Company News – National Band and Tag Company

2025 Our Year in Review

A Look Back at Another Milestone Year for National Band & Tag

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year full of progress, change, and continued commitment to serving our customers with high-quality identification solutions. From new sales channels and product updates to well-earned retirements, here’s a look back at what made this year memorable for National Band & Tag.

Company Highlights

Featured in NKY Business Journal – National Band & Tag was proud to be highlighted in the NKY Business Journal, the official magazine of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (Jan/Feb 2025 issue, Page 16), recognizing our long-standing presence and continued growth as a family-owned manufacturer.
Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky Competition (By KY Association of Manufacturers) – Our Paw Finders rabies tags advanced through the Fan Favorite round and into the first official bracket. While we didn’t take home the title, it was a fun experience. Thank you to everyone who voted for us!
Expanded Online Shopping Capabilities – Additional products are now available for easy checkout in our online shopping cart, creating a smoother and more efficient ordering experience.
Now Selling on Walmart Marketplace – NB&T expanded our sales channels to include Walmart Marketplace, giving customers another convenient purchasing option.
Website Chatbot Launched – Introduced a chatbot to help customers quickly find information and navigate our product offerings more easily. Try it out if you haven’t yet!

Celebrating Our Team

This year, we honored two long-time employees as they entered retirement:

Debbie Ford retired after an extraordinary 38 years of dedication and service.
Betty Bacis retired after 22 years of committed, valued contributions to our team.

We thank Debbie and Betty for their decades of dedication and wish them all the best in their well-deserved retirements.

Product Updates

2025 brought several changes to our product lineup:

New Styles

Style 387 – 2″ Square
Style 487 – 2 1/16″ Diamond

Discontinued Products & Recommended Alternatives

1841 Rabbit Ear Tags – Please see our 893 Jiffy Ear Tag as the recommended alternative for rabbit identification.
7303 Large Quick Release Band for Ratites – Please see our 1703 Multi-Loc Band as the replacement option.
681S HD – This style has been officially phased out and it’s replacement is the 681S-MOD

Looking Ahead to 2026

2026 Catalogs Available – Our 2026 catalogs have been printed and are now available. Customers can request a free copy or download the digital version directly.
Upcoming Price Increase – A company-wide price increase will take effect January 1, 2026. We encourage customers to plan ahead and place orders before year-end when possible. Quotes are valid for 30 days.
Trade Shows & Industry Events – We look forward to connecting with customers and industry professionals at upcoming events:
- Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) – 1/17/26 – 1/21/26, Orlando, FL (Booth # 1107)
- North American Gamebird Association (NAGA) Convention – 2/2/26 – 2/4/26, Charleston, SC
- National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention & Sport Show – 2/12/26 – 2/14/26, Nashville, TN
- IEEE PES T&D Conference & Exposition – 5/4/26 – 5/7/26, Chicago, IL (Booth S3355)

Thank You for an Incredible Year

We are grateful for the continued trust and support of our customers, partners, and community. Your loyalty allows us to keep innovating, improving, and delivering the reliable products you depend on every day.

Here’s to a great year and an even brighter 2026.

— The National Band & Tag Team

Grateful for 123 Years of Family, Community, and American Craftsmanship

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re feeling extra thankful here at National Band & Tag. This time of year always reminds us to pause and reflect on what’s most important — and for us, that’s our family, employees, our community, and the customers who have trusted us for more than 123 years.

A Family Business, Generation After Generation

Since 1902, National Band & Tag has been a family-owned and operated business — and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. What started as a small shop in Newport, Kentucky has grown into a trusted manufacturer serving customers across the country and around the world. Five generations later, we’re still guided by the same values our founders believed in: hard work, quality, and treating our customers like part of the family.

Made Right Here in the USA

Every tag we make is designed, manufactured, and shipped from our facility in Newport. We believe there’s something special about American-made products — the quality, the craftsmanship, and the pride that goes into every order. By keeping our production here at home, we’re able to maintain the standards our customers expect while supporting local jobs and contributing to the community we love.

Proud to Call Newport, KY Home

Newport isn’t just where we do business — it’s where our story began and continues to grow. Many of our employees have been with us for decades, some for generations, and we’re grateful to be part of such a strong and supportive community. Being a local business means more to us than just a location; it’s about being a neighbor, a partner, and a small part of what makes Northern Kentucky so special.

As we look toward the future, we’re excited to keep building on this legacy — creating quality identification products and strengthening the relationships that have helped us thrive for more than a century.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

We hope you’ll be enjoying some time with friends and family this Thanksgiving — we sure will be! Our office and factory will be closed on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28 to celebrate the holiday. We’ll reopen for regular business hours on Monday, December 1, 2025.

From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our story. We wish you a warm, happy, and safe Thanksgiving!

Celebrating 123 Years of National Band & Tag

This month marks a major milestone—National Band & Tag is celebrating our 123rd anniversary! Since our founding on August 15, 1902, in Newport, Kentucky, our family-owned business has proudly served customers across a wide range of industries, from poultry farms and veterinarians to arborists, zoos, and industrial manufacturers.

A Look Back at Our Legacy

What started with poultry leg bands has grown into a full line of identification solutions for animals, plants, assets, and equipment. Over the years, we’ve expanded into new markets, developed custom laser etching capabilities, and embraced innovative solutions—all while keeping production right here in the USA.

With five generations of family leadership, we’ve built long-standing relationships with customers who rely on the accuracy, durability, and customization of our tags. From rabies tags and vineyard signs to power pole tags and custom asset plates, our products continue to evolve to meet the needs of today’s industries.

Innovation Through the Years

As technology advanced, so did we. In recent decades, we’ve introduced:

Laser-etched barcodes and QR codes
Digital ordering systems
Custom logos and layouts
New materials for extreme environments

Even after 123 years, we’re still looking forward—to new industries, new tag styles, and new ways to help our customers solve identification challenges.

Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey

We wouldn’t be here without our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and supportive community. Whether you’ve been with us for 30 years or just placed your first order, thank you for trusting National Band & Tag.

Here’s to 123 years—and many more to come!

How National Band & Tag’s Blind Shipping Saves Resellers Time and Money

At National Band & Tag, we proudly partner with resellers and distributors across multiple industries — from veterinary suppliers to industrial equipment companies and beyond. Whether you’re already a valued NB&T reseller or you’re considering expanding your product offerings, we’re here to make doing business easier and more efficient for you.

One of the top ways we support our resellers is through blind shipping — a simple, cost-saving service designed to streamline your order fulfillment process.

What is Blind Shipping?

Blind shipping means that when you place an order with National Band & Tag, we can ship the product directly to your customer, without any NB&T branding on the box or packing materials. Instead of our company name, the shipment will look like it came directly from you.

How Blind Shipping Benefits Resellers

Save on Shipping Costs:
No need to ship the products to yourself first, only to repackage and send them out again. With blind shipping, you avoid paying for double shipping — a major advantage when managing tight margins.

Faster Turnaround for Your Customers:
Speed matters. Blind shipping lets your end user receive their order faster, helping you provide better service and boosting customer satisfaction.

Protect Your Brand:
Because the box arrives without National Band & Tag’s branding, your relationship with your customer stays strong and direct. Your customer sees you as their full-service provider, without confusion about who manufactured the product.

Simplify Your Workflow:
By letting NB&T handle the fulfillment, you can focus on sales, customer service, and growing your business instead of spending time repackaging and shipping.

How to Request Blind Shipping

It’s easy! When placing your order, just let our team know you would like to blind ship to your customer. We’ll take care of the rest, ensuring the shipment arrives in a plain box with no NB&T logos or information included.

Grow Your Business with NB&T

Partnering with National Band & Tag gives you access to high-quality, American-made identification products, a responsive and experienced customer service team, and value-added services like blind shipping that help you operate more efficiently.

If you’re not already an NB&T reseller, we invite you to learn more about our program here.

Ready to add blind shipping to your next order?
Contact us today to get started!

Considering Your Future? Start a Career at National Band & Tag!

As graduation approaches, you might be wondering, “What’s next?” If college isn’t in your plans, that doesn’t mean your future isn’t bright. At National Band & Tag, we’re proud to offer hands-on careers right here in Newport, KY. Whether you’re a recent high school grad or someone looking for a new career path, our family-owned company provides stable jobs with multiple benefits,.

We sat down with Mandy, our HR Manager, to answer some common questions about working at National Band & Tag and why it’s a great choice for local high school graduates.

If you’re looking for a stable job with great benefits, hands-on training, and a supportive team, National Band & Tag could be the perfect place to start your career. Check out our openings today and take the first step toward your future! www.nationalband.com/careers

Navigating the Struggles of Succession Planning in a Family Business

Succession planning is a challenge that many family businesses face when passing the business down through multiple generations. At National Band & Tag, a proud family-run business, we know firsthand the complexities of balancing family dynamics with strategic decision-making for the future. With 11 family members on our management team in the 4th and 5th generations, we’ve learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring a smooth transition.

To shed light on this important topic, we polled some of our family management team to share their #1 tip for planning a successful succession. Their insights reflect not only the values that have helped sustain our company for generations but also the lessons learned from navigating the unique challenges of a family business.

This discussion is especially timely as two members of our team, Joe and Lan, will be sharing their experiences and advice on succession planning at the 2025 North American Gamebird Association (NAGA) Convention. With so many family-run businesses in the gamebird industry and beyond, we hope our story and insights can inspire others to plan for a strong and sustainable future.

What is Your #1 Tip for Planning A Successful Succession?

Kevin Haas (4th Generation) – “Create and continually document guidelines/rules because when a family member tests boundaries, it causes conflict in the family dynamic. Develop strong ethics, morals, industry expertise and leadership skills for incoming and existing family members.”

Fred Haas (4th Generation) – “Come up with the rules that work for YOUR company and have everyone agree to follow them even during the most difficult times.”

Joe Haas (4th Generation) – “Having all the family policies written down so that there is no ambiguity on the policies.”

Chris Schwalbach (4th Generation) – “Compile rules and guidelines for entering and exiting the business. Examples: Years worked outside the business before entering, college degree / trade experience, then mandatory retirement age, accessibility post-retirement. Establish what roles need to be replaced as family members near retirement age vs roles that can be phased out with retirement. Be aware of potential family members who can take on those roles so that job training can happen for smoother transition.”

Alex Wendel (5th Generation) – “To get outside help in the form of an advisor or consultant who has experience in helping other companies plan for their futures as well.”

Ryan Haas (5th Generation) – “Be very specific with requirements and rules around both entering and exiting the business. Leaving too much up to subjectivity can lead to conflict.”

Mandy Greene (5th Generation) – “Define family and company values, make sure everyone shares those values and practices them in daily work and life. Outline firm but fair standardized policies for compensation, benefits, recognition, etc. that all family members agree to follow.”

4th Generation

Kevin A. Haas: President, Laser, R&D (11th)
Fred E. Haas, III: Senior Vice-President, Operations (9th)
Joe D. Haas, Jr.: Senior Vice-President, Purchasing (5th)
Brad C. Haas: Senior Vice-President, Production (3rd)
Sean C. Haas: Senior Vice-President, Logistics, Secretary (2nd)
Christine Haas Schwalbach: Sales (6th)

5th Generation

Alan J. Haas (Lan): Vice-President, Safety & Quality Assurance (4th)
Alex A. Wendel: Vice-President, Information Technology, Treasurer (1st)
Andrea Wendel Tabor (Andi): Vice-President, Web & Graphic Design (8th)
Ryan P. Haas: Vice-President, Global Accounts (7th)
Amanda Haas Greene (Mandy): HR (10th)

Thank You for a Fantastic Year!

As the year comes to a close, all of us at National Band & Tag want to take a moment to thank you, our valued customers, for your trust and support in 2024. Whether we provided you with plain blank tags or highly customized tags, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

We’re honored to be your go-to source for dependable, American-made tags. Your loyalty and feedback drive us to improve and innovate, and we’re excited to bring even more to the table in 2025. As we look ahead, we remain committed to providing you with exceptional customer service, top-notch products, and fast, reliable delivery. Whether you’re returning to us for your trusted favorites or exploring new ways to enhance your business with custom tags, we are here to help.

Thank you once again for choosing National Band & Tag. We wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2025 and beyond!

Warm regards,
The National Band & Tag Team
Your Partner in Identification Solutions Since 1902

Holiday Closures:

Christmas: Closed Monday, December 23rd through Wednesday, December 25th

New Year’s: Closed Wednesday, January 1st

What’s Your Favorite Tag? – 2024 Edition

At NB&T, we have hundreds of styles of tags to choose from across multiple product lines. So, we asked some of our employees, “What is your favorite tag style and why?”

Mandy (Human Resources): Style 691IL – My favorite tag is the 691 because I love the fact that our company provides a product that aids in conservation efforts for Sea Turtles across the globe. Here’s just one list of where you can see how prevalent NB&T turtle tags are in research. https://accstr.ufl.edu/resources/tag-inventory/

Mike (Rabies Department Supervisor): Style 165 – The style 165 dog bone tag is my favorite for its size and popularity. It has enough room on it for all the vital information, without being too large for your pet.

Ximena (Bilingual Customer Service Representative): Style 890 – My favorite is the 890 wing band because it was the first one I learned how to enter an order for when I started working here. It is NB&T’s most popular wing band because it is tamper-resistant with an eyelet and customizable.

Chris (Laser Department) Arboretum & Plant Tags – I enjoy tags that require design work. I laser etch a lot of arboretum and plant tags that have a little bit of everything on them like text, logos, and a QR Code. I also like how the black UV stable aluminum looks when laser etched. The white on black creates a nice clean professional look.

Niki (Accounts Receivable): Write On Tags – My favorite is the write-on tags because you can have them on hand for on-site identification of multiple items. They are helpful in case you need to label something right away.

Rob (Shipping): Crematory Tags – We make tags for a lot of different uses, but I think crematory tags are one of the more unique things we make. I like to see different uses for our round tags besides the usual dog tags.

Evelyn (Administrative Assistant): Style 2725 Wrap Around Write-On Tag – It can be applied to a variety of objects and writing on them is simple with any pointed object. The wrap-around feature is nice because it is a built-in attachment that can wrap around and then be adjusted to fit the size of whatever you are tagging.

Tracey (Packing Department): Style 147 – My favorite is the 147 rosette shape because of its shape and size, they fit really easily in our cartons and I can pack them faster. The 147 is also one of the four main rabies styles of the year. It is the recommended shape for 2025 so I will pack a lot of them soon.

Jerry (Paint-Fill Machine Operator): Wire Rope Tags – I like when there is a custom logo on a wire rope tag because of the way it looks when the paint machine fills it with paint. I also like the way turquoise and yellow aluminum look when they have black paint-fill.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with NB&T and NWTF

The NWTF Convention and Sport Show kicks off February 14^th with an evening social and live music with Country Outdoors in the Waterin’ Hole. Official convention activities commence on Thursday, February 15 through Saturday, February 17^th.

National Band & Tag will be 1 of 500+ exhibitors at the convention. If you are at the show in Nashville, make sure to stop by our Booth #1426 to chat with our team about your identification needs. Bird bands, ear tags, wildlife conservation tags, tree tags and more, we are here to help. Pick up a free 2024 convention band at our booth (while supplies last).

NB&T has been partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for 25+ years. Two of our eleven owners, brothers Brad and Fred Haas, always attend the NWTF convention. We asked them, “What is your favorite part about exhibiting at the NWTF convention?”:

Brad Haas: “There are so many people who tell us stories about our bands whether it’s a hunting story, banding birds or tagging critters. It’s always fun talking to the customers at the show who stop by the booth to say hi and talk about how our products are working for them.”

Fred Haas: “My favorite part of the NWTF convention is talking to all the great folks who attend the show and end up stopping at our booth to inquire about all of our tagging solutions. There are lots of experts from every state at the convention to share their knowledge about conservation and wild turkeys.”

So, stop by our booth, say hi to our team, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the 2024 NWTF Convention and Sport Show this week!

Digital Mock-Ups

Here at National Band & Tag, we can assist with basic digital mock-ups of layouts for those who are unable to provide their own. We offer this on tags with complex layouts, to help ensure that everyone is on the same page of how the tag will look. Digital mock-ups are not exactly copies and may slightly vary in sizing, color, and look. We offer one to two major changes on your mock-up design, before an artwork fee may be added on for additional work.

DIGITAL MOCK-UPS OF LASER ETCHED TAGS:

The majority of our digital mock-ups are for laser etched tags as they can be very complex with multiple lines of text, logos, and barcodes. Laser etching can vary how it looks on different materials. Matching the exact color is one of the bigger challenges when creating a digital mock-up. Please see the examples below of how your actual tag may vary from your mock-up.

DIGITAL MOCK-UPS OF STAMPED TAGS:

Stamped tags are difficult to replicate exactly. Our stamped font is a custom font. The closest True-Type font is a Helvetica, so we use that when making stamped tag mock-ups. Since we usually only do mock-ups for tags with complex layouts, we don’t do many stamped ones. Stamped logos and radial text are an exception. As you can see on the examples below, radial text is difficult to do on a mock-up, and will always look better on the actual tag.

If you have any questions, or need a mock-up made, contact us at tags@nationalband.com.

2023 – Our Year In Review

2023 has been a busy year here at National Band & Tag! We are constantly striving to go above and beyond on your identification needs. Thank you to all our customers, we look forward to serving you in 2024.

Just in case you missed it, here are some updates from this past year:

Company News

Family member, Faye Haas Wendel will be retiring at the end of 2023. Vice President, Human Resources, and Past President (2012 – 2019). Faye has been at National Band & Tag for 42 years (1981-2023).
Pat DePhillips’ retirement was celebrated in July of this year. Pat worked in our bird band department for 31 years (1992-2023).
NB&T started a partnership with PetHub to help get even more lost pets home. We are very excited about working together to help reunite lost pets with their owners faster and help avoid a trip to a shelter or veterinarian.

Product Updates

Styles #62 and #1005-62 have been discontinued. Please see styles #621, #1005-621, or #681, #1005-681 as a replacement option.
Destron Fearing Tags have been discontinued as the company has closed. Please see our Flex-Lok tags or Allflex tags as a replacement option.
The Keysie is back in stock. It has a new upgraded design and more color options.

Coming in 2024

New Catalog – We will be printing a new 2024 full product catalog. To be added to the mailing list, fill out this form and you’ll receive a free copy in January.
There will be a price increase starting January 1, 2024. Quotes made in December with 2023 pricing are valid for 30 days.

Holiday Hours

We will be closed December 25th and 26th for Christmas, and January 1st for New Years.

Amazon Prime Day – July 11-12, 2023

July 11th & 12th, 2023, is Amazon Prime Day! Visit National Band & Tag’s Amazon Store on these two days for deals on Prime and Non-Prime products. Check out our exclusive Amazon only products such as our plumber tag variety packs, Marry Me Bird Bands, Numbered 001-1000 1-1/4″ round tags and more! Most of our standard quick ship items such as the stainless steel rectangle tags, 2023 generic rabies tags, stamped mouse ear tags are also sold on Amazon. Stocked items such as spirals, wires, and attachments are available. Stop by NB&T’s Amazon Store July 11th & 12th to stock up on all your ID needs.

Prime products arrive within 2 days. Non-Prime products ship out from our facility in Northern Kentucky within 2 business days. Ship date will vary for customized products.

(As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases through this paid link).

2022 – Our Year In Review

2022 has been a busy year here at National Band & Tag! We have been working hard to bring you the best identification solutions possible. Thank you to all our loyal customers, we look forward to serving you in 2023.

Just in case you missed it, here are some important updates from this past year!

New Products

In April we announced the launch of new quick ship options for Chain Sling Tags and Wire Rope Tags. Quick ship tags are select items kept stocked, ready to ship out in 2 business days. These new products are great options for those who need tags fast.
Style #93C – 2″ inch round tag, now available in colored aluminum.
Style #95 – 2 7/8″ inch round tag. Our largest round tag yet!

Company Updates

Please join us in welcoming a new family member, Amanda Haas! Mandy joined us in November. She is a part of the 5th generation, and the 12th family member now working in our facility. She has joined our HR team.
We were very excited to celebrate our 120th anniversary this year!
If you haven’t seen it yet, many products are now available to be checked out through the new online shopping cart system. We will continue to add more products to the shopping cart system in 2023.
2022 was our first year trying out a limited tag menu during the busy season for dog and cat tags. This allowed us to offer faster lead times for the most popular tag styles. If you have any feedback about this new program, please contact us.
Due to supply chain and labor changes, the 1005-1P has been discontinued as of 9/13/22. You can see alternative products here.

Upcoming in 2023

New pricing will start on January 1, 2023. Quotes are good for 30 days. We will only honor 2022 pricing for those that have a quote in by 12/23/22. (We will be closed December 26th – 30th.)
Come visit us at these upcoming trade shows!
- Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) – January 14th – 18th (Orlando, FL)
- National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention & Sport Show – February 14th – 19th (Nashville, TN)
- Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) – February 19th – 22nd (Las Vegas, NV)

1005-1P Discontinued

As a family owned and operated manufacturer in the USA, quality is very important to us. In order to ensure we are providing the very best products, we’ve decided to discontinue the 1005-1P.

Due to supply chain and labor changes, the 1005-1P is no longer a viable option and we have far superior alternatives available. Style 1005-1 Stamped tags ($) and Style 1005-1L1 Laser Etched tags ($$) are both great options, depending on your budget and needs. We would be happy to send samples of these alternate styles if you need them.

We appreciate your understanding as we strive to provide top quality solutions to our customers.

National Band & Tag’s 120th Anniversary

August 15, 2022, National Band and Tag will be celebrating our 120th Anniversary! We are so proud to have made it 120 years, an accomplishment for any company. Despite wars, depressions, recessions and most recently, a global pandemic, NB&T takes pride in continuing to provide high-quality service that stands the test of time. We dedicate our long-term success to our customers, family, and employees, both past and present.

Started in 1902 by Joseph Haas, an innovator who saw the need for a completely new industry. Haas knew little about poultry farming, but had been informed that breeders were improving their flocks and it was necessary to use some sort of marker to distinguish one fowl from another. Haas went to work designing a few patterns of bands, crude at first, but with recommendations from customers and experimental projects, he was able to come up with leg bands and wing bands that worked.

Over the decades, additional product lines such as livestock tags and rabies tags were added on. Now, 120 years later, in our 4th and 5th generation of family members, we have over ten different identification product lines. You can learn more about National Band & Tag’s interesting, and unique, history here.

120th anniversary

As we reach the 120-year milestone, we’d also like to wish a happy anniversary to other companies turning 120 in 2022. Such as, JCPenney, Target, 3M, AAA, Cadillac, Queensborough National Bank and Trust, Carrier Air Conditioning and ADM.

Share your pictures with us!

National Band & Tag is constantly looking for new pictures of our tags in use. It’s the pictures from our customers that we use on our social media, website, catalog, and promotional items! As the manufacturer, once the bands and tags leave our factory, we don’t get to see them put on their final destination, such as an animal, piece of art, tree, or asset. We are asking all our customers for new pictures to use! By submitting your pictures here, your picture could be featured as our next #TagTuesday with a shoutout and link to your company. You can also email pictures, or any questions to tags@nationalband.com.

119th Anniversary – Message from the President

August 15, 2021 is National Band & Tag’s 119th Anniversary!

As we celebrate this year, we’d like to thank our customers and employees for sticking with us through COVID-19.

NB&T’s President, Kevin Haas, says, “When I became President in 2019, I never imagined we’d be tested with something like the COVID-19 pandemic. But we managed to stay open for our customers, serving multiple essential industries. Even with COVID-19 regulations limiting us, our customers and employees understood, and we all worked together to keep products moving. Keeping everyone safe, following guidelines, implementing cleaning and social distancing were our top priorities. I am so proud of how well my fellow family members and our employees strove to keep everyone as healthy as possible. COVID-19 slightly delayed our newest product release last year. So, we are all excited about our new Paw Finders option for rabies tags which is rolling out right now. Another innovation in a long line of products providing unique and innovative identification solutions for many purposes. I am thankful to be a part of a company that has been around for 119 years and look forward to helping preserve National Band & Tag’s legacy for the next 119 years to come.”

Meet Kevin

National Band & Tag’s president, Kevin Haas, started in 1989 as the 3^rd member of the 4^th generation to start working for the family-owned company. He has spearheaded multiple advancements over the years such as developing our laser-etching options across multiple product lines, developing the fusion wing bands product line, automating a portion of our customized stamping process and co-developing the new Paw Finders Rabies Tag feature. Kevin has helped lead NB&T’s research and development for decades, contributing to National Band & Tag’s vision to be the #1 choice for identification bands and tags.

Open Accounts VS Cash in Advance Accounts

To purchase products from National Band & Tag, we accept multiple forms of payment, such as credit card, check, wire transfer, and purchase order. We do not accept PayPal, Venmo, or other alternative payment methods.

If you have an Open Account (NET30 Account) with us, you can pay for your order using a Purchase Order (PO), or credit card. If you need to know what amount to put on your PO, you can contact us for a quote. POs with incorrect amounts or information will need to revised before we enter an order. We will also need a copy of the actual purchase order emailed or faxed to us, not just the PO number. Most universities and large institutions have us listed as a vendor. We may be listed under National Band & Tag Company, or International Identification Inc. All open accounts must pay for their order within 30 days after it has been invoiced. Orders are invoiced the day after it ships. If you would like to apply for an Open Account, you can fill out our Credit Application. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing of all credit applications.

Non-open accounts, must pay for their order in advance using a credit card, check, money order, or wire transfer (in US Funds). For credit cards, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. You can pay online with a card or call us at 859-261-2035 to pay over the phone. Please do not email credit card payments – this is not a secure transaction. We run on a production schedule, so we advise customers to pay for their quotes as soon as possible. Orders will not be scheduled for production without payment. Orders that are paid by check will be held until we receive the check in the mail. All returned checks are subject to a $35.00 fee. If you are writing a check, please contact us for a quote first so we can give you a total that includes state taxes (if applicable).

If you have any questions about doing business with National Band & Tag, please contact us at 859-261-2035 or tags@nationalband.com.

Out with 2020, In with 2021!

2020 has been a strange year with COVID-19, but National Band & Tag was able to stay open as an essential business. NB&T was able to provide our customers with their identification products, while also keeping our employees as safe as possible. We appreciate your patience this year with longer lead times during peak seasons due to scheduling challenges with COVID. Our team looks forward to continuing to serve our customers in 2021.

New Products That Launched In 2020:

Style #691IL – Our new, bigger, better, sea turtle tags! The new 691IL is made of Incoloy, while the #681IC is made of Inconel. The #691IL will fit better on larger species of sea turtles.
Style #890ESS – The newest upgrade for Zip 890 wing bands, Stainless Steel Eyelets! These new eyelets are more durable than the old aluminum eyelets because this material cannot be easily manipulated.
Style #14PLANT – 1.5″ x 4.5″ UV Stable Black Aluminum plant tags. Custom laser-etched. 4 different layout options are available, or create your own layout.
Style #1531 – Small plant stake for style #14PLANT. 12″ tall with tape to adhere the tag to the stake.

New Shopping Cart System:

We have been working on getting our most popular products switched over to an easy-to-use shopping cart system. This makes shopping online with NB&T quick and simple. Look for more products to be added to this list in 2021.

Style #147 – 2021 rabies tag style of the year.
Style #890-3 – Our most popular style of wing band.
Style #1005-1 – Stamped mouse ear tags.

COVID-19 Update:

Please be aware that due to COVID, shipments may be late. We are operating as efficiently and safely as possible, and strive to serve our customers as best we can. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Coming Up In 2021:

There will be a price increase effective January 1, 2021. We hope that you will find that the new pricing structure for some products will make shopping with us easier.
A new 2021 printed catalog. Stay tuned for more info.
Jan-June: Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) Virtual
February – National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Virtual
February – North American Gamebird Association (NAGA) – February 1-3, Las Vegas, NV.

National Poultry Day

March 19th is National Poultry Day! It’s a day when we recognize domesticated birds that are raised for meat or eggs. “Poultry” includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, guineafowl, squab, and other domesticated birds.

National Band & Tag manufactures a variety of products for poultry identification such as wing bands, leg bands, and clip-on blinders. We started out selling wing bands and leg bands for chickens back in 1902. To celebrate National Poultry Day, we are recognizing chickens by creating a side by side history timeline of chickens, NB&T, and how the industry grew in the 1900s.

History of Chickens, the Broiler Industry, and National Band & Tag in the 1900s

(Click the pictures below to make them larger.)

Chickens & The Broiler Industry History:

1800s – 1900s: Chickens are mostly owned by backyard farmers who use them for eggs. They are considered a delicacy, usually only eaten for holidays, special occasions, or when they are no longer producing eggs. By the beginning of the 1900s, a few entrepreneurs start selling young chickens in the summers for meat as a side business for their family farms.

1916: Pedigree chicken breeding starts. Founded when Robert C. Cobb Senior purchased a farm in Littleton, MA, forming Cobb’s Pedigreed Chicks.

1920s: Vitamin D was discovered in the early 1920s, which led to a revolution in poultry keeping. Hens could now survive through the winter months with Vitamin D supplements and go on to produce healthier chicks in the spring. Now that they can be raised indoors, people start building designated chicken coops. This all helped reduce the high mortality rate of chickens.

1923: Cecile Steele is the pioneer of the commercial broiler industry. Steele ordered 50 chicks for egg production; by mistake, she received 500 chicks. Instead of returning them, she saw an opportunity. She waited until the chickens reached 2 pounds live weight and sold them for a profit at 62 cents a pound. She increased her numbers in 1924 to 1,000 chicks, 10,000 in 1926, and 26,000 in 1928.

1939-1945: WW2 creates a ration on beef, pork, and lamb. People are encouraged to raise and eat more chicken. By the end of the war, Americans are eating 3 times more chicken than they were before the war.

1942: The government approves a new form of cleaning and packing ready-to-cook whole chickens in ice in wooden crates.

1948: Post war, “Chicken of Tomorrow” contest encourages breeders to create bigger, better broilers. Arbor Acres White Rocks’ white-feathered birds beat out the higher-performing Red Cornish crosses from the Vantress Hatchery. These two breeds would eventually be crossed and become the Arbor Acre breed whose genetics now dominate poultry farms worldwide today.

1950: Broilers are now the #1 source of poultry meat. Almost all Americans now have a modern, bottom cooling refrigerator, which has set a new standard of food storage and food safety

1952: The commercial broiler industry begins its economic boom. Specially bred meat chickens (“broilers”) surpass farm chickens as the number one source of chicken meat in the United States.

1970s: The broiler industry focuses on nutritional discoveries, disease eradication programs, and genetic improvements.

1980s: Consumers are starting to prefer cut-up and further-processed chickens to the traditional whole bird. Chicken surpasses pork consumption in 1985.

1990s: Chicken becomes the top-selling meat, surpassing beef. The movement towards natural, organic birds and eggs begins with more attention towards animal welfare.

National Band & Tag History:

1902: Joseph Haas starts to manufacture poultry leg and wing bands. He had been informed that breeders were improving their flocks, and it was necessary to distinguish one fowl from another. Visualizing the possibilities of a new industry, Haas went to work designing a few patterns of bands. Crude at first, they improved with recommendations from customers and experimental projects. He continued to make improvements until he came up with bands that worked. Ads were placed in poultry magazines, and although he had no competition, orders were slow.

1914: National Band & Tag makes its first move from a small barn to a garage, still in Newport, KY. NB&T now employs 3 people, one being Haas’s youngest son who was 11 years old.

1926: Business takes off for National Band & Tag! With the start of the broiler industry, more and more people are now raising chickens. The business moves from the garage to a building on Orchard St. in Newport, KY. Haas’s eldest son joins the business, and NB&T now employs 10 people.

1939: National Band & Tag invents Anti-Pix Chicken Glasses to help stop cannibalism in flocks. A year later in 1940, the “Jiffy” wing band is invented as an alternative to the “Zip” wing band.

1952: Now shipping worldwide, and profiting from the broiler industries’ economic boom, NB&T relocates from Orchard St. to a larger building on York St., Newport KY, which is where it still is today.

1957: C-LESS peepers are invented using aluminum to replace the chicken glasses

1968: The new “Tab End” wing band is invented. NB&T now employs 50 people.

1980s: National Band & Tag now has 3rd and 4th generation family members working together. NB&T continues to purchase surrounding land to expand the building.

1990s: NB&T celebrates 90 years of business in 1992.