'The Tackifier' Blog by FindTape

Due to the recent hurricanes, raw materials including resin, aluminum, adhesives, and corrugated packaging have continued to escalate. Below is a list of the recent price increase notification letters we have received from five manufacturers. The letters generally include details about the price increase percentages and which of that manufacturer's product line will be affected. The prices on our website will typically be changed the business day before the manufacturer's increase goes into effect (or soon thereafter).

• 3M - 11/1/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Berry Plastics- 11/13/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Intertape - 11/1/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter and 11/6/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Patco (Berry Plastics) - 10/9/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Shurtape - 11/6/2017 Effective Date Increase Letter

* last updated 10/13/2017

If you are a millennial or have a millennial living in your home, you are no doubt aware that teens are using their creative talents to ask the most important question in spring..."Want to go to prom?" Gone are the days of simple hallway conversations between classes and passed notes from your best friends. Our kids are finding more and more innovative ways to entice each other to prom. The good news is that Duck Brand, marketed by ShurTech Brands LLC, celebrated this new trend by awarding three winners $1,000 for their promposals!

Stuck-at-Prom Duct Tape Promposal

Duck brand invited students to use the vibrant assortment of Duck Tape® colors, designs and crafting tapes – as well as its original silver – to create their fun and unique promposal, and then share their stories on social media for a chance to win one of three $1,000 prizes to help offset the costs of prom. High school students posted a photo entry via Twitter or Instragram using hashtags #DuckTapePromposal and #Sweepstakes, Winners were chosen at random and just announced.

FindTape.com offers over 35 unique Duck Brand duct tapes for all of your most colorful and special projects. Low prices, fast delivery and easy shopping. Good luck...and we hope they say YES!

Polyken 510 Premium Grade gaffers tape is once again available in a wide selection of colors including:

• Burgundy

• Dark Blue

• Teal

• Purple

• Tan

• Grey

• Black

• White

• and featuring NEW color - Royal Blue

The colors listed above are available in 2" and 3" wide options, shrink wrapped and on Polyken branded cores.

Take advantage of our best prices and fast shipping on all color options today at FindTape.com

Future Market Insights (FMI) this week published the market report Gaffers Tape Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2017-2027 showcasing the increasing opportunities in the gaffers tape markets.  The accompanying press release to the report stated, “One of the significant factors contributing towards the growth of the gaffers tape market is the rampant growth of (the) industrial tape industry.” This started a hearty discussion at FindTape about gaffers tape and common gaffes made in understanding the reasons people use or don’t use this versatile tape.

The Right Product for the Right Application

As the demand for packaging increases so does the need for tape. The market report comes to the same conclusion, “The introduction of gaffers tape over duct tape has provided the manufacturer a wide range of packaging advancements.” While we applaud the increasing need for tape and more advanced options it is important to note that gaffers tape may not always be the right choice for shipping packages.  

The main industry users of gaffers tape include the entertainment, photography, hospitality, theater and audio production industries. Gaffers tape - also known as gaff tape - is primarily used to secure cables to floors, walls and other surfaces where you do not want a sticky residue left behind. Clearly, this is not the packaging industry as stated in the summary report from FMI. Although it can be used for packaging, due to its water resistant backing and other factors, gaffers tape will be a costly choice. Military specifications, such as ASTM-D 5486M-99 Type IV Class I (replaced PPP-T-60E Type IV Class I) and CID A-A-1586A, are examples of where gaffers tape is the right choice. It's about using the right tape for the right application. 

Gaffer Tape vs. Gaffer-Style

The FMI press release explains that “Global Gaffers Tape market is segmented on the basis of product, backing material, and application. On the basis of backing material, gaffers tape market can be segmented into polypropylene, paper, PVC and others.” Technically speaking gaffer tape is defined as being vinyl-coated cloth with a matte finish and completely removable from most hard surfaces. Any other “gaffer” tape is really just gaffer-style.

Who's Really Making it Stick

The companies identified in the FMI market summary as "Some of the major players identified across the globe in the Gaffers Tape market are Henkel AG & Co., KGaA, 3M Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Avery Dennison, Ashland Inc. and H.B. Fuller.", is misleading. These companies are adhesive and raw material suppliers not manufacturers of the end-use product. The major players in gaffer tape manufacturing are Shurtape, Polyken and Scapa.

At FindTape.com we agree that the global gaffer tape market is strong and growing! Head over to FindTape.com and use our Advanced Tape Finder to see the largest selection of gaffers tape available for any purpose. We’ll help you avoid any tape gaffes.

Now Available - Worldwide Gaffers Tape Market Report 2017-2027

Posted on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 4:42 pm CST

Global packaging industry has witnessed a number of technological advancement from last couple of decades. As packaging is unexecuted without the use of tape, the increasing demand for packaging from industrial sector in turn is creating huge opportunity for industrial tape market. The introduction of gaffers tape over duct tape has provided the manufacturer a wide range of packaging advancement. Gaffer's tape which is also known as camera tape or spike tape is regarded as heavy cotton cloth pressure sensitive tape that delivers high adhesive properties. Through gaffers tape, now the manufacturers can use the tape on any kind of packaging material without the need for a solvent (such as water) or heat for activation. Gaffer tape is widely used in theatre, photography, film –television production and industrial staging works.

View the full press release at ReleaseWire >

Have you ever wondered what type of tape is the most popular? In the infographic below, you can find out exactly which type of tape features the highest sales in the state where you live. From foam tape to gaffers tape to duct tape, the answers range all over the board to show that Americans use a wide variety of tapes in their everyday lives. Let’s take a closer look to explore which types of tapes are popular in certain areas of the U.S.

Gaffers on the Coasts

While you can surely find gaffers tape sold across the country, there’s no denying that it seems to be especially popular along the west and east coasts of the U.S. This type of tape reigns supreme in states like California, New York, South Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania. There are also a few inland states where this tape is preferred as well, such as Minnesota and Oklahoma. It’s likely that this tape’s popularity on the coasts, however, is at least somewhat related to the fact that these areas are home to more of the country’s film and television industries. After all, gaffers tape is widely used in theatre, photography, and films and television production, so it makes sense that it’s the most common tape in places like New York and California.

Electrical Tape in Industrial States

Another popular tape across the country appears to be electrical tape. This is the most popular type of tape in a number of Midwestern, Southern and Western states, such as Wisconsin, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Dakota and Nevada. Since electrical tape is one of the most popular types of tape in general, there could be a variety of reasons that it’s so popular in these areas. However, it could be due in part to the fact that many of these states have thriving industrial economies where a strong, durable and reliable tape like electrical tape would be commonly used in work settings like factories and assembly lines.

ATG Tape States Across the Nation

According to this infographic, ATG tape has climbed the ranks as one of the top tape options. It is found to be the most popular in states like Michigan, Florida, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington and Missouri. ATG type of tape used with an adhesive transfer gun (hence the acronym ATG). It’s popular with crafters as well as those who work with retail displays and other design projects, so there’s a chance that the creative industries in these states are thriving based on the high sales of ATG tape in those areas.

There are a few other tapes that made the cut for most popular in select states, such as double-sided tape, carpet tape and paper measurement tape. Whatever the reason for their popularity, it’s certainly fascinating to see which types of tape products are the most popular according to location. Does the type of tape you buy most often line up with the most popular type of tape in your state? Check the map to find out!

Below is a list of recent price increase correspondence we have received which includes details about the percentage price increase and which of that manufacturer's product line it will affect. The prices on our web site will typically be changed the business day before the manufacturer's increase goes into effect (or soon thereafter).

• Intertape - 2/15/2016 Effective Date Increase Letter
• Jaybird & Mais - we implemented new pricing on 2/15/2016
• Shurtape - 3/22/2016 Effective Date Increase Letter

* last updated 2/22/2016

We are now offering a greatly reduced shipping option into Canada. Our "Standard International" option is a consolidated shipping service which groups many packages together so that they can cross the border at the same time to greatly minimize your overall cost of shipping. This shipping option is also all inclusive so it includes duty (applicable if your order were to include any items that did not qualify under NAFTA) plus any taxes that are owed. So you will no longer owe any money at the time of delivery! Here are a few examples:

EXAMPLE #1

6 rolls of Jaybird & Mais EX25 1-1/2 inch x 15 yards Pro-Flesh athletic tape shipping to Edmonton, Alberta

Standard International CAD$ 14.47 *** this already includes ALL customs brokerage, duty & taxes

USPS Priority Mail International CAD$ 46.51 *** this ONLY includes customs brokerage so you would still owe taxes at the time of delivery

UPS Standard CAD$ 28.26 *** this does NOT include customs brokerage, duty or taxes and these would be owed at the time of delivery

EXAMPLE #2

1 roll of Scape 425 96mm (4" nominal) black gaffers tape shipping to Edmonton, Alberta

Standard International CAD$ 20.91 *** this already includes ALL customs brokerage, duty & taxes

USPS Priority Mail International CAD$ 57.33 *** this ONLY includes customs brokerage so you would still owe taxes at the time of delivery (Scapa 425 is made in Canada so no duty would be owed)

UPS Standard CAD$ 33.85 *** this does NOT include customs brokerage, duty or taxes and these would be owed at the time of delivery

EXAMPLE #3

1 case (24 rolls) of Polyken 105C 48mm x 33m double-sided carpet tape shipping to Edmonton, Alberta

Standard International CAD$ 70.82 *** this already includes ALL customs brokerage, duty & taxes

UPS Standard CAD$ 75.50 *** this does NOT include customs brokerage, duty or taxes and these would be owed at the time of delivery (approximately an additional CAD$ 64.51 in this example)

We've also turned on direct shipments to Australia and the United Kingdom via this shipping option and more countries will follow soon. In addition we now allow you to view prices on our web site in Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, British Pounds, or the Euro (based on that day's exchange rate) so you don’t have to do the conversion in your head while you are browsing.

I'm very excited to announce the results of our Memorial Day campaign for Operation Homefront. Thanks to your support, we are donating $7,102.30 to help our soldiers and their families.

They are the ones who bear the brunt of war: More than 50,000 men and women come home wounded and many of their families struggle financially. Operation Homefront is a nonprofit organization that does a lot of good for those who serve our country. It provides emergency financial assistance, caregiver support, and access to permanent, mortgage-free homes for our veterans.

As I've mentioned before, FindTape.com has strong connections to the military. Many U.S. military divisions are our customers, and the owner of our primary tape converter, Robert Valley, is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne and both Operation Just Cause in Panama and the Gulf War in Iraq. Also one of my grandfathers served in combat in World War I and the other in World War II.

But beyond all of this, we are passionate about military families and all they do to protect and serve our nation, and we are so grateful to all of our customers who joined us in supporting this cause.

With this donation to Operation Homefront, we say a big "THANK YOU" to all of our service men, women and families.

About Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 92 percent of Operation Homefront's expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

May is National Military Appreciation Month, and perhaps it's not so surprising that this is the month we've chosen to honor the men, women, and their families who have or are serving our country. After all, May includes some important observances: Loyalty Day (May 1), VE Day (May 8), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 8), Armed Forces Day (May 16), and Memorial Day (May 25).

At FindTape.com, this month is important to us because of our strong connections to military personnel and veterans. As I've mentioned before, I have both family and friends who are veterans, and many military divisions are customers of FindTape.com.

National Military Association Month gives all Americans an opportunity "to honor, remember, recognize, and appreciate those who serve and have served.... It recognizes those on active duty in all branches of the services, the National Guard and Reserves plus retirees, veterans, and all of their families - well over 90 million Americans and more than 230 years of our nation’s history."

Note the inclusion of the word, families. We often forget how much military families contribute to the cause of freedom. When a spouse or parent is deployed, it's the spouse and the children who are left behind and who must manage the tasks of daily life on their own. They're the ones with an empty chair at the dinner table, or only one set of hands to tuck the kids into bed.

But it's not just the absence of a conversation or a helping hand that they miss. Many military families also experience financial struggles. Whether a spouse is deployed or returned home injured, military spouses may have a difficult time paying the water bill or the mortgage. These families shouldn't have to bear the burden of war alone. This is why, at FindTape.com, we've made a commitment to help military families.

Recently, we announced our support of Operation Homefront, which provides assistance to make the lives of military families better. We've partnered with this organization because of the tremendous impact it has had on military families.

Here's just a small sample of how successful some of Operation Homefront's programs are:

• The Emergency Assistance Program provided grants to more than 2,700 military families, totaling $4.8 million in 2014. With these grants, families were able to buy food, pay water bills, and keep their homes.
• The Homes on the Homefront program, in partnership with major banks and a homebuilder, moved 138 military families into permanent, mortgage-free homes in 2014. And another 
89 families successfully completed their transition plans and received the deeds to their homes.
• The Hearts of Valor™ program, which provides support to caregivers of wounded warriors, welcomed 836 new members in 2014, for a total membership of 2,369. The program includes 50 support groups across the country.

Operation Homefront operates very efficiently – with 92% of its expenditures going directly to programs for military families. This type of stewardship shows great dedication to making a difference in the lives of military families. Yet, the work of this organization wouldn't be possible without financial support.

And we believe we can help. From May 22 to May 28, 2015, for each purchase a customer makes on FindTape.com, FindTape.com will donate 10% of the total merchandise price to Operation Homefront. We plan to donate up to $10,000 to the nonprofit over the week of the Memorial Day holiday this year.

It's our way to give back to this great community, and to say thank you to the men, women, and families who serve our country.

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