How Do I Get an UPC Code to Print on My Product Package?
The Universal Product Code (UPC) ushered in a revolution in retail purchasing. In 1974, the first item, a pack of chewing gum, was scanned at a grocery store. According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the UPC method for retail purchasing currently generates $17 billion through grocery purchasing alone. The GS1 US organization manages UPC barcodes, providing companies with standardized codes for their products. You can obtain a UPC code from the GS1 US organization and print the code on your products.
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Instructions
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Join the GS1 US organization. To print UPC codes, your company must become a member of GS1 US. Joining GS1 US will provide your company with an identifying prefix. The prefix is used as part of the series of numbers in your UPC. Membership costs vary and depend on your company's revenue and the number of products requiring a UPC. When you submit the online application, you receive your membership fee. You may continue with the purchase or save your application for a later date.
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Submit your application. Once the GS1 US organization has received your membership application and fee, the process takes three to five business days to complete. Once the process is complete, you will receive your Partner Connections kit. The kit contains your licensed company prefix.
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Assign your products reference numbers. The GS1 US Partner Connections kit contains resources that assist with assigning UPC reference numbers to products. Product reference numbers include the company prefix.
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Determine how you will print your barcodes. Barcodes can be printed in either static or dynamic formats. Static barcodes do not change and appear on common items such as chocolate bars. Dynamic barcodes change. For example, serial numbers on shipping items change frequently. How you will print your barcodes will determine what method you choose for printing.
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Choose a barcode size. Selecting a size that fits your product is important. Review your Partner Connections kit for resources and specification.
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Identify a printing method. You can print the barcodes yourself or have a printer complete printing for you. For static barcodes, you may consider having a printer complete the job for you. For dynamic barcodes, on-demand printing is more useful, allowing you to print from your office printer. TrueType font software is available for Windows and Mac personal computers.
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Print the barcodes on your products. There are two methods for getting the barcode on the package: adhere a label or print directly to the product package. The simplest method is to print barcode labels and paste them to your product. A laserjet printer with barcode software is suitable. You may contact a printer to complete projects requiring direct package printing.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit pencil and barcode image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com
