Custom Sale Tags Built for Markdowns and Clearance Racks

What a sale tag has to do in two seconds

A shopper scanning a rack does not read. They spot color, a big word and a number.

Your sale tag has one job: make the reduced items easy to find, and make the new price easy to trust. Everything else on the tag is secondary.

That is why sale tags look different from your everyday tags. They are louder, simpler and often a different shape or color.

A good test is distance. Pin a printed proof to a garment, step back three or four steps, and check whether the word SALE still jumps out.

Pre-printed discount or blank price space

You have two main routes. One prints the discount on the tag, such as 30% off. The other prints SALE and leaves a box to write the new price.

Pre-printed discounts are fast to apply but lock you into fixed amounts. Write-on tags take a few seconds longer but work for every markdown you will ever run.

Many stores order both. A small run of fixed 50% tags covers the final clearance week, and a larger run of write-on tags handles everything else through the year.

Colors that read as a sale

Red, yellow and bright orange are the colors shoppers already link with discounts. You do not need to use them, but your tag should contrast with your regular tags.

If your brand is black and cream, a black tag with a bright Pantone SALE can work. If your regular tags are kraft, a solid colored sale tag stands out at once.

Color-coded sets are useful for tiered discounts. For example, a yellow tag can mean 20% off and a red tag 40% off, with a small key printed on the back.

Pantone matching keeps the color identical from one reorder to the next. That matters when old and new tags end up on the same rack.

Making the write-on area work

Gloss lamination repels most pens, and ink smears when the tag is handled. For anything written by hand, choose uncoated stock or a matte finish.

Leave the box large enough for a marker. Ruled lines for was and now prices help staff keep handwriting neat and even.

Test your usual pen on the proof stock if you can. A fine permanent marker works on most matte and uncoated surfaces.

A light tint behind the box can look nice, but keep it pale. Dark tints hide handwriting, especially under warm store lighting.

Size and shape choices

Sale tags should be big enough to spot from the aisle but small enough not to hide the product. A tall rectangle around 2 by 3.5 in works on most clothing.

For jewelry and small gifts, a compact tag looks less heavy. Our mini hang tags for small items page covers those sizes.

A distinct shape, such as a circle or a starburst die cut, helps sale tags stand out from the regular tag still on the item.

Keep the hole near the top center so the tag hangs facing out. A tag that spins to show its blank back loses most of its value.

Adding a sale tag next to the original

Most stores keep the original price tag on the item and add the sale tag beside it. That shows the shopper the real saving.

A safety pin or plastic loop pin lets staff add a sale tag in seconds without touching the first tag. Our tips on how to attach tags quickly cover each option.

Elastic loops slip over bottles, jars and rolled goods, then come off cleanly after the event.

If the sale tag covers the old price, shoppers cannot see the saving. Hang it slightly lower or to the side so both prices are visible.

Ordering once and reusing every season

Leave dates and event names off the tag, and one print run can cover several sales. Store the leftovers flat in their carton until the next markdown.

Plain SALE wording with a write-on box is the most reusable design. You can also print a small brand line on the back so the tag still markets you after purchase.

If you want a matching regular price tag, our custom product tags can share the same size and hole position.

A rough rule is to count the items you marked down last season and add a margin. Running out midway through a sale forces staff back to handwritten stickers.

Delivery and fixing problems

We ship free to the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Tags arrive flat and boxed, ready for staff to tag stock the same day.

If a sale tag is misprinted or arrives damaged, report it within 10 days. Our reprint or refund terms spell out the process.

Planning a clearance weekend? Book your proof two to three weeks ahead so the tags are on the shop floor before the doors open.