When your product is sitting on a crowded shelf, how do you make sure it’s the one customers grab? Studies show that hangtag labels—those small but powerful tags attached to a product—can be an eye-catching way to stand out and connect with your audience. With thousands of products competing for attention in stores, hangtags offer a creative, flexible, interactive solution to help your product be noticed and remembered.
Why Hangtags Work
Research from Clemson University highlights just how effective hangtags can be. Shoppers only notice about 150 out of the 10,000+ products in the average store, and each product gets just seven seconds or less of attention—sometimes not even a full second. With such a tiny window to capture shoppers’ interest, attention-grabbing labels can make all the difference!
The study found that:
- Products with hangtags often get noticed before similar items without tags.
- When only a few products on a shelf have hangtags, they stand out even more—breaking the visual clutter.
- Hangtags that add value—like coupons or discounts—are particularly compelling and can influence buying decisions.
In short, hangtags are a smart and cost-effective way to ensure customers see your product and feel motivated to buy it.
Best Practices for Designing Hangtags that Turn Heads
Hangtags work best when they capture attention without compromising the product’s overall presentation. Here are proven tips for designing hangtags that stand out while staying true to your brand:
- Stay On-Brand and Consistent: Your hangtag should align with your brand’s style guide—use consistent colors, fonts, and imagery to reinforce your identity. A mismatched or poorly designed tag can detract from your product’s appeal.
- Keep It Simple and Readable: Hangtags are small, so less is more. Use no more than three colors and two fonts, and ensure font sizes are at least 7pt for easy readability. Avoid clutter to keep the focus on your key message.
- Tailor to Your Target Audience: Design your tag with your audience in mind. A bright, playful hangtag will work for family-friendly snacks, while a sleek, minimalist design suits upscale products like craft beverages or gourmet sauces.
- Make It Stand Out (in the Right Way): Your hangtag should grab attention without looking out of place. It should complement your product packaging, not compete with it. Consider bold visuals, vibrant finishes, or unique shapes that enhance the product’s presentation.
- Don’t Forget the Hole: This might seem obvious but it’s definitely possible to forget! Allow room in your hang tag design for the string or hole to avoid accidentally cutting off text or key visuals—a mistake that can make your brand look careless.
Creative Ways to Use Hangtags
Hangtags are more than just price tags. Here are some fun and strategic ways to use them:
- Coupons & Discounts: Offer instant savings or limited-time deals to encourage purchases.
- Sustainability Highlights: Share how your product uses local ingredients, reduces waste, or supports eco-friendly practices.
- Instructions & Safety Information: For functional products, like cleaning supplies, hangtags can complement cleaning product labels by providing usage tips, safety reminders, or sustainability messages.
- Interactive QR Codes: Connect customers to your website, contests, social media, or exclusive offers with a quick scan.
- Brand Storytelling: Tell your brand’s story, introduce the product creator, or explain what makes your product special.
- Seasonal Promotions: Easily swap tags for holidays, special events, or limited-time flavors and themes. For craft breweries, hangtags paired with craft beer labels are a great way to promote seasonal brews or limited releases.
- Recipes & Pairing Ideas: Add recipes or serving suggestions that boost your product’s value. For bottled drinks, hangtags paired with beverage labels can suggest cocktail recipes, food pairings, or creative serving ideas.
- Customer Thank-Yous: Use the hangtag to include a personal thank-you message that builds loyalty and trust.
The Budget-Friendly Way to Boost Your Brand
One of the best things about hangtags is their flexibility. They’re easy to swap out, so you can run different promotions, highlight limited-time offers, or test creative ideas without redesigning your entire product packaging. Plus, because not every brand uses them, hangtags immediately give you an edge on the shelf.
Key Takeaways for Using Hangtag Labels Effectively
- Effective hangtags can get products noticed & chosen more than products without them
- The design should be a quick read (size 7+ font) and on-brand (complement packaging)
- Bold & simple messaging works best with the small amount of space available
- Less is More: use no more than 3 colors and 2 fonts maximum
- Hangtags that add value (coupons, discounts, sweepstakes) are the most effective
- Hangtags require a hole for attachments, so ensure this flows into the design well
If you’re ready to make your product stand out and connect with customers meaningfully, hangtags are an easy, impactful solution. With the right design and strategy, they’ll not only get your product noticed but also give shoppers a reason to choose it. Need help creating hangtags that capture attention, communicate value, and leave a lasting impression? Request a quote today, or contact us for expert guidance!