Two days after Christmas, “The Patriot-News” ran an article titled “Shopper return marred, scarred and unwanted gifts.” The day after Christmas is traditionally the biggest day for gift returns, but it's also one of the biggest bargain hunting days of the year. Savvy shoppers, however, my have unwittingly gotten less than they bargained for this year with picked-over merchandise that not only was unwanted but also had already been used and abused by a previous owner.

It's cases like this one where shrink labels, shrink sleeves and shrink wrap become shoppers' best friends. As long as a product's shrink sleeves are intact, the consumer can rest assured it's not been tampered with – be that tampering by malicious or harmless hands.

No one wants to walk away from a store with a second-rate purchase, and since clearance items are often marked as “final sale,” there's no way of getting one's money back after the fact. Indeed, retailers of such items as computer software, video games, movie DVDs and music CDs often won't exchange or refund the purchase price on such items – except in the case of damage – if the shrink seal or sleeve is not fully intact.

Such exchange restrictions are designed to protect all parties involved. Shrink sleeves provide the retailer with assurance that the person who made the initial purchase didn't open up the package, make an illegal copy and then decide to return it for the purchase price. At the same time, intact shrink sleeves guarantee the second purchaser of a returned item is receiving that item in the same brand new condition as the first buyer.

Product manufacturers who want to extend this peace of mind to both their resellers and their customers should look to an innovative shrink sleeve label solution provider. When selecting a shrink labeler, manufacturers should seek out a company that offers unparalleled technical support services. A leading supplier of heat shrinkable film products is amenable to a wide variety of markets including beverage, food, heath and beauty, pharmaceutical, household products and much more. Shrink sleeves, shrink label and shrink wrap represent a powerful solution for labeling and ensuring the security of a manufacturer's products.

Those manufacturers that are concerned with the environment – and who isn't these days – should further seek out a shrink sleeve producer that is committed to sustainability. A company that is highly focused on both product and process improvements that promote a more sustainable business proposition for its customers will provide that eco-friendly bonus. In particular, bio-film shrink sleeves are one major way in which the customer, retail and consumer's interests in sustainability are met. A plant-based shrink sleeve solution like EarthFirst® PLA provides an alternative to petroleum-based shrink films.

Finally, manufacturers should look to a shrink sleeve producer that dedicates an entire division to providing its customers with the ultimate in flexibility. From a wide variety of films to choose from, including PVC, PETG, OPS & PLA, to the offering of both rotogravure or flexographic printing, such a shrink sleeve company can provide options to meet just about everyone's needs.