Packaging Strategies logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Packaging Strategies logo
  • FEATURED
    • Brand Packaging
    • Extended Producer Responsibility
    • New Products & Materials
      • Featured Products
    • Packaging News
    • Packaging Perspectives Podcasts
    • Steve Fairfield Innovation Award
    • Supply Side
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Packaging Companies
      • Submit Your Company
  • FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
  • VERTICAL MARKETS
    • Beer / Wine / Spirits Packaging
    • Beverage Packaging
    • Candy / Confectionery
    • Dairy Food Packaging
    • FoodService Packaging
    • Household Packaging
    • Meat / Seafood Packaging
    • Personal Care Packaging
    • Pet Food Packaging
    • Pharma / Medical Packaging
    • Produce Packaging
    • Snack Food Packaging
  • MATERIALS
    • Adhesives / Sealants
    • Beverage Multipacks
    • Blister Packaging
    • Cans & Bottles
    • Closures/Lids
    • Films & Coatings
    • Labels
    • Material Converting
    • Paperboard / Corrugated / Cartons
    • Rigid Containers
    • Sustainable Packaging
  • MACHINERY
    • Automation / Controls
    • Case Forming / Packing / Sealing
    • Cartoning
    • Coding / Marking / Printing
    • Conveyors
    • Form-Fill-Seal / Filling & Closing
    • Inspection / Detection / Vision
    • Labeling
    • Unitizing / Palletizing
    • Robotics
    • Track & Trace / Serialization
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Packaging Strategies Resource Guide
    • Flexible Packaging Buyer's Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Converters Expo
    • Converters Expo South
    • Global Pouch Forum
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
  • MORE
    • Videos
    • Book Store
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • eXTRA Newsletter
    • Market Research
    • PACKSTRAT Wordplay
    • PS Resource Guide
    • Sponsor Insights
  • EMAG
    • eMagazines
    • Archived Issues
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

More takes on personalized packaging: Programmable labels and retail-ready formats

By Rick Lingle
January 4, 2012
Further examples include a reprogrammable LED label for vodka and Retail-Ready Personalized Packaging.

Medea's programmable LED label grabs attention.



One thing I try not to do editorially is repeat myself. Let me note that again because it is so important: One thing I try not to do editorially is repeat myself.

We are reminded at this season of New Years’ resolutions that trying is not the same as doing. Thus, I can rationalize this article that offers additional examples of “personalized packaging” that I’ve found since last month’s column on this same topic, Packaging when it gets personal.

I came across Kellogg’s Rice Krispie bars individually wrapped using film printed with a white area that accepts a marker.  One blogger suggests mom can write a note of reminder or encouragement for her children when the snack is slipped into the kids’ lunch bags. A quick web search shows this one has been around since at least 2010, so while I’m late to this party, it shows the range of packaged products that are leveraging the personalization aspect.

While browsing the Internet the past weeks, I couldn’t help but notice the ad from Johnnie Walker Blue Label whiskey that kept popping up promoting its holiday offering using a personalized engraved label. Apparently this has been available for several holiday seasons, so a belated toast to this worthy effort, too.

Reprogrammable scrolling LED label

Perhaps the ultimate in high-tech gadgetry applied to personalized packaging is the interactive vodka bottle from Medea Spirits. This too, is a little dated if you consider 2010 to be dated. As we sometimes like to say in editorial: If you haven’t seen it, then it’s new to you. It was new to me, but what’s not to like about a programmable LED messaging label? It’s reportedly capable of storing six messages of 255 characters each.

I found the product online for around $40. For a video showing how it works, click here.  



Shearer's snacks OSU promotion for winter 2011-2012 uses online printing during bagging.

Retail-Ready Personalized Packaging

A vendor involved in this market is FASTechnology Group, a manufacturer of industrial control systems. The company’s business model encompasses “Retail-Ready Personalized Packaging” (RRPP) systems developed from print-on-demand processes used in the commercial printing industry. RRPP enables the production and marketing of products customized to store-level or to shopper-level, while eliminating the need for costly packaging line changeovers.  The company reports that the new process has the potential to increase sales volume and shopper brand loyalty while substantially reducing material costs and waste.

One new effort with Brewster, OH-based snacks foods manufacturer Shearer’s Foods stretches across the packager’s branded and private label brands to offer consumers the opportunity to win season tickets to The Ohio State University basketball games. Considering that the team is again one of the top programs in the country makes this a hot ticket item and follows on the heels of a program for OSU season football tickets. The football promotion used preprinted, scratch-off labels that were applied randomly by driver sales personnel ahead of store delivery. This time Shearer’s selected FASTechnology method, which is done during packaging to solve some of the shortcomings of the previous promotion.

For this latest iteration, potentially winning codes are printed by FASTechonology on-demand during bagging and are embedded underneath the printed scratch-off labels.  The codes are then verified via multiple on-line camera vision systems and archived in a database. FASTechnology president Joe Hattrup says Shearer’s OSU basketball promotion was planned and developed within a matter of weeks rather than the lengthy lead-time typically required using conventional methods.   “With this system, we’ve enabled Shearer’s to manage, control and execute their promotion to their exact specifications,” he says.  



Lastly (at least for now), there’s Georges de Latour, a one-of-a-kind, custom-etched 27-liter bottle of a 2008 vintage. It’s yet another take on the topic of personalized packaging. As the official wine poured at the past eight Emmy Awards, this unique gift presentation features signatures from 68 of this past year's Emmy winners, nominees and presenters.
It seems that many signees requires a large bottle.

The bottle combined with a luxurious Napa Valley adventure package as part of a holiday auction on charitybuzz.com, with proceeds benefitting the Television Academy Foundation and its programs. You can read more here.  

Lastly and on a personal note, I wish you all success as you delve into packaging throughout 2012. I’d welcome hearing about those successes, so feel free to send me a note anytime to lingler@bnpmedia.com    

Share This Story

Recent Comments

Custom Boxes

You are right, this is very important before...

You can find many inspiration from Instagram app...

Check out Honista app

Great Article!

Subscription Center
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Online Registration

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Packaging Strategies audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Packaging Strategies or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Hand Holding Various Semaglutide and Insulin Injection Pens for different stages of the treatment.
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    How GLP-1 Is Reshaping Food Packaging, and Why It Matters More Than You Think

  • A stack of clear plastic containers, the bottom full of mixed fruit
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    Packaging Trends Shaping 2026: Where Trust Is Won

Popular Stories

Podcast | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check” with guest Anna Kendall headshot and title. Also pictured Cardboard boxes on conveyor belt.

PODCAST | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check

Main image for podcast with Kevin Kelly regarding Flexible Packaging for Produce. Main image includes Kevin Kelly’s headshot and an image of potatoes in a bag incorporating 30% PCR content.

Looking Forward to Global Pouch Forum

Logo for New Earth Ventures

Atlantic Packaging Launches New Earth Ventures to Accelerate Packaging Technology

See the Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

Products

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

See More Products

Packaging Perspectives Podcast

Play Packaging Strategies' captivating WordPlay game, PackStrat! There's a new word every Tuesday.
×

Keep the info flowing with our Newsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing