital printing presses have disrupted the traditional label production paradigm. With conventional flexographic presses, you hand your artwork variations off to your printer — and plates are made for every flavor, scent and seasonal variation.

Labels aren’t purely a cost. They’re also an investment in your brand, and deeply affect how consumers perceive your products.

To many consumers, your label is an extension of your brand and, in fact, the label branding — not the product — is often what entices them to put your product in their cart.

Recent neuromarketing studies corroborate this, revealing that minor label material and design changes have a major impact on how consumers perceive products at point-of-purchase.

So when you factor in brand equity, consumer perception and sales uplift, minor cost discrepancies often become inconsequential.

Here, we’ll explain why brands shouldn’t take a “price-first” approach to designing labels or partnering with a label converter. And, for the price-conscious brands out there, we’ll reveal a few ways your procurement team can cut costs without compromising your branding.