RJS Label Modernization Project
A message from RJS Craft Winemaking to BSG HandCraft customers
What's new
For 60 years, our commitment to you has always been to deliver exceptional quality wines, with the brands that people love and trust.
We recently polled our network of retailers to find out more regarding the usage rates of our labels in our kits, and to receive feedback on our current designs.
Based on your feedback, we found that nearly 50% of our customers were not using RJS-supplied labels and simply throwing them out, creating unnecessary paper waste. We also heard from you that the current labels did not meet the same quality as our juice, nor line up with our new branding and packaging.
Therefore, to support the future growth of your business with RJS Craft Winemaking and the industry as a whole, we are partnering with two well-established label solution providers who provide an easy online ordering system to meet the demands of your customers. This will allow our retailers to procure labels as necessary.
What are the benefits?
The transition to more modern approach labels is aimed to help you grow your business with improved, higher-quality labels that complete the customer’s winemaking experience. The striking new designs better align with our brand positioning and outstanding quality. One of our label solution providers also allows customization and personalization opportunities to offer your consumers.
We are providing two great solutions; a low-cost alternative for premium labels through HJL Designs, with easy-to-use peel and stick labels designed by RJS Craft Winemaking that do not leave any residue. HJL labels can be procured at a lower price than our competitor and our own Equipment and Accessory catalog. Secondly, we have provided a customizable high-quality label solution leveraging existing MacDay Systems label templates, with the ability to add RJS brand logos and other personalization details.
We estimate that nearly one-half of Canadian Independent vint on-premise retailers currently use HJL Designs and MacDay Systems for their wine label needs, and RJS is excited to work with these two reputable companies.
Brands & expected rollout
En Primeur Winery Series, Cru Select, Orchard Breezin', and Cru Specialty (kits that currently come equipped with labels) are the brands that will be affected by this change. Please note that Restricted Quantities, as our highest tier kit and quality offering, will continue to be shipped with custom labels emphasizing that year's overall program thematic. We will also be introducing new design solutions for our other brands inclusive of Cru International and Heritage Estates (TBD) that currently do not come with RJS branded labels.
We further consulted with members of the RJS Advisory Council to review the new designs and inform them of the changes, ensuring that all retailer and customer needs were taken into consideration, to allow for a smooth transition.
When is this change happening?
This will be a soft transition. We anticipate that Cru Select kits will cease to have labels included in kits after August 2022. The remainder of the brands will continue to be phased out according to warehouse availability and component run-out dates during upcoming productions.
Note this year's Cru Specialty Fall Seasonal release kits (inclusive of Gingerbread Cookie) and Restricted Quantities 2023 series will contain labels.
| Brand | Estimated Run-Out Dates |
| Cru Select | August 2022 |
| EPWS | September 2022 |
| Orchard Breezin' | October 2022 |
| Cru Specialty | Fall 2023 |
About our new suppliers
HJL Designs is a manufacturer and wholesaler of high-quality vinyl labels for the craft winemaking industry. With a mix of modern and traditional designs, their ever-expanding lineup of 9.5 cm x 7 cm labels fit any bottle size, are easy to remove, and do not leave any residue behind.
HJL Designs is excited to begin producing and carrying, in addition to their existing labels, the new branded lines of RJS labels - Cru International, Cru Select, En Primeur Winery Series & Orchard Breezin' - at their industry best price of $2.25 CAN/package. These labels will be printed on high-quality vinyl with removable, no-residue adhesive.
HJL Designs is set up for ordering online and can be contacted at info@hjldesigns.com to set up an account. If over-the-phone assistance is required, you can send them an email and they will call you back.
MacDay Label Systems was formed to respond to the changing needs of the home vint wine market to improve the ability of consumers to use a customized label that:
- Presents a professional finish to their wine
- Provides choice of background design
- Includes the bottling date to facilitate aging
- Is easy to apply and easy to remove
- Can be purchased at a reasonable price
Easily add RJS Craft Winemaking logos to existing MacDay designs to develop personalized labels for your special event and/or occasion!
The system has been well received and is gaining momentum. MacDay have systems across Canada and the USA. To get your package of label samples or join the group of satisfied MacDay store owners contact them at: 1-888-828-3134 or info@macday.ca
Instruction Sheet Update
We will also be removing the instruction sheets from our kits and digitizing them. Retailers will be able to print out instruction sheets using the supplied instruction sheet artwork. Alternatively, retailers can direct customers to go online to retrieve downloadable instruction sheets:
→ RJS Wine Kit Instruction Sheets
When is this change happening?
This will be a soft transition. We anticipate that kits will cease to have instruction sheets included in them after August 2022 (est.). The remainder of kits will continue to be phased out according to warehouse availability and component run-out dates during upcoming productions.
In light of this change, we have updated our primary kit packaging to remove mentions of kit labels and instruction sheets to avoid any customer dissatisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
For further information please link to our Frequently Asked Questions document below.
We will continue to update the FAQ document posted on the online retailer portal as we receive retailer questions and concerns during this transition. For outstanding questions or concerns please contact your designated Sales Representative.