Some of the leading online retailers and marketplaces have started hiding product listings if they are not identified with a GTIN. The same identifier used for physical products is the same identifier you use to identify a product online. Do I still need a barcode if I’m only selling my product online? Taking this shortcut could create a growth obstacle if a retailer or online marketplace requires that your brand be uniquely identified in your product GTINs. Barcodes that are purchased-not constructed using a unique Company Prefix as the basis for your GTINs-will identify another brand owner. Does it matter where I get my barcodes?īarcodes sold by third-party companies may scan just fine at the checkout counter, but the GTIN encoded in the barcode may not identify your brand. While many small businesses print their own barcodes successfully, some work with solution providers that specialize in product set-up and can offer a variety of services related to barcoding. It’s also critical that the printed surface be smooth so nothing interferes with the scanner’s ability to read the barcode. Avoid the edge of the package, and allow enough white space surrounding the barcode to help to ensure a clean scan. To optimize scanning at checkout, barcodes should generally be placed in the lower right-hand section of the back of the package. Barcode placement can impact the ability of scanners to read your barcode. Where is the best place to put a barcode on my product?Įach barcode can be printed and attached to a product, or incorporated into the product’s package design. Product variations, such as different packaging quantities, colors, scents, or flavors, require unique GTINs to distinguish one variation from another. By identifying both the company and its products this way, startups can set themselves up for growth since these numbers are universally accepted by various trading partners.įollow industry best practices and retailer requirements by creating a different GTIN for each product variation you sell. It is an authentic and widely recognized way to represent your brand which is increasingly becoming a requirement of many retailers and online marketplaces. The Company Prefix makes up the first few numbers of a GTIN and links your brand with your products. To create GTINs and UPC barcodes for your products, the first step is to get a GS1 Company Prefix, which can be acquired through a license agreement with GS1 US, the not-for-profit information standards organization. A UPC barcode is encoded with a product GTIN, making it easy to track a product on its journey to a customer. A universal product code (or UPC) is the most common type of barcode symbol-you see it in action at a store’s checkout counter every day. ![]() ![]() These numbers uniquely identify a product when it is listed online, or is read by a barcode scanner. ![]() Many retailers require their suppliers to use Global Trade Item Numbers (or GTINs) in their product identification processes. Is a UPC the same as a barcode?įor starters, it may be helpful to know some basic barcoding terms-GTIN and UPC. Brush up on your barcode knowledge by learning from these top five questions, and you’ll be ready to take the first step toward launching a successful product. This seemingly simple series of black lines and spaces introduced more than 40 years ago holds real power to a business owner. Barcodes are everywhere and can be found on almost every product globally.
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