Meet Jay – A Technician Turned Tech Support Engineer!

There are many voices that our customers get to know behind our telephone lines, and today I wanted to put a face to one of those names! Jay McDougall works in the Technical Support Department here at QuickLabel Systems and loves to help his customers! I was able to speak with Jay and find out more about what exactly he does.

The Past Prepares for the Present

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Jay and his wife Stephanie

Jay has been working at QuickLabel for 8 years as of this coming August. Until about 6 months ago, Jay worked on the manufacturing floor in the test and repair department. Although he loved working in manufacturing at the time, Jay now works as a technical support engineer. He takes incoming calls and helps customers that are having problems. Sometimes when he can’t solve the problem over the phone, he goes out and services the printer in the field.

Jay said that his previous job of working in manufacturing has definitely helped him with his job in tech support. He got to know exactly how each printer worked, from new printers to old ones. Jay loves working in tech support especially because of the opportunities to travel and see different places and people! Jay has traveled to Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, and other places around the country. Since Jay loves to travel, having to go out and service a printer sure isn’t a burden for him!

jay3I was also able to speak with Jay’s boss, Mark Paul, who is QuickLabel’s Technical Support Manager. Mark told me that not only is Jay a fun guy who gets along well with everyone in the office, but also how much of a hard worker he is.

He said that since Jay learned about the products from the ground up (from working in the test and repair department) that he has “come up to speed” very quickly in Technical Support. Mark said that Jay is doing a great job supporting our customers, and most importantly, he listens to what they need to say. “Jay is not quick to jump in and tell customers what to do. He listens to their problems and makes them feel like he genuinely wants to help them,” said Mark.

The best technical support around!

Mark explained to me that we at QuickLabel differentiate ourselves in the market because of our efforts to ensure customer satisfaction. “We provide good products, but also provide good service. I think a mark of how you measure a company is not necessarily how they treat you when things are going well, but how they react when there is a problem,” Mark said.

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Jay celebrating his 30th birthday!

Mark went on to say that the Technical Support Department provides proactive follow ups, such as calling customers after installations to see if everything is going well, and making sure that they do not need any additional help. He said that they also send out a survey after every service visit to be sure that their problems were resolved, and to see how the technician did. Mark stressed the fact that support is important because it will keep customers returning for more business and it is a sign of ultimate success for our company.

I asked Jay about why he thinks QuickLabel focuses so hard on on-going support with customers and he answered by saying, “We want to offer what no one else offers. We want to offer the best technical support that’s around.”

He went on to say that he goes above and beyond to be sure of his customer’s satisfaction. He will go through any means necessary to solve a problem, such as going to the manufacturing floor to see the printers, talking to different people, and trying to get to the bottom of the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.

More about Jay!

Jay has been married for almost four years and although he doesn’t have any children yet, he has a dog and two cats which he says are his kids for now! Jay likes to collect craft beer and try all different kinds of beers. He also has been experimenting with acting, and taking some acting classes! He loves watching movies and listening to music. He said that music is always playing in his house, and as soon as he gets home he turns on his tablet and plays music!

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Jay enjoying an (extremely) tall one!

Jay also enjoys reading, and would like to get into photography and beer brewing. Recently Jay was able to help his sister-in-law who is a photographer with a photo shoot and had a blast!

This summer, Jay and his wife Stephanie are planning to take a road trip to Ohio. They have been taking road trips every year; last year they drove to Virginia! This summer they hope to visit CedarPoint Amusement Park (which is said to be the roller coaster capital of the world!).

Jay said that his favorite part about working at QuickLabel is the people. He said that he is comfortable here, and enjoys everyone that he works with, and that working here is a good time!

Jay is an excellent example of how QuickLabel’s employees strive to be sure of their customers’ satisfaction! It is clear that Jay’s goal, along with the rest of the QuickLabel technical support team, is to always be available for customer support and to fix any technical problems that may occur!

If you ever experience any technical problems with your QuickLabel printer, please call our Technical Support Department at (877) 757-7310.

 

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Nothing New Under the Sun – Except Sunscreen Labels!

BIf you plan to hit the beach, lay by the pool, or even just be outside this summer, staying protected from the sun is a necessity!  In the past few years specifically, awareness of skin cancer and the importance of wearing sunscreen regularly have been prominent everywhere. Recently, the FDA decided to change their label requirements on sunscreen packages in order to better inform consumers. Here at QuickLabel we love to keep you informed of changes in label regulations, so keep reading to find out what’s new with sunscreen labels!

Misleading sunscreen labels

In the past, sunscreen users could browse their local drugstore and think they are doing themselves a favor by purchasing a high SPF “sunblock” or “waterproof” sunscreen. In truth, no lotion has the capability of being fully waterproof, or completely blocking the sun. Now, thanks to the FDA, sunscreen users will no longer see the words “sunblock” “waterproof” or “sweat-proof” on their sunscreen bottles since these terms are extremely misleading.

fda sunscreen

An example of a broad spectrum sunscreen bottle with the correct label requirements, as portrayed by the FDA

Instead, only the only “waterproof” sunscreens that will be available to purchase will be those that have passed several tests. Even so, these waterproof sunscreens will be required to include the amount of time that the lotion is water resistant on the label. This will let the user be more aware of the need to reapply lotion after swimming, even though the lotion claims to be waterproof.

For “sunblock” on the other hand, the only way to truly block the sun is to stay out of it! As this may not be an ideal solution during the summer months, while outdoors it is recommended that individuals wear sun-protective clothing, such as a hat or long sleeves, and always remember to apply the appropriate amount of sunscreen!

How do you know what kind of sunscreen to apply?

There are countless sun-protecting products sold in stores, but how do you know which one to choose? You may believe that using a SPF higher than 30 for full sun-defense is the best option. But, with recent research it is found that a SPF of 50+ doesn’t provide much more protection than SPF 30. Using a higher SPF also leads users to feel that they don’t need to re-apply their lotion, since they have used such a high number of SPF.

sunscreen bottles

Always be cautious of sun exposure on your skin- even on cloudy days!

The average SPF that is recommended for most is 30, with 15 being the least number. Sunscreen that has a SPF of 15 or lower will be required to have a warning on their label stating that it will help protect against sunburn, but not skin cancer or skin aging.

Sunscreens that claim to be “broad spectrum” or protecting against both UVA and UVB rays will only be allowed on the shelves once they have gone through testing. Broad-spectrum sunscreen is strongly recommended to use because it protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreen, just like any other sunscreen, should be re-applied several times throughout the day.

Each sunscreen bottle will state how often to re-apply, but that time should be taken into consideration with the amount of swimming or sweat that has occurred since the last application.

The most important part of wearing sunscreen is not only the number of SPF, but remembering to re-apply the lotion to continue the protection from the first application!

Important sunscreen facts to know

It’s the beginning of the summer and you dust off a bottle of sunscreen from last year. The expiration date isn’t until 2014 which means it will still do its job, right?

Wrong! Although sunscreen is supposed to take about 3 years to expire, you should never trust sunscreen that was purchased a year ago. It could have sat on a shelf for too long in the heat or sunlight, which makes the SPF less protective. For the best protection, it is recommended to purchase new sunscreen each season.

kid

Teaching your kids to use sunscreen from a young age will not only reduce their risk of skin cancer, but also put them in the habit of wearing sunscreen!

Using sunscreen is one of the biggest factors in preventing skin cancer. With these new FDA regulations on sunscreen bottles, people will be more aware of what they are using, and be able to make smarter choices concerning the protection of their skin. Along with frequently reapplying sunscreen, one can also reduce their risk of skin cancer by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 30 SPF. You have the power to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, as long as you actively manage and maintain your exposure to the sun!

My whole life my mother constantly lathered my skin in sticky sunscreen and I hated it– but she put me in the habit of always using sunscreen. I sure am thankful for the protection now!

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QuickLabel and Innovatum form a UDI labeling partnership

Innovatum_Logo_SmallIn 2012, the FDA proposed a new rule that most medical devices that are distributed in the United States must carry a UDI, or a unique device identifier. As of 2014, Class III medical devices will be required to have UDI labels on their packaging. In the coming years, Class II and Class I devices will also be required to have such labeling. With this new rule in process, manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies must redesign their product labels to meet the FDA’s needs.

qlsRecently, QuickLabel Systems and Innovatum have teamed together to become the complete FDA-compliant color labeling solution. Innovatum’s ROBAR label printing software system and QuickLabel’s Kiaro! inkjet label printer work together to be the all-in-one solution in compliance with the FDA’s UDI label design and printing regulations.

 The Kiaro! and ROBAR work as a team

QuickLabel Systems and Innovatum have begun a new partnership in which both companies promote their color UDI compliant label printing solution. The solution is comprised of the Kiaro! inkjet label printer and the ROBAR enterprise label management software. This combined system will be greatly benefited by medical device manufacturers, as it reduces costs and provides validated UDI enabled labeling, in color!

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The Kiaro! and ROBAR label management software work together as the ideal UDI color label printing solution

This partnership will allow medical device manufacturing companies to print their labels as soon as they need them, because the solution is already available for use. Using this solution helps to eliminate errors caused by using the more “traditional” method of pre-printing labels to add color and proceeding to re-print the label with the monochrome lot, batch, barcode, and any other compliance information used with a barcode printer. When using the Kiaro! and ROBAR together, medical device companies can print compliant labels in just one step. Users can also easily manage all of their label content within their central database.

The colored labels from the Kiaro! label printer provide medical professionals with a color-coded system that helps to select the right device. ROBAR labeling software, along with the Kiaro! label printer, effectively produces and controls UDI color labels. Innovatum is also developing a ROBAR feature which will allow users to communicate the necessary data to FDA’s GUDID system, or the Global Unique Device Identification Database, in order to be sure that each product is compliant.

iStock_000005218304XSmallThe system of the Kiaro! and ROBAR software replace poorly-controlled systems of standalone applications, with a centrally-managed UDI compliant setting. Together, the Kiaro! and ROBAR guarantee consistency in global production and consistency.

Today, QuickLabel Systems and Innovatum are exhibiting their software and printer duo at the OrthoTec orthopedic device trade show in Indiana! Companies will watch the complete system in action, and see why it is the best option for a UDI compliant label printing system.

 What is a UDI Label?

According to the FDA, medical devices distributed in the United States must carry a Unique Device Identifier, or a UDI. It is widely believed that this proposal will go in effect in 2014, with Class III medical devices (such as orthopedic implants), while Class II and Class I devices will be required to follow in the coming years. The UDI system has the potential to improve the quality of information on medical devices, and will help the FDA identify product problems more quickly, target recalls, and improve patient safety.

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An example of a UDI label, as stated by the FDA

The UDI label is a unique numeric or alphanumeric code, which includes production information for the specific device, the serial number, and the expiration date. The FDA is also creating a database that will include a standard set of basic identifying elements for each UDI, so that users of such medical devices will be available to any information they may need for the device.

The UDI system will be of great benefit when fully practiced, for both medical professionals and those in need of medical devices.

 Innovatum’s FDA-Compliant Software

With the new label requirement in effect, medical device manufacturing companies must change the look of their labels in order to meet FDA standards. Innovatum, located in Sugar Hill, Georgia, has been producing world-class compliance software since 1993. Innovatum is a leader in FDA-compliant labeling software, which allows medical device and biotechnology manufacturers to comply with the new UDI labeling requirements.

comp with software

ROBAR software is ideal for use by medical device manufacturers

Having an accurate label on a product such as a medical device is crucial. This is why Innovatum’s enterprise label management software, ROBAR, is the ideal labeling solution for manufacturers to utilize. ROBAR was developed by Innovatum specifically for FDA-regulated pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology manufacturers. The ROBAR system can print labels that comply with all of the requirements proposed by the FDA. The system uses templates and SQL databases, which eliminates the risk of error and disorganization associated with having thousands of individual label files.  

ROBAR has automatic security levels for each step of the label management and printing process.  ROBAR’s compliance technology recognizes all changes made to templates and data, and therefore enforces the need for electronic signatures where required. This is to be sure that all the correct changes and activity have been made to the labels before they are printed. From this, the Kiaro! will digitally print these labels including the retrieved data.

The Kiaro! brings color!

The Kiaro! inkjet label printer is ideal for use along with Innovatum’s ROBAR system. Not only can the Kiaro! print labels quickly and on demand, but it can also print labels in vibrant colors. The Kiaro! enhances color-coding options, and has the capacity to produce thousands of distinct shades of color. Colored labels are important because they print color-codes and also can add graphics. Color codes assist medical personnel to choose the correct product when needed, while the graphics promote the brand and are a way to identify the product model and package.

kiaro and label

The Kiaro! prints colored labels in different sizes and any volume!

The Kiaro! allows manufacturers to make labels of all different sizes and shapes easily. The Kiaro! saves time, money, and labels, as it is simple to control the quantity, and it is more effective to print labels in short-run batches. Printing labels in short runs eliminates the need for an inventory of pre-printed labels, and does not waste labels in the circumstance that there are changes that need to be made on a given label.  The Kiaro! also allows for new and different formats of labels to be printed on demand, with no hassle.

The Kiaro! rarely requires changeover, due to its large capacity ink cartridges and label supply roll. The Kiaro! is very often used within medical device manufacturing facilities. In these environments, it is essential to print labels on site in order to maintain in-house control and to support risk-reduction systems. The Kiaro! produces unique labels at the point of application, and most importantly, helps to reduce human labeling errors.

iStock_000019402900XSmall

The Kiaro! and ROBAR fit together to become the complete color UDI labeling system!

As the demand for UDI compliant labels on all medical devices will grow in the coming years, the partnership between QuickLabel Systems and Innovatum will certainly stay strong. The Kiaro! inkjet printer and ROBAR label printing software successfully work together to be the ideal solution for UDI label printing needs!

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The perfect bottle needs the perfect label!

threebottlesQuickLabel’s inkjet printers are ideal for companies who wish to print their own water bottle labels, and we have served such companies for more than a decade! As the label is a necessary component, the equipment which bottles the water is just as important. For this reason, QuickLabel’s friend and partner, Norland International is a good name to know!

Along with the use of a Norland system, a Kiaro! Inkjet printer has the ability to print custom labels for each company’s personal use of the system, which is why our two companies fit together so well!

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Bruce Kucera, Norland International’s Vice President of Sales

I had the pleasure of asking Norland International’s Vice President of Sales, Bruce Kucera, a few questions about his innovative company and the growing water bottling industry.

 What to know about Norland International

Bruce Kucera told me that Norland is a USA based manufacturer that installs, services, and warranties all of their products. Norland customers are able to utilize just one company for all their equipment needs, which allows them to be freed of the challenges associated with dealing with several different suppliers. This ultimately allows the customer to focus solely on producing and selling their bottled water, rather than worrying about equipment maintenance.

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Click here for Norland’s website!

Norland International has been marketing to and servicing bottled water plants for over 20 years, with 65% of their installations being worldwide. The company is very knowledgeable about how to build durable equipment, and how to service it. Norland understands the entire scope of requirements for a bottling plant, from beginning the process at treating the source of water, to loading the finished goods onto a truck.

Norland’s systems are designed to meet the needs of today’s high-demand water bottling costumers. With opportunities in the water bottling business growing rapidly, the use of a Norland water bottling system in either a small or large business will greatly benefit a water bottler’s profits.

What to know before purchasing a water bottling system

Many prospective entrepreneurs in the water bottling industry need to be aware of information about the competitive market they are about to enter. According to Bruce Kucera, before purchasing a Norland International water bottling system, information customers should know about their marketing and customer range include: the amount of competition in their marketing area, what production capacities they are seeking to achieve, and what market advantages they envision for their product. norlandsystem

Since Norland International has many different systems to choose from, it is important for their customers to purchase the system that will best meet their needs. In order to do so, they must be aware of which size bottles they plan to produce, what type of water they wish to produce, where they can be supplied with bottle caps, labels, and any other necessary supplies.

Print your own bottled water labels! bottlesandkiaro

In this health-conscious age, the popularity of bottled water is growing larger by the day. With people preferring bottled water over sugary drinks, bottlers are working to meet the rising demand of their customers.

Along with the use of a water bottling system, the Kiaro! inkjet printer allows bottlers to do more than simply supply water. Now, they can turn their bottles into personalized billboards!

When using the Kiaro! to create personalized labels, companies can give away water bottles with their information on it at trade shows, sell them at retail stores, or even sporting events. Not only do customers receive a bottle of water, but they also become aware of the brand it is coming from.

The Kiaro! makes it easy for water bottlers to instantly print as many, or as few customized labels as necessary. It is simple to create, change, and print custom bottle labels in just minutes, as the logos, photos, and messages are created on the computer and print in seconds.  sixbottles

The efficiency of personalized water bottles is not strictly available for the use of companies. Personally labeled water bottles are also popular party favors for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and many other special occasions, making the use of a water bottling system even more effective!

 

Staying Ahead of the bottled water industrynorlandstorage

Since the early days of private labeled bottle water, Norland has been on the cutting edge of many industry shifts, trends, and adaptations to new technologies, such as the use of biodegradable materials. Their goal is to continuously scout new opportunities to share their unique ideas, and investigate ways in order to always help their customers.

NorlandmeetingThe Engineering Department at Norland is dedicated to exploring new avenues of savings for their electrical, plumbing, and consumables for their customers. Norland continuously attends exhibitions and trade shows in order to learn new industry trends, methods, and approaches to increase revenue and decrease costs. The company also spends a significant amount of time on research and development. This is necessary in order to allow the company to offer the wide range of products that they do, and to remain competitive with foreign manufacturers whose products are often inferior with service, or sometimes even nonexistent.

 If water isn’t what you’re looking for.. 

BeerbottlesandlabelsAlong with Norland’s demand for water bottling systems, they have also entered the beer bottling industry. As a division of Norland International, American Beer Equipment (known as A.B.E. for short) is a manufacturer and supplier of beer brewing and canning equipment. They supply full production lines and components for both well established and start-up breweries.

ABE

Similar to Norland International’s water bottling systems, American Beer Equipment provides the complete beer brewing system, from canning lines to fermentation tanks.  They work together with their customers to create a supply chain for all their brewing and canning needs, including cans, grains, and beer labels (for which the Kiaro! label printer is often used).

As the “craft beer” industry is quickly escalating, the purchase of an A.B.E. system provides the complete source for brewing and canning solutions. A.B.E also produces a range of systems that accommodate from a 3 barrel system to a 60 barrel system. A.B.E follows the same business model that Norland International does, which allows customers and prospects to trust the dependability of their products.

Norland International and Kiaro! work hand in hand

According to Bruce, Norland hosts around 10-15 prospects each month. During these vists, the company spends time discussing private label opportunities, in which the Kiaro! is the main component

norlandallsizebottlesNorland International believes that the Kiaro! is ideal for printing bottled water labels. Bruce said that the Kiaro! is excellent because, “It’s easy to use, prints wonderfully and the quality is consistent.”

He went on to say that the Kiaro!’s capability of printing labels in short runs for small orders makes it affordable to print your own water bottle labels. Kucera also admired that the Kiaro! prints photos clearly onto labels, and that the “small print” text is very easy to read.

Working with QuickLabel Systems

Norland-SpectraPak-Small-BottlesNorland International is excited to team up with QuickLabel Systems to offer this money-making opportunity to water bottlers. Eric Anderson, QuickLabel’s Regional Sales Manager in Nebraska, has worked with Norland since 2001. Anderson said that his customers who also use Norland bottling systems tell him that Norland provides a quality product, and reliably supports it as well.

Anderson is well aware of the benefits that come along with using a Kiaro! Inkjet label printer, especially for water bottlers. He said that, “The ability to add a message to a commodity that everybody needs on a daily basis allows smaller bottlers to compete against the high volume, mass merchandisers, and still make a profit.”

labelsHe continued saying that, “The Kiaro! has given customers the ability to print virtually any type of artwork in short runs very economically.”

Kucera said, “Because we’ve owned a QuickLabel Systems product for several years, I can say that service has always been responsive and timely. We’ve always appreciated the help of Eric Anderson and look forward to working with him and the entire organization on the years to come.”

We look forward to seeing the growth of this partnership, and seeing more of our customized labels on water bottles all around!

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Meet Rob, Our Hardworking Shipper!

rob_portraitThere are a lot of people who work hard behind-the-scenes at QuickLabel Systems to make our customers’ lives as smooth as possible. I’ve gotten to know one such person, and I wanted to tell you about him!

      Today I was given the opportunity to visit our Media Plant, also known as “Plant 2,” where production of our labels and inks occurs. The noisy press room was filled with busy workers, and I was lead through it to a huge room filled with thousands of boxes, the shipping and inventory room! There is where I met Rob, a very hardworking shipper who spends most of his day preparing orders to be shipped out to our QuickLabel customers around the world!

 rob_work2Working Hard is Fun for Rob!

What Rob looks forward to most when coming into work is having fun working!  

        Rob has been working here at QuickLabel Systems for about 4 ½ years now. His main job is to ship out all of the labels, thermal transfer ribbon, and inks for owners of products such as the Kiaro! inkjet label printer. Currently, he works the first  shift but when he started out here he worked the second shift.

      Rob says that his favorite part about working at QuickLabel Systems is that it’s fun! He says, “The people here are great, I get along with everybody. It’s a great company to work for.” Before working at QuickLabel Systems, Rob worked a few other jobs such as delivering newspapers and working in customer service.

Rob Also Loves His Time Off

        When I asked Rob to tell me a little more about himself he said, “Well, I’m still young!” (Which is a definitely a great attitude to have!) Rob is married, and enjoys spending his spare time scrapping, which is one of his favorite hobbies! He says that he “scraps” just about every weekend, and when he is not doing so, he is always playing video games!   rob_work3

       With Memorial Day approaching this weekend, Rob plans to spend his holiday with his parents. He says he will hang out at their house, cook out, and have a camp fire! This summer, Rob looks forward to hanging out at his parent’s house, spending time with is nephews, and playing video games!

Rob’s Hard Work Does Not Go Unnoticed

      I was able to speak with Albie, Plant Manager, about Rob, and learn more about him from a different perspective. Albie had numerous great things to say about Rob, especially that he is a reliable worker. He said that Rob is a “very hardworking guy that’s not afraid to tackle a lot of side projects around here.”

Going Above and Beyond

         Albie told me how Rob will sometimes walk over to the printer plant to complete label deliveries as a courtesy to his co-workers there, even though it is not expected of him. “He offers to do it with a smile all the time,” he said.

         rob_work1Albie explained to me an example of how he asked a favor of Rob once, which was to come into work on a Saturday to help fix some replacement tubes within the plant. Rob had no problem coming into work on a Saturday, and was actually shocked to see that he had been paid for the hours he worked that day! He had assumed that he would be working for free that day, and it was just fine with him.

           Albie said, “I was really surprised by that because it was a long day of work on a Saturday.” He went on to say how Rob goes above and beyond to complete tasks and “odd jobs” that are not necessarily required of him. Albie said, “He works a strenuous job, he’s lifting heavy boxes all day long.” “He is quiet, and never complains about anything, ever.”

           Rob’s job is by no means easy, but his humble attitude would never allow him to complain! The amount of extra work and effort that Rob puts into his job daily are so greatly appreciated by everyone at QuickLabel Systems, and we hope by our customers as well. Let’s hear it for Rob and all the work he does!

 

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Hello QuickLabel Friends!

meHello! My name is Hillary, and I just started as the Marketing Communications Intern here at QuickLabel!

Throughout the coming three weeks, I will be working as an intern here at QuickLabel, keeping Twitter, Facebook, all other forms of social media updated, and of course posting to this blog!

During my time here, I hope to interact with customers who utilize our label printers, (especially the Kiaro! inkjet label printer) and hear how your business is being impacted by our printing label products.

Also, I would love to learn more about some of the hardworking people here, whether it’s within manufacturing, sales, or corporate, and hear some personal stories about thier experiences here at QuickLabel.

Click here to learn more about Endicott’s Internship Program!

Here’s a little about me: I recently completed my second year as an English Major at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts and cannot believe I am already half way done with my undergraduate college career! I’m currently involved in Endicott’s Internship Program.

For the past two years I have balanced my challenging classes, while also being an active member of the Endicott Dance Team.

School is very important to me. Since being an English major, writing papers and stories have become so common that they no longer intimidate me. I enjoy developing my writing, editing, and research skills, and discovering different forms of writing. This past year I also decided to declare a Business Minor, which I hope will assist with my future career goals.

nationalstrophy

Our trophy from Nationals!

 As school keeps me busy, so does dance team. Being a member of this team has taught me how to balance my priorities, be truly dedicated, and most importantly have fun! We practice 3 times a week, perform at football and basketball games, and participate in community service throughout the community. My team and I traveled to Walt Disney World this past January to compete in the UDA National Dance Championship, where we made it to finals and placed 6th in the nation!

I am assured that I will be learning an extraordinary amount these next few weeks at QuickLabel, and cannot wait to see what this internship will have in store for me! I’d love to hear from you in the comments, or chat with you on Facebook, Twitter, or GooglePlus.

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A Goodbye, And A Welcome!

We got stylishly sanitary to tour Progressive Labs manufacturing facilities!

We got stylishly sanitary to tour Progressive Labs manufacturing facilities!

Bittersweet News as I leave QuickLabel, and We Welcome a New Marketing Communications Specialist! 

I can’t believe this will be my last blog for QuickLabel, but I know you will be in amazing hands with the wonderful and lucky person who will be next to have the job of Marketing Communications specialist. I can’t begin to explain how thankful I am to have been welcomed into such an amazing company and job.

As for the readers and social media friends that I have “met,” I also can’t thank you enough! Thank you for your kind and insightful feedback and friendly conversations. I know you will be just as friendly and talkative with the new Marketing Communications Specialist.

QuickLabel Employees Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House

QuickLabel Employees Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House

I started this job as I was finishing college, which was an interesting balance at first. I took an unconventional path through college, and spent most of my almost 6 years in college working at Disney World. QuickLabel however, was the first “grown-up” job I had. I was so ecstatic to be invited onto such a great team.

Some of my favorite memories from working here definitely are interviewing coworkers and customers to be featured in our blog. Our employee volunteer project is also very special to me, and something that provided great enjoyment and satisfaction. I hope the next Marketing Communications Specialist will enjoy it as much as I did, and find even more great local charities to work with.

Our volunteer project at The Welcome House

Our volunteer project at The Welcome House

I don’t know if you all know this, but I have the BEST boss ever. April taught me so much about marketing, labels, packaging, copywriting, and provided me with endless tools. Not to mention, she’s just the nicest person (and always has a bowl of candy on her desk which has kept me well nourished this year)! I also had the pleasure of working with our talented Art Director Michael, who has helped me resize numerous images and put together graphics for social media. Our Marketing trio has been such a great support system, crazy brainstorming buddies, and fun travel companions.

I know you will be in excellent hands as I sadly leave this position to pursue other adventures. I look forward to following a fresh voice on the blog and social media, and you should too!

I hope you will stay in touch with me on LinkedIn! It has been such an exciting and interesting year. It’s certainly very bittersweet to say goodbye to my job as Marketing Communications Specialist, to coworkers, and to wonderful social media friends. 

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QuickLabel Media Specialists Take the Customer Service Cake

Niiki and Michaela.

Nikki and Michaela.

We turned to Facebook to see what customers had to say about their Media Specialist!

We already appreciate our media specialists, and we know all of our customers do to! That’s why we decided to give one of them a gift card for a fun night out at Dave & Busters. But, how could we choose? They are all amazing! So, we turned to Facebook to allow our customers to vote for their favorite Media Specialist!

The number of likes are one amazing thing, but the heartfelt comments and thanks from customers really have been phenomenal!

 

David Chadwick

David Chadwick

David Chadwick is fairly new to his position as a Media Specialist, but he is not new to QuickLabel Systems or Rhode Island. In fact, David is a big New England sports fan! His customers voted for him, coining the term “Team Chadwick.” I think it’s pretty fitting!

Melody Allen is a very accommodating media specialist, even adjusting her work schedule to better serve our customers on the West coast. One of her customers is eternally grateful to her help because, “If I don’t like her it’s a long walk to pick up supplies.” Another said that she “Has been a great help since we purchased our first Vivo! Touch printer. Melody, I feel has gone above her duties to help us in any way she could.”

Melody is talented at sewing and crafting.

Melody is talented at sewing and crafting.

We can’t forget to give a special mention to Nicole Moosey. This mom to one, soon to be two is wonderful! She is the Media Sales and Customer Service Supervisor. Nicole is a very talented baker and singer. When I asked her what she likes most about her job she said, “I love the people, whether it’s the customers I have gotten to know and help throughout the years or the wonderful group of people that encompasses QuickLabel.”

One customer described what makes a good specialist saying, “Carla provides exceptional customer service. Prompt, Polite, and Persistent hardly begin to describe her desire for customer satisfaction. We have been very fortunate to have such an incredible Media Specialist working for our team.”

Carla got such an amazing number of likes on her post that she gets an honorable mention, and a $25 gift card!

Carla

Carla

We love hearing this kind of feedback from customers, especially because they haven’t even tried her fabulous baked goods that she brings into the office.

Although they are all wonderful, the Facebook contest winner with almost 40 amazing comments is Chris Chabot! This native Rhode Islander loves getting to talk to, and help customers all over the country. She has been in the printing industry in various ways for almost 30 years. Take a look at the recent blog featuring Chris to see why her favorite part of the job is her customers.

It’s not one sided though, Chris’ customers also love her! One customer explained her winning qualities saying, “even though Carla and David have been very helpful to me – I have to vote for Chris because she has been putting up with our “emergencies” and jumping through the many hoops my orders send her way – saving me much grief countless times over the years!”

Winner of the contest, Chris Chabot!

Winner of the contest, Chris Chabot!

Another customer recommended we send Chris to train people at other companies saying, “Chris is the BEST! She needs to go to other companies and train customer service staff on how it’s done! She’s great!” I don’t think we will be letting her escape to any other company though!

Let’s hear it for QuickLabel Systems Media Specialists! If you haven’t already, please leave a comment for your favorite specialist

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Get to Know Media Specialist Chris Chabot!

Chris with her granddaughter and husbands

Chris with granddaughter Kaelyn and husband Jim

Learn why Chris’ customers love having her as a Media Specialist!

Although you may be getting to know Chris for the first time, she isn’t new to QuickLabel or Rhode Island. Chris has been with the company for about 9 years actually is a native Rhode Islander!

This former surfer, now fully wrapped around her granddaughter’s finger, really knows the meaning of customer service. Take a look at these fun facts about Chris that I learned during our interview.

QuickLabel: What are your hobbies?
Chris Chabot: I actually like crocheting (yes some of my customers are probably saying “yeah right”), I love horses and horseback riding but have not been able to do it lately.  I was the Assistant Director of the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) but when my granddaughter was born, my husband, who is a top New England surfer, and I decided that we wanted to put our time and energy into our “baby girl Kaelyn” so we don’t do that anymore.  She will be a surfer, though, if my husband has anything to say about it.

Chris and her granddaughter

Chris and her granddaughter

QL: Tell me about your family.
CC: OK, I have been married and divorced twice … you know what they say, the third time is the charm. My third marriage (yes I did it again) is to my wonderful husband Jim and we are still going strong.  Out of my first marriage, I was blessed with my daughter, Nichole, who is 23 years old now.  Nichole then blessed Jim and I with our granddaughter Kaelyn almost 4 years ago.  I thought there was no greater love than a mother’s for her child … throw a grandchild into the mix … all bets are off.  I tell my daughter all the time that she has to realize that she is was only the incubator for my grandchild and if I could have had Kaelyn  first, I would have.  My daughter knows that I’m kidding and most of my customers know my sense of humor and could see me saying that.  Life revolves around Kaelyn now.

QL: What did you do before joining the QL team?
CC: Where do I start?  I have been in the printing industry for about 28 years … give or take a few when I was the Medical Records Supervisor for Rhode Island Hospital for about 3 years.  I’ve worked in commercial printing, business forms, and promotional printing but I have to say that before coming to QuickLabel, the job that I enjoyed most was when I worked for a scratch lottery ticket printing company. I was with them for about 7 years I think and I was the Packaging Department Manager and Pressroom Supervisor.  When they decided to relocate to Florida I had to opt out … no insult intended to my FL customers because I did spend every other week there for about 3 months helping with the relocation and it is a beautiful state.

QL: What is your favorite QL product? 
CC: I would have to say that my favorite product (so far) is the Kiaro! inkjet label printer.  This seems to be a great printer from what I’ve heard from my customers and the Blanket Purchase Order (BPO) pricing program that we are now offering has made a lot of my customers happy and it actually makes my job easier once it’s in place because they don’t need to order every week or month. It’s automatic and I can concentrate on just calling them to see how they’re doing.

QL: What is your favorite part of your job?
CC: That’s probably the easiest question that I’ve been asked … talking with my customers.  No matter how busy I am, I love hearing about how things are going for them and they ask me in return.  I consider them my friends, not customers.  I have the best customers a Media Sales Specialist could possibly ask for.  Having said that, I can’t omit the fact that I have a great Regional Sales Manager that I am teamed up with, John Cuomo!  Funny story … and even John doesn’t know this …when I first started working for QuickLabel I was told to contact my sales people and introduce myself.  So I called John and did so … you know how you can get a picture in your mind from the voice of a person?…..I pictured John as a tall slender white haired older gentleman whom I was initially intimidated by.  Oh my god was I wrong!  When he finally came to RI for a sales conference, I was shocked.  My imagination just didn’t do him justice.

QL: Why do you make such an effort to connect with your customers? Why is great customer service so important?
CC: I feel that it is my job to make their job easier so if it means giving them a call when I see that they haven’t ordered in a while or just calling to say hello because all we do is e-mail or fax, that’s what I like to do.  There isn’t enough human interaction now-a-days so I try to keep that alive with my customers.

Show your support for Chris on Facebook!

Show your support for Chris on Facebook!

What Customers Are Saying About Chris

“Thanks Chris for all of your help and keeping our printers rolling.”

“Thanks Chris for always rushing me more labels when I run out at the last minute!”

“She has been putting up with our “emergencies” and jumping through the many hoops my orders send her way – saving me much grief countless times over the years!”

“Chris – it is always a pleasure working with you. You get my orders to me in a hurry and always put up with my “we are out” – thanks for all your help!”

“Chris is fast with correspondence and is a great big help with all of my orders! Thanks Chris!!!”

“Chris is the BEST! She needs to go to other companies and train customer service staff on how it’s done! She’s great!”

“Very helpful! Even if its weekend she gets back to me with answers to my questions!”

“Chris Chabot is the absolute BEST! She always helps and is timely and every company should have a customer service staff like Chris!”

“She always helps me out with my orders, can always tell me anything I need to know about the product. She’s saved me during super crazy order time, when we’ve run out of everything. She’s also super friendly and just a wonderful lady!”

If you would like to support Chris leave a nice comment for her on Facebook   or send her an email!

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Video: QuickLabel Visits O&H Danish Bakery to See How the Kiaro! Label Printer Adds to Their Sweet Success

I couldn't help but do some shopping for myself while at O&H!

I couldn’t help but do some shopping for myself while at O&H!

O&H Bakery Loves the Kiaro! Inkjet Label Printer

We recently visited O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin. This family bakery is a tradition in the area, and all over the world. Their most well known product is the traditional Danish kringle. This labor intensive flakey buttery pastry with delicious filling is popular not only in all of their Racine retail locations, but also all over the world.  O&H ships their melt-in-your-mouth kringles globally.


O&H loves working with QuickLabel Systems for many reasons O&H President and Owner Eric Olesen said, “Our bakery was founded on a principle of if we are going to do something let’s do it well and knowing that we can do something well still isn’t good enough, we want to continue to get better at what we do. One of the reasons that we chose Kiaro! for a label printer is that we really like the quality. I’m a firm believer that people eat with their eyes. Part of the experience of shopping for bakery is not looking just at the bakery but the first thing they are going to see many times it the label that’s on the bakery product. So we really want good detail, one that’s well representing that image that we are trying to portray on the label and I think that the Kiaro! printer does just that for us.”

Wendy Xavier printing labels for bakery items

Wendy Xavier printing labels for bakery items

O&H Danish kringles come in a wide variety of flavors. Personally I loved the one with cherry filling. We were also lucky enough to sample some of their other baked goods which include pies, cookies, breads, cakes, and much more. I highly recommend all of the flavors though, so go ahead and order a kringle today!

O&H loves the possibilities that the Kiaro! provides. They value the savings they get and being able to keep up with FDA label requirements and ever changing ingredients without ever wasting a roll of labels.

Of course they also love the quality of the printer and labels Wendy Xavier, Administrative Quality Control Manager explained. “The most impressive feature of the Kiaro! is the quality of the picture. The round labels that we do, those are my favorite because it has a picture of the bakery on it. It’s very clear and it’s just really good quality.

If you would like to see for yourself how the Kiaro! inkjet label printer will help you gain more customers schedule an in-person demonstration in your office or factory.

 

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