Industry Trends

6 Mistakes I Made Ordering Custom Stickers & Using Gorilla Products (And How to Avoid Them)

Who This List Is For

If you're ordering custom stickers, labels, or tapes for your business — and you've ever had a batch fail because the glue didn't stick, or you couldn't get gorilla glue off your hands — this is for you. I've been handling packaging orders for 4 years, and I've personally made (and documented) 15 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $8,000 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team's checklist to prevent others from repeating my errors.

Below are six steps — one for each common pitfall. Follow them in order. They'll save you time, money, and a sticky mess.

Step 1: Check the Adhesive Before You Commit (Is Gorilla Glue Super Glue Waterproof?)

Most buyers focus on price and completely miss the adhesive properties. The question everyone asks is, "What's the cheapest?" The question they should ask is, "Will this hold up in my environment?"

Here's the thing: not all gorilla glue products are waterproof. I learned this the hard way. In August 2023, I ordered gorilla super glue for outdoor signage. Assumed it was waterproof — didn't verify. Turned out the standard super glue formula is water-resistant, not waterproof. Rain hit, labels peeled within two weeks.

Check the specific product specs. Gorilla Glue's original formula is waterproof once cured. Their super glue? Not always. According to the manufacturer's site (gorillatough.com), only certain variants (e.g., Gorilla Super Glue Gel) are labeled waterproof. Verify before ordering.

Quick tip: If your application involves moisture, choose epoxy or the original Gorilla Glue (polyurethane) — but that expands, so don't use it for precise sticker placement.

Step 2: Know How to Get Gorilla Glue Off Your Hands (Before You Apply It)

I once applied gorilla glue without gloves — rookie move. It bonded to my fingers instantly. Spent 20 minutes trying to wash it off. Didn't work. Ended up using acetone and sanding my skin. That cost $0 in material but a lot of embarrassment and a lost afternoon.

How to take off gorilla glue from skin (based on what I learned):

1. Soak in warm soapy water for 5 minutes.
2. Apply acetone or nail polish remover (test small area first).
3. Gently scrape with a plastic edge (don't use metal — you'll cut yourself).
4. Wash again and moisturize.

But honestly, the smarter move is prevention. I now keep nitrile gloves with every order. Costs $10 for a box. Saves hours of scrubbing.

Step 3: When Removing Gorilla Glue from Surfaces, Don't Use Force

The assumption is that stronger adhesive means tougher removal. Actually, the opposite is often true — gorilla glue penetrates porous surfaces, so pulling it off tears the surface. In Q1 2024, I tried to remove a misapplied sticker that had gorilla glue behind it. Yanked it off. Took the paint with it. $350 to repaint a storefront.

How to take off gorilla glue from surfaces safely:

• Use isopropyl alcohol (90%+) to soften the bond.
• Heat with a hair dryer for 30 seconds (not a heat gun — too hot).
• Gently pry with a plastic scraper.
• If it's on glass, let it cure completely, then scrape with a razor blade at a 45° angle.

Note: This works for most gorilla glue products. For the original polyurethane glue, acetone is your best bet.

Step 4: Write Holiday Card Messages for Business Before You Order Stickers

This sounds obvious, but I've seen it happen (yes, I did it myself): You order a batch of custom stickers for holiday mailers. The design looks great. But you forgot to include the actual message. You end up with generic "Season's Greetings" — no specific business message.

I went back and forth between “Thank you for your partnership” and “Wishing you a prosperous new year” for two weeks. Ultimately chose both — but that meant redoing the artwork. Cost $120 in revisions plus a 1-week delay.

Here's a checklist for holiday card messages for business:

• Keep it short: 10–15 words max (fits on a sticker or postcard).
• Include company name and a personal touch (e.g., “From the whole team at Gorilla”).
• Avoid religious language — go with “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.”
• Add a call-to-action if relevant: “Use code HOLIDAY2025 for 10% off.”

Most buyers focus on the design and miss the messaging. The question they should ask: “Will a client read this and feel valued?”

Step 5: Purple Wrap for Car — Choose the Right Material (Sticker vs. Wrap)

A client asked for purple wrap for their car hood. I assumed vinyl wrap would work — it's what everyone uses. But they wanted a temporary solution because the car was leased. The assumption is that all car wraps are the same. Actually, the relationship goes the other way: permanent vinyl wraps damage the paint when removed; removable wraps use a different adhesive.

I nearly ordered standard gorilla tape as the base (bad idea — residue would ruin the paint). Instead, I researched and found that for a purple wrap for car, you want a high-performance cast film (not calendared). Cast film conforms better and removes cleanly.

If you're using gorilla tape for temporary car decoration, don't. Gorilla tape's adhesive is too aggressive. Use a product specifically designed for vehicles (e.g., 3M Scotchcal or Avery Dennison). Gorilla brand isn't ideal for this application. (Honest limitation: it's a deal-breaker.)

Step 6: Match the Glue to the Substrate (Waterproof vs. Not)

Back to the waterproof question: people think expensive glue equals waterproof. Not true. I compared Gorilla Super Glue vs. Gorilla Epoxy. Super glue costs $5, epoxy $12. Both claim waterproof. But epoxy is truly waterproof even under immersion; super glue is only water-resistant after 24 hours. For a boat repair, epoxy is a no-brainer. For a dry indoor label, super glue is fine.

Here's the rule: Check the official spec sheet. Prices as of January 2025; verify current rates. For industrial orders, always request a technical data sheet (TDS) from the supplier. Personal rule: if the TDS doesn't mention “continuous water exposure,” assume it's not waterproof.

What I'd Do Differently (Lessons from $8,000 in Mistakes)

I now have a pre-order checklist printed and laminated:

1. Adhesive compatibility with environment (waterproof? UV resistant?)
2. Removal method planned (gloves, solvent on hand).
3. Message finalized and proofread (for custom prints).
4. Material matched to surface (don't use gorilla tape on cars).
5. Specs verified from official source (not from a forum).

This checklist caught 22 potential errors in the past 10 months. It won't make you perfect, but it'll save you from the mistakes I made. Period.

Pricing note: All price references are for general guidance only. Actual costs vary by vendor and order specifications. Check current rates before purchasing.