The Barcode Mystery…Decoded.

Got the wine label looking good, the colors the way we want, the layout clean and elegant, then we forgot the barcode.  Kind of don’t think of a barcode when you are trying to make a good label design, but if you ever want to sell your wine through retailers, other than yourself, they almost certainly will demand it.  So on it goes. 

The more interesting part of the barcode story was leaning about how to get a barcode.  Essentially there is a barcode clearinghouse that dispenses all barcodes, and everyone that wants a barcode must go through this one entity (GS1 US).  You must join GS1 US (not a cheap proposition) starting at $750, which will then get you your own unique identifying numbers that they will assign all of your barcodes from. Additionally you will pay $150 a year to keep your membership. 

For many small retailers that plan for most of their sales to be done out of their own store front and that don’t have hundreds of unique products to sell, a cheaper alternative exists. You can buy the use of another company’s unique identifier.  This can give each of your products a unique barcode for ease of sales transactions, and inventory control, but cost substantially less then buying the codes directly from GS1 US.  To buy codes this indirect route usually costs $5-$10 a code depending on the number you purchase.

Maybe not the most fun read of the day, but I learned a little something about an item you just don’t really think much about.  Thought I would just pass this “lesson learned” along.

Craig Pinkley

Pilot Knob General Manager/Proprietor