Wasp Barcode Technologies: The Barcode Solution People

Meet Nicole Holcomb, the System ID Barcode Label Pro

Meet Nicole Holcomb, the System ID Label Pro who literally grew up around labels. When my friends ask me what I do for a living, I find it hard to answer without sounding b-o-r-i-n-g. I never thought I would end up in the world of labels—let alone become a barcode label pro. Yet, a lifetime of labeling that began decades ago led to my present-day career and a philosophy that I like to call, “Labels First.”

The journey begins

I grew up in a small label manufacturing plant. No, seriously. When I was young, my mother worked for a family-owned label manufacturer and—as a single mother of two growing girls—she did anything she could to make extra income. That meant working in the office Monday through Friday and cleaning the building on Saturdays. Of course, she dragged my older sister and me along to “help,” although I’m not sure we offered much assistance. The family who owned the label manufacturing business hired me to work for them when I was in high school. Every summer and school break, I traveled through the company, stopping where needed. I ended up working in every department, from accounting to shipping. As a result, I started becoming a barcode label pro without ever meaning to!

A slight detour

In typical teenage fashion, I was determined to escape the world of labels upon graduating high school. So, I headed to the University of Texas – Austin, where I earned a B.A. in English and Latin. Publishing was the place I hoped to land after first wanting to be a chemical engineer, nurse, doctor, and archaeologist. I thought as a publisher I could spend my days reading, which is my favorite pastime. I moved back home after graduating from college. The plan was to temporarily return to the label manufacturing company until I could find the perfect publishing job. Instead, I discovered that I was glad to be “back home” and actually enjoyed wearing a lot of different hats—my favorite being that of troubleshooter who helped companies solve problems or find label solutions. The call to spread my wings once again beckoned, and I responded by heading out to find my next stop. I ended up doing sales for a company that—you guessed it—made labels for the garment and textile industry. For 10 years I traveled the world, working with a wide variety of customers in Los Angeles, New York City, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Taiwan, Shanghai, Nicaragua, Mexico, Vietnam, and El Salvador. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love and married my best friend, Jay, and a few years later our daughter Jillian was born. I then decided to trade in my suitcase for a diaper bag and searched for a job that fit the next chapter of my life.

My final stop

I landed at System ID, where I became the Product Manager for Labels and Supplies. Here I could put my nearly 20 years of labeling experience to good use helping customers find solutions for their barcode label needs—a role I truly love. As System ID’s resident barcode label pro, I get to apply my thermal printing and barcode industry knowledge, grow relationships with our partners, and help our sales team respond to your requests for help. In fact, it’s the last one that I find most rewarding. By working closely with our sales team, I’ve been able to share my depth of knowledge to improve our customer service. In fact, there isn’t a barcode label question we can’t answer! I believe this capability sets us apart from our competitors (and hope you do, too).

Think labels first

Along the path to barcode label pro, I discovered a philosophy that works for nearly every situation. It’s something that I like to call “Labels First.” When selecting a barcode system, identify labels first. Doing so prevents costly mistakes! See, most people new to barcoding and those who are upgrading their systems always want to pick out their barcode scanner or printer first. And that’s where they go wrong. Without the right label to scan or print, barcode equipment is of no value. That’s why we suggest that customers think “labels first.” When you do, you’ll save time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

Ride along with the barcode label pro

Journey with me over the coming weeks and months as we dive deeper into the world of barcode labels. I’ll explain how to select the right labels and offer suggestions to ensure you purchase the correct barcode system to meet your unique needs. Along the way I will publish articles that I hope you will find helpful and want to share with others. Until then, if you have a burning question about barcode labels and supplies that can’t wait, give our sales team a call at 1.888.648.4452. Cheers!