Media & Press Releases
July 3, 2008
From rhinos to bees ...
30 years in labeling business
Julia Ybarra-Young New Richmond News Mike Kasun sat in the conference room of his company’s 10-year-old
building at 370 SMC Drive. In his hand was a black plastic label cartridge. Kasun held up the cartridge, which was the basis for his labeling company K-Sun. “We invented a better cartridge for the old Kroy machines,” Kasun said. “At the time, I was doing three other jobs. When it looked like this would work, I threw all my eggs in this basket.” He founded K-Sun Inc. in 1978, manufacturing and distributing the label tape cartridge under the Rhino brand name. “We went with the Rhino name because it was a tough, strong animal,” Kasun explained. “Even back then we contributed to the World Wildlife Fund.” That concern for the environment continues with its newest product, the BEE3 – an inexpensive, yellow, portable labeling unit. It has three main functions: as a regular label printer, a bar coder and heat shrink tube thermal transfer printer. “In the old days, we picked the rhino,” Kasun said. “This time the bee because it works hard and does a lot of things.”
The bee tie-in began when Kasun watched a TV program that discussed the colony collapse disorder, a phenomenon affecting the world’s bee population. “Biologists and beekeepers are uncertain as to why this is happening, and I thought that bee research and education would be a great area to lend our support,” Kasun said. To that end, K-Sun made a donation to the University of Minnesota’s new bee research, education and outreach facility, as well several printing machines. They have also partnered with Wolf Honey Farm in Baldwin in their BEE3 promotion. As part of their 30th anniversary, they are offering a free bee kit (a free printer with the purchase of two supply cartridges, a power adapter and wrist strap). It also includes a 4-ounce jar of honey. “We worked out a deal to design an antique bottle with the clover honey,” Kasun said. “The bottles are from Milwaukee, the honey is from Baldwin, and the product is from Somerset.” Kasun admitted the bee-related puns were flying during brainstorming sessions. “We thought it was an un-bee-lieveable deal and a honey of a product,” Kasun said. “Who doesn’t like free-bees?” As a smaller company, Kasun admitted they have to get creative on a budget. In fact, in the world of commercial labeling products, they are no stranger to thinking outside the box. When they partnered with Brother to promote the PTouch III, they sent out promotional packages shaped like TNT sticks that promised a “dynamite product to explode sales.” “We drilled holes in the caps to put the piece of rope into so the distributors can pull it out,” Kasun recalled. “We set up 800 dealers in one year and sold 20,000 printers.” K-Sun has stayed in the industrial market for 30 years. However, the company is eyeing the new markets. “Our competition, a Japanese company and a Swedish company, sold to the retail markets in the mid-90’s; K-Sun did not,” Kasun said. “Starting 2009, we’re going to try to break into the retail market.” They’ve already been advertising in speciality magazines such as “Organizing” where they hope to appeal to professional organizers. In addition, the University of Minnesota has offered to help them make a video for YouTube to promote the BEE3. “They offered to have someone there to make a bee beard or something, and tie it in with the printer,” Kasun mused. Perhaps labeling it a No Fly Zone? For More Information Contact: Linda Law |
