Many people use the terms label, tag, and sticker to mean the same thing. This isn’t usually a problem, but it’s a common misnomer that’s ages old. We always help to clarify what our customers mean and ensure they’re getting the right product.

In the hopes of doing away with some of the confusion (and to make you a label savvy rockstar), here are some helpful definitions to differentiate between the three terms:

• Labels are die-cut plastics, papers, metals, or other materials that can be affixed to containers or surfaces. Labels carry information, and they may be created specifically for that type of surface. We sort of like these.

• Tags are labels without adhesive. They’re attached by other means, such as tying or hanging. Sometimes an adhesive just won’t work for a specific application. We like these, too.

• Stickers are commodity markers that are mostly used for entertainment purposes. These include things like “I Just Voted” or “My Name Is”. They’re usually paper, not very durable, and made in large quantities, since they are not expensive to produce.

We certainly don’t blame any of our customers for these fairly common mistakes. We’ll even mix up the terms around the office sometimes, so no worries if you still describe them differently. Labels are our specialty here at EIM, and we’ll get you what you need!