In retail and warehouse environments, the workload is often fast-paced. Despite the speed of the work, labeling products accurately is crucial. When labeling errors occur, they can slow down operations, confuse customers, and result in financial losses for your business. Luckily, with the right price gun and practices, these mistakes are easy to avoid.
Learn what to look for while you’re labeling and the strategies you can take to prevent mistakes.
Common labeling mistakes to watch for
It’s easy for simple mistakes to occur when things get busy. Some of the most common labeling issues include:
- Wrong prices: Mixing up numbers may seem like a simple mistake, but it can frustrate customers, lead to complaints, and decrease your overall sales.
- Mismatched or outdated labels: Old or incorrect labels can lead to checkout disputes and damage customer trust.
- Poor placement: Crooked, hard-to-read labels or those that cover up important product information can frustrate both staff and customers.
- Incorrect product labeling: Placing the wrong label on an item leads to financial errors and potential compliance issues.
- Illegible prints: Faded ink or smudged numbers on a label can make them more challenging to read and may result in scanning problems.
- Running out of supplies: Tasks can be forgotten and left incomplete if you run out of supplies mid-shift.
- Untrained staff: If your team doesn’t know how to operate or load a price gun properly, errors are likely to occur.
Easy tips to avoid these issues
Preventing mistakes doesn’t have to be complicated or require extensive training. These simple strategies can make a noticeable difference:
- Standardize the process: Establish clear rules on where to place the labels and how prices should be displayed. Consistency makes everything faster and easier to review.
- Double-check the finished product: Have the labeler double-check their own work or assign someone to perform quality assurance on the entire process, to help catch mistakes.
- Keep supplies stocked: Maintain an inventory of supplies and replenish them when they start to run low.
- Clean equipment regularly: Machine jams and print issues are caused by dust, adhesive build-up, and worn-out parts. Wipe equipment down to avoid these issues.
- Schedule routine audits: Conducting weekly shelf checks helps catch labeling mistakes before they reach customers.
- Use color-coded labels: Color cues make it easier for staff and shoppers to recognize pricing by category.
Use the right tools and train your team
Not all price guns are the same. Different models cater to different retail needs. In high-volume environments, you want a tool that’s fast, reliable, and easy to reload. Lightweight models with jam-resistant features are ideal for teams working long shifts. When you invest in higher-quality guns and labels, they’ll last longer and perform better under pressure.
Once you have the right tools, make sure your team knows how to use them. Ensure every employee who operates a price gun can load labels, set prices, and fix simple issues. A brief training session during onboarding, along with occasional refresher sessions, can significantly reduce errors.
To keep training consistent, it’s helpful to assign a “point person” for labeling. This employee can serve as the go-to resource for troubleshooting equipment, training new team members, and making sure procedures are followed correctly.
Finally, encourage feedback from employees. They’re often the first to notice when labels aren’t sticking properly, when ink is fading too quickly, or when processes could be streamlined. Creating a culture of open communication helps your business catch issues early and fix them before they spread.
The role of organization in labeling success
Beyond tools and training, organization plays a critical role in preventing labeling mistakes. A cluttered workspace or a poorly designed system makes it easier for errors to slip through. Start by designating a dedicated area for labeling supplies, including backup rolls, ink, and cleaning materials. Marking these storage areas clearly prevents confusion and ensures that everything is easily accessible when needed.
You can also streamline the process by creating a labeling schedule that aligns with restocking or shipment arrivals. When staff know exactly when labeling should occur, it reduces the chance of rushed, last-minute work. For businesses with larger inventories, digital tools and checklists can be paired with a price gun to provide a systematic approach. This way, employees can track which products have already been labeled, avoiding duplication or oversight.
Keep things running smoothly
Labeling might seem like a small task, but it has a big impact on how smoothly your operations run. A few minor adjustments, such as better organization, clear procedures, and routine maintenance, can help your team move more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes.
Take a few minutes today to review your labeling setup. Are your tools up to the task? Is your team confident in using them? With the proper practices in place, you’ll reduce human error, save time, and improve the customer experience—all with just a price gun.
Bill Brown is the Vice President and Marketing Manager of B&B Supply and PriceGun.com. He has over 15 years of experience working with one of the largest and most established distributors of price guns and price labels in the United States.
Photo courtesy Price Gun