Creative Labels

What Creative Labels does

Creative Labels, Inc. is a privately-held flexographic label printing company founded in 1989 and headquartered in a single facility at 197 Marybill Drive, Suite C, Troy, Ohio. The company produces custom labels and tags, flexible packaging pouches, coupons and promotional labels, and specialty-finished labels (cold foil, hot stamping, embossing), with secondary in-house graphic design and pre-press services. It serves customers across food and beverage, automotive (most notably as an approved supplier to American Honda Motor Company), industrial/chemical, and consumer goods segments.

The technical core is a flexographic production platform centered on a Mark Andy 13-inch 10-color press with an Extended Color Gamut (ECG) process supporting up to 8-color process printing. The shop is a Licensed Color Logic Printer and runs Color Logic Metallic Software that produces 100+ metallic shades over bright silver cold foil, supplemented by a rare cold foil plus over-print capability that few converters offer. Pre-press is internalized through ESKO Digital Output for plate making and EPSON proofing, enabling in-house control of artwork-to-plate workflow and rapid turnarounds (1-2 weeks typical). Digital printing is offered for smaller quantities (approximately 20,000 labels or fewer) to bypass plate costs.

Commercially, Creative Labels operates a direct, quote-based sales motion with no published pricing. Customers engage via phone (1-800-562-5052), fax, email, online JotForm quote requests, and a secure artwork upload portal. A separate enterprise motion exists for Honda via a dedicated supplier ordering portal and contact lines. Revenue is transaction-based, priced per unit against specifications (size, shape, color count, material, adhesive, finishing, quantity), with credit card (Visa/MasterCard) acceptance. The company employs 11-50 people, is led by CEO Dave Nosker, and has been owner-operated and independently financed since founding, with no disclosed funding, M&A, or parent-company relationships.

Name

Creative Labels

Legal name

Creative Labels, Inc.

Website

https://creative-labels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Creative Labels is a privately-held Troy, Ohio-based flexographic label printer (founded 1989, 11-50 employees) serving food/beverage, automotive (including Honda), industrial, and consumer goods customers with custom labels, flexible packaging, and specialty finishing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Label Printing

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Commercial Screen Printing (323113)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Flexible Packaging Printing & Decoration (Flexo, Gravure, Digital, Cold Foil) (IMALABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Functional Labels (Linerless, RFID/NFC, Braille, Smart) (IMALAKAK), Decoration & Branding Services (Printing, Hot Stamping, Metallization, Labeling) (IMALAJAN), Glue-Applied/Wet-Glue Labels (IMALAKAB)

Keywords

• Flexographic label printing
• Custom label manufacturing
• Digital label printing
• Flexible packaging production
• Specialty label finishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Label Printing: Flexographic and digital printing of custom labels and tags for various industries. Pricing based on quantity, colors, materials, and complexity. Revenue is transaction-based per order.
2. Graphic Design Services: In-house graphic design services including label design, color correction, color management, and pre-press work. Supports customer acquisition and retention.
3. Flexible Packaging Printing: Flexible packaging printing services for pouches used in coffee, food, personal care products, and other applications.
4. Specialty Printing Services: Premium printing services including cold foil, hot stamping, and embossing for enhanced shelf appeal and premium label finishes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Creative Labels manufactures custom labels using flexographic and digital printing technologies, supported by in-house pre-press and plate making operations. The company produces labels and flexible packaging for business customers in food, automotive, and industrial sectors, and provides graphic design services to support label artwork preparation.

Product overview

Creative Labels operates as a label printing company offering two primary printing methods: Flexographic Label Printing and Digital Label Printing, supported by specialty services including Flexible Package Printing, Promotional Labels & Coupon Printing, and Cold Foil & Hot Stamping Labels. The company provides Graphic Design Services as an add-on offering with in-house pre-press and plate making capabilities using ESKO digital output. Their comprehensive label product line encompasses standard label types (butt cut, sheeted, roll), specialty materials (vinyl, polyester, polypropylene, Tyvex, Lexan), application-specific labels (security, thermal transfer, bar code), and custom shaped labels. Creative Labels positions flexographic printing for larger quantities with cost savings, while digital printing serves smaller quantities and multiple SKU versions without plate costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexographic Labels Custom labels produced via flexographic printing, designed for high-volume production runs used by business customers across food, automotive, and industrial sectors.
• Digital Labels Custom labels produced via digital printing, suited to short runs, variable data, and rapid-turn requirements for business customers.
• Flexible Packaging Custom flexible packaging produced for business customers requiring branded or specification-driven packaging substrates.
• Specialty Finishing Specialty finishing services applied to labels (such as coatings, laminations, or embellishments) for business customers.
• Graphic Design Services Graphic design services that support label artwork preparation and pre-press file readiness for business customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Typical lead time of 1-2 weeks or sooner
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RotoMetricsminorOthersLabel printing materials supplier. Creative Labels is proud to use raw materials and print tools from RotoMetrics as part of their vendor relationships.
• Avery DennisonminorOthersLabel printing materials supplier. Creative Labels sources materials from Avery Dennison for their label manufacturing operations.
• ESKOcoreTechnology or IntegrationESKO provides digital output systems for pre-press operations and plate making. Creative Labels uses ESKO equipment and software as core technology infrastructure. Also listed as materials source.
• 3 Sigma CorporationminorOthersLabel printing materials supplier in Creative Labels' vendor network.
• Spinnaker CoatingminorOthersLabel printing products supplier for Creative Labels' manufacturing operations.
• ACTEGAminorOthersCoatings and sealants supplier for label printing, providing finishing materials for Creative Labels products.
• American Water GraphicsminorOthersLabel printing inks supplier providing printing inks for Creative Labels' flexographic and digital printing operations.
• American Honda Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonda is a major enterprise customer and approved supplier. Creative Labels operates a dedicated Honda Suppliers Online Ordering Site with separate contact lines. Christopher Braun (SR. PACKAGING ENGINEER) manages the supplier relationship. This is a significant B2B partnership requiring dedicated infrastructure and compliance with Honda's supplier requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Smyth Companies: Smyth Companies is a label printing company providing flexographic and digital labels, packaging, and decorative products to consumer brands. Direct competitor to Creative Labels with similar offerings in flexographic label printing and specialty finishing.
• Bartlo Packaging: Bartlo Packaging is a flexographic label converter specializing in custom labels and flexible packaging for various industries. Direct peer with comparable flexo technology and market positioning.
• Fortis Solutions Group: Fortis Solutions Group is a label manufacturer offering flexographic and digital printing of pressure-sensitive labels across multiple industries. Direct peer with comparable technology stack (flexo and digital) and similar mid-market customer focus.
• Label Technology Inc: Label Technology Inc is a flexographic and digital label manufacturer serving food, beverage, wine, and industrial markets. Direct peer with similar technology stack and small-to-mid-market customer focus.
• Hammer Packaging: Hammer Packaging is a label printer specializing in flexographic labels using Mark Andy presses (the same equipment Creative Labels operates). Direct peer with nearly identical technology platform and similar customer segments.
• Inland Label and Marketing Services: Inland Label is a flexographic and digital label printer serving diverse industries including food, beverage, and industrial markets. Direct competitor with similar technology and customer base.
• Multi-Color Corporation (CCL Label): Multi-Color Corporation (now part of CCL Industries) was one of the largest label converters globally before acquisition. Direct peer historically in pressure-sensitive label manufacturing across consumer goods end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is a global leader in label materials and pressure-sensitive label solutions. As both a broad incumbent competitor and a materials supplier to Creative Labels, it represents the dominant force in the label industry against which smaller converters compete.
• CCL Industries: CCL Industries is one of the world's largest specialty label manufacturers serving multiple industries including automotive, food, beverage, and consumer products. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Creative Labels across multiple label segments while operating at significantly larger scale globally.

Others

• Mark Andy Inc. Mark Andy is the manufacturer of the Mark Andy 13" 10-color press used by Creative Labels. While a technology supplier rather than direct competitor, Mark Andy represents the broader flexographic printing equipment ecosystem and industry standards Creative Labels operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-labels-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative Labels