Kenco Label & Tag
Kenco Label & Tag is a family-owned Milwaukee-based manufacturer of custom and stock labels, tags, price guns, and the patented Kenco-LP® loss-prevention security tag system, selling direct to retail, e-commerce, and industrial SMBs through its Build-A-Label™ e-commerce platform and inside-sales team.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kenco Label & Tag does
Kenco Label & Tag Co., LLC is a family-owned, US-based label and tag manufacturer founded around 1980 and headquartered in a state-of-the-art production facility at 6543 N. Sidney Place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company produces custom printed labels, blank labels on rolls, laser and inkjet sheet labels, custom price gun labels, and self-laminating durable labels for retail, industrial/commercial, e-commerce, and loss-prevention applications. Its core manufacturing capabilities span flexographic and digital printing technologies — including UV, inkjet, toner, and HP Indigo presses — supporting both four-color process (CMYK) and spot color (Pantone) work, plus variable data printing. The product portfolio is anchored by the patent-pending Build-A-Label™ online configuration tool and the patented Kenco-LP® security tag system, which is covered by four US patents (8,133,342; 10,255,830; 10,565,901; 10,621,890) and developed in partnership with Primera Technology Inc.
The business sells primarily direct-to-business through its own e-commerce storefront and a toll-free inside-sales line, supplemented by an Amazon marketplace presence, with all major credit cards and PayPal accepted. Pricing is transaction-based: custom work is quoted per specification and quantity with 4–7 business day production, while an inventory of 50,000+ SKUs (including 5,000+ listed online and 1,000+ tag varieties) supports same-day or next-day shipment of stock items at unit prices ranging from roughly $14.25 to over $152.40 per pack. Higher-value offerings include Kenco brand price guns ($19–$135.65), Kenco-LP developer kits (Black Imprint $1,935.55; Full Color $2,265.75), thermal printer/scanner distribution, and flat-fee price-gun repair services. Customer concentration is distributed across SMBs — primarily retail businesses, loss-prevention-focused retailers, e-commerce sellers, and industrial/commercial buyers — with manufacturer-direct pricing and a price-match guarantee as the core commercial lever.
Kenco Label & Tag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kenco Label & Tag
- Legal name
- Kenco Label & Tag Co., LLC
- Website
- https://kencolabel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kenco Label & Tag is a family-owned Milwaukee-based manufacturer of custom and stock labels, tags, price guns, and the patented Kenco-LP® loss-prevention security tag system, selling direct to retail, e-commerce, and industrial SMBs through its Build-A-Label™ e-commerce platform and inside-sales team.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kenco Label & Tag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Label Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Packaging and Labeling Services (561910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pressure-Sensitive Labels (PSL) (IMALAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Security, Tamper-Evident & Track-and-Trace Printing (IMALAKAJ), Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)
Keywords
Where Kenco Label & Tag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kenco Label & Tag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Printed Labels: Custom label manufacturing service where customers specify dimensions, shapes, materials, and printing requirements. Labels are produced to order in their manufacturing facility.
- Stock/Blank Labels: Pre-manufactured blank labels sold in rolls and sheets. Available for immediate shipment from inventory.
- Price Guns and Labeling Equipment: Hardware sales including price guns, labelers, and dispensers. Includes own brand (Kenco BK series) and compatible equipment.
- Kenco-LP Developer Kits: Complete developer kits for implementing Kenco-LP loss prevention technology, including printers, security tags, fasteners, attachers, and consulting services. Black imprint kit at $1,935.55, full color kit at $2,265.75.
- Label Gun Repair Services: Repair services for price labelers. Flat fee repair for almost all makes and models.
- Tags and Fasteners: Retail tags, thermal tags, consignment tags, repair tags, inventory tags, and associated fastener products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Custom label quotes based on specifications and quantity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stock blank labels with tiered pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kenco-LP Developer Kits - complete implementation packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Price guns and labeling equipment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Kenco Label & Tag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kenco Label & Tag manufactures and sells custom and stock labels (rolls, laser/inkjet sheets, custom printed), tags, price guns, and labeling equipment out of its Milwaukee, WI facility. The company also produces the patented Kenco-LP® security tag system for retail loss prevention and brand protection, paired with its Build-A-Label™ online configuration tool.
Product overview
Kenco Label & Tag is a label manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around its Build-A-Label™ online customization platform, which provides tools for creating blank labels on rolls, laser/inkjet sheet labels, custom price gun labels, and fully custom printed labels. The product line spans standard paper and synthetic labels, self-laminating labels for harsh environments, and the proprietary Kenco brand price guns and labelers (BK1, BK110, BK210, BK218, 286 models). The company's flagship innovation is Kenco-LP®, a patented security tag system for loss prevention and brand protection that eliminates retail fraud through tamper-proof tags with embedded unique serial numbers, available in developer kits for implementation. Additional offerings include a free barcode generator tool supporting multiple formats, printer/scanner distribution (Zebra, Datamax, Godex, Symbol), label gun repair services, and variable data printing. The company manufactures in-house using flexographic and digital printing technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kenco-LP: Patented loss prevention technology and security tags developed in partnership with Primera Technology Inc., designed to combat retail shrinkage, wardrobing, shoplifting, receipt fraud, price switching, and cross-retail returns. Also includes secure photo IDs, seal tags, evidence capture tags, wrist bands, and product tracking capabilities.
- Build-A-Label
Products and services
- Build-A-Label™ Online label customization platform that lets business customers configure and order blank roll labels, laser/inkjet sheet labels, custom printed labels, and price gun labels to exact dimensions, shapes, materials, and quantities.
- Blank Labels on Rolls Pre-manufactured blank labels on rolls compatible with Zebra, Epson, Primera, Datamax, GoDEX, SATO, and other major thermal and inkjet printers, available in paper and synthetic materials for immediate shipment.
- Laser and Inkjet Sheet Labels Sheet-fed labels compatible with laser and inkjet printers, available in matte, glossy, synthetic, fluorescent, and foil material options for office and on-demand printing needs.
- Custom Printed Labels Fully customized labels printed with customer artwork, available in various materials, shapes, and quantities with options for four-color process (CMYK), spot color (Pantone), and variable data printing using flexographic and digital presses.
- Custom Price Gun Labels Custom labels manufactured for use with price guns from major manufacturers including Monarch, Towa, Avery Dennison, Garvey, Meto, Motex, Primark, and Signet.
- Self-Laminating Labels Labels with built-in lamination that delivers tamper-resistance, scuff-resistance, tear-resistance, chemical-resistance, weatherproofing, and waterproofing for harsh industrial, outdoor, and medical equipment environments.
- Kenco Brand Price Guns & Labelers Proprietary Kenco brand price guns and labelers including BK1, BK110, BK210, BK218, and 286 models used by retailers for pricing, dating, and lot numbering applications.
- Kenco-LP® Security Tags Patented tamper-proof security device with unique serial numbers and embedded security features for retail loss prevention, brand protection, and product tracking. Eliminates wardrobing, shoplifting, receipt fraud, price switching, and cross-retail returns.
- Kenco-LP Developer Kit - Black Imprint Complete black imprint developer kit for testing and implementing Kenco-LP, including Kenco-LP printer, 5,000 security tags, 5,000 fasteners, 2 attachers, replacement needles, and consulting hours.
- Kenco-LP Developer Kit - Full Color Full color developer kit for Kenco-LP implementation, including full color printer, color cartridge, 5,000 security tags, 5,000 fasteners, 2 attachers, replacement needles, and consulting hours.
- Label Gun Repair Services Flat-fee repair services for price labelers covering almost all makes and models.
- Thermal Printer & Scanner Distribution Distribution of barcode printers and scanners including Zebra, Datamax, Godex, Symbol, and other brands, paired with compatible label and tag stock for POS printers.
- Variable Data Printing Services Consecutive and variable data decal printing service that applies virtually any type of variable data to labels or decals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Retail shrinkage costs global retailers nearly $100 billion annually according to 2018 Sensormatic Global Shrinkage Index
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Kenco Label & Tag
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kenco Label & Tag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Kenco Label & Tag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Primera Technology Inc.coreJoint development partnership with Primera Technology to create the Kenco-LP loss prevention system. Primera engineered a color label printer specifically for Kenco-LP technology. The combined system provides cost-effective retail security solution targeting the $100B annual retail shrinkage problem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kenco Label & Tag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Avery Dennison: Global leader in pressure-sensitive label materials and RFID solutions. Direct overlap with Kenco's label-rolls and custom printed labels, but at vastly greater scale and with broader vertical reach.
- CCL Industries: World's largest label converter serving consumer products, healthcare, and specialty markets. Overlaps with Kenco's custom printed label business and healthcare vertical (e.g., Danowit Dental use case).
- Honeywell Productivity Solutions: Supplies barcode scanners, mobile computers, and label-printing solutions through its Productivity business. Comparable to Kenco's equipment distribution and label-printer compatibility offering, but at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Brady Corporation: Manufacturer of labels, tags, and identification products for industrial, safety, and retail applications. Highly comparable product portfolio including custom printed labels, tamper-evident solutions, and durable identification labels.
- Zebra Technologies: Provider of barcode printers, labels, and RFID solutions. Kenco explicitly supports Zebra printers and sells compatible label rolls; Zebra's label-and-printer stack directly competes with Kenco's equipment distribution and Kenco-LP integration.
- SATO Holdings: Global manufacturer of barcode printers, labels, and tagging solutions. Comparable in combining label manufacturing with printer hardware, overlapping with Kenco's equipment distribution and printer-compatible label lines.
- Mactac (Lintec Group): Pressure-sensitive adhesive label stock manufacturer serving retail, industrial, and digital printing markets. Directly comparable product category to Kenco's pressure-sensitive label rolls and custom printed labels.
- Primera Technology: Manufacturer of specialty color label printers and disc publishers, and Kenco's joint development partner for Kenco-LP. Comparable in producing label-printing hardware and consumables for SMB and specialty retail customers.
- OnlineLabels.com: Direct-to-business e-commerce label retailer offering custom and stock labels on rolls and sheets via an online configurator. Closely comparable to Kenco's Build-A-Label™ platform and SMB e-commerce motion.
Emerging players
- GA International (LabTAG): Specialty label manufacturer for laboratory, healthcare, and cryogenic applications. Comparable in offering durable custom printed labels (self-laminating, chemical-resistant) overlapping with Kenco's self-laminating and industrial product lines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kenco Label & Tag social profiles
Digital presenceKenco Label & Tag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kenco Label & Tag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kenco Label & Tag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kenco Label & Tag M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kenco Label & Tag
What does Kenco Label & Tag do?
Kenco Label & Tag manufactures and sells custom and stock labels (rolls, laser/inkjet sheets, custom printed), tags, price guns, and labeling equipment out of its Milwaukee, WI facility. The company also produces the patented Kenco-LP® security tag system for retail loss prevention and brand protection, paired with its Build-A-Label™ online configuration tool.
Is Kenco Label & Tag a public or private company?
Kenco Label & Tag is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kenco Label & Tag founded?
Kenco Label & Tag was founded in 1980. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kenco Label & Tag based?
Kenco Label & Tag is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kenco Label & Tag make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Custom Printed Labels are the primary driver. The others are stock/Blank Labels, price Guns and Labeling Equipment, kenco-LP Developer Kits, label Gun Repair Services and tags and Fasteners.
Who are Kenco Label & Tag's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Avery Dennison, CCL Industries and Honeywell Productivity Solutions. Direct peers are Brady Corporation, Zebra Technologies, SATO Holdings, Mactac (Lintec Group), Primera Technology and OnlineLabels.com. GA International (LabTAG) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kenco Label & Tag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kenco Label & Tag.
What industry is Kenco Label & Tag in?
Kenco Label & Tag's product category is Label Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAKAA, Pressure-Sensitive Labels (PSL), with a secondary code of IMALAKAJ, Security, Tamper-Evident & Track-and-Trace Printing. Its NAICS code is 561910.