25 years ago, Guru Labels didn’t start with a factory, a team, or even customers.
It started with a belief: there was a better way to deliver labels.
Founder Nicholas Lowe made the decision to leave his job and start from scratch — with a payout that gave him just three months of mortgage repayments.
That was the runway.
- Three months to build an income.
- Three months to make the business viable.
- Three months before, everything was on the line.
“If I didn’t get the business up and running in that time, I would have lost my house,” says Nick.
There was no safety net beyond that.
Back then, it was just a phone and persistence – cold calling businesses out of the Yellow Pages, introducing a company that didn’t yet exist.
“It was telephone sales… cold calling customers… 18-hour days… no one does that anymore.”
Starting from scratch gave Guru Labels a rare advantage: a completely clean slate.
- No legacy systems.
- No outdated equipment.
- No bad habits to inherit.
That freedom allowed the business to think differently – not just about labels, but about how the entire operation should work.
All aspects of the facility were intentionally created to support both quality and people, a space that is clean, well-ventilated, and built for performance.
“Our employees are here for eight hours a day, so we want them to have a pleasant working environment. You can see, smell, hear and feel the difference.”
A Culture That Never Changed
Today, Guru Labels supports nearly 14,000 customers – but the mindset is the same as day one:
- Every call matters
- Every job matters
- Every customer experience matters
In today’s world, customer service can feel like an afterthought.
“Nobody wants to talk to you, nobody wants to help you, says Nick.”
That’s exactly what Guru Labels has worked against for the past 25 years.
The team is built around a culture of seeing things through – whether that’s answering the phone, sending samples, or making sure the final result is right.
It’s also why Guru Labels has become a trusted partner for trade customers. Because when other printers trust you with their customers, it means one thing: They know you won’t let them down.
The Guru Test
Every member of the team works to this standard:
No label leaves our premises without passing the Guru test; it has to be the best.
That mindset comes from understanding how labels are actually used in the real world — not in ideal conditions.
From self-laminating test tag labels that protect critical information from wear, to a durability testing process where labels are applied and monitored over time in real conditions – and even rethinking how industries order, with on-demand nursery labels developed after seeing growers forced into bulk orders and unnecessary waste — every solution is designed to perform where it matters.
These aren’t just products. They’re practical solutions to real customer problems.
What’s most remarkable about Guru Labels isn’t just the journey, it’s the mindset.
The same energy that started the business still drives it today.
“We’re not done. We’re nowhere near done.”
With continued investment in technology, people, and processes, Guru Labels keeps pushing forward — focused on innovation, service, and delivering better outcomes for customers.
Thank You
25 years ago, Guru Labels started with 3 months of mortgage payments… and no customers.
- No machines.
- No team.
- No guarantees.
Just cold calls out of the Yellow Pages and 18-hour days trying to make something work.
Failure wasn’t really an option.
Fast forward to today nearly 14,000 customers and a team that still shows up with the same mindset:
- Do the job properly
- Look after the customer
- Keep improving
To every customer, partner, and team member who has been part of the journey — thank you.
#GuruLabels #25Years #BusinessJourney
Some of our best ideas haven’t come from a boardroom.
They’ve come from customers.
Like hearing how test tags were failing in tough environments…
or seeing nurseries forced to bulk order labels they didn’t need.
So we fixed it.
- Self-laminating test tags that actually last
- Designed to withstand temperatures up to 100 degrees – a significant jump from the industry-standard 80 degrees.
- On-demand nursery labels to reduce waste
Simple ideas — that make a real difference.
#Innovation #Labels #GuruLabels
25 years in business is a big milestone. And we didn’t get here on our own.
To every customer, trade partner, and team member who’s been part of the journey – thank you.
We appreciate the trust.