If you intend to use barcodes only to track the production process and/or manage inventory (that is, they will only be used internally), you as a manufacturer can define your own barcodes. However, it is required by the international barcode governing body (GS1) that these barcodes not leave your manufacturing premises or be offered for sale. If you are using the barcode in any other way than for internal tracking, you need one authorized by (if not necessarily directly purchased from) GS1. [1] X Research source
To find the closest GS1 office to you, visit the GS1 website (www. gs1. org) and click on “Get your barcodes. " Then choose the GS1 member organization closest to you from the drop-down menu. [2] X Research source
Single GTIN: If you have only a few products that need barcodes, this might be the most cost-effective option for your company. Single GTINs are a great option for small companies that are looking to quickly list their products for sale. You can license a single GTIN for $30 and there is no annual renewal fee. (Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) are encoded into UPC barcodes. ) GS1 Company Prefix: A GS1 Company Prefix allows businesses to get multiple barcodes at a single time, as well as identify locations, mixed cases, create coupons, and create higher levels of packaging like a case or pallet. GS1 Company Prefixes are great for companies with growing product lines. You can license a GS1 Company Prefix that comes in different “capacities” representing the maximum number of unique products you can identify with that license. As long as you renew your Membership every year, your product data will remain linked to your company information.
Select a single GTIN or GS1 Company Prefix and put them in your cart. Provide your contact information. Pay the required fees. You will get a welcome email from GS1 US within minutes. It includes all the important information you need to get started, including access to myGS1 US—your online member center.
GS1 US offers a “GS1 US Data Hub” interface that enables you to create the barcodes yourself, or you can utilize (for a fee) an authorized GS1 US Solution Provider to do the work for you. [4] X Research source Contact GS1 US if you need to modify or add to the series of barcodes that you create.
If you’re selling your homemade candles at the farmer’s market, you probably won’t need a barcode; at the small shop on the corner, possibly so; and at a big-box retailer, certainly so. Some online retailers may also require barcodes for logistical purposes. Contact your intended retailers before proceeding with or without barcodes. Please note that this Method describes buying barcodes from resellers that have bought them in bulk from the originating organization (known as GS1). Some retailers, such as Target and Walmart, may not accept such secondhand barcodes (even though they are unique and legitimate) because they require you, the producer, to have a certificate from GS1. Check with your intended retailer(s) before buying barcodes. [5] X Research source
Truth be told, however, UPC-A and EAN-13 barcodes are virtually identical and almost always interchangeable; the latter has one more digit (13 instead of 12) as a country code.
There are several reputable places to buy UPC-A and EAN-13 codes. Be sure to do research as there are many sellers which don’t sell GS1 codes and instead sell ‘air codes’ which GS1 will not verify.
As an example of how many barcodes you may need, let’s suppose you are selling a t-shirt with your logo on the front, in two colors (white and blue) and three sizes (S, M, L). Each combination of size and color requires a unique barcode, meaning you will need to buy six. With increased variety and complexity in your product line, the amount of unique barcodes you need can grow substantially. As one example from a barcode reseller, one barcode costs $5 (a one-time fee); 10 cost $15; and 100 cost $45.
Make sure the barcode image sent to you is clear, and that the copies you render for your product packaging are of the same quality. Barcodes don’t necessarily have to be black and white, but a high contrast between the alternating bars is essential for easy reading. In some cases product packaging (e. g. a matchbox) may be too small to incorporate a standard EAN and UPC barcode image supplied by resellers (37. 29mm x 25. 93). This is because GS1 recommends a minimum 80% reduction of a bar code’s original size. If your product packaging is very small you can ask your reseller to scale down your barcodes to suit or you can obtain smaller eight digit EAN 8 barcodes from GS1 directly. [7] X Research source
