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Your Guide to Creating a Custom Label for Your Brand

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Your Guide to Creating a Custom Label for Your Brand

Custom labels are an excellent way to brand your business. Even if you do not sell a product, you can add your custom label to marketing materials or branded items that you give away as freebies. There are many factors to take into consideration when creating a custom label, such as the ones detailed below.

Includes Your Logo

Ensuring that your custom label includes your logo is a must, but you must also consider a few other factors above and beyond your standard logo. For example, your logo may not look as good when shrunk down to the smaller size required for your logo. Even if it looks good, the writing or graphics may be too small to be effective. This means you may opt to have a slightly different logo on your custom labels, or that you only utilize a few of your logos main elements—such as writing your business name in the same font, or designing the label in the same colors.

Contact Information

Aside from adding your logo to your custom label, also consider the type of contact information that is the most essential. In many cases, your website address or phone number will do, but depending on your needs, you may prefer a sales representative’s direct information. Depending on the size and layout of your label, you may also choose to have social media information or QR codes for labels linked to promotional products.

Size And Scale

Another thing you must consider is that your labels may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. You may need a variety of sizes to ensure appropriate scale for your individual products or marketing materials the label is being added to. Depending on how varied your label sizes are, you may also need to tweak the layout and graphics of the label. For example, your full logo may fit nicely on your larger labels, but not on your smaller labels.

Ability To Personalize

If you will be using your labels on products that will potentially be given as gifts, are placed on special orders, or will be sent out for delivery—you may want to consider leaving enough room for your clients to personalize their label. This could be something as simple as creating a gift tag layout that allows for a simple “To” and “From.” Also consider offering your labels in different colors, or with different borders and graphics to celebrate everything from birthdays to holidays. Keep in mind that you can have a standard label that you use for most of your products, and personalized labels available upon request.

Stand Out

Another factor you must consider, is if your label will stand out or pop on your packaging. If you are going to take the time to invest in custom labels, then they must not blend in so well that they go unnoticed. For this reason, you may print your labels in a variety of colors, so that you can also have an adequate level of contrast.

Along with all of the factors above, you want to ensure that your custom label accurately represents the look, feel, and message you want your brand to deliver. Whether you’re looking for your labels to be functional, fashionable, or even a little bit of both, look no further than the custom label design services from MrTakeOutBags.com. Contact us today to have a custom packaging consultant get in touch with you and get started creating your brand’s own custom packaging solution!

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5 Essential Supplies for any Catering Company

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5 Essential Supplies for any Catering Company

From takeout containers to transport trays, catering companies have to invest in lots of equipment just to function on a daily basis. These essential supplies make it easier for workers to prepare and cook food, serve it, transport it and package it all up. Check out these five essential catering supplies any catering company should have.

  1. Takeout Containers

 

Also referred to as to go containers, these items are absolutely essential if your clients want to take home what they didn’t finish at their event. Typically made of Styrofoam, these takeout containers are important ways to prevent food waste because all the extras can be boxed up and saved for later. Even if your client doesn’t want the leftovers, you can box them up and drop them at a local soup kitchen. Disposable food containers can be thrown out later as needed after they have served their purpose as great storage options for anything from olives and pickles to sandwiches and meatballs. Disposable boxes are large enough to hold several containers safely for transport.

 

  1. Transport Trays and Platters

 

A big part of being a catering company is being able to transport large amounts of food and drink to your guests. This is where transport trays and platters come in handy. Deli trays with clear tops are essential for serving finger foods, as are circular foil platters perfect for cookies or sandwiches. These are easy to store because they nest inside one another and can be stacked easily.

 

  1. Specialty Dishes and Cookware

 

Not all catering companies are created equal. Some serve full meals at functions while others specialize in cakes and cupcakes. If you serve a variety of food at parties, you’ll need lots and lots of serving dishes, but if you only sell custom cupcakes, you’ll need a lot of cake and cupcake molds, advises the Houston Chronicle.

 

  1. Equipment

 

A lot of the equipment you need can be rented, at least at first when you’re just starting out. You can even rent dishes! You will require the use of refrigerators and freezers for keeping food cool, along with commercial-grade mixers, ovens, pans, glasses, utensils and even decorations. Even if you rent a lot of the equipment, it’s always a good idea to have your own solid set of knives and cake decorating supplies that you can call your own. After all, this is how you can hone your craft when off the clock.

 

  1. Miscellaneous

 

There are many essential supplies you will need as a caterer that you may not immediately think of. These are all the accessories that offer added convenience for your guests. These items include napkins (in a variety of colors and themes), linens for serving tables, picks and skewers for appetizers, plastic dinnerware, serving utensils, and pitchers and carafes. You’ll also have to think of any specialty items you may need to stock a salad bar, for instance, or a communal fondue pot.

These five catering supply categories are just the tip of the iceberg. You will find you’ll need a lot of extra equipment and accessories to make a successful catering company, but if you have the basics you’re off to a great start.

Whether you’re just getting your catering company off the ground or are just always on the lookout for ways to better your business, look no further than MrTakeOutBags.com. Your one stop shop for all your food service packaging and supply needs, MrTakeOutBags.com is the most preferred supplier of everything from to-go containers to wet wipes and towels. Check out their massive in-stock selection today to take advantage of some of the lowest prices around.

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7 Creative Solutions to Your Cupcake Packaging Problem

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7 Creative Solutions to Your Cupcake Packaging Problem

There’s no one that doesn’t love a fluffy, frosting-topped cupcake and just thinking about it is enough to make your mouth watering.  When selling cupcakes, however, there’s more than just the taste to think about and bakeries will, of course, also want to come up with some creative cupcake packaging to make their delicious cupcakes stand out from the crowd.  It’s not just about throwing them in a box they way donuts come, cupcakes can be displayed in so many creative ways, utilizing everything from ribbon ties to designer cups, reversible wrappers, and even specially designed housing.  Here’s just some ideas for creative cupcake packaging that will have them flying off the shelf.

Customized Box Shapes & Designs

Probably the most creative and intense packaging to be done with cupcakes is completely customized packaging.  There are a myriad of creative designs on the internet for box shapes.  Cupcakes can be put in boxes that look like little houses, flower shops, bird houses, tiny cars, retro ovens, and many more.  These designs are widely available online as digitally downloadable printables.  After purchase, all you need to do is print, fold, drop in a cupcake insert to keep everything in place, and add the perfectly baked cupcake.

Logo Printed Boxes

For bakeries that already have a logo, coming up with a custom box label can be creative way to house cupcakes.  Getting creative with printed boxes is easy.  A bakery might choose to get a generic printed box they use for every cupcake or go niche and create packaging for a variety of occasions or change box designs depending on the season or special promotions.

Plastic Cup Treat Bags

An easy way to make a cute, creative, and inexpensive cupcake housing is inserting the cupcake into a clear plastic cup, covering it in clear or translucent colored plastic wrapping, and closing off with a ribbon.  Plastic cups can also be decorated a number of ways, using paint, glitter, colored paper, or any number of other crafting materials.

Reversible Wrappers

Reversible wrappers can be a great creative way to package cupcakes because it’s a two for one deal.  There are two beautiful patterns to display those specially baked goods.

Clear Boxes

If you’ve made a particularly beautiful cupcake, why hide it in a bunch of packaging? A great way to display the cream of the crop is in clear boxes or containers.  There’s plenty of clear containers available online, many that come with cupcake inserts included.  With a simple, clear container it’s also possible to add some very small touches to the box like a ribbon or sticker.

Ribbons & Minimalist Touches

One of the simplest ways to spruce up cupcake packaging is to add simple touches.  Ribbons can make great additions simply because there are so many different types of ribbons to choose from already.  They can add a splash of color to a very simple white box or further enhance and designer box.  You can choose a single ribbon, multiple ribbons, add bow-ties, and many other options.  Stickers can also work great, as they are easy to place and already come in many different designs and themes.

Mini Cupcake Packaging

A creative way to house mini cupcakes is to place them in the egg slots of old egg cartons.  These slots make a perfect, snug fit for mini cupcakes and can be further decorated in any number of ways you wish.  There’s also plenty of specialized mini cupcake packaging as well as mini cupcake inserts available online.

For all your cupcake packaging, baked good containers and food service to-go box needs, turn to the experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. Home of the largest in-stock selection of food service packaging items on the web, MrTakeOutBags.com is guaranteed to be your one-stop shop for all your company needs. Check out their selection today and get on your way to better packaging.

(license) photo credit: Brooklyn Blackout Mini via photopin (license)

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Keeping Food Fresh in the Hot Sun

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Keeping-Food-Fresh-in-the-Hot-Sun

Few things have the ability to ruin a wonderful bite of food like the hot summer sun does. Whether you have a hot meal, a cold meal, or a dessert, the sun and the heat can quickly have a negative impact on many takeout containers.  The sun and extreme humidity can not only raise the temperature of the food inside a takeout container, but can also create condensation in the container, which will quickly turn the food held within into a giant soggy mess.  Needless to say, this is not the kind of product that a food service company wants its customers to ultimately end up with.

As such, if your food service company is located in an area that gets hot and humid, it is extremely imperative that you take the right precautions when it comes to your takeout food, so that it can stay fresh and perfect even in wildly hot and humid air conditions.  If you follow a few simple tips for proper to-go containers and takeout bags, you’ll be able to accomplish fresh food despite the weather conditions, and you’ll makes sure that your customers always have a pristine product to enjoy eating.

Paper Before Plastic 

If there’s one thing to avoid when the weather is hot and humid, it’s plastic bags.  First off, plastic bags are extremely thin, so they don’t offer any protection from the heat of the sun; they are essentially inviting the hot weather into the bag. Second, they have no absorption, so any condensation that occurs inside the back will end up on the outside of the to-go container, which makes it even more difficult for that container to retain a cool temperature.

A paper bag, on the other hand, is thick enough to keep from turning into a greenhouse for your food service company’s takeout meals.  Since paper absorbs moisture, it will wick away any excess condensation, and keep it from ending up on the to-go container and harming the inside product.

Always Use Paper To-Go Boxes for Hotter Foods 

If your takeout meal is a hot entree, you absolutely need to put it in a paper box, not a plastic one.  Because the hot meal will automatically give off moisture, you need a paper box to absorb the excess liquid in the container.  A plastic to-go box will simply collect the moisture on the roof of the box, and drip it back onto the food in the form of water, creating a painfully soggy meal in the process.

Place Baked Goods on Small Napkins 

Baked goods contain lots of oils because of the amount of butter and fat that resides in them.  As a result, when they get hot, the oils begin to melt and excrete. Placing a paper napkin at the base of your baked goods ensure that as the oils are released from the dessert, they’ll be sopped up by your container, and you won’t end up with a dessert with a soggy base.

Follow these basic tips, and you’ll have happy customers, no matter how hot it is outside. With over 80,000 satisfied customers from all across the nation, you can be certain that MrTakeOutBags.com is the top supplier for all your foodservice packaging needs. At MrTakeOutBags.com, we feature the largest in-stock selection of carryout bags, to-go boxes, bakery boxes and so much more to meet your every packaging need. Keep your customer’s happy all summer long with help from MrTakeOutBags.com.

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Gable Boxes: Turn Ordinary Products into Extraordinary Pieces

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Transforming Your Ordinary Gable Boxes into Extraordinary Packaging Solutions

Gable boxes are perfect for just about any occasion. They’re easy to carry, they can hold almost anything that doesn’t require waterproof packaging containers, and they have a great appearance in and of themselves. That doesn’t mean that an up-and-coming food service business cannot do more with a plain gable box. Food service containers have always provided a great opportunity for restaurants to increase brand awareness and stand out in the minds of customers, and gable boxes are no different. Here are just a few things your takeout restaurant can turn the simple gable box into a marketing goldmine.

Attractive Prints

There are plenty of companies that allow you to order gable boxes wholesale, and most offer some very attractive stock prints for their containers. Stock prints may not seem that exciting if you want to give your packaging containers a unique look, but some vibrant color and a fun pattern can go a long way in keeping your business in the forefront of consumers’ minds. They are certainly better than a plain cardboard gable box, and you might even be able to save on printing costs if you find a stock print that matches the color scheme of your restaurant.

Stamping Your Logo onto Your Boxes

As attractive as a print on a gable box can be, there is something to be said for taking a plain brown box and stamping your business’s logo onto it. You may not have the flashiest packaging containers around if you go with this method, but that can have some charm in itself. A stamp on a plain box can give a feeling of authenticity and deliver the message that your restaurant is an independent small business. That is very attractive to certain consumers, and it could help drive business more than you might think.

Customizing Gable Boxes for Special Occasions

Since gable boxes are so simple and so easy to decorate and customize, they’re perfect for special occasions. Many businesses use gable boxes to send gifts to clients with some ribbon and a “Thank You” gift tag, and they can order special Christmas-themed boxes for the holidays. These kinds of boxes are much more effective than using the same boxes throughout the year; it shows customers that you care about them and that your business likes to celebrate special occasions. It’s also a great way to have fun with your packaging containers and get creative in a way that customers and even your business rivals can appreciate.

Your food service packaging should be treated as an extension of your brand, working to impress your customers in both quality and appearance. Give your to-go containers and gable boxes some extra pizazz with help from the food service packaging experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. With a huge in-stock selection and customizable packaging solutions, MrTakeOutBags.com is your one-stop-shop if you are looking to give your to-go packaging an extra edge over the competition. Browse our selection today and leave your customers with packaging that they’ll never forget!

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The Importance of Presentation and Bakery Packaging

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The Importance of Presentation and Bakery Packaging

photo credit: Bread, glorious bread! via photopin (license)

If you are a bakery owner who specializes in cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries that are often ordered to go—presentation and bakery packaging are of great importance. Your packaging is essential to ensure that your baked goods and pastries arrive at their destination looking and tasting as stunning as they did in the display case, but also plays a vital role in branding your business. Below are a few things to take into consideration when selecting your custom cake boxes.

The Perfect Shape and Size

When it comes to adequately securing decorative cakes and cupcakes, you must ensure that your packaging is the perfect shape and size. For example, a round cake box is likely to be a better solution for round cakes than a square or rectangular box that leaves too much excess room. Since modern cupcakes are topped with a variety of edible and decorative embellishments, you must consider cupcake packaging that ensures that their specialty décor is still stunning when it arrives at its destination.

Easy To Identify Before the Box Is Even Opened

When you hear the words “little blue box”, or when you see the distinctly colored blue box—you instantly think of Tiffany’s. By investing in custom cake boxes, you can build the same reputation for your brand amongst your local consumers—by adding signature features on your packaging. This could be something as simple as a signature color, signature graphics, or signature method of decorating the box—such as tying satin ribbons to all boxes.

The Feeling and Vibe You Want To Deliver

Consider what you want your clients to think and feel when your bakery comes to mind, or when they think of your signature baked goods. While you want to ensure that your bakery storefront has the vibe you desire, since most of your sweet treats are packaged to enjoy when outside of your bakery—it is your custom cupcake packaging, and custom cake boxes that will deliver the vibe you desire.

The Perfect Gift

Sweet treats are a popular choice as a hostess gift, birthday gift, holiday gift, or as a thoughtful gift anytime someone wants to let someone know they are thinking of them. This means that if your packaging is only ho-hum, you may not be the bakery of choice for gifts—even if your baked goods are superior to your competitors.

Whether you are in need of round cake boxes, custom cupcake packaging or new and improved packaging—consider how custom packaging  solutions from MrTakeOutBags.com can help you to make a lasting impression. At MrTakeOutBags.com, we are proud to offer unique, innovative and premium quality food service packaging products that not only keep your baked goods and foods fresh, but help to add value to your brand and your product. Contact MrTakeOutBags.com today and discover how our food service packaging solutions can help build turn your business into a brand.

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Keeping Your Baked Goods Fresh Throughout the Day

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Keeping-Your-Baked-Goods-Fresh-Throughout-the-Day

photo credit: Bakery via photopin (license)

Keeping Your Baked Goods Fresh Throughout the Day

As a bakery owner, you spend a significant amount of time creating your mouthwatering selection of pastries and baked goods for your customers to choose from. This is why it is essential to invest time and energy in ensuring that you preserve the freshness of your baked goods—and deliver only the highest quality to your customers. The tips below will help you to maintain in-store and at home freshness.

General Temperature and Humidity Control

The general temperature and humidity control inside of your kitchen and bakery must be maintained, regardless of the weather outdoors. Some pastries only do well in room temperature, while others do best in cool temperatures—and all do best when they have been allowed to fully and properly cool before being packaged or place in their display.

Learn What Should Be Refrigerated

A common misconception is that all baked goods will keep better if placed in the refrigerator, but this is far from the case. Pastries that are meant to be flaky and crisp may become tough and dry in the refrigerator. On the other hand, there are many cakes that will maintain their freshness when refrigerated—and many frostings and fillings that must be refrigerated, either for food safety or to maintain their texture.

Depending on what you have to offer your bakery may have a combination of both refrigerated pastry displays and room temperature pastry displays.

Sell Out On a Daily Basis

One goal you should set each and every day for your bakery is to sell out all of your pastries and baked goods by the end of each day. This means that you may need to offer a discount on items at the end of each day—and also that you offer your day-old bakery items the next day with a further reduced price. Also consider donating your day-old items to a nearby non-profit—which is tax deductible.

Identify Bread and Bakery Packaging

Whether all of your baked goods and pastries are prepackaged in the store or you package all of your items as ordered—identifying quality baked goods packaging is a must. Quality packaging such as bulk cupcake boxes and custom cake boxes will ensure that your baked goods arrived at their destination looking pristine, and as fresh as they were in-store. This means you may need to have a wide range of shapes and sizes to ensure that you have the appropriate cake boxes for every item you have to sell—or bulk cupcake boxes that hold a variety of numbers of cupcakes.

Following the tips above will ensure that you maintain the freshness of the delicious pastries and baked goods you work so hard to perfect. Make sure your customers are bakery quality freshness out of every bite with help from the baked goods to-go box products at MrTakeOutBags.com. With an extensive selection and guaranteed low prices, MrTakeOutBags.com has helped hundreds of bakeries and food service companies keep their products fresh with their innovative packing solutions. Don’t let your hard work suffer during transportation, contact MrTakeOutBags.com for all your food service packaging needs today!

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3 Ways to Make Your Custom Food Service Packaging More Memorable

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3 Ways to Make Your Food Service Packaging More Memorable

3 Ways to Make Your Custom Food Service Packaging More Memorable

Anybody who has ever worked in a bakery or restaurant knows it takes more than great food to be successful. There is a lot of competition out there, and a small bakery or cafe needs to be able to stand out in more ways than one. Having a superior product is important of course, but so is having memorable packaging. The right bread bags, cookie bags and other baked goods packaging can help even the smallest bakeries attract new customers and stand out from the competition.

Coming up with an attractive design for your to-go containers is ultimately up to you. As long as the containers are functional, you can add practically any design you wish. However, there are some tips and tricks that you might find useful if you really want your business to stand out. Here are just a few to keep in mind.

Keep It Simple Yet Attractive

The most important function of any food container (aside from being able to hold the food, of course) is to be able to advertise your business. Any logo or slogan you come up with should be eye-catching and attractive. At the same time, it needs to be kept simple; someone should know exactly what you are selling with a quick glance at your packaging.

Design Your Packaging with Function in Mind

Baked goods packaging doesn’t need to be very elaborate to be eye-catching. A box of cookies should be easy to carry and easy to open, yet it should also be able to keep any baked goods the customer has fresh until they reach their destination. Design a memorable logo and use plenty of bright colors, but, above all else, remember that to-go containers should be able to carry food with little trouble.

Put Your Business’s Contact Information on the Container

One great way to attract customers and ensure repeat business is to put your eatery’s contact information on your packaging. Smaller bread bags and cookie bags will at the very least have room for a phone number, while larger to-go containers may have room for a little more information. Some take-out restaurants have gotten away with putting a small menu on their packaging, but that may be too much information to put on a take-out container. Remember that you also want to keep your packing attractive; a long list of menu items and prices might take away from that.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you design your eatery’s to-go packaging. You can be as creative as you want during the design process, but remember that your packaging should be easy to understand, eye-catching and functional.

One sure way to help your business stand out from the competition is to create custom to-go containers and cake boxes with help from the food service packaging experts at MrTakeOutBags.com. At MrTakeOutBags.com, we understand the importance of impression when it comes to your food service business. That is why we take the time to customize our to-go containers that are designed to show off your brand and your product. Browse our custom product gallery, and discover how MrTakeOutBags.com can create custom food packaging solutions suited to your brand!

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The Importance of Impression in the Food Service Business

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The Importance of Impression

From the moment your customers begin walking directly towards your food service business, they are forming an opinion about everything from the quality of your food—to the quality of your service. Whether you are a sit-down restaurant, food truck or caterer, the importance of impression is paramount. Below are some of your greatest areas of opportunity when it comes to making a positive lasting impression.

Exterior and Entrance

Whether your restaurant is a freestanding location, part of a strip mall or provides food service in a branded food truck or catering van—the exterior must be pristine. While areas such as the parking lot or surrounding businesses are out of your control—there are many things that you can control. Consider:

  • Adequate Outdoor Lighting
  • Clean Windows
  • Clean Delivery Vehicles
  • Clean Walkways
  • Well Maintained Exterior Elements—Paint, doors, awning, patio furniture, signage, etc.

Once customers step inside your restaurant doors, they should be able to quickly and easily identify where to go in order to be seated—as well as which way the flow of traffic is supposed to move.

Interior

Cleanliness is a must for food safety—but superior cleanliness is also expected from every customer you serve. This means that the attention to detail you give to the cleanliness within your restaurant, delivery vehicle, or visible areas of your food truck must be pristine. This includes tiny details such as dusting baseboards and significant details such as busing tables in a timely manner—and ensuring that the bathrooms look and smell clean and fresh.

If you have a sit down restaurant, also pay particular attention to your cutlery, drinkware, plates, dishes, and table linens.

Presentation of Plated Food

As you serve your appetizers, side dishes, main course, and desserts—they must not only taste superb, but first and foremost must look amazing. This includes everything from the color combination, arrangement on the plate, and enticing aroma. Even if you serve fairly casual fare, look for ways to make it uniquely you with you things like a specialty sauce, signature garnish, or creative serving dishes.

Presentation of To-Go Foods

Even if you do not offer delivery, your food is likely to be ordered to go—or taken home as leftovers. This means that you must do more than just order disposable food containers, but find takeout containers that combine everything from convenience, branding, and superior functionality.

As a restaurant owner or operator, you get so used to your daily operations—that it is essential to keep all the tips above top of mind so that nothing slips through the cracks. Make sure you have your to-go food presentation on point with help from MrTakeOutBags.com. With an extensive selection of food packaging products and guaranteed low prices, MrTakeOutBags.com can help your business create an identity that leaves a lasting impression on your customers. From custom to-go containers to printed plastic carry-out bags, let MrTakeOutBags.com take care of all your food service packaging needs.

 

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