Where to print USPS & UPS shipping labels? Try Ship!

At Sticker Mule, we’ve long been making it easier to print custom stickers, labels, and other branding materials. And now we’re excited to announce our newest service to simplify your shipping even more: [Ship by Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/ship "shipping label printing free online")! 

Ship is a brand new way to get your own custom shipping labels without additional printing fees, while also tracking your shipments on a single platform. It’s a game-changer for businesses as well as individuals, offering a more convenient and cost-effective way to manage your shipping needs.

![print shipping labels online usps and ups](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c54af081-047b-4546-a346-fdf5ab9fa32c)

One of the [biggest challenges for businesses](http://www.retaildive.com/news/its-a-ho-ho-horrible-shipping-season-for-small-businesses-too/608947/ "holiday season business challenges shipping and printing labels") when it comes to shipping is the cost. Traditional ways to print USPS & UPS shipping labels can be expensive, with hidden fees and other costly additional services adding up quickly. This can be a significant barrier to entry for small businesses and individuals, as it’s hard to find alternatives of where to print shipping labels.

Ship changes all that. With our new service, users can easily print shipping labels for both USPS and UPS — no need to break the bank with service fees or monthly memberships from other online shipping services. Shipping packages of all weights and sizes just got a whole lot more affordable, whether you’re an individual or a business.

But Ship isn’t just about saving money. It's also about convenience: print labels from the comfort of your own home or office and avoid extra trips to the post office while also keeping track of your shipments over a single, easy-to-access platform.

And to make things even better, Ship is incredibly easy to use. Simply go to Ship by Sticker Mule and follow the prompts to create and print your label. You'll be able to customize your label with your own information, as well as choose from a range of shipping options, including printing USPS and UPS shipping labels.

The launch of Ship is big news for Sticker Mule and for our customers, offering a more convenient and cost-effective way for people to manage their shipping label printing needs. A few clicks and — voilà! — you’ll soon get your own print USPS shipping label on its way to you. 

If you’re one of the thousands looking for a better way to print shipping labels, be sure to check out [Ship from Sticker Mule](https://www.stickermule.com/ship "Print shipping labels on ship") today!

<ButtonCta text="Print shipping labels at Ship!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/ship" />


Print USPS & UPS shipping labels online without any additional fees! Get ship done with Ship today!

Top 7 photo background remover apps & services in 2022

There are a lot of services out there promising to remove backgrounds automatically from photos. Most do a pretty good job for basic and heavily contrasted background colors. But which one is the best of the best? Which one can remove the bg from a tricky photo and pick out just the item focused in the middle?

Well to answer that, we set our mules out on a quest to see which service did reign supreme and the results are telling! 

To test each service to the limit we picked a photo that we wanted to make some [custom die-cut (custom shaped) stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers) out of. We used a photo with a gradient background (since we found those are a bit trickier for some services) and used the same photo to test out all the background removing apps out there.

We tested close to 20 services and we've narrowed it down below to the top 7 places to remove backgrounds online;

__1) StickerMule.com/trace__ (Best Free App)
![sticker mule remove bg](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/b4bb18bf-21f9-49d6-bef2-becb12a60228)

*ahem* Did we mention we have a tool to [remove backgrounds online](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "trace bg remove") all for free? It's called Trace and it definitely performed well under the pressure of our test. It was able to figure out that the person was the main focus of the photo and remove all of the background smoothly and correctly. That would make Trace a great service by itself, but combined with the fact that I can download the processed image in full HD for free makes a compelling case that Trace is indeed the best tool for removing a bg from a photo online right now.

__[Visit Trace](https://www.stickermule.com/trace "remove background online free at trace")__


__2) Photoscissors__
![photo scissors background remove](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/62a92d6b-eabb-4400-8f5f-192dd4e0b593)

Photo Scissors was able to do a perfect cut out of the background for basically every photo we tried. Why isn't it #1? While the service was excellent, the downloading was a bit tricky. The non-paid download didn't want to open up in Photoshop for some reason and copying it from the photo preview app resulted in a black background. The pro version worked perfectly though. If paying is not a deal-breaker, then this is an excellent service to remove backgrounds automatically.

*Visit PhotoScissors.com*

__3) PhotoRoom__
![photoroom background remover](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c6e9a44e-a31e-45d2-bbab-058d7eed047a)
Photoroom was one of the easiest apps to use to remove the bg from a photo. You just had to drag and drop the photo and press the download button to get the full-sized image right away. There is no cost associated with it from what we can tell, so there is no doubt that this service is a top 3 photo background remover

*Visit Photoroom.com/background-remover*

__4) Removal.ai__
![removal ai background remover automatic](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c543f8b1-1e81-4147-95c8-dd0867485f49)
Removal.ai was a quick process and it was able to remove all the background without much issue. Just like Photoroom above, it looks pretty snazzy but you only get 1 free full HD download per account. It costs only $0.20 per image (at the cheapest level) for additional images, so it's one of the best priced paid apps out there.

*Visit Removal.ai*

__5) Remove.bg__
![remove bg background removing service](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c12fd1df-82a8-4fa1-93b1-a4dc6e2e13d0)
Remove.bg is the service that started it all. It was the first mainstream service that allowed you to remove the background automatically without the need of using photoshop or other image programs. For the most part, this service is still great. The cheapest plan churns out images at $0.23 so it's still pretty affordable. Like every service that made it on this list, they do picture background removing very well.

*Visit [Remove.bg](https://www.remove.bg/ "remove bg from photo")*

__6) Retoucher.online__
![retoucher bg deleter online](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/5b423044-3069-4b4d-a1b1-b52aa8f25353)
Retoucher did better than a lot of other services we tried, so it definitely deserves a spot on this list. They also allow one free HD image download per day, so you can get some fair use out of this service. However, if you plan on doing a bit more than that, it may get pricey without a monthly subscription. The pay-as-you-go plans start at $0.60 which is on the higher level of these services. But they do have cheaper options if you opt in for a monthly plan.

*Visit Retoucher.online*

__7) Experte.com/background-remover__
![experte background removal online](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/8690c2d1-bed7-4efe-bfb3-72622ac95be5)
Last but certainly not least, is Experte. They handled this test great, but with some other tests we did, it did struggle a bit. However, it looks like this is a totally free service for both personal and business use, so it's definitely great to know about since it won't set you back anything!

*Visit Experte.com/background-remover*

________

Well there you have it, the top 7 best background removing apps & services in 2022. Each one of these services is a great tool to have in your toolbox, but some may be a bit cheaper or a bit more effective than others. We hope you learned a bit about all the great background remover services out there and found some new ones out too!

________

<ButtonCta text="Remove backgrounds from photos for free @ Trace" href="https://www.stickermule.com/trace" />


See the results of our testing of the best photo background remover apps

How Roman Pizza uses Mule Sauce

We asked [Roman Pizza](https://www.romanpizzamenu.com/) #HowDoYouMuleSauce - this is how they answered. 

<YouTubeVideo videoId="bYITOrMmyAg" />

Pizza is the perfect partner for [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce). Try it on a classic white [pizza with broccoli](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/spicy-broccoli-pizza-recipe) or add some snappy flavor to a cheese or Margherita pie.   Mule Sauce packets are just the right serving size for your slice-to-go. Need more to dip your crust? Opt for a bottle of Mule Sauce to make a pool of hot, sweet flavor.

We want YOU to tell us #HowDoYouMuleSauce. Post a photo or video of your favorite way to use Mule Sauce on social media, and don’t forget to add the hashtag #HowDoYouMuleSauce and tag @StickerMule in your post.

<ButtonCta text="Get Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />

Learn how local pizza place, Roman Pizza, does Mule Sauce.

How to make a classic beer cocktail with Mule Sauce

We asked [Frog Alley Brewing Company](https://frogalleybrewing.com/) #HowDoYouMuleSauce - this is how they answered.  

<YouTubeVideo videoId="N4x1evNpKl8" />

Make a Michelada, a classic beer cocktail, with a kick of heat from [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce). Here’s how:

__Ingredients:__

- Light-bodied beer
- Lime
- Salt
- Mule Sauce

__Steps:__

1. Take your favorite light-bodied beer (like a lager, pale ale, or Frog Alley’s kolsch). Pour into a glass, or feel free to mix it up right in the bottle or can
2. Add a squeeze of lime from 1-2 lime wedges (add as much as you like)
3. Shake some salt into your beer - equal to a small pinch
4. Spice it up with as many dashes of Mule Sauce as you like
5. Drink up!

We want YOU to tell us #HowDoYouMuleSauce. Post a photo or video of your favorite way to use Mule Sauce on social media, and don’t forget to add the hashtag #HowDoYouMuleSauce and tag [@StickerMule](https://www.stimulus.com/stickermule) in your post.

<ButtonCta text="Get Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />

Learn how to make a Michelada, a classic beer cocktail, with a kick of heat from Mule Sauce.

How to perfect your DIY home office decor 

With working from home more common than ever before, the humble home office is finally getting the attention it deserves. Home office decor can be tricky, requiring the perfect balance of coziness, personality and functionality, but we’ve shared a few tips below to get your home office looking so good you’ll never want to work anywhere else.  

## Home office decor: where to start?

![office-wall-graphic](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1c89667567f9de77593f374a928450aea1b9d26e)

To begin creating the perfect home office, define your workspace. Whether you have an entire room or a tiny nook, it’s best if your home office space is set up in one specific zone of your house. Next, the fun part – you can start thinking about what kind of home office decor you’d like. 

### Get inspired with great home office decor ideas 

When it comes to home office decor ideas, thinking about how you want to feel while you’re working is a great place to start. Do you want to feel energized and creative? Or would you prefer a calm, serene workspace? The vibe you want to create during your work day is a great launchpad for allowing home office decor ideas to flow. 

### What do I need for decorating my home office? 

Every home office decor requires some essentials. 

- __Desk__ \- opt for the largest desk you can fit in your home office space. For tiny spaces, foldaway desks are a great option
- __Comfortable chair__ \- Whether an office chair or simply your favorite comfy chair, it’s important that you can sit for hours without hurting yourself
- __Work equipment__ \- Laptop, computer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, headset: whatever you need to get the job done, make sure it fits comfortably in your home office space
- __Storage space__ \- Somewhere you can safely store files and papers, books, and any other work equipment you need

### Choose the right desk and chair for your home office

A functional desk and comfortable chair are the foundation for a great home office decor, and crucial for productivity during your working day. 

__How do I choose a home office chair?__

Your chair needs to be comfortable enough to sit on for roughly 40 hours per week, so it’s a pretty important part of your home office decor. Look for a chair with plenty of back support that’s adjustable and upholstered in a comfortable, breathable fabric. 

__How do I choose a home office desk?__

The desk you need depends mostly on the work you do – do you need to put large monitors or a lot of equipment on it? Or is it just you and a laptop most working days? If in doubt, get the biggest desk you can fit in your workspace and look for designs that have storage built in. 

### What other equipment do I need in my home office?

Again, the equipment you should include in your home office decor depends on your job, but there are a few must-haves that everyone working from home should have in their reach. 

- __Stationery__ \- Pens, pencils, notebooks and planners, a good stock of stationery awards any home office decor major organizational points
- __A lamp__ \- Good lighting is crucial to our eye health and our productivity alike
- __An extension cord__ \- For reaching far away sockets or plugging in extra electricals
- __A desk organizer__ \- With space for files, extra stationery and whatever else you need to store

### How do I bring some color to my home office decor?

Sure, a workspace is functional, but that’s no reason for your home office decor to be sterile. Adding some color and personality will go a long way in making it a space that you’ll actually enjoy spending time in, which in turn will boost your mood and productivity. 

__Add plants to your home office__

On top of looking great, plants and flowers breathe instant life into a space. Look out for air-purifying plants, like snake plants or aloe vera, to keep your home office decor as healthy as can be. 

__Add coziness and warmth with textiles__  

Textiles go a long way to add a feeling of coziness to a space; soft furnishings not only make your space more comfortable, they also help absorb sound, which can be critical in a work environment. A stylish rug under your desk will keep feet warm in the winter months, too. We recommend going for a flatweave rug under your home office desk – if your chair is on wheels, you’ll still be able to glide over it easily. 

__Add color to your home office walls__

The easiest way to add some effervescence to your home office decor with a pop of color on the walls. Your home office decor gives you a chance to really play with color, too, as it’s one specific, personal area in your home, so get creative and try that bright color you’d always dreamed of, or take inspiration from the interior design world with some home office wall decor – wall decals and wall hangings work great to add a little liveliness to the space. 

### I don’t have a specific room, how can I make my workspace my own using home office decor?

Having a separate area for your workspace is essential for creating a focused atmosphere, but can be tricky if your home office is part of another room in your home. Using home office decor to zone off this area is the perfect solution, and the simplest way to achieve it is using wall color or [wall decals](https://www.stickermule.com/products/wall-graphics). Try painting a wall or using home office wall decals in the space around your desk to build a dedicated workspace within another room. 

## How do I keep my home office organized?
![home-office-decal](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/80e15485dd0df109f75ec95e1d02d1299eec5a52)

Organization is key to productive home office decor. Papers, files, documents, planners – they all build up in your home office and need well-considered solutions to stop things from getting messy. 

### Home office decor ideas for an organized space

Storage depends largely on two things: how big your space is and how you decorate your home office. If you have plenty of space, opt for large filing cabinets or shelving; for smaller spaces, a small set of drawers under your desk can work wonders. Perfect your home office organization with some custom-made stickers to label each drawer and file. 

### Top tips for a tidy home office desk

Your desk should stay as neat as possible to keep your mind clear and focused, so follow our top tidy desk tips below. 

1. Get a desk tray to keep any papers you need on-hand nice and tidy
2. Buy a nice stationery holder – you can also use your favorite mug or pot
3. Maximize your use of wall space: home office wall stickers will keep you on track and keep planners and post-its off your desk

## Home office decor ideas to make your space more personalized

Choosing your home office decor is your chance to design the office of your dreams, so why not make the most of it? 

### How do I bring some color to my home office decor?

When it comes to adding color to your home office, now is the time to really play around and go for shades and designs you truly love. If you’re not ready to commit to paint, or you’ve already painted and want to take your decor to the next level, [home office wall decals](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/wall-decals) are the way to go. Available in any style, size and shape you can imagine, home office wall decals add instant flair to your home office decor. 

### How to make home office decor cozier

Nobody likes a cold, stark room, and your home office should be cozy and comfy enough to spend the whole day in. Toss a blanket on your office chair to cuddle up in on chilly evenings, and make sure you’ve got a great rug under your desk to keep toes warm. Adding warm, earthy colors using home office wall decals works a charm to cozy up your space, too. 

### Don’t forget the desk – here’s how to personalize home office equipment

Now that your home office decor looks great, it’s time to shine the spotlight on your equipment. After all, why go to all the effort of designing a space you love only to have an unattractive monitor as the centerpiece? Decorating your home office equipment with stickers is a fun, effective way of adding temporary color and pattern. 

## Home office decor FAQs

Still wondering how to decorate a home office?

### My home office space is tiny! How do I make the best use of it?

If your space is truly tiny, look for home office decor that can easily fold away at the end of the working day. Folding desks and chairs work great in tiny nooks! Add further coziness and style using soft textiles and fun accessories. 

### My home office desk is facing a plain wall, can I make it less boring?

Absolutely! Just add some color. Home office wall decals are a great way to add some style and liveliness to a space, or opt for home office wall stickers to make the most use of the wall – calendars, planners, inspirational quotes and project maps are all great choices for your home office wall stickers.  

### How can I make a desk in my bedroom feel like a dedicated workspace?

Create a specific zone for the space using home office wall decals – it’ll help it feel separate to the rest of your bedroom. Go for lively, energizing colors like yellow and green to help fight off any desire for midday naps!

### I don’t work from home all the time, can I make my home office decor less permanent?

Yes, home office wall decals are perfect for adding style and color to your home office decor, but can be easily removed with no damage at all to your walls when you’re finished with the space. Check out our guide to wall decals to find out all you need to know. 

<ButtonCta text="Create your own wall decals" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/wall-graphics" />


Get ideas for your home office decor even if you’re on a budget! Read our guide on how to decorate a home office with stickers and decals! 

How to decorate a home office in style 

How to decorate a nursery with wall decals

Whether cute and cozy, Scandinavian minimalism, or charmingly traditional, choosing how to decorate baby’s nursery can be a lot of fun. 

Are you ready to start decorating your baby’s room? In this post, we’ll share with you the best tips and tricks in transforming your baby’s room into a fun and safe haven for your little one. 

## When is the best time to decorate a nursery?

The months before your new baby’s arrival can be hectic, but with a little preparation and a solid timeline it’s easy to manage all the little tasks that need to be done, including decorating your new nursery. 

Typically, experts suggest starting to decorate your nursery at around 20 weeks into your pregnancy. This allows plenty of time to order any furniture or nursery decorations you need, as well as having it all installed. 

## What essentials do I need in my baby’s room?

![kids-room-decals-0903](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d42d167eada923370be01cc21486aa4a54738e6f)

It can be hard to decide which of the latest gadgets you’ll actually need in your nursery, but there are a few basic essentials you’ll need:

- Crib or bassinet - make sure it meets all safety standards!
- Changing table - look for one with built-in storage underneath
- Chest of drawers - somewhere to store baby’s clothes and toiletries
- Comfortable armchair or rocking chair for nursing and cuddling in
- Toy chest - to store away toys, mobiles and other baby bits

## What colors work best for a baby’s room?

Choosing a color palette to decorate your nursery with is entirely up to you; whether you go for a traditional pink or blue theme or something neutral, opting for soft, calming colors works best for creating a soothing environment.

Opting for one central theme to tie the room together will make decorating a nursery so much simpler, too – animals, geometric shapes, or clouds and stars all make excellent nursery themes, and can be brought into the room on textiles, furniture or nursery wall decals. 

### What if I don’t want to paint my baby’s room?

If you’re not quite ready to paint an entire room, why not try decorating your baby’s room with wall stickers? Quick, easy and – most importantly – fun, nursery [wall decals](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/introducing-wall-graphics) add instant cuteness to your baby’s room with minimal effort and zero fuss. 

## Decorating baby’s room with wall stickers

[Nursery wall decals](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/wall-decals) are perfect for adding colors, shapes, patterns and pictures to your baby’s room, can be applied quickly and effortlessly, and best of all, they can be removed with no damage to your walls once your little one grows out of them. (In fact, they also work very well on [any room in the house](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/customized-wall-stickers-for-your-home)!) 

Printed on a fabric-like material, nursery wall decals will sit perfectly on your walls and add that little extra flair to your nursery decoration. 

### Where can I apply wall decals in my baby’s room?

Nursery wall decals can be placed virtually anywhere in your nursery; all they require is a smooth surface to adhere to:

- Try a repeating pattern wrapping around the entire nursery, or decorate the wall surrounding baby’s crib
- Decorate the nursery’s ceiling – after all, it’s what your little one will be looking at from their crib and changing table 
- Wall decals can also be applied to doors, so why not put your baby’s name on it?

### How do I apply nursery wall decals?

![nursery-wall-graphic-329A0905](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6aa1bfea1708229c38f3a34fa161d9f51ddf6502)

[Applying wall decals](https://www.stickermule.com/support/wall-graphics) is simple, and takes just a few easy steps.

1. Unroll your nursery wall decal and discard the paper backing
2. Place the wall decal face down on a smooth surface
3. Peel off the top section of the sticker’s backing (larger wall decals have separate top sections)
4. Stick the top of the decal to the wall  – the adhesive allows it to be repositioned until you’re happy with the placement
5. Slowly peel away the rest of the backing and use the squeegee included to smooth down the rest of the wall decal, making sure you avoid any bumps or bubbling 

That’s it! Your nursery wall decal is good to go. 

## Ideas for wall decals for a baby’s room

If you can imagine it, it can likely be made into a nursery wall decal, but here are a few favorites to get you started. 

### Wall decals for a baby’s nursery

When it comes to decorating for babies, wall stickers can bring instant cuteness to her nursery, and the world’s your oyster when looking for design ideas.

If you’re decorating your baby girl’s nursery, don’t be limited by soft pinks, gentle greens, pale yellows, and blues. All kinds of pastel hues work well for both baby girls’ and baby boys’ rooms. Be open to a variety of color motifs! 

Regarding designs, you can go classic with fairytale motifs, or add a wall decal of your baby’s name above his or her crib. Feeling adventurous? You can also do wall decals of lions and tigers to a starry night sky. Another idea is to have wall decal quotes from your own favorite nursery rhymes.

### How can I create custom wall decals for my baby’s room?

We can make custom nursery wall decals in any shape, color or size you like. Here’s how to order:

1. Choose the size and quantity of wall decals you want
2. Upload your artwork and add any comments
3. Place your order and choose your delivery date
4. We’ll send you a proof via email within 4 hours
5. Approve your proof, or request any changes you’d like (it’s free!)
6. Once you approve, that’s it: we’ll send you your custom wall decals

## Nursery wall decals: FAQs

How can I decorate my baby's room? If you're still asking this, here are a few tips and tricks, based on parents' and guardians' most frequently asked questions...

### Can I decorate a nursery without painting?

Yes, you can easily decorate your nursery using wall stickers, with no need for paint. Nursery wall decals are faster and easier than painting your room. Wall decals can be custom made in any color, shape or size you want, and removed once your little one has outgrown them. 

### How can I make my baby’s room look cozy?

Along with adding plenty of soft, cozy textiles, like rugs and blankets, choosing a warm color palette (think pinks, terracotta and warm-toned greens) brings wonderful warmth to a baby’s room. Incorporate this palette throughout, including in paint and wall decals. 

### How can I remove nursery wall decals?

Baby room wall stickers are easy to remove. Simply follow these steps and your wall decals will come off quickly with no damage to your walls. 

1. Gently pull the bottom corner of the wall decal; if it lifts easily away, you should be able to simply peel it away slowly and carefully
2. If the wall decal doesn’t peel away easily, heat the area with a hairdryer on a low setting until it lifts away. Then move on to the next section and repeat. 
3. Slow and steady is the best way to remove a wall decal in order to avoid any wall damage
4. Wash away any leftover residue with warm, soapy water. That’s it!

### Can I order custom nursery wall decals?

Yes! Sticker Mule can create custom nursery wall decals in any shape, size and design you want, so you can really put that personal touch on your baby’s room!

<ButtonCta text="Try nursery wall graphics today" size="large" variant="secondary" align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/wall-graphics" />


Create a cozy, colorful nursery for your baby using nursery wall decals. Completely customizable, our wall stickers let you avoid the hassle of painting.

Branded packing tape vs. regular packing tape 

<YouTubeVideo videoId="JGy4jwR-oqo?rel=0&showinfo=0" />

Custom packing tape is the best kept secret of the Internet’s smartest retailers. It gets your brand exposure while your shipments are in transit, improves deliverability by making your packages more noticeable when delivered and reinforces your brand so customers are more likely to reorder. This is why retailers that switch to using custom tape rarely change back.

Yet many businesses are still relying on clear unbranded tape.  Before we convince you to start using them, let’s take a closer look at custom shipping tapes. 

## What is a custom packing tape? 

Packing or mailing tape is an essential part of your [product packaging](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-packaging-design). Custom printed packing tapes are also called logo tapes (because you can print your logo on the tape for branding purposes), personalized mailing tapes, and custom package tapes. 

You may think that customers just rip them out but your printed packing tape serves more than one purpose. Visually, the difference between a box using branded packing tape and and a box using unbranded tape is obvious. And you might expect to pay a hefty premium for switching to custom tape. But the cost difference is less than you’d expect.

## Why you should use custom packaging tape? 

Aside from the reasons mentioned above, we have prepared more reasons to convince you to use custom printed tapes.

### Cost per roll of packing tape is not that expensive

You can get a 300 foot roll of [custom packing tape](https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape) from Sticker Mule for $29.

While a roll of [standard clear packing tape](https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Shipping-Packaging-Dispenser-142-6/dp/B000J07BRQ/) only costs around $2.25.

That’s a big difference. However, at 300 feet, a roll of Sticker Mule custom packing tape is 4.5 times longer than a standard 800 inch roll of clear packing tape.

That puts the price per foot at:

- Custom packing tape = $0.10
- Standard packing tape = $0.03

### Custom tapes save you from a lot of trouble when packing

When using custom packing tape from Sticker Mule, 1 pass of tape is all you need to securely seal your box. Our tape is water-activated which allows it to quickly create a strong bond to your package once applied.

When using standard clear packing tape, 2 or 3 passes are usually necessary to seal your box. And even with multiple strips of standard packing tape, [boxes are still more susceptible to theft.](https://www.stickermule.com/support/how-is-your-packaging-tape-different-from-other-tape)

For a box that is 12 inches long, you’d want to include an extra 3 inches on each side for both the top and bottom with each strip of tape. That puts the length of tape needed for a 12-inch box at roughly:

- Custom packing tape - 36 inches
- Standard packing tape - 108 inches

If we take our cost per foot numbers from above, we can calculate the cost of tape per package at:

- Custom packing tape = $0.30
- Standard packing tape = $0.27

This means __it only costs $0.03 extra per box__ to create branded packaging.

But there is still one more important factor to consider…

### Branded packing tapes cut down your packing time

Since Sticker Mule’s custom packaging tape is water activated, we include a sponge with every order. If you’re only shipping a few boxes at a time, there won’t be a noticeable difference in the time it takes to seal a box with either type of packaging tape.

But if you’re shipping larger quantities, [a water activated tape dispenser](https://www.stickermule.com/support/what-tape-machine-or-dispenser-do-you-recommend) can cut the time it takes to seal your boxes in half. This does require an upfront investment of around $400 - $1,300, but it quickly pays for itself the more you ship.

And when you are shipping larger quantities, you can order custom packaging tape from Sticker Mule for as little as $19.50 per roll when buying in bulk.

In fact, most companies shipping 100 or more packages per day could actually save money by using Sticker Mule’s custom packaging tape, compared to clear packing tape.

## Where to get branded packing tape?

Are you ready to grow your business with custom printed tapes? If you want to improve your brand exposure and your package deliverability, while saving time and money, try custom packing tape for your packaging.

Upload any image and we'll format it for you, or easily [design your own tape](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-design-packaging-tape).

![Custom packing tape applied to box](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/6a27e0973a183c8a09fcd68a0e314d02a3c5d5cf "Custom branded packing tape being applied to package")

See for yourself the difference custom packing tape can make for your business.

<ButtonCta text="Try custom tape for $4" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/packaging-tape-sample?ref=blog" />

We compared the difference in cost and quality between custom packaging tape and regular unbranded packing tape. 

Branded packing tape vs. regular packing tape: Which should you choose?

What your customers want from their shopping experience 

Your customers are your business. Without them, even the most fantastic, life-changing product will get no sales.
 
And if you aren’t delivering what people want, you’re basically going out of business… be it quickly or slowly.
 
That’s why smart owners spend a lot of time pondering, testing, and asking what their customers want.
 
So what do *your* customers want? And how are you going to give it to them?
 
There’s a bunch of ways to answer this. One way is to focus on giving them the product they want. 
 
The other part is about their experience of getting (and using) that product. It’s the product discovery, the ordering, the shipping, and all the customer service interactions in between. It’s the second part – the customer experience part - that I’m going to focus on here.

## The customer experience

As many of you know, this “customer experience” aspect of your product is becoming more and more important. To some shoppers, it’s basically part of the product. Their customer experience part will determine whether they ever order again.
 
Recent [research from Marketing Sherpa](https://www.marketingsherpa.com/article/chart/purchase-experience-customer-satisfaction) makes this clear:

![1- Marketing Sherpa Customer Experience](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c219a4971d9d0e83242f16588216a54dd6e30bb7)

So how can you give your customers want they want in terms of customer experience? Well, there’s been some research done on that. We’ve rounded it up for you, and listed it here in order of importance. If you can apply even a few of these ten suggestions, you should see higher conversion rates, larger order sizes, and better customer loyalty.

## 1. Offer free shipping
 
What’s the most powerful word in the English language? Depending on who you ask, it could be “you” or “because”… or “free”. “Free” is especially powerful for ecommerce for obvious reasons. The trouble is where to use it.
 
Ends up, using it with shipping is crazy effective. That’s because almost all of us hate to pay for shipping. In a survey of over 2,000 U.S. consumers, “provide free shipping” came in at the top of the list for ways retailers can improve the customer experience. It beat out the runner-up by 21%.

![2 - Mrketing Sherpa research of shopping experience](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/81459baeee8ce6e9205610187f513fc09f55cc40)

So offering free shipping could get more sales. But… there’s a reason retailers charge for shipping. It’s expensive (duh). You can’t just eat that cost.
 
You could:
 
* Add the average cost of shipping to every item.
* Figure out a minimum order size that you’re willing to cover the shipping for.
 
Most retailers opt for the second choice. That’s probably the best one for you, too. 91% of [online shoppers say they’re willing to spend more just to qualify for a free shipping offer](http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/infographic-what-consumers-want-most-online-shopping-experience-174564).

## 2. Include customer reviews
 
Everyone hates purchase mistakes. You know – when you buy something you end up not liking very much. It’s called “buyer’s remorse” if you’re on the marketing side. If you’re on the customer side, it’s just a bummer.
 
One of the most trusted ways for customers to know they’re ordering something good is for them to read reviews. They may not even read all the reviews – just seeing that an item has over a dozen five-star reviews is usually enough to build trust.
 
The power of reviews has even been quantified. According to [research from Bazaar Voice](http://media2.bazaarvoice.com/documents/Bazaarvoice_Conversation_Index_Volume8.pdf), just one review is enough to increase sales by 10%. And the more, the merrier.

![3- More Reviews Means More Orders](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/a675d9797e1199ec90727846d9db1b90c8af25aa)
 
No wonder sites like Etsy make it so easy to leave a review… and keep asking shoppers to leave a review… and make each seller’s reviews so prominent on product pages.

![4- Etsy Reviews on product page](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1e03f7ad8d4b5eacac91cc8ee32d21ee77d9873e)

## 3. Give them packaging that’s easy to open
 
It’s not just you. And it’s not because you’re getting old. Some packaging is just difficult to open. 55% of the consumers surveyed for a recent [packaging study](http://www.shorr.com/sites/default/files/whitepaper-ecommerce-packaging-preferences-survey-custom-shorr.pdf) said so. They also said that difficult packaging is the most irritating and annoying thing about ecommerce packaging.

![5- Packaging frustration research](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9e3214573546b5847064f19600a081e64c979db8)

## 4. Make sure your site loads fast
 
People like to get their orders shipped to them fast. They like placing their orders fast, too. In fact, they just generally like fast when it comes to being online.
 
So what’s “fast”? A page that loads in two seconds or less. Any more than that, and you’ll start losing customers and orders. The slower your site gets, the higher the page abandonment rate for your site will go, as this [data from Kissmetrics](https://blog.kissmetrics.com/loading-time/) shows:
 
![6 - Page Load Time Chart from Kissmetrics](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3ca42d62dd1dbca80759e2c3d74f0006d40af5d8)

Site speed can have huge effects on your earnings. As Ari Weil, vice president of Yottaa, explains on [CIO.com](http://www.cio.com/article/2914780/e-commerce/12-ways-to-improve-the-customer-experience-for-online-shoppers.html), “Amazon, for example, has shown that every 100 milliseconds of latency cost them 1 percent in sales, while Walmart reports conversion rates rise 2 percent for every second of reduced load time.”
 
All you folks on ecommerce platform sites like Etsy and eBay and Amazon don’t have to worry about this, of course. It’s one of the best benefits of sticking with a platform.
 
## 5. Don’t hide your shipping costs or any other unexpected fees

Trust is a really big deal online. It can make or break an order. Adding a surprise shipping fee (even if it’s a legitimate shipping fee) damages any trust you might have built up. It raises a red flag with your buyer. And according to one [study from Visual Website Optimizer](http://resource.vwo.com/ecommerce-survey-2014), it’s the #1 reason why people abandon shopping carts.

![7 - Chart of cart abandonment reasons](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/cf1b0f98524b8564e63471e0fa894a5d5ba13d08)

Here’s an example of an unexpected shipping fee. It’s a $9 extra charge for insurance, and it was enough to make me decide to buy from a different site.

![8 - Image of Surprise Fees at checkout](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3913f0bc22eeb7854fb57a375da960eb988591ce)

## 6. Don’t force them to register when they check out
 
Let’s be honest: Online ordering can be a bit of a pain. There’s all these options (shipping, fast shipping, gift wrap, gift message?). And then all those form fields (Name, address, zip code, email… email again).
 
You finally get through the whole exercise… and then the retailer wants you to register, too?
 
Grrr!
 
I know I’m not alone on this. And here’s proof: The second [most common reason people bail on their shopping carts is because they’ve been forced to register](http://baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate).

![9 - Chart of cart abandonment reasons](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/55c3215a00c59237fd2471aa9766a210b886e9d6)

So be nice. Don’t make people register. Let them check out as a guest.
 
## 7. Give them custom packaging
 
We’ve written about how much packaging influences a customer’s experience (link to that page). But it can increase their loyalty to your online shop, too.
 
30% of the consumers in a recent survey said they are more likely to order again if their package came in a custom-printed box. Big spenders are particularly influenced by this: The more someone spends on online shopping per month, the more likely they are to be influenced by the box.

![10 - Custom Packaging Increases Loyalty](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ad00e2a4deb47fcd4e39a40ad0feb76e540a819b)

## 8. Let them get their orders shipped fast
 
Want proof of how impatient we’ve all become? Here: [90%](http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/infographic-what-consumers-want-most-online-shopping-experience-174564) of consumers will choose a delivery option that ensures their order arrives within seven days. Even if they have to pay for the upgrade.
 
Amazon’s Prime shipping has spoiled most of us. (Sticker Mule offers free 2-day shipping on orders in the U.S.)

## 9. Put their needs ahead of your own business goals
 
We mentioned trust earlier, and how it can make or break a sale (and over time, your business). This is another perspective on that. It highlights how critical it is to do more than just say you care about your customers. You have to demonstrate it.

![11 - Marketing Sherpa: Put Customers Needs First](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f56016a6418aa42b6e02705ffc2c47b132b717ce)

There’s no one tactic that will cover you on this one. You’ll need to prove it at every step through the purchasing process and beyond.
 
## 10. Help them make the best decision (for them, not you)
 
This is similar to the last point, but it shows how customers expect help with their buying decisions. And not just any help. Useful help. Unbiased help. Help that puts their needs first.

![12 - Marketing Sherpa: Help Customer Make Decisions](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/026df2f4ab8614893aca789a579dc062d46beaf7)

If you’ve heard of content marketing (attracting an audience through useful content), you may have heard that for it to work, the content has to avoid selling. If the publisher (aka, the company) is too focused on their products, or too salesy in their approach, their content marketing fails. These last two points back that belief up well.

Same thing applies to shopping ads on Google. [KlientBoost](http://klientboost.com/) has come up with something called [The Gold Pan Technique](https://klientboost.com/ppc/gold-pan-technique/) that helps you narrow in on the products your potential customers are actually searching for.
 
So how can you help people make a decision? All the usual things. Lots of pictures, videos even. Good product descriptions with technical details. Reviews and other types of user generated content. And good customer support. But it all has to be in support of the customer – not your own sales goals.

## Conclusion
 
There’s a new buzzword in marketing that sums up everything we’ve been talking about: customer-first marketing. It is exactly what it sounds like – putting the customer’s needs above your own, at every stage of the customer lifecycle. In every decision you make.
 
Many of the most successful companies in the world have already embraced this idea. If you aren’t able (or willing) to make any of the changes mentioned here, consider just that one question: What more could you be doing to put the customer first?

There are countless ways to delight your customers using stickers and other custom printed products. Check out more ways Sticker Mule can help your business grow.

<ButtonCta text="100+ ways to use Sticker Mule" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses?ref=blog" />

We have to deliver what customers want. It’s the whole point of being in business. That's why figuring out what your customers want is so critical. 

10 ways to save on shipping costs 

Did you notice what happened in January? USPS and FedEx raised their costs. So did CanadaPost. 

These weren’t massive price hikes – only about 3-5%. But it may have been enough to cause you to furrow your brow when you tallied up the month’s expenses.

Shipping costs are unavoidable, of course. But there’s every reason to keep them down. So here are 10 ways to save on shoping costs for your online shop, Shopify store, or your brick-and-mortar business.

Apply even a couple of these, and you’ll more than make up for the price increase from January. You might even trim your costs by 20% or more.

## 1. Join a professional organization that offers shipping discounts
There’s safety – and power – in numbers. It’s true in life, and ends up being true in shipping, too.

There are a bunch of professional associations that offer shipping discounts to their members. Here are just a few:

* [The Specialty Food Association](https://www.specialtyfood.com/specialty-food-association/membership/member-services-benefits/shipping-supplies-savings-programs/) gives its members
 * Up to 29%† on select FedEx Express®
 * Up to 20% on select FedEx Ground®
 * Up to 10% on select FedEx Home Delivery®

It costs $300 and up to join.

* [The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors](https://www.naw.org/busservices/shipping.php) offers
 * Up to 36% on UPS Air letters including UPS Next Day Air®†
 * Up to 32% on UPS Air packages (1 lb.+)†
 * Up to 34% on UPS International imports and exports
 * Up to 24% on UPS Ground shipments

† Many local Chambers of Commerce also offering shipping discounts.

## 2. Get a good scale
If you’ve been guessing about the weights of your packages, please stop. And if you’ve been trying to make do with a bathroom scale for the larger packages, it’s time to upgrade. You need to get a precise weight for every package, or you could be overspending.

Which scale you get should depend on what you’re shipping. If your orders tend to be really light (like less than 4 lbs) a regular light-duty postal scale might be fine. But most scales like that will become useless for packages over 4 lbs.

Look at it this way: A good-quality scale for packages of 4 lbs or less will cost you maybe $30. If it saves you even 50 cents a day, it’ll have paid for itself in two months.

## 3. Save time, too – get your packages picked up
Unless you’re a post office nerd, you probably don’t relish running to the post office every day to drop your packages off. So don’t: The US Postal service will pick up First-Class, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, International, or Return Service packages for you. It can kind of be a lifesaver.

[Schedule your USPS package pickups here](https://tools.usps.com/schedule-pickup-steps.htm).

If the pickup area is secure, you don’t even have to be there when the packages get picked up. Just tell USPS where to find the packages when you fill out that form.

Voilà: One less thing to do.

## 4. Print your labels online
Have you been buying your shipping labels at the post office counter, or at one of those self-self kiosks? If so, you’re overspending. It’s cheaper to buy those online, and then just print the labels at home. You’ll save up to 22% on First-Class packages and up to 54% on Priority Mail Express.

## 5. Consider the weight of your shipping materials
Know why so many companies use peanuts to fill boxes? Because they’re really light. Same goes for those air pillows you’ve probably seen in some packages.

But what if you can’t afford those air pillows, or you don’t have a spare closet empty to store shipping peanuts in?

Just scrunch it. Some paper, I mean. Scrunch up newspaper, or any light paper. It’ll fill the packages nicely, is super light, and doesn’t cost so much. It’s a great way to keep kids busy, too (though you may need some fun paper to keep them interested).

Almost any paper will do. Ideally, you want it to be just strong enough to hold its shape, but light enough not to nudge your scale.

Word to the wise: Don’t try to shave grams off your shipping weight by using flimsy shipping boxes. Exterior boxes need to be sturdy enough to make it through an occasionally rough journey through the post office.

One way to conserve costs? The [poly mailer](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers). If you’re shipping items that aren’t likely to be damaged by a bump (like clothes), a simple poly mailer could shave a couple of ounces off each package. And you could dress it up (ahem) with some custom printing.

![Yukon Built Custom Poly Mailers for Online Shops](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/cf319a3005f8345277811eb9eb3ba3e06bf8067f)

## 6. Use boxes that fit the item
It may mean you have to buy a couple of different box sizes, but you’ll probably save money in the end anyway. And you won’t be one of those [companies that ships a tiny item in a huge box](https://twitter.com/USAbox/status/575329675754532864).

![Huge box with a tiny item](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/dfb97617391245c1b88be5fc471b2540073cd224)

## 7. Consider skipping shipping insurance
Any package shipped via priority mail is automatically insured for $50. So if your orders aren’t usually worth more than $50, you probably don’t need insurance at all.

For the packages that are worth more than $50, you may want to do some math. (No really – this is math you’ll want to do).

Let’s say your package is worth $100. If it gets lost, you’re out $50. The cost of insuring it for that extra $50 is $2.65.

Not bad, but if you bought insurance for 100 of these orders, it would cost you $265. If you skipped the insurance, you could lose up to five $100 orders and still break even. That’s because you’d be covered for the first $50 of those five $100 orders. And the remaining $50 for the five orders comes to $250.

But are you really going to lose five out of every 100 packages? One out of every 20 packages? Probably not. So maybe you could skip the insurance for $100 packages.

The math would change (of course) for more expensive packages. So maybe you’ll only want to insure packages that are worth $150 or more. It depends how much risk you want to take, how often packages go missing, and how valuable each package is.

## 8. Use a rewards card
We’re not sure if this is cheating, or just a creative way to cut your shipping costs. But there are plenty of “rewards card” credit cards that give cash back with every purchase.

Usually it’s only 1%. But some cards give much more (up to 6%) in certain categories. If you pick the right card and if you’ve got the credit rating to qualify for the card, you could finagle a way to get 6% back on your shipping costs.

Just don’t carry a balance, or the interest rates will rapidly eat up anything you’ve saved.

## 9. Use Stamps.com, Endicia or Etsy’s shipping option.
Some shipping services and sales platforms give generous discounts if you use their shipping features.

For instance, [Stamps.com](http://www.stamps.com/shipping/) gives its users:

* 26% off first-class package service
* Up to 53% off priority mail
* 10% off priority mail express.

Their site also says you can save up to 40% on package insurance “compared to USPS rates”.

Other sellers have gone with [Endicia](http://www.endicia.com/), which is more sophisticated than Stamps.com (and better designed to support larger operations). They also offer serious discounts.

And then there’s Etsy. According to some sources, Etsy’s “create a shipping label” will let you save almost half the cost of what the USPS would charge.

## 10. Shop and negotiate for prices
There’s a thread running through all the tricks we’ve mentioned here: It pays to shop around.

So here’s how to act on that: Open accounts with all the big shippers. Then plug in some numbers and check their prices for the package types and sizes you’re most likely to ship. Usually there are significant differences in price points across the different carriers.

The best choice depends on your business and your packages. And maybe, based on which other deals you can get through the tactics mentioned above. Who knows - maybe all your packages below 2 lbs should go by USPS, while most of the ones over 2 lbs should go UPS… and the international orders should go via FedEx.

Until you do some homework, you’ll never know.

## Extra credit 
Want to really surprise and delight your customers? See if you can ship their package for less than your checkout cart quoted, then refund them the balance. So if they paid $10 to ship their order, but you can get it to them for $7, refund the $3.

Then send an email notifying them of the refund.

Something like this will cost you a bit to set up. And it’ll take some time and skill to manage. But who would ever forget getting a refund for something like that?

Maybe this isn’t something you can do for every order. Maybe only your very best customers will get this kind of treatment, or you’ll only be able to do it for orders over a certain size. But this kind of white-glove treatment will not go unnoticed. It’s this kind of above-and-beyond care that makes customers stick around.

## Conclusion 
As you can see, there’s plenty of ways to cut shipping costs. But don’t get totally focused on the money. Service – for your customers and for you – matters, too. 

At Sticker Mule, we help you wow your customers with custom printed products. Why not try our [poly mailers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/poly-mailers) or [address labels](https://www.stickermule.com/uses/address-labels) today? Get $10 off your first order when you sign up by clicking the button below.

<ButtonCta text="Get $10 credit" href="https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=7980330701&ref=blog" />


Shipping costs are unavoidable, but that’s every reason to keep them low. Here are 10 ways save on shipping costs for your business. 

How Grado Labs built their word-of-mouth marketing machine 

When I first heard of Grado Labs, my immediate thought was: here’s *another audio company*. Probably not much different than the rest.

Boy was I wrong. Grado Labs is totally different.

Before Beats came along, Grado Labs was unleashing sweet, melodious tunes into their customers' ears with award-winning headphones.

In fact, Grado Labs has now been around for 64 years.

And while Grado’s competitors spend millions on marketing — with a flashy internet ad here and  another commercial there — Grado has built their brand without any advertising since 1953. They rely completely on word-of-mouth.

Some of Grado’s successes:

* Massive companies, like Microsoft, beg Grado to commission special limited pairs of Grado headphones
* Musicians, like John Mayer, swear by Grado headphones in the studio when recording and mixing an album
* Celebrities, like Elijah Wood, retweet Grado tweets *just because they love the brand so much*

![Grado Labs 1995 Tweet - Retweeted by Elijah Wood](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1ae9d906e15c17b83e64ec2a6efa9c154bc5795e)

For Grado, this is business as usual.

Random retweets from Elijah Wood? Regular occurrence.

("I just wish Elijah would retweet some of my better tweets," VP of Marketing Jonathan Grado laughs.)

For audiophiles everywhere, Grado Labs stands above the rest. What makes this brand special? Why are they so successful?

I went on a mission to find out. Here’s what I discovered.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="BfQQrReQmkw" />

## Grado Labs timeline

__1950__ — Joseph Grado, a watchmaker at Tiffany & Company, had an idea to start producing audio equipment. 

“Joe was making phono cartridges out of his house,” grandson and current VP of Marketing Jonathan Grado explains. “These phono cartridges hold the needle for a record player to play a record”

![John Grado and Jonathan Grado in the Listening Room](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ccbe17487f2ccfacbeaab8d637c102e4efad5a52)

__1953__ — As phono cartridge production outgrew the family’s kitchen table, Joseph took over the small building of his family’s struggling fruit business and officially created Grado Laboratories.

__1961__ — Fueled by the unexpected success of phono cartridges, Grado Labs started growing rapidly. They released new products for record players, including the Dustat Record Cleaner, speakers, turntables, and more.

![Grado Cartridge Gold](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/32596f5fc93abd1a8c6679f38113c882f8ccde10)

__1965__ — John Grado, Joseph’s nephew, starts sweeping floors at Grado Labs at age 12. In between cleaning duties, John learns about sound and electrical engineering from Joseph. 

“I’ve been working at Grado for 52 years now. But it doesn’t seem that long. Feels like I’m just getting started,” John told me.

__1974__ — John graduates from college (and sweeping duties) and joins Grado full-time.

__1984__ — Phono cartridge development is at its peak. Grado is making 120,000 cartridges per year. All cartridges are hand-made at a small Grado Labs building in Brooklyn, where the family also lives on the top floor.

__1990__ — Tides quickly turn. Turntable sales slow down, and so does Grado Labs and their phono cartridge business. Joseph retires, and John buys the company, becoming President and CEO. 

Jonathan: "Grado went from 10,000 cartridges per week in the mid-1980s to 10,000 cartridges per year in the early 1990s."

__1991__ — John needs an idea to keep Grado Labs from closing down. He decides to enter the headphone market. "I noticed headphones were considered second-class citizens. Most people focus on speakers, so I thought we could have the best impact on headphones."

__1993__ — The SR325, Grado’s first pair of headphones, is released.

__1994__ — A second pair of headphones, the SR60, gets a glowing review from a popular magazine and goes “viral”

__1997__ — The popularity snowballs. *Forbes* magazine profiles John and calls him “one of the finest names in stereo headphones”

__2003__ — Grado Labs celebrates their 50th anniversary

__2013__ — Jonathan, John’s son, joins Grado Labs full-time after graduating college. With a $0 marketing budget, Jonathan has to rely on word-of-mouth to grow the brand. He uses stickers and social media to push Grado products, and Mashable names Grado Labs a top 8 most social small company in America. The praise continues as Wired says Grado builds the "best headphones in the world."

__2016__ — Grado sees record revenue. And they’re just getting started.


## From the brink of extinction to massive success

“I was having the most fun when we were struggling the most,” jokes John Grado about the early days of Grado Labs.

In 1965, vinyl records were growing in popularity and Grado Labs phono cartridges were a popular choice for enthusiasts.

Over the next ten years, Grado would make almost 500,000 phono cartridges each year.

Every cartridge was build by hand in their small Brooklyn building, manually tested part-by-part, and carefully packaged and sent to stores.

But then, it all came to a screeching halt.

![Grado Labs Building](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/c14635b028c2a2643dff4537a808ca5a7950be6f)

*The unassuming Grado Labs building, as it stands today. It’s still used by Grado Labs 60+ years later.*

In 1988, phono cartridge production had slowed to a crawl as consumers moved to portable audio devices.

Overnight, Grado Labs went from “growing business” to “uncertain future.”

Deciding to retire, Joseph sold the business to his nephew John as big questions loomed on the horizon. Will phono cartridge sales ever pick up again? Is the business doomed? Where do we go from here?

“Business is like being a captain on a ship,” John explains. “There are ‘up’ times, where the weather is nice and anyone can steer the ship. But there are also ‘down’ times when you’re in the middle of a storm. It’s during the storm the talented people survive.”

Down to three employees and a lot of uncertainty, John made a critical decision for the future of Grado Labs.

Pivot the business.

"At first, I considered getting into the speaker business. I tinkered, looked around at what others were doing, and ultimately decided against it. There was so much competition and I thought there was a bigger opportunity with headphones."

![Grado Headphones SR225e with stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3869dc751bd98c805455833a22ca8ed324cc8f1f)

Taking lessons he picked up working under Uncle Joseph, John started experimenting.

Failure after failure, and iteration after iteration, John tested until he built the perfect pair of headphones. 

"Even today, people tell us everything we put out is a hit and it’s perfect. But what they don’t see is a big pile of stuff on the chair we didn’t put out because it didn’t match our standards."

In 1994, two years after starting headphone tests, John and Grado Labs released their second pair of headphones called the SR60.

They were a massive hit. An [unexpected review in Stereophile magazine](http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/532/#HmF46HjTERkOesAt.97) put the headphones on the map in the audio community. The headphones started selling like crazy.

In 1994, just a few years removed from near-extinction, Grado Labs saw revenue of seven figures.

Within a few years, audiophiles everywhere were raving about Grado Labs headphones. The business was growing again.

## Building word-of-mouth marketing to the next level

"Every ad says it's the world’s greatest product. Everything can’t be the world’s greatest. Wherever I look, I see ads I don’t believe. Why would anyone believe ads for Grado headphones?"

When John re-focused Grado Labs in 1990, he refused to pay for advertising — just like Joseph, going back to 1964.

Instead of spending money on ads, John decided to reinvest the money back into the business to create more incredible headphones.

Relying solely on good reviews and word-of-mouth from loyal supporters, Grado Labs grew their reputation.

Generation to generation, the headphones were passed down.

Grandparents handed down SR60s to their children — who then handed it down to their children.

Kids gathered around the living room to listen to a record player using a Grado phono cartridge made 40 years earlier.

And entire families would bond over the near-perfect sound Grado products produce.

Grado’s reputation didn’t stop with just families, though. Celebrities, musicians, and audiophiles obsess over their Grado headphones.

(Plus, unlike traditional headphone brands, which pay money for celebrity endorsements, Grado has never spent a dime asking people to wear their headphones.)

For example, Jimmy Fallon wears Grado headphones live on his award-winning show.

![Jimmy Fallon wearing Grado Headphones on the Tonight Show](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d3aa1df2b2515254d2e39d19d3697039ca91249d)

Music producer Rodney Hazard — who’s produced for Joe Budden, A$AP, and Meyhem Lauren — uses Grado SR80s to help him create the best possible music for his artists.

![Rodney Hazard wearing Grado Headphones](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/179359e4e94f00c546d7a321bd50af4e7801ecef)

*Rodney Hazard rocking a Heritage pair of Grados.*

And Grammy Award winner John Mayer bought a pair of PS500e Grados to make sure his music sounds the best it can (and to enjoy the music of other artists).

![John Mayer wearing Grado Headphones](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/1131f7563be83941296d317e127001eb00844308)

*John Mayer, listening to music on a pair of Grados.*

Families, musicians, celebrities… for music lovers everywhere, Grado is synonymous with “premium.”

Recently, Grado Labs had another trick up their sleeve to grow the brand: social media marketing.

While in college, Jonathan Grado wanted to help his dad with the family business. “I had the idea to start marketing our brand to more people and hopefully help us grow.”

But Jonathan was in for a big surprise.

“My dad said I could help with marketing, but he couldn’t give me a budget. I had $0 to work with.”

Forced to be creative, Jonathan turned to Facebook and Twitter, “I wanted to create a place for Grado Lab fans and audiophiles to congregate.”

Almost every day, Jonathan would tweet and post on Facebook. His most successful posts were photos of Grado’s beautiful, hand-made headphones. 

> Photos pull people in, and the sound of our headphones keeps them here."

Since Jonathan started using social media to showcase the headphones, Grado’s popularity has skyrocketed.

In 2014, the leading social media news company Mashable named Grado Labs one of the top social media small businesses in the United States.

And over the past three years, revenue has more than doubled.

Now, with a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter page, photos are just as important. “Photographs of our headphones drive a ton of great comments and draw a lot of potential buyers to our brand.”

## What will Grado Labs do in the future?

“The major focus here is behind-the-scenes. We’ve never paid for an endorsement. We’d rather random people like our stuff than become a name-brand enterprise.”

As Jonathan shares the vision of Grado Labs, it’s clear the team is careful not to grow too quickly and lose their quality.

Even with healthy revenue, there’s no talk of building an ad budget. No talk of buying celebrity endorsements. And definitely no talk of mass-producing the headphones in China to lower cost.

“We don’t need to be the world’s largest company or conglomerate to be successful,” CEO John is quick to remind the small team at Grado.

With steady, focused growth there are two other marketing strategies Grado Labs is using with success:

* Beautiful, high-quality stickers to match the brand (and grow viral marketing)
* Monthly email newsletter — including a birthday surprise for subscribers

Jonathan has always been a big fan of cool stickers. Going forward, he plans to further incorporate stickers into the Grado Labs brand. 

“I keep some stickers with me at all times and some on my desk. They’re great to share with friends or include in orders.”

![Grado Headphones Stickers](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/5cc883d11882a94a7205a9406c54a73836287993)

Over the years, Jonathan has used [die cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers), [rectangle stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/rectangle-stickers) and [transfer stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/transfer-stickers) from Sticker Mule. "No matter where our customers put the stickers, Sticker Mule quality speaks for itself. The stickers always last and look great."

Going forward, look for even more stickers from Grado Labs.

On the email side, Jonathan has been building the Grado Labs newsletter.

Over the years, Jonathan heard from thousands of dedicated followers who wrote to Grado Labs begging for updates.

Add in people who entered Grado contests and purchased headphones, and there were about 15,000 email addresses Jonathan had saved. 

To appease their raving fans, Jonathan built a newsletter. Every month, he sends out new stories, films, photos, and more for the Grado Labs faithful.

The results have been positive. "Email works pretty well for us. It’s a good sign for the future."

## What can you learn from Grado Labs?

After talking with John and Jonathan at Grado Labs, three key principles come to mind:

1. Quality
2. Creativity
3. Contentment

These key focuses bled through everything they shared:

“Give people the best product you can and eventually you’ll be successful.”

“We had a recent 5-year gap between new headphone products. We only release when it’s needed.”

“All the work and experience of 64 years leads to creating high-quality headphones today.”

The craftsmanship, care, and focus is what makes Grado Labs different. Instead of nickel-and-diming, or focusing on revenue and satisfying shareholders (like so many other companies), Grado focuses on releasing amazing products and let everything else take care of itself.

Today, 64 years later, you can still find Grado Labs in the same unassuming Brooklyn building. While they continue to grow, they’re doing it on their own terms. 

There’s no sign on the door, and if you’ll have to knock loudly because John, Jonathan, and the rest of the team are hard at work building perfect headphones.

If you want to say hello to John and Jonathan (and the rest of Grado Labs), [click here](http://gradolabs.com/).

![Grado Labs Stickers and RS2e Headphones](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/db04cf67206f7eaeeee939e12da211fcf3ff58f4)

There are countless ways to delight your customers and build *your* word-of-mouth marketing machine using stickers and other custom printed products. 

Check out more ways Sticker Mule can help your business grow.

<ButtonCta text="100+ ways to use Sticker Mule" href="https://www.stickermule.com/uses?ref=blog" />

Learn how Grado Labs has built a successful business that has stood the test of time through word-of-mouth marketing. 

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