Want to sell products that are profitable, sticky (once you sell them, you are unlikely to lose the business), and offer recurring revenue? Want all of these things and to sell into a growing, stable market, too? Consider durable labels.
Durable labels are a subcategory of industrial labels applied to products and assets engineered to withstand the toughest conditions. Unlike standard product labels, durable labels are designed to endure harsh environments, exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures, and physical abrasion.
While durable labels can offer branding, their primary role is to deliver critical information for safety, compliance, tracking, and identification across a product’s lifecycle. Industries such as automotive, electronics, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing rely on durable labels to keep products identifiable, traceable, and compliant.
Market Growth: Big Opportunities Ahead
The global durable labels market is stable and growing. Valued at $4.8 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2025 and 2033.
What is driving this growth?
- Automotive production: With over 92.5 million vehicles produced globally in 2024 (up from 85 million the year before), durable labels are used for vehicle identification, safety information, and component tracking. This category includes everything from under-hood component labels to tire and battery labels.
- Electronics expansion: U.S. consumable electronics shipments topped $200.3 billion in 2024 and are expected to rise to $261.9 billion by 2033. Those numbers are just for consumer electronics and don’t include industrial, medical, automotive, household electronics, or other markets. This creates huge demand for labels that can withstand moisture, heat, and frequent handling. A supplier’s ability to supply UL-certified labels is a must.
- Healthcare demand: Stringent regulations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals require durable labels that resist chemicals and that remain legible under extreme temperatures. Examples include sterilization-resistant labels used on surgical instruments and pharmaceutical labels that remain intact in refrigerated, frozen, or high-humidity storage.
- Supply chain complexity: As e-commerce and global distribution expand, durable labels ensure accurate asset tracking and inventory management.
Where the Opportunities Lie for Resellers
For print distributors, the opportunities are clearly significant. Growth in the markets for durable products is not slowing. Moreover, the number of SKUs in these markets continues to expand as manufacturers continue to introduce increasing number of specialty and niche products. The result? Demand for high-performance labels will only accelerate.
Many of these labels also repeat monthly, quarterly, or seasonally, providing a long-term stable revenue stream for resellers. Sell the application once and continue to reap the revenue for years.
If you’re looking to expand your sales portfolio, this is the perfect time to explore durable labeling. Whether your customers operate in automotive, electronics, or healthcare, durable labels are an important product to have in your sales kit.
Will Prettyman is General Manager of Wise’s Labels Plant in Anderson, SC. Wise manufacturers industrial/prime labels and tags, traditional forms, and digitally printed products and services for resale only. For more information, visit www.wbf.com or email Will at [email protected].
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