Convenience packaging has become a growing trend as our own everyday schedule are becoming busier and busier. We have noticed companies all over the world introducing new products and packaging created special for those on a time crunch as seen in our Well That’s Convenient blog and Portion Controlled Packaging blog. A UK based company called JDM Food Group Ltd has recently released an entire product line manufactured and packaged for the consumer on the go.

The on the move product line is called “Just Add” and created for those looking for an easy to use cooking spice product. Included in the line is a variety of squeezable pre-chopped spice pastes such as garlic, chili, basil and ginger. Each tube is printed against a black matte background with bold colored text and matching graphics of the spiced paste. There is also the phrase “The real thing without any chopping!” printed in cursive on the bottom of each tube for all the lazy chef’s out there; sign me up! Another one of their products I absolutely need is the “one shot” pouch of similar flavorings perfect to be added to any single serving dish. They also have a similar line of pouched “micro-taters” toppings that are ready to be put on a baked potato and microwaved. Tater toppings include an unusual tuna sweetcorn & mayonnaise, a spicy chili con carne and a savory mature cheddar cheese & onion!

To read more on this line of convenient products, check out the article on Packaging of the World.

Do you hate slathering on sticky sunscreen? One of the top complaints of wearing sunscreen, despite its skin health benefits, is that it is sticky and oily. In fact, some people would opt to not wear sunscreen rather than deal with the feeling of wearing sunscreen lotion! Well, the people from Solise understood the sunscreen lotion complaints and created a new product that is certainly going to shake up the sunscreen market.

Dale Lillard, the company President, enlisted the help of engineer Michael Doyle to help him create the first line of sunscreen hand and body washes. To use the product simply wash the body with the cleanser in the shower, or using the hand wash to clean your hands in the sink. Neither washes will leave any reside behind, but the product clings to your body’s natural oil while washing for an SPF 15 skin protection from UVA/UVB rays. Not only are the washes hydrating for your skin (unlike other sunscreens) but they are hypoallergenic, paraben free and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. I really like the label design for these products featuring a light lime green background with gold text to match the golden color of the sun graphic. The plastic on the cap/ pump is also a golden color to match the printed text which makes the product seem more like a high quality beauty product than a plain sunscreen.

Will we be seeing other products catch onto the wash on sunscreen trend? Let us know if you find other products following Solise’s lead and check out where to find this product at a retail location near you!

If you are a busy mom, and let’s face it what mom isn’t, then Earth’s Best has released the perfect baby food packaging for you! The west coast company has been selling natural baby foods for over 25 years. With several lines of food for newborns, infants and toddlers, Earth’s Best offers a variety of healthy food products that are USDA certified organic. What caught my attention about this company was their new line of Infant Puree Pouches.

Not only are the pouches resealable but the line includes nine different varieties of pureed baby food that can be easily taken on the go! What’s great about this line is that the pouches are specifically designed for the age of your baby. For example, if your baby is from 4-6 months then you would want to buy the 1^st foods pouches available in First Bananas and First Pears. If your baby is from 6-9 months you would buy the 2^nd food pouches and for 9 months and up the 3^rd food pouches are for you. All pouches are easily identified by a category number printed in the upper left corner of all pouches to ensure optimal nutrition for your baby during each stage of growth. The varieties also come in several tasty flavors such as Sweet Potato Apple, Butternut Squash Pear, and Banana Blueberry! Created by Smith Design, the pouches were designed in an array of bright colors with fantastic printed graphics of the fruit or vegetable. There is also a helpful picture of a baby printed on all pouches in the lower left hand corner to help identify which food phase the pouch belongs in. The 1^st phase pouches have a baby that is sitting showing that the baby who should eat this food is still too young to stand. The baby images for the 2^nd and 3^rd phase categories are standing showing that those pouches are for a more mature baby. What a cleverly designed pouch!

Did you know that Dion Label Printing has the capabilities to print pouched like these Infant Puree Pouches? To read more about our Pouching capabilities check out our website!

With summer weather comes some extremely sunny days and if you are not careful your skin could pay the price. Did you know that in the U.S. last year alone there were over 1 million new diagnosed cases of skin cancer? Most cases of skin cancer are found in people who have neglected to wear sunscreen. With skin cancer rates at an all time high, why do so many people still neglect to wear it? The top complaints are the expense, the “uncomfortable thick” feeling of the lotion, and excuses such as “I work indoors.” The truth is that even 10 minutes of sun exposure a day can cause skin damage. There are so many new and innovative sunscreens on the market that are better than the heavy white lotions of the past. Here are some of my top picks for new sunscreen products with some fantastic packaging!

Popular sunscreen company Hawaiian Tropic has what they call a Shimmer Effect Lotion in their skin beauty protection line. The traditional sun lotion has been enhanced with mica minerals to make your skin shimmer and shine (mica means to “glitter” in Latin). Organic skincare company Joshua Tree has what they call a sun stick that best resembles an antiperspirant stick. The SPF foundation stick is completely organic and made from all natural products for an easy to apply healthy sunscreen.

If you are looking for a product that will be incredibly light on your skin, I found two different products that will be perfect. Cosmetic company Bare Minerals has a Natural Sunscreen Powder for the ultimate lightweight coverage. The powder is available in light, medium, and dark hues to closely match your skin tone similar to their other product lines. They also promise thorough coverage from the sunscreen powder without clogging your pores. All of the sunscreens are packaged in a single tube with built in powder brush but unlike their other products there is no need for dipping the brush in loose powder. Spills will now be impossible because the powder will automatically release from the brush when swept across the skin. Another innovative lightweight product comes from beauty company TOCCA. They have created towelettes that coat your skin with a light SPF 30 sunscreen. Each pack of 10 towelettes is packaged in a flexible pouch with a resealable label opening similar to products in our Flexible Packaging blog.

Own Products has an incredibly unique sunscreen and wins my vote for my choice of most innovative sunscreen of the year! Their Own Active Block is a mineral sunscreen ball that applies an even, light weight sunscreen application. Different from traditional sunscreen, the mineral ball is ideal for those who hate the heavy feeling of traditional sunscreen lotion. I also love the convenient packaging of the mineral ball as it allows for easy travel, and one handed application without oily sticky hands.

Women everywhere will agree that sometimes that urge to snack can be unbearable! Whether it’s salty or sweet we all get those cravings, but sometimes we want a snack that does not leave us feeling guilty about indulging. 100-calorie snack packs have skyrocketed to popularity since picked up by snack giant Nabisco. Well, they have recently introduced a brand new line of “indulgent” snacks that will not undo your attempts to eat healthier.

Nabisco calls the new snack line SnackWell’s, and though some are 100 calorie packs others range around 130 calories. But if the names say anything about these snacks, they seem totally worth the indulgence! Snack packs are available in flavors such as Fudge Drizzled Carmel Popcorn, Rich Vanilla Crème Brownie Bites, and Fudge Drizzled Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. I will take one of each please! The company is encouraging woman to satisfy their sweet tooth with one of these individual sized snack packs, and even markets the treats with the phrase “Be Bad. Snack Well!” The pouching is nothing but sassy, snazzy, and even a little sexy. Each vibrant green snack pouch is printed with a bright zebra print in a variety of colors depending on the flavor. My favorite combination is absolutely the Brownie Bites that have black stripes over the green pouch; the black pops against the green and the brownie images look realistic enough to eat. Did you know that Dion Label Printing has the capability to print these types of sassy pouches? To learn more about our pouching capabilities, visit the Pouching capability page on our recently redesigned webpage!

For more information on the designers behind these fantastic pouches, visit Davisdesign.ca.

When trying to make your product stand out on the shelf, a great label can do wonders for enhancing your bottle. The Organic Oscar dog shampoo and conditioner labels are a perfect example of labels that compliment the dog bone shaped bottles perfectly. California based organic dog product company, Organic Oscar, was founded back in 2007 after a failed exhaustive search for healthy pet shampoo/conditioner products. The collection introduced three different products including an Aloe Vera Shampoo, Aloe Vera Conditioner, and Oatmeal Shampoo. None of the three products contain any artificial ingredients and are of course not tested on animals. In addition, a portion of all product proceeds is donated to charities supporting the humane treatment of animals!

As far as the packaging goes, I know that any dog would absolutely love it! The bottles are dog bone shaped, come in an array of bright eye catching colors, and are completely recyclable. Since the bottle separates in the middle, to reveal the pump nozzle, the label is created in two pieces. Organic Oscar’s bottom section label features the puppy logo sitting in a cartoon style shower tub. The design of the label looks simple at first, yet if you look closely at the shower you will notice it has small green leaves sprouting from the shower neck to reinforce the organic motto of the company. The top section of the label includes three dog bone shaped symbols indicating that the packaging and product are natural, biodegradable, and organic. These symbols will be great indicators to include in future products for the company as a quick way for the customer to identify the features offered by the product.

To read more about these dog and eco-friendly products check out the article from The Dieline.

As a child, there was one condiment that was always present on my table; a bottle of ketchup. Even at a young age, my family says I could recognize the label of a Heinz bottle better than I could recognize my own name!  However, here are some Heinz ketchup labels that you and I will not recognize because they are designed by kids! 

Heinz holds an annual Ketchup Creativity Contest where young artists, K-12, can submit a ketchup bottle label design. Above is the grand prize winner from 2010; a third grader named Jordan De La Rosa from Mission, TX. Jordan will receive a cash prize of $5,700 and his design will be sold in both ketchup packets and bottles.  Above and below are some other winning designs I enjoy; some simplistic, others more detailed, and some even channeling Picasso! Congratulations to all the label design winners and look out for next year’s contest.

Remember the days when bags were closed with close pins only leading to stale snacks?  There is nothing worse than biting into a stale chip and Zip-Pak couldn’t agree more!  The world renowned packaging leader is responsible for a majority of the resealable packaging out on the market.  From the Zip sliders (bottom left), to the press to close lips (bottom right), Zip-Pak strives for resealable technology to keep food at its freshest.  Debuting this year at Pack Expo, Zip-Pak introduced its newest innovation in pouch packaging; the Zip 360.  In an effort to design the best resealable pouching, they have created a pouch with a wide opening ideal for scooping.  The Zip 360 pouch above shows how easy it is to fit your entire hand in to scoop out food, and then reseal leaving the packaging intact! 

The packaging is not only an innovation, but it will also significantly decrease packaging waste.  For example, cereal packagers will be able to eliminate the cardboard box and merely focus on the inside flexible pouch.  Also, the neat resealable technology will eliminate tearing the pouch and in turn ruining the frontal graphics.  Brands will be saving money, maximize their design space, and increasing shelf life of their products.  Zip 360 is certainly a pouching innovation!

We have seen before how important package design is to its consumer especially when it comes to women and cosmetics.  Besides that perfect shade of rouge, women want to feel luxurious about the compact they are carrying.  Mii has designed a line of personally designed cosmetics.  The limited color pallet, consisting of only black, white and a pop of pink gives the line a timeless quality often found in black and white photography. Text on the cosmetics is printed in a fluid cursive which looks hand drawn and modern. An individual saying is printed on each product with an ego boosting direction on how to use the product.  For example, “Perfecting pressed powder, just add the perfect finishing touch and go.” The idea is to make a woman feel that by using this powder she is the vision of perfection; oh the power of marketing!

My favorite Mii product and saying is absolutely the blush.  Not only will you open your cosmetic to a high quality blush, but you will see the saying, “Uplifting cheek color, a splash of color creates a perfect portrait.”  Using language such as a perfect portrait makes a woman feel like a piece of art.  Luxury and personalization make Mii make-up the perfect heart felt gift for the holidays.

When I observe people on a bus or train, about 1 in 2 people are usually wearing earbuds to listen to their favorite tunes.  Whether they are listening to an iPod or MP3 player, earbuds have become the most common headphone system in the world. But if you are like me, you are in a constant frustrating battle to untangle your earbuds.  The startup company, BudTrap, is less than two years old but has developed the ingenious BudTrap. It’s as easy as 1-2-3 to use; slip the product onto your earbud jack, wrap the cord neatly around your iPod, and clip the ends back onto the BudTrap! The cord will stay nicely wrapped around your device so you can store it without tangle worries. How did no one think of this earlier? Now you can avoid frustrating cords knots with one simple tool. 

BudTrap’s come in a variety of bright colors and retail for about $5.95.  Visit BudTrap’s webpage to buy yours today and say good by the tangled earbuds forever!

As a blogger about the newest packaging innovations on the market, I am constantly keeping my eyes out for the hottest trends.  A top trend I have noticed across multiple packaging and product innovations is that the world is going green!  New eco friendly products are popping up every day as the world tries to be sustainable.

A few products in particular stood out to me for excellence and innovation in green packaging. Scott Naturals Tube free tissue has just arrived in Northeast Walmart and Sam’s Club stores and is missing one key element; the classic cardboard tube!  The tube, through eco friendly, is reported to be thrown in the garbage by 8 out of 10 consumers.  Scott plans to reduce excess waste and be more eco friendly by removing the tube.  The Green 001 designer shoe by Li Ning is a Chinese eco friendly shoe made entirely from recycled products.  Trendwatching online says a Chinese ad for the shoe reads, “Environmental Protection = Trendy” to enforce the global go green trend. Even Mexico City’s government has a new law banning non-compostable grocery store bags.  Stacy and I saw this trend first hand at the Natural Products Expo East where reusable shopping bags were distributed in abundance to show attendees.  Keep up the “go green” efforts everyone and watch out for more of my top packaging trends!

Bacardi has introduced the newest member to its flavored rum line; Bacardi Rock Coconut intensified with the popular health drink coconut water!  While Bacardi does not market the alcohol as having any health benefits, coconut water enthusiasts will surely enjoy the sweet hydrating flavor they know and love.  The rum is also infused with melon for sweet drink with subtle bite.

The bottle design will marry well with the rest of the line following the signature Bacardi design.  Though I am a fan of the Bacardi design in general, I am not sold on the Rock Coconut.  Visually the coconut flavor is portrayed, but the melon flavor is illustrated poorly.  I understand using the name “Rock” as a marketable substitute for the “rock melon” fruit; however I wish melon was visually on the bottle in another way than the jagged red lines. Bacardi Rock Coconut will hit shelves in November just in time for the holiday season.

Every year, it seems that holiday planning begins earlier and earlier. Last week when I went to the store for Halloween costume accessories, the rack was directly next to a Christmas tree display. Then on Halloween day Stacy reported that the mall was already decked in Christmas decorations top to bottom!  It is only the beginning of November and the world is already ready for December; what happened to Thanksgiving!?

Though I may be a last minute holiday shopper, like many others, there are those early birds who are thrilled at the early presence of the holidays.  With the holidays being the biggest time of year for retailers, holiday packaging is an essential part of the planning phase.  In fact, the earliest holiday packaging comes out way before Halloween such as Penhalingon’s gift set.  The set maintains the extravagant taste of the one hundred and fifty year old British company, while being modern and dreamlike in its design (above).  So whether you are already blaring holiday tunes or cringing at the thought of your future credit card bill, the world is preparing for the busiest shopping time of the year.

When I think of tattooing and design work, one woman’s name immediately pops into my head; Kat Von D. Kat has made a name for herself as a world famous tattoo artist; now with her own television show LA Ink.  Kat is a bold, edgy and passionate woman, and her make-up collection certainly reflects her personality.  As a fan of her work I heard about her new line of cosmetics being sold at Sephora, and instantly fell in love with the packaging design.  The edgy floral pattern that spans across her line is a reflection of her Latin style seen in most of her work.  The Adora collection traincase in particular is printed with a tattoo style portrait of Kat on the lid, reflecting the artist’s specialization in portraits. 

However, it’s the Saint and Sinner Perfume collection that ranks top on my list not only for the striking design, but for the artistic advertising. Kat was covered from head to toe with her Tattoo Concealer from her Tattoo Collection and posed for photos “without” tattoos for the Saint Perfume advertisement. She was then photographed for the Sinner Perfume advertisement with tattoos.  The photographs were used side by side for a good vs. evil themed advertisement for the edgy make-up collection.

Campbell’s Soup officially has the fall fever that is sweeping the northeast.  When the 140 year old company redesigned their classic soup label back in March 2010, the company vowed not to change the tomato soup label. Consumers recognized the Tomato Soup can the best that was made famous by pop artist Andy Warhol.  Please visit Dion’s Blog to read more about the initial redesign. However, Campbell’s has just invented two new Tomato Soup flavors with fresh fall labels.  Sun-Ripened Yellow and Harvest Orange Tomato will be sold for a limited time in select US cities. 

The label design features the aerial view of a large heirloom orange or yellow tomato, depending on the flavor, and classic script writing.  The orange and yellow are festive fall colors that provide a nice change from the traditional red and white color pallet.  How will Campbell’s Soup lovers feel about the new additions to the iconic Tomato Soup label?  I welcome the limited edition label, however only the customer reviews will speak the truth.

For the full article on Campbell’s new additions visit Brand Packaging Magazine online.

For another consecutive year Dion Label Printing has exhibited at the Natural Products Expo East Tradeshow.  From October 14-16^th Dion exhibited in booth #3233 held in the Boston Convention Center.  Though only 1,300 exhibitors, 200 less than last year, exhibited, the show maintained its popularity with over 20,000 attendees.  Visitors were especially interested in Dion’s pressure sensitive label options, shrink sleeves and labeling equipment. To request samples or additional information, click this link! Next year’s Expo East will wave farewell to Boston and return to Baltimore, Maryland from September 21^st- 24^th  2011. 

For the full article and recap of Expo East 2010 visit their homepage.

Over the past few years the Niche Wipe market has exploded offering wipes for pets, natural wipes, and even canola oil pan wipes!  I am going to give you the keys to making it big in this highly competitive market. 

• Choose your Manufacturer- Probably the most important part of creating a new wipe is finding a manufacturer who can produce them.  Some manufacturers cannot produce wipes that are safe to be used with food, and others have problems working with certain fabrics.  Know what you need and choose wisely!
• Pick the Right Nonwoven- The correct fabric is a must!  Cotton, for example, can be very sticky when used on skin making it an unsuitable nonwoven for skin wipes.
• Survey First- Save yourself the headache of creating a wipe that no one will buy!  Survey your target market to weigh the demand for your product concept.
• Appearance Matters- Visually appealing packaging is a must to stand out against the thousands of competitors.  Boogie Wipes, by Little Busy Bodies, designed a resealable wipe container designed for the “cuteness” factor.  The well designed package is stamped with cartooned child faces along with the green and orange coloring offsetting the creative name, “Boogie Wipes.”
• Be Individual- Know your target audience and play to that target.  Boogie Wipes does this well by coming up with a creative yet playful named wipe for children.  In a highly competitive market, standing out is crucial.
• Use Your Resources- Experts have their name for a reason, and partnering with one could save you many headaches down the road.
• Know the Rules- Find out all content that needs to be FDA approved ahead of time to make sure you do not end up in hot water.
• Money Matters- Know the costs needed to produce and maintain your product.  Niche wipes are much higher priced than other wipes on the market, some peaking as high as $6-7 per individual package.
• Advertise & Expand- The bottom line with any product is someone has to buy it, so invest in advertising from the start and always plan for expansion

Think wisely, be unique, budget your resources, and plan for the future; follow these steps and you will be a step ahead of your competition.  According to Wipes Magazine, “If you think it’s truly different roll it out and go for it.”

As the economy continues to suffer, consumers are minimizing their buying habits as much as possible.  Simplifying purchases has greatly affected home fragrance sales, decreasing almost a million dollars by 2009!  According to Happi Magazine, customers are seeing just how far their dollar will stretch, purchasing home fragrances as little as possible.  Value is the name and saving is the game!  Not all home fragrance companies are loosing however, with companies prospering such as Renuzit, Crystal Elements, P&G, Illume, Pacific Trade International, and Yankee Candle. Crystal Element offers products with the low price points of $5 or less.  P&G has introduced the Febreze Set & Refresh retailing for only $2.99!  Stacy and I just bought an Apple Spice & Delight Set & Refresh and are very happy with the sweet fall smelling sent of the office.  

Beginners in the air care market go through a progression, says Febreze, starting as casual buyers to those who see them as luxurious atmosphere creators.  With the holidays right around the corner, ‘tis the season for massive fall fragrance creation.  Yankee Candle is trying to put their buyers in a rustic setting with Mountain Lodge smelling of cedar wood and sage.  Others include Apple Cider, Winter Wonderland, and Christmas Tree. The key is to create comfort in the purchase, through innovative affordable products. For the full article visit Happi Magazine Online.

The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center will be hosting the 25^th annual Expo East from Thursday, October 14^th- Saturday, October 16^th.  Come visit Dion Label Printing, at booth #3233, along with manufactures of natural, organic and healthy products.  We are excited to show off our eco friendly materials, water soluble adhesives, and soy based inks.  We are excited to see what innovative products and packaging other companies are coming out with.  For more information visit ExpoEast.com

Once the most popular ice cream in England, Loseley Dairy Ice Cream has gone down in history for making amazing frozen treats.  The historical Loseley house was built in the 14^th century, and is famous for its luxurious design.  Loseley has now designed its packaging to reflect the historical atmosphere of the Loseley house.  The new line of ice cream packaging mirrors the most famous paintings hanging in the home. 

What could be a very classic, yet slightly boring in my opinion, design was altered with a few quirky touches.  Each painting is altered to be holding a cone of Loseley’s dairy ice cream, the woman on the right is even dripping because she has been sitting for so long.  I think this is a fun way to play with the packaging and yet tie in the history of the paintings.  Also, though not shown, the writing on the back of the carton is designed in a script as if written by the character on the front.  Even George Washington needed an ice cream break, right?

Drum roll please! HBA’s International Package Design Awards (IPDA) has announced the finalists for 2010.  Four finalists were chosen for each of nine categories including Cosmetics, Fragrances, Personal Care, Skin Care, and Green Packaging.  Winners will be announced next week on Tuesday September 28^th at the HBA Global Expo at the Javits Convention Center in NYC.  To celebrate the grand event, coinciding with the ceremony’s 10th anniversary, the finalists and winners are being displayed at the IPDA showcase. 

Cynthia Rowely will have you dying to get a paper cut with her newly designed fashion Band-Aids.  Rowely is a world wide known women’s ready to wear clothing designer, showing in all major fashion shows in the US and Europe.  Collaborating with Band-Aid, Rowely has designed bandages with sequins, glitter, printed lace, and elaborate patterns.  With over 14 designs, fashionable bandages are housed in an elegant black or pale blue tin.  My personal favorite tin is the black tin with light blue ribbon, white script writing and deep red text for the Band-Aid title.  The blue ribbon pops against the background and the white script and red lettering give the box and expensive feel. My bandage of choice would absolutely be the sequined one that would sparkle and shine in the sunlight. Rowely’s Band-Aids are only available for a limited time at the Copper-Hewitt Design Museum in NYC, in Rowely’s boutiques, or on her website www.cynthiarowely.com  Best of all, a dollar from each sale will be donated to Design Ignites Changes which supports social issue design projects.  Health & fashion meet social responsibility; who could ask for more?

Excited about your child heading back to school but worried about the germs they will be surrounded by?  Bath & Body has gone “Back to Sanitation” introducing a new line of antibacterial gel hand sanitizers.  The line called PocketBac is a pint sized bottle of Bath & Body’s classic scents along with a few new ones.  Your child can now style a bottle called LOL Lime, BFF Berry, or BRB Banana.  Mirroring chat abbreviations such as LOL (laugh out loud) is a way to make hand sanitizer trendy.  Who knew health would be a school trend this fall?

As a long time Bath & Body Works lover, I think this new youth oriented design is a fantastic way to get your child to keep their hands clean during fall flu season.  I can see the teen and tween crowd being a huge market for the PocketBac line.  The bottle’s label design is formatted in Bath & Body’s traditional format but with more vibrant colors and an edgier background texture.  Classic antibacterial beads in the liquid are color coordinated with the scent and label coloring.  The fragrance name’s font is also pixilated and enlarged, which is a great visual link to computers and the chat abbreviation language of teens.  The line also carries their signature fragrances such as Cucumber Melon and Sweet Pea which expand the product market to adults as well as teens. 

A couple weeks ago, I saw a commercial for a new household product on the market, single use Kleenex Hand Towels. Kleenex Brand claims "hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them." My immediate reaction after watching this commercial? "How wasteful." In a time where "global warming" is a common term and during a time where the gulf oil spill is infuriating a nation, the great minds of Kleenex decide to come out with this product? Really? And we really like Kleenex products- check out past blogs where we rave about Kleenex!

FUNCTION: I just don't see the need for this kind of product. I frequently wash my hands. Multiple times while cooking, cleaning, etc I wash my hands and multiple times during the day I use hand sanitizer. Trust me, I'm a little crazy when it comes to clean hands. So, I wondered... are people upset about this new product? The parody below is just one example.

PACKAGING: I must admit, the packaging for this product is clever and makes sense. Instead of hanging your hand towel on its bar holder, you just flip the Kleenex box upside down and it gently dispenses new "towels" for single use.

Launched just last week and making its debut at Cosmoprof North America this week, Barista Bath and Body is the first line of beauty products with organic coffee as its key ingredient. Coffee, and caffeine were chosen because they:

• Feature a pH balance similar to the human body, meaning that it cleans better than ordinary soap or shampoo
• act as a gentle exfoliant
• perform as an effective astringent
• promote the appearance of smoother-looking skin, especially in cellulite-prone areas (http://www.b3products.com)

The products are also paraben-free, phthalate-free and sulfate-free and range in price from $4.50 to $28.00 for individual products and $22.50 to $150.00 for gift sets. The company is already being touted for its unique products and understanding of the market.

When you think of Bruce Willis you probably think of a decent action scene with a few one-liners thrown into the mix. You probably never thought of a fragrance… until now. The modestly named men’s fragrance is already being called “the manliest scent in the world” by one individual. It is said to include scents of grapefruit, pepper and vetive. As for the packaging: “[It] plays on the actor’s macho image — a heavy, square bottle boasts an offset metal label with trompe l’oeil rivets and a solid cedar cap, sourced from sustainably harvested wood.” Keep an eye open for this new product that debuted this week. Let us know what you think!

Although it’s not required by the USDA that non-food products certify their organic claims, Whole Foods is insisting on it for the sake of their customers. By June 1, 2011 all personal products and cosmetics claiming to be organic or made from/including organic ingredients must be certified. According to GCI Magazine, companies have until August 1^st of this year to submit their compliance plans to Whole Foods:

• Under the new guideline, all products making an “organic” product claim (e.g. “organic shampoo”) must be certified to the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA NOP) standard, the same standard to which organic food must be certified under U.S. law.
• Products making a “made with organic ingredients” claim must also be certified to the NOP standard
• Products making a “contains organic ingredients” claim must be certified to the NSF 305 ANSI Standard for Organic Personal Care products, a consensus-based industry standard accepted by the American National Standards Institute and managed by NSF International.

We’ve scoured all of our resources to bring you the best of World Cup-inspired and commemorative products and packaging! I’ll even be worldlier in using the term football. Here they are:

The “Hospitality Pack” contains the most important item for football fans: their tickets. Capturing the essence of anticipation, the slider pack provides a clever and playful opening experience, creating intrigue and a sense of novelty to complement the exciting nature of receiving World Cup tickets. With the games officially now underway, the high quality format of the Burgopak design further encourages fans to retain the pack, lending itself as a keep-safe of World Cup memorabilia.

Gillette’s World Cup-inspired shaving gel and antiperspirant and deodorant cans creatively resemble a football and shows off their sponsorship.

These bracelets were made by over 400 women in South Africa for fans of the Dutch team. The orange color is the national color for the Netherlands and the assortment of colors represents the South African flag.

SAB Miller developed a can that could also function as a cup.

Special World Cup Packaging for Carlsberg beer featuring England’s team manager Fabio Capello and team players David James, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Jermaine Defoe.

England’s team received more support when Umbro commissioned the painting of the players’ numbers in their hometowns, even for manager Capello in Italy.

Coca-Cola’s commemorative cans feature French players in celebration and come in a box with a CD from K’Naan.

Miller Light cans are laser-etched with famous players captured doing their signature moves.

Please share if you’ve come across other promotional or commemorative products or packaging!

Health trends have become difficult to escape. Sometimes it seems like superfruits have hired PR companies to promote themselves to food and nutraceutical companies. Whoever pomegranates chose to represent them is clearly making a killing. Another powerhouse right now is the Omega 3 rep. A few weeks ago I caught a great status update from my stepmom: "Do Swedish Fish contain Omega 3's?!?!?!?!" While that might be wishful thinking (and it definitely put a smile on my face), I may have found a close substitute. Nordic Naturals now offers Omega 3 Gummy Worms. While they are targeted towards children, the company has clearly found a way to tailor their product to different markets. The suggested serving is one worm per day, so just don’t devour them the same way you do Swedish Fish!

The DuPont Award winners for 2010 were just announced at the end of May, continuing the virtual forum format from last year. The winners proved breakthroughs in packaging with innovative developments, cost/waste reduction and improved sustainability. Diamond winners proved excellence in all three areas while Gold winners demonstrated excellence in two criteria. Silver winners were selected for their breakthrough innovation, and notable honorees were given recognition for innovative problem solving. 

Only two submissions were given the prestigious honor of a Diamond DuPont award: the GREENBOX reusable thermal management system, a sustainably-produced container used to transport sensitive medical supplies, as well as Exal Corporation’s “Coil to Can” (C2C) recyclable aluminum bottle.

To see all of the award-winning packaging innovators, click here.

The other day Stacy forwarded me this creative packaging for Rellana Wool- a line of fringed yarn used to make hats and scarves:

I quickly remembered seeing the packaging—of all places—on justintimberlake.com. Surprisingly, last winter his website featured all kinds of unique packaging designs. It just goes to show how wide of an audience packaging has!

I try not to be biased about the products we highlight on our blog, but as a (legal-aged) fan of Coors Light I felt compelled to feature their latest product and packaging developments. The first is a long-awaited fridge keg for home consumption. The company tested the product only in select markets last summer, so I tried to not get too excited. However, according to Food & Beverage Packaging, MillerCoors just announced that the at home keg system will be available nation-wide this summer.

In other packaging news, Coors Light also sponsored a charity concert in conjunction with Rhapsody International featuring rock band O.A.R. in Los Angeles on May 14th. The event introduced the new “Cold Activation Window” for all Coors Light packaging of 12-count cans or bottles and larger. Consumers can now see upon purchase that their beverages have reached their optimal cool temperature. Proceeds from the concert were planned to go to the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and the LA Food Bank.

In case you weren’t aware, Iron Man 2 comes to theaters tomorrow! A few weeks ago we looked at various health and beauty products that paired with pop culture and the powerful sales opportunities that came along. So far for Iron Man, I’ve come across both Burger King and Diesel getting in on the action. The pairing of burgers and film is a bit far reaching, but The King seems to be going after boys with the promotional action figures in kids meals. Diesel’s fragrance, Only the Brave, has very creative packaging, but we’ll see if men are as fanatical about Iron Man as tween and even grown women have proven for all things Twilight.

Beyond the fact that I find this product to be the perfect little gift going into baseball season for my little brother, whoever developed this product packaging truly took the time to examine how to turn this snack into a true commodity. Pay attention at any little league game, and I’d be willing to bet you’ll see several teammates chomping these down and projecting the empty shells in the dugout during their boredom between innings. It’s one thing when the packaging reflects the product (such as the suggestiveness of the fruit juice packaging below), but the creativity behind packaging that reflects the consumer is what truly impresses me.

As an admitted shoe fanatic, I have to say that shoe packaging drove me crazy even before my entrance into the wonderful world of product packaging. Whether it’s my latest stilettos or even sneakers, every time I attempt to dive my tiny foot into my next potential pair, I’m instantly stopped short by the unnecessary wad of paper that was apparently jack-hammered into the toe of the shoe. Not to mention opening the box in the first place is like getting a gift covered with so many layers of tissue you’re not sure there’s even anything in the box. Perhaps I’m even lucky enough to find that the left shoe has already been unraveled, but I’ve already set free my right foot for the fitting experience. After I’ve made a complete mess in the shoe aisle, I purchase the latest addition to my collection that must now be placed in an exorbitantly large plastic bag that, while carried by my 5-foot frame, must then barely hover, or drag across the ground.

For all of these reasons, I couldn’t pass by the new Puma packaging which you can’t miss on any packaging website right now. Brand Packaging sums up all the wonderful things about it best:

After more than 2,000 ideas, 40 packaging prototypes and two years, PUMA has announced a new kind of shoe packaging. Unlike traditional shoe packaging. PUMA’s “Clever Little Bag” is made from 100 percent recycled paper and 20 percent recycled non-woven polypropylene. The new format will reduce the company’s paper usage by 65 percent, reducing its carbon emissions by 10 tons per year. It will also save 20 million Mega Joules of electricity, one million liters of fuel oil, one million liters of water, 500,000 liters of diesel and up to 275 tons of plastic by eliminating shopping bags.

GCI Magazine is giving you the heads-up on the trends in packaging for beauty industry products this year. Here are the different categories they see, their attributes and where it can be seen:

Rustic/Rugged Packaging: handmade feel, down-to-earth, tends to be for men’s products. Examples: John Varvatos Artisan cologne, Diesel Fuel For Life, Body Shop Hemp Heroes gift set

Handmade/Collage: collage/scrapbook-inspired, bright colors, hand-drawn elements, nostalgic, artsy. Examples: Sarah Jessica Parker’s NYC, Urban Decay’s Show Pony Shadow Box, Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush, Kenneth Cole’s Black, Lush’s handmade bath and body products

Sustainability: green, eco-friendly packaging: recyclable, biodegradable, vegan, renewable. The product itself within the packaging tends to be equally eco-friendly. Examples: Body Shop Hemp Gift Set, Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow Box, Alicia Silverstone’s EcoTools, Cargo’s Plant Love certification

Technology/Experiencial: packaging keeping up with, or creating new, technology; often it creates an entire experience beyond the product and packaging (such as a digital and social media connection as well). Examples: Givenchy’s Play, Calvin Klein’s CK One and CK Be, Stila’s Smoky Eye Talking Palette

Pop Culture: refer to our last blog regarding makeup and the movies!

Typography: simple and usually for prestige and mass-market channels. Examples: Philosophy, Modern Organic Products (MOP), Bliss’s “Fat Girl Slim” cream, True Blue Spa’s “Shea It Isn’t So,” Maybelline’s “The Colossal” mascara,  Dermalogica’s Clean Start line

Look-specific/Instructional: all-in-one kits that are also how-to guides, the most popular being “smoky-eye” makeup kits. Examples: Benefit’s Smokin Eyes & Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette, as well as kits from Cover Girl and Sonia Kashuk’s specifically for Target.

Men’s Lines: times are changing for the acceptability of men using beauty products. Here’s how we’ve explained it in the past; the packaging attributes remain the same.

HP recently sent out a press release announcing our purchase of their latest press!

Check out the capabilities our HP WS6000 press purchased in March 2010. It is the newest press on the market from HP and will increase our capabilities, including endless possibilities of substrates for printing.

“Short run, multiple SKUs, repeatable high-quality printing and the ability for variable data has helped to maintain our steady growth,” said Randy Duhaime, General Manager, Dion Label. “ The purchase of the HP Indigo WS6000 will allow us to continue this trend with longer run lengths transitioning from our conventional flexographic printing department to our digital department. WS6000 enhancements, such as its large repeat length and its ability to print on substrates from 12 microns to 450 microns, will open additional opportunities.”

Have you ever wondered how some businesses came up with their names? Or are you an entrepreneur trying to decide on the company or product name for your next venture? Well this slideshow proves that sometimes the biggest company names have come about pretty haphazardly. So when you and your partner are battling over whose name goes first, just flip a coin!

A few weeks ago we showed off the label redesign for Campbell’s soup and explained the research behind their design choices. Since then, neuromarketing has created even more buzz. Take a look at a light-hearted video that explains the technology (scroll to about 2:20 to see how it’s used for marketing purposes):

As opposed to surveys or focus groups, the highly scientific research eliminates human response error. Unfortunately, as this article explains, getting that research isn’t exactly cheap. The companies, like Campbell utilizing the technology typically have big dollar advertising budgets to begin with. It will be interesting to see if budgets will be allocated towards truly getting into consumers’ heads.

Have you ever grabbed an article of clothing off the floor or out of the laundry basket to re-wear in a moment of desperation? No? Me either. Well one of us is probably lying because according to research by Proctor & Gamble, an estimated 75% of Americans do this 3-4 times a week! This is pretty interesting insight into a laundry market that P&G shares 60% of with top brands like Tide, Cheer and Gain. Americans are too busy, and perhaps too lazy, to keep up with their laundry chores. There may be help for those items which border unacceptable for public wear.

Packaging Digest featured a link to P&G’s Swash, a line of products targeted at clothing re-wearers. Surprisingly, the product has been on the market for a while (the research and testing was done back in 2008), but I can bet you can’t recall seeing it on the shelves. The line appears to be available exclusively online. Perhaps it hasn’t taken off as expected, but I can imagine these products having great success at colleges in universities across the country. Here’s what the product line includes:

• Smooth It Out: de-wrinkle spray
• Roll It Off: lint roller
• Get It Out: stain removal pen
• Steam It Out: dryer sheet
• Fresh It Up: anti-odor spray

While we’re thankfully heading out of flu season, a stomach flu can strike at any time of the year. And if your taking care of a child, sometimes you can feel helpless in your attempt to make them feel more comfortable. That’s exactly how the founders of Organic B.R.A.T. felt when their little ones had the flu, a diagnosis to eat only Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast, and most importantly, avoid milk. Their website explains:

When I returned home from work that day both of our children were lethargic and unhappy. My husband, looking frazzled, explained that both of our children repeatedly expressed their need for milk throughout the day. The B.R.A.T. Diet’s order of no dairy escalated an already stressful situation since drinking a “milk – like” product is comforting to a child. He wondered why there weren't any non-dairy alternatives specifically made for sensitive tummies. This inspired us to create a product which not only provides “tummy” comfort for children, but also nutrition and re-hydration. We incorporated the tummy-settling principles of the B.R.A.T. Diet by using organic brown rice as the base along with banana puree and apple puree, and then added an electrolyte-balanced ratio of vitamins and minerals.

I noticed the company at Expo East this past fall (where it won the Most Innovative Product award, by the way), but I can’t say I took the plunge to try the product (I was pretty stuffed from all of the samples). However, assuming that you aren’t allergic to the few basic ingredients, this product appears to be very worthy of its award.

We came across one of the latest additions to Yankee Candle’s product line: Yankee Candle-opoly. It’s an obvious play on Monopoly, but we’re not sure exactly what the game is all about. Is French Vanilla the Park Place of Yankee Candle-opoly? Has any one else seen or heard more about this new product? Yankee’s description is below:

The ultimate fun game for fragrance lovers! Share all the enjoyment of a traditional property trading game while experiencing some delightfully fragrant twists along the way! Traditional play or one hour version, 2-6 players. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

When listening to a friend, relative, or even complete stranger in a time of need, have you ever said, "I know how to you feel"? Often times we may not have had the exact same experience, but the shared empathy can be comforting. The same concept is carried over to the business world when we attempt to get into the minds of our customers. And now technology is providing ways to truly experience life from another person’s perspective. The Georgia Tech Research Institute has developed gloves to simulate the struggle of those suffering from arthritis. It is estimated that approximately 46 million people in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis; in 2003–2005, 50% of adults 65 years or older reported an arthritis diagnosis (CDC). This has huge implications for a company’s R&D, especially for products marketed to the aging population of baby boomers. Ease of use should be a significant factor for such products and their packaging. Rumor has it that Kraft has already caught on quickly to this concept, using the arthritis gloves to test their "EZ Grip Lid" for a new instant coffee jar. It’s evidence of a deeper understanding of their target market. How well do you know yours?

Although it looks like it belongs in an airplane restroom, the new technology for bathroom essentials from W+W is quite impressive. The toilet utilizes the waste water from the sink to create a combination unit that has less of an environmental impact than a traditional sink and toilet. It also appears to be a great space saver for smaller bathrooms typical in Europe and metro areas. The W+W was developed by a company in Spain and retails for EUR 2,731.

Launched last fall, W+W is a single, L-shaped unit in which the sink and toilet are not only attached but also integrated internally. Specifically, wastewater from the sink is used to fill the toilet's cistern, thus saving as much as 25 percent of the water that would normally be used. An automatic cleaning system prevents bad odors and bacteria, while a specialized tap controls the water's temperature and flow for maximum energy savings, Plumbing Park reported.

If you haven’t heard of Method products, you may want to become familiar quickly. The company offers a range of home and personal care products focused on their concern for sustainability. The products recently introduced to the Method Laundry line continue this tradition, with packaging mirroring the product’s innovation and functionality. We highlighted their squeaky green, hair and body wash for baby over the summer for similar reasons.
 
The extremely concentrated detergent formula allows for a more compact container. And if you’ve ever been irritated by the mess and residue from measuring caps, Method’s new design eliminates all of the fuss. Method’s detergent is biodegradable, nontoxic and made of 95% natural and renewable ingredients. This eco-friendly mindset is also evident in the packaging. Made of 50% recycled products and completely recyclable, the container is also smaller than traditional detergent bottles, meaning a conservation of both plastic and energy.
 
No measuring. No mess. A smaller impact on our Earth. Seems like an all-encompassing idea to me! What do you think?

2009 marked the first full year for Dion’s blog, so we decided to take a moment to reflect on some of its highlights. With almost 200 entries this year we had a lot of options for choosing our favorites! Here are the top blogs we selected:

Products we’ve blogged about and tried:

"Neuro Brand Beverages": Stacy and I were lucky enough to receive samples all the way from the west coast of this product line. We loved everything from the product itself to the unique bottle design.

Colgate Wisp Blogs: Stacy likes these blogs, because not only were she and Karly able to write about these new products, but they also took the time to try them and decide how the design of the product actually had a functional purpose: the cool blue dot in the middle held the brush-able tasty liquid that helped clean our teeth, the fancy swish at the end acted as a toothpick.

• "Colgate Wisps: Hit or Miss?"
• "Brush on the go!"

"The Dear Hunter": This blog was near and dear to my heart not only because I love the design of the case but I’m also a huge fan. I also surprised myself with my respectable amateur photography skills.

Blogs highlighting good causes:

"October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month": Incorporating so many elements related to one important cause made this blog special. Non-profit organizations, products, television, celebrities, and even the world of dance came together to show support for breast cancer awareness.

"Labels Raise Awareness": Provided insight to companies that utilize their labels in raising money (and increasing sales) to help fight a disease. It’s a unique way of using labels. Some tell a story, some have funky shapes and designs… and some help save lives!

Some lighter moments:

"Sunscreen is no laughing matter!": This blog also falls into the above category, but funny man Will Ferrell always brings a little something extra. (You may have recently seen his engagement photo "crash" in the New York Times). They say that getting someone to laugh and then giving them important information helps them to retain the message. Ferrell certainly gets our attention on sun protection.

"Update on Blue Q": Once we quieted our giggles over the new humorous products from Blue Q, we stumbled upon the videos of their sales team and were off again. We’re not sure about you, but the leg lifts get us every time!

The most highlighted rebranding failure of the year:

Tropicana Blogs: The blogs about the whole Tropicana debacle is cool because it shows why packaging is such a key component of selling a product. From a marketer’s point of view, it also explains why so much research needs to go into brand changes to increase (not decrease!) sales.

• "PepsiCo and Carbon Trust Unite"
• "Out with the new, In with the Old?"

What were your favorite moments?

Happy Holidays from Dion Label Printing !

Holiday Hours:
Thursday, December 24th- closed
Friday, December 25th- closed
Friday, January 1st- closed

This may be the most intriguing technology I’ve come across in quite some time—although I may be biased because I always forget to charge my cell phone and iPod. The nPower PEG (personal energy generator) would be the perfect solution. Basically, it uses human kinetic energy from activities such as running or walking to power various mobile devices. The inventor, engineer Aaron LeMieux came up with the idea while hiking the 1,500 mile Appalachian Trail, obviously without the means to charge devices via an electrical outlet. The nPower PEG will recharge the device in the same way as a wall outlet (15 minutes of walking is equivalent to 15 minutes plugged into a wall). And in an emergency situation—no need to go for a walk—you can also shake the nPower PEG.

The only downfall I can see is the size: one foot long and an inch in diameter. So you would most likely have to store the device in a backpack which may be a problem for someone like me who already hates strapping an iPod to my arm when I go for a run. Also, the new technology isn’t on the market just yet. You can pre-order it for $149 on the company’s website, but it isn’t clear if it would arrive in time for this holiday season.

The market for men’s health and beauty products has been noticeably growing, which is why companies are focusing research into how to captivate the male audience. Of course these products need to stand out on the shelves from women’s products, but marketers are finding that it takes much more, starting with the brand’s identity and overall message. Needless to say it is important to know what kind of man you are targeting.

For many men, simplicity and efficiency are key making multi-function products perfect for this segment. Companies such as Nivea and TowelDry have created products specific for these needs. Nivea for Men’s Active 3 combines a body wash, shampoo and shaving gel that encourages men to simply "Shower. Shampoo. Shave." And new to the scene is TowelDry, keeping there product line minimal. After finding that their targeted men prefer to use one cleaning and one styling products the company developed hair products that clean, condition and lightly style for fine, medium, or thick hair, as well as a styling gel.

Beyond the actual product features, the entire packaging concept should reflect the brand’s message. From the packaging shape and functionality to the label design and use of color, the packaging should call out to men, especially because they browse the aisles less often than women. Aveda Men’s line of hair products reflects their eco-friendly status (made of 95% post-consumer recycled material) with neutral colors and a bottle shape more reminiscent of—fittingly—a beer bottle.

 For more on packaging for this market, read the full article here!

Who better to promote an iPhone application that addresses the fear of flying than someone who seemingly has no fears? Virgin Atlantic’s leader Sir Richard Branson introduces a video clip explaining this new app to wary travelers. In the hopes that those too afraid to fly will overcome their fears and reward Virgin Atlantic with their consumer loyalty, the app is inspired by the company’s Fear of Flying course offerings. Because they were so successful, Virgin Atlantic launched this program which is far more accessible and cost-conscious.

"This is Virgin Atlantic innovation at its best. Our first iPhone app will bring the benefits of our successful Fear of Flying course to millions of people around the world who are now using mobile technology to make their lives better. The app will put many travelers at ease and enable them to prepare for their first Virgin Atlantic flight." –Sir Richard Branson

Okay, we may be a bit over the top, but Amourai Organique’s product line does exude the fairy tale fantasies that we women envision for our hair. We want the strength and growth of Rapunzel’s Oil Growth Hair Stimulator and all of the luxury we associate with royalty in Her Highness Conditioner and Duchess of Curls. Plus the modern woman wants her beauty products to be safe to use on herself and the environment. All of these elements went into founder Raiquel’s inspiration and motivation to create natural hair care products… that, and moisture. At home she developed the formulas that would provide effective moisture to her hair with an adamant philosophy of self-love.

Amourai Organique products are paraben- and sulfate-free and beneficial to all hair types. Products include shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, styling gel, hair lotion, hair moisturizer, and growth oil. All of these products follow the fable-inspired theme with witty names and majestic label designs.

I once had a roommate with the most gorgeous skin whose mother always said her stunning complexion came from the olive oil running through her veins, passed down from her Italian descendants. Obviously the literal explanation is a bit of a stretch, but in theory the antioxidant-rich nature of olive oil is actually great for your skin. So it seems only logical that organic olive oil producer McEvoy Ranch launch a line of body care products. Aptly named 80 Acres for the original amount of land they first planted Tuscan olive seedlings on their ranch in Northern California, McEvoy developed lip balms, soaps, lotions, body washes and other organic olive oil enriched products in their signature "verde" (green) scent. One of the publishers for coolmompicks.com recently blogged about her first-hand experience with the product; to read her rave review, click here!

The issues surrounding oil resources and consumption only continue to grow. So producing oil from plastic waste (a form of waste all too commonly not recycled) both begins to solve a multi-million ton waste problem and produces a highly valued resource. Envion’s Oil Generator^TM has been in the works for over 15 years and is the first technology of its kind. It can process up to 10,000 tons of plastic waste annually producing 30-50,000 barrels of refined petroleum. The system is capable of converting PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and several other plastic materials, such as GPPS, EPS, HIPS, and PA. The company gives away a bit of how the innovative technology works:

The key to the Envion Oil Generator^TM lies in its proprietary process. Building on this foundation, Envion has created a generator that extracts the hydrocarbons embedded in plastic waste without the use of a catalyst. The reactor, a vital component of the unit, utilizes a heating system that converts plastic into oil through low temperature thermal cracking in a vacuum. Using this innovative approach, the Envion Oil Generator^TM produces oil and power safely, efficiently, and economically through an environmentally sensitive process that produces a net gain in energy recaptured.

Fans of Samuel Adams have more to look forward to than their upcoming seasonal winter beers. The Boston Brewing Company has recently unveiled the limited edition Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection. It includes three varieties of beer in packaging obviously different from their regular bottles, but with a label design and the traditional font that strongly associates the product extension to the parent brand. The packaging design was done by another Boston-based company, Adam&Co. The collection currently includes Samuel Adams® New World Tripel, Samuel Adams® American Kriek, and Samuel Adams® Stony Brook Red, which have been aged in Eastern European oak barrels that allow small amounts of oxygen in to the brew that smooth out the flavors.

"For years, we've been playing with barrels at the brewery, aging small batches of beer in our Barrel Room. Before now, these beers have only been available at beer festivals or to a few lucky visitors to our Boston Brewery," said Jim Koch, Brewer and Founder. "Our Boston Brewery is where every Samuel Adams style of beer is dreamed up and nurtured. It has been our hub of innovation since I started brewing here in 1988; I like to think of it as the ultimate brewer's workshop."

For more images of this new product, click here!

Beverage manufacturer Steaz has recently announced their line of Zero Calorie Sparkling Green Teas. This is an extension of the company’s sparkling green tea line, and they are the first certified organic, all-natural, calorie-free carbonated drink. Diet soda drinkers should particularly intrigued because this carbonated beverage provides the natural antioxidants of tea rather than the controversial, harmful effects of soda. The teas are sweetened with stevia leaves, a process that took the company several years to refine.

There are no calories, no carbs and no sugar added to Steaz Zero Calorie. Like all Steaz products, the line is certified organic by Quality Assurance International as well as Fair Trade Certified® by TransFair USA. Steaz Zero Calorie is available in four delicious flavors -- Raspberry, Orange, Blueberry Pomegranate and Black Cherry. Steaz Zero Calorie is sold in 12 oz. fully recyclable glass bottles and eye-catching four-packs. Suggested retail pricing for a four-pack is $4.99. It replaces the current line of Diet Steaz Sparkling Green Tea.

The first annual Dieline Awards have just been announced. Thedieline.com is a constant source of new and innovative design, and it only seems fit that they announce an international design competition in partnership with the FUSE Conference 2010. A total of 30 winners from 10 different categories will be chosen, along with a best of show winner. A panel of industry experts will judge submissions from the following categories: Food, Non-Alcoholic Beverage, Wine & Spirits, Bath, Beauty & Health, Home Care & Pets, Books, Office & Art Supplies, Electronics, Technology, Movies, CDs, and All Other Categories. Winners will be features on The Dieline and at the FUSE Conference, and the top 11 winners will receive a prize package reportedly worth over $4500. For more information on The Dieline Awards, click here!

Live Young Forever Health and Wellness (LYF) has recently introduced its citrus flavored, vitamin-enriched water in an aluminum bottle. The Edmonton, Canada-based company chose the 16-oz Alumi-Tek aluminum bottles from Ball Corp for their packaging. Gwen Miles, CEO of LYF states, "This bottle provides a perfect vessel for this product because it has a very distinct and premium image that is consistent with the benefits the beverage offers. Plus it is reclosable, tamper-resistant, chills quickly, and is 100-percent recyclable." Traditionally used for beverages such as energy drinks, coffee, and nutraceutical beverages, this is an interesting packaging solution to the controversial plastic water bottle.

According to LYF, the beverage is a blend of vitamins and the EGCG antioxidant, which stimulates thermogenesis, a process critical to weight loss and fat burning. The beverage is 100% natural, using fruits and vegetable juice for color.

From September 23rd to 26th, Dion exhibited at booth #339 at the Natural Products Expo East at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. With over 21,000 industry members and 1500 booths, it was a showcase of the growing popularity for natural and organic products. It is no surprise that many attendees were interested in the eco-friendly material and soy ink labels featured at our booth (to request eco-friendly samples, click here!). Some trends we spotted were gluten-free foods, probiotic supplements, products made with goat’s milk, and products made from coconut. Next year, the show will be held at the same location on October 13-16, 2010.

Vegetarians may not want to read any further, but for those that can stomach the thought of it, an Agricultural Research Service scientist has patented a product that solves the problem of an unwanted byproduct of poultry processing. Walther Schmidt works in the ARS Environmental Management and Byproduct Utilization Laboratory in Beltsville, MD and has been working on solutions for discarded chicken feathers. Working with research associate Masud Huda of the Horticultural Research Institute in Washington D.C., the two have developed a practical use for the poultry byproduct that will also give back to the environment.  

Their creation and solution is several planting pots that biodegrade over varying periods of time (one to five years) and slowly release nitrogen into the soil, a highly beneficial nutrient. The plastic made from feathers is manufactured without any petroleum and has properties similar to polyethylene and polypropylene. Not only is it biodegradable, it is also a very strong plastic. According to PhysOrg.com, “Several commercial pot manufacturers are involved in this phase to determine optimum production-scale molding specifications for the containers. According to Schmidt, the "green" horticultural end products will not only help solve the environmental problem by creating biodegradable plastics, but will also provide a cost-effective commercial use for feathers.”

Green Bay Converting, Inc. has introduced Ever Green bathroom tissue: the 2-ply bathroom tissue made of 100% recycled- minimum 20% post consumer- fiber. What’s more intriguing about this recycled product is the 100% recyclable packaging. Made without any plastic content, the design is similar to the soda "fridge pack," allowing easy dispense of the rolls. The carton also has a slot to collect the empty rolls, allowing the entire system to be recycled. Finally, making their eco-conscious process complete, the containers are shipped on pallets made of honeycomb corrugated cardboard, also 100% recyclable. As for the tissue itself, it is whitened without chlorine-based chemicals, contains no added dyes or fragrances, and is hypoallergenic. All-in-all, it appears to be a necessary commodity reducing its environmental impact.

From Green Bay Converting, Inc.: It's more than our name - it's our philosophy.  Packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials.  Even the pallet this product was shipped on is made from honeycomb corrugated cardboard, so it's fully recyclable!  By buying this product you are creating a strong and sustainable market for recovered paper grades.  Together, we can reduce the need to harvest trees, cut harmful emissions, and help eliminate the need to landfill these very valuable and very recyclable sources of paper fiber.

For those of you who are already addicted to the wonderful fragrances Yankee Candle has to offer in the way of candles, car and room air fresheners, you can now take advantage of these scents in other forms. Yankee has announced the introduction of scented puzzles, reed diffusers, new fall fragrances, and most intriguingly, lip balm. The puzzles have varying graphics based on their associated scents which are Clean Cotton, MacIntosh, and MidSummer’s Night. The reed diffusers are available in 15 different signature fragrances, and the new fall fragrances appear to capture all of the sensory elements of autumn.  

The new lip balms come in Black Cherry, Buttercream, Sweet Strawberry, Vanilla Cupcake, and Vanilla Lime. Each flavor is, “rated SPF 15 and made with beeswax, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic hemp seed oil, vitamin E and rosemary.” The packaging for the lip balm has a similar appearance to the company’s jar candles, creating brand recognition for the new product line.  
 

Neuro drinks have hit the market in California and are marketed as a celebrity beverage of choice. They are formulated with ingredients to promote various moods and activities (from the neurobliss to neurosporti). This is the latest bottle design, which clearly stands out. The bottle shape is a bit reminiscent of the Mondo fruit drink bottle, with a cap similar to that of a body wash… enough to peak curiosity for an impulse buy.

Neuro drinks are already in over 1,500 retail locations throughout California, making this the most aggressive drink brand launch in the state's history.  The six skus are either "lightly carbonated" or "non-carbonated" nutritional beverages.  If you do not live in California, you can purchase 12-packs of the product online on the company’s website. With the A-list celebrity following of this product, be on the lookout for Neuro--it is hitting the U.K. in October and rolling out throughout the U.S. in 2010.  Neuro is also sponsoring "Perez Hilton Presents" rotating North American music artist tour, bringing the product to cities across the U.S. and Canada this fall.  Check the Neuro website for the Tour Blog to see what is happening (www.drinkneuro.com).

For more images of the bottle design, click here!

Gluten is a composite of proteins that exist in starch such as wheat, rye and barley. It is an important source of protein. However, between 0.5 and 1 percent of the US population has Celiac disease. For those affected, their body’s immune system has an abnormal response to gluten, namely malabsorption of nutrients. The best solution for many of those with Celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.

With so many wheat-based products in the US, it may be hard to imagine how individuals with this disease are able to get necessary nutrients. But you may have noticed a gluten-free product section in your grocery store. Many companies began and exist solely as gluten-free food manufacturers, including Glutenfreeda Foods, PatsyPie, and Glutino, just to name a few.

However, now a well-recognized brand is offering gluten-free products. Betty Crocker has introduced gluten-free dessert mixes for cakes, cookies, and brownies. Inspired by an employee’s diagnosis with Celiac disease and another employee’s choice to give their child a gluten-free diet, the company has developed products for this specialized diet. Betty Crocker also supports the Celiac Disease Foundation and the Celiac Sprue Association. With many of the medical discoveries about Celiac disease advancing as recently as the 1950’s and 1960’s, the opportunity exists for more national brands to extend their product lines to include gluten-free foods.

After the success of Absolut New Orleans in 2007 and Absolut Los Angeles in 2008, the next city to be added to the "Absolut Cities" campaign will be Boston. It will be a black tea and elderflower infused vodka. If it is the final design, the bottle is a bit disappointing in comparison to the New Orleans and Los Angeles designs. This breaking news has yet to be released by Absolut, but for more on this new vodka, click here!

Absolut vodka is produced in Ahus, Sweden. It is the forth largest international spirit brand in the word, and the number one imported vodka brand in the US. It was first introduced in the US in 1979, but dates back to 1879. The company was previously owned by V&S Absolut Spirits (a division of V&S Group), which was owned by the Swedish government, but was then sold to Pernod Ricard Holding Group last year.

Packaging manufacturer Smurfit Kappa has developed a liner for corrugated boxes that is said to protect products ranging from glass to rubber that are susceptible to scratching and scuffing. The liner named SKuffguard eliminates the need for protective packaging such as bubble wrap therefore reducing the size of the box itself. This means lower packaging costs, better palletisation, and less time spent packaging for the manufacturer and unpacking the product on the retail end.

Less refuse is produced at the end of the supply chain, which will help retailers reduce their carbon footprint, and there is a single waste stream for recycling, which will help retailers be more efficient in waste disposal - the product is 100% recyclable.

Summer is here—well, almost here for those of us in New England. And along with the season comes our pesky enemies: mosquitoes. No matter which devices or sprays you use to prevent mosquito bites, it seems inevitable that you will always end up with a few. To ease the pain and annoying itch, home products company Improvements has introduced a device that produces heated itch relief. Battery-powered and pocket-sized, this device emits heat that neutralizes the proteins from the bug bite to relieve itch and swelling. Affordably-priced, this product appears to be a great solution to messy creams.

Heated Itch Relief is also effective on bites from fleas, gnats, and horseflies. There are no chemicals, so Heated Itch Relief is safe even on a child's sensitive skin.

For more about this product, check out Improvements website.

Funny guy, Will Ferrell, is taking sexy to another level with his introduction of three SPF 30 lotions- in Sun Stroke, Sexy Hot Tan, and Forbidden Fruit. Each label has a picture of Ferrell in various, almost naked poses. 100% of the proceeds from Will Ferrell Sunscreen will benefit the charity Cancer for College, a charity that awards scholarships to current and former cancer patients who are currently attending either a four year accredited university, junior college and/or graduate school.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous, especially among young people. Approximately 65%–90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight.

To learn more about the dangers of skin cancer, click here. To purchase Will Ferrell sunscreen and support Cancer for College, click here.

Pitchmen is a new show on the Discovery Channel that follows infomercial talent Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan as they search for useful products that can be sold through direct response marketing. Inventors pitch their ideas to Billy and Sully. If the duo feel the invention has a large market and serves as a solution to a common problem, the products are then field tested to gather people's opinions. If the the field test is a success, the two hosts move on to shoot an infomercial. It's exciting to see the new products that may come to market as well as all the time, money and effort these inventors invest in their inventions.

You may already be familiar with the cold-activated blue mountains on the label of Coors Light bottles. But the company has also recently introduced this feature on 8-, 10-, 12- and 16-ounce Coors Light and Coors Banquet cans. The confidence of serving a perfectly chilled beer is created by thermochromatic ink. This ink on the bottle labels and aluminium cans is temperature sensitive. In these cases, the ink turns color as it cools, but it can also be activated by heat, based on the desired activation temperature.

Boisset has also introduced a Cooldot® on bottles of their Mommessin Beaujolais Grande Reserve. Best served chilled, the Cooldot® spot changes color when the wine temperature is optimal for serving. The aluminum bottle is also more environmentally friendly than the traditional glass wine bottle. Thermochromic ink can be function and style: it is a way to ensure your product is used at its best and an added feature that, if applicable, will make your product stand out.

Dion Label Printing, Inc. has the capability to print thermochromic inks. To request a quote, click here.

After attending the 2008 Canmaker Summit, Greg Stromberg developed the idea for CannedWater4Kids. A speaker at the summit explained that according to the World Health Organization, a child dies every eight seconds from drinking unsafe water. The non-profit website explains:

CannedWater4Kids, a 501c3 non-profit charity is an organization focused on bringing clean, safe water to children worldwide. Ensuring access to safe, clean water worldwide is critical. Not only is it essential for successful agriculture, food and energy production, It is a children's issue because water is vital for healthy development and survival.

Though it is packaged unconventionally to U.S. standards, the aluminum can is “safe, readily available, sustainable (recyclable) and economical.” It allows the water to be shipped safe and fresh to parts of the world that often times have difficulty with effective packaging. 95 cents of ever dollar goes towards organizations bringing water to those in need.

Please visit www.cannedwater4kids.org for more information or to help with this great cause!

After finding that over 80% of recipes require one-quarter cup increments of brown sugar, Imperial Sugar Co. is moving from the commodity sector into retail. By packaging brown sugar in ¼ cup pouches, the company is able to address a need of consumers that was previously neglected. Moving from containers with labels to pouching is a trend in packaging right now. Imperial Sugar Co. is applying this packaging concept to brown sugar shows real insight into consumer usage. Not only is this packaging convenient for any user, but for consumers that do not bake every day this eliminates the frustration of potentially hard or spoiled brown sugar in conventional packaging—not to mention reducing waste of the product.

From the company’s website: “Imperial Sugar’s main focus is to give you products you need and want in convenient, easy-to-use packaging that will not make a mess when you use it. We are constantly working to give you more variety of products in a size that makes sense for you.”

As my last blog entry here at Dion Label Printing, Stacy and I thought it would be a great idea to try out the new Colgate Wisps that we wrote about prior. Personally I found the Wisp to be quite refreshing, almost like I just swished around some mouth wash. At first the peppermint burst in the middle of the bristles scared me, I had this fear of this popping this gross liquid but it was quite the opposite. There was no "popping" effect, thankfully. I found the flexible pick on the end to be a great addition to the Wisp! A con to this brush is that it is disposable and goes in the trash after only one use. The fact that you don’t rinse your mouth after brushing is weird feeling. Our rating: 7.5.

Have you ever sipped your Starbucks venti iced caramel macchiato and thought to yourself, man I wish this was an ice cream? Starbucks and Unilever just announced they will be introducing a new line of premium ice cream based on the flavors of Starbucks signature drinks. Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino, and coffee will be available in grocery stores everywhere starting in early spring. Starbucks was first introduced in 1996. The new Starbucks licensing line (announced September 2008) will be marketed, manufactured, and distributed by Unilever this spring. It will be made with all natural ingredients. I don’t know about you but I know I’ll be hitting up my local grocery store once I see ads for this. I’ll be sure to try that Mocha Frappuccino, with coffee and chocolate ice cream all swirled into one, what’s not to love! 

Red Truck Wines Launches Exciting New Category with Mini-Barrel

Sam’s Club First to Carry Groundbreaking New 3L Package Starting in March

SONOMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consumers searching for high quality wine in a creative, striking large format need look no further than Red Truck Wines’ new Mini-Barrel, set to launch early March, 2009 in Sam’s Club stores nationwide. With an ingenious trademark- and patent-pending barrel design featuring the iconic wine barrel shape complete with rings, staves, a wood-grain look and burned-in imagery and typography, the Mini-Barrel has a fresh-from-the-winery feel – a driving feature of this inspired new package. The groundbreaking 3L Mini-Barrel, which holds Red Truck’s award winning Red Wine, is equivalent to four 750ml bottles.

“It’s time consumers had the option of a premium quality wine in a format larger than 750ml,” said Carol Reber, Vice President of Marketing at 585 Wine Partners which owns Red Truck Wines. “For anyone who’s ever visited a winery or wished they could, the Mini-Barrel by Red Truck makes the experience come alive in their own home.”

“The Mini-Barrel by Red Truck represents a real breakthrough in both concept and execution,” said Dex McCreary, Senior Merchandise Director, Wine and Spirits, Sam’s Club. “It is just the kind of quality and value proposition we like to offer our members and it brings an innovative and authentic new design to wine enthusiasts.”

Mini-Barrel by Red Truck is being introduced at a time when the consumer is looking to make smart, value-oriented wine purchases. The 3L category, which has been growing significantly in recent months according to data from The Nielsen Company, is appealing not only because the format provides tremendous value but because wines packaged in this way, unlike their 750ml counterparts, stay fresh for up to 40 days. Furthermore, large format packages are widely considered to be more environmentally friendly than glass bottles due to their comparative lighter weight and lower carbon footprint.

“The carbon footprint reduction when you go from glass to this type of packaging is staggering, but until now, consumers have had very few choices in the 3L format,” said Dave Mollison, Director of Production for 585 Wine Partners. “Now they can make a ‘green,’ value-oriented wine purchase without giving up the quality they’ve become accustomed to in the bottle. Plus, the Mini-Barrel is so appealing – it’s a wine they’ll be proud to display on their counter, at parties, barbecues and picnics.”

The Mini-Barrel by Red Truck features an easy pour spout with tamper-proof protection that requires no tearing or “fishing” to get to it. A patent-pending Opti-Flow incline built into the barrel ensures that all wine gets to the spout, so there’s no tipping to get the last glass. The Mini-Barrel will be available nationally later in 2009.

The 2007 Red Truck Red Wine is a blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Made by Winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos, Red Truck Red Wine is consistently a critically-acclaimed, awarding winning wine. In 2008, Food & Wine magazine named the wine’s 2005 vintage one of the “Best American Wines $15 and Under.”

Sam’s Club is a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (NYSE:WMT). The first Sam’s Club opened its doors in Midwest City, Okla., in 1983. Today, Sam’s Club serves more than 47 million U.S. Members with locations nationwide and in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Sam’s Club offers exceptional values on merchandise and services for business owners and consumers. Online merchandise and Club information is available at samsclub.com.

Sonoma-based Red Truck Wines are made by winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos, using fine wine grapes from some of California’s most outstanding coastal growing regions for its portfolio of blended and single-varietal wines. The brand is owned and produced by 585 Wine Partners, which was founded by wine industry veterans Dan and Katy Leese and Doug and Becky Walker in 2005. Relying on key partnerships to form and sustain its brands, 585 Wine Partners also produces Picket Fence Russian River Valley Wines, Bivio Italia Wines and Steelhead Wines from Dry Creek Valley. Online information is available at redtruckwine.com.

With the Superbowl a little over a month ago, Heinz has put out a Steeler’s commemorative ketchup six-pack. This limited edition ketchup pack pays tribute to the Steeler’s six championship Superbowl titles. This pack will be available up until next season at $35 a pack, or $6 for the individual bottle.

"As the sponsor of Heinz Field, we wanted to offer Steelers Nation a special remembrance of this victory. Heinz and the Steelers have always been great teammates together and the Heinz commemorative ‘Six-Pack’ seemed like a natural way for us to celebrate the Steelers and their storied history of success,"

The last thing that comes to my mind when I think of Victoria’s Secret is organic, until now. Victoria’s Secret is on its way to going green this year with the introduction a new line. They have created a new line of their Pink products with the addition of a bath & body line that contains vegan and organic ingredients, all packaged in eco-friendly materials. This new collection features post-consumer packaging with removable labels, making recycling a breeze. Here at Dion Label Printing we often receive requests for eco-friendly labels for eco-friendly packaging, but the best way to go green is to ensure proper recycling by removing labels before recycling. Victoria’s Secret is doing a great job at providing consumers with the knowledge by asking them to remove their label before the recycling process. Products range from $8 to $15, a small price to pay towards saving the environment.

Taken from the official press release:

INTRODUCING PINK BODY, a unique line of skin-loving and earth-friendly products created specifically for the pink girl. She spoke. We listened. The result? A more personalized approach to everyday body care using organic and vegan ingredients, powerful natural formulas and eco-friendly packaging. With three dermatologist-tested, solution-specific collections, each designed to pamper pink girls from tip to toe: nourishing for dry skin, energizing for dull, sluggish skin and soothing for extra-sensitive skin. Plus, four additional essentials that everyone can use and love. It's all about finding ways to look good, feel good and do a little good, too.

THE COLLECTION

ENERGIZING
Even PINK girls can experience a dull moment from time to time. When skin gets worn and weary, our Energizing line can give it the recharge it needs. Packed with U.S.-sourced Citrus and Organic Mint to naturally exfoliate and refresh, plus a boost of caffeine from Organic Coffee Beans to energize and tone.

NOURISHING
Dry humor? Love it. Dry skin? Not so much. Made for PINK girls who need a major dose of moisture but can't deal with heavy creams and greasy lotions. Our Nourishing line is infused with Organic Shea and Cocoa Butters to help heal and hydrate, plus a shot of U.S.-sourced Grape Seed Oil for antioxidant protection.

SOOTHING
Ideal for PINK girls with tempermental skin. You know the kind: easily irritated, extra sensitive, doesn't take well to harsh products. Our Soothing line is hypoallergenic and enriched with Organic Oat Extract to calm, plus U.S.-sourced Soy Milk to fortify.

ESSENTIALS
Little everyday things that skin needs and loves.

When I think of energy drinks the first thing that comes to mind is not redneck. Double Blue Jay Corporation has come out with a line of redneck punch energy drinks that are sure engage its target market. The term redneck has become mainstream in the last few years with help from stand up comedians such as Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy. The redneck demographic was missing a high quality beverage, until now, with the introduction Hammer’s Redneck Energy drink rednecks everywhere will get the drink they’ve been waiting for. 

According to Double Blue Jay Corporation’s President, Steve Williams, "The product line has national appeal – akin to the 1980’s Mountain Dew®, but a jazzed up 21st century Energy Drink version.  That 1980’s style of marketing by Pepsi® really summarizes who and what we’re targeting.  We’re making best efforts to position ourselves as a fun, catchy, engaging brand that doesn’t push away consumers.  Because of these efforts, we’re anticipating great market appeal that will grow proportionally with the brand recognition." Hammer’s Redneck Energy Drink is available in six flavors: Punch, Grape, Peach Tea, Root Beer, Green Apple, and Cherry Cola.

If you’re searching for ideas this Valentine’s Day look no further. Dom Perignon has released their exclusive LOVE Valentine’s Day package. In this gift package you receive a bottle of Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 1998 along with a pair of exquisite champagne flutes. The champagne flutes have a lipstick smudge design giving this Valentine’s Day package that little seduction.

Dom Perignon Rose was described as "a rare gift for those with distinguished taste. This graceful selection displays the perfect combination of elegance and flair found only in the most marvelous Champagnes. An intensely flavored Champagne displaying tropical fruit, berry and citrus aromas, it is highly treasured for its taste and much sought after for its very limited production and rarity," according to Wine.com.

Have you ever ordered a whopper from Burger King and wanted to savor the fragrance of the juicy hamburger nestled between two buns, lettuce, pickles, onions and delicious condiments? With the introduction of "Flame" you can capture the essence of Burger King with the scent of flame-broiled meat. Since its introduction just before the holidays, the $3.99 cologne has been flying out of Burger Kings everywhere.

To coincide with the introduction of "Flame," Burger King has also created a Facebook application that has caused a huge debate. Burger King stated that if you deleted ten of your friends you would receive a free whopper. Using the slogan if "You like your friends but you love the whopper," the whopper sacrifice got 233,906 friends deleted and now will be giving away 23,290 whoppers.

Brangelina stands for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Bennifer stood for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. So what do we call the pairing of Beer and Coffee? Cofeer? Boffee? Kona Brewing Company recently paired the two and named it "Pipeline Porter."

"Pipeline Porter is smooth and dark with a distinctive roasty aroma and earthy complexity from its diverse blends of premium malted barley. This celebration of malt unites with freshly roasted 100% Kona coffee grown at Cornwell Estate on Hawaii’s Big Island, lending a unique roasted aroma and flavor. A delicate blend of hops rounds out this palate-pleasing brew."

With its use of the freshly grown Kona coffee this porter is one of distinction. Kona Brewing Company isn’t the only brewery pairing beer and coffee, some others include: CB Potts Restaurant & Brewery, Meantime Brewing Co. Limited, and Redhook Ale Brewery, Inc. Learn more about the Pipeline Porter here.

Ever wanted to smell like an ancient male warrior? Well now you can, Zirh Skin Nutrition has launched a series of men’s shower gels inspired by ancient warriors and leaders. This isn’t your average women’s shower gel; this brand blends masculinity with creativity. Now you have the chance to smell like Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, Cyrus, Alexander the Great, and Ulysses. With its strong graphics and manly aroma, who wouldn’t want to take on the persona of a Greek god? Click hereto check out Zirh Skin Nutrition's website.