The barcode industry is often fraught with misunderstanding and unnecessary complications, and this short guide will help you to get to grips with the basics and allow you to get your products into stores as quickly as possible.
So, you have a new product? Good on you! Perhaps you have spent years developing it, countless nights agonizing over the finest details, long hours checking and rechecking your calculations and now, finally, you are ready to take the next step. You are going to start selling!
But wait, what’s this? The retailer is asking for a barcode? What’s a barcode?
They are saying that you need to ensure that the code is in UPC format, GS1-registered, EAN certified and that you must provide code 128s for your cartons. She also wants you to check the pixel width of the CPS image and confirm your contrast ratio…. Huh?
Panic starts to set in as you realise that you know nothing about all of this. But these steps will have you sorted you in no time!
Step 1: Purchasing the bar code
This is in fact the easy part as there are a couple of great companies that sell pre-registered retail bar codes in South Africa. You don’t need to get too involved in the details, just explain to them that you need a barcode for a retail product and they will take care of the rest. The guys at the top of the pile are a company called SA Barcodes, based out of Cape Town. They offer same day delivery to anywhere in the country and their prices are very competitive. You are now ready to move onto step 2.
Step 2: Printing your barcode
Having received your barcode images from a supplier, your next task is affix the barcode image onto your product packaging. This is a vitally important step to get right because if your bar codes are incorrectly printed, they will not be able to be scanned when you get to the store. There are only a couple of rules when it comes to printing of barcodes and they are as follows:
- Print at a resolution equal to or more than 300 dpi (dots per inch). This is usually standard procedure when it comes to printing product packaging, but it is always good to check.
- Print your barcode in black and white only (no mixed colours).
- Print the barcodes at the ideal size of 37.3mm width by 25.9mm height. You are allowed to reduce this size by approximately 20% when needed.
- Be sure to test you printed barcode at a store, or with a hand held scanner to ensure that it is scanning correctly.
Another option available to you is to have the barcodes printed onto small self-adhesive stickers which can then be pasted onto your product packaging. Most printing companies will offer this service for a reasonable fee.
Step 3: Fill out the product information form
Once you have completed steps 1 and 2, you are now ready to approach a retailer. There are many ways to do this, one is to simply walk into a store and ask to speak to the manager. Managers and store owners are always on the look-out for new and exciting products and are often willing to meet in person to discuss potential stocking options. This applies primarily to smaller stores, however you will find that many medium sized stores such as spars and OK’s are locally owned. In the case of your larger retailers you will need to follow the standard procedure for requesting shelf space on their trading floors, details of which can be found on their websites.
Assuming that your efforts have met with success, you are now ready to take the next step. The retailers that agree to stock your product will provide you with what is called a product information form. This is the form that they use to insert your personal and product information into their inventory system. You will need to fill out this form in its entirety. Towards the bottom of the form, you will find a box marked barcode or GTIN number assignment. Here you will need to insert the 12 or 13 digit barcode number that you have received, this number is usually printed directly underneath the barcode image that you receive. Having completed this form, you are now ready to proceed onto the final step.
We hope that this article will be of some use to aspiring entrepreneurs. If you have a good product idea, why not consider giving it a bash?
For more information on Barcodes South Africa, please feel free to contact them and they will gladly assist you.
Just another great thing that South Africa has to offer!!
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