BUying Barcodes - What Makes The Most Financial Sense For My Business?
When requiring a barcode number to get your product into stores, the process of acquiring one can seem a little overwhelming at first. You may spend days researching the best routes, but essentially there are two main sources from which you can purchase your retail barcodes. The real decision making lies in which method of purchasing makes the most financial sense for your business and objectives.
GS1 - the official international provider
The first and most obvious option is to go through an organisation called GS1. They are the original and official international providers of barcode numbers. All you’ll need to do here is search for your country’s division to apply. However, the application and registration process is a weighted one. A huge registration fee is required to be paid initially, which then lists you as a member of the organisation.
Subsequent to that, you need to go through an official GS1 training course in order to be knowledgeable of the systems and requirements. Barcode numbers need to be renewed each year to confirm that they are still assigned to a product in retail circulation. And what makes this route so costly, specifically for small business owners simply looking to put their product line onto retail shelves, are the annual registration fees that need to be paid in this regard.
Of course, although this may be a ridiculously lengthy and expensive option for those wanting to purchase less than a few hundred barcodes, it makes plenty of financial sense for larger companies who are purchasing numbers in the thousands. And they will see a massive return on their investment.
Barcode resellers - an alternative
Fortunately for smaller businesses or people looking to get their products onto shelves – including CDs, DVDs, books and magazines – there is a much simpler and cheaper route which really works with their objectives. Barcode resellers (the reputable ones, at least) purchase blocks of barcodes directly from GS1 and are then able to sell them to customers at a once-off price. There are no member registration fees or annual renewal fees included in their prices. And once the barcodes are purchased, they belong to that specific company for life and cannot be used for another product again.
GS1 is the longer and more expensive route, but it is necessary if you’re running a large business with a massive product line. Barcode resellers are a great alternative for smaller businesses and individuals, but it’s essential that you do your research to find a reputable company – we’re all aware of the spam gurus scattered across the internet.
To help get you started, check out these tried and tested online barcode resellers. We recommend their legitimacy and efficient service:
Ultimately, it depends on the scale of your business and how many barcodes you will be requiring when determining the best option for purchasing your barcodes.
The first and most obvious option is to go through an organisation called GS1. They are the original and official international providers of barcode numbers. All you’ll need to do here is search for your country’s division to apply. However, the application and registration process is a weighted one. A huge registration fee is required to be paid initially, which then lists you as a member of the organisation.
Subsequent to that, you need to go through an official GS1 training course in order to be knowledgeable of the systems and requirements. Barcode numbers need to be renewed each year to confirm that they are still assigned to a product in retail circulation. And what makes this route so costly, specifically for small business owners simply looking to put their product line onto retail shelves, are the annual registration fees that need to be paid in this regard.
Of course, although this may be a ridiculously lengthy and expensive option for those wanting to purchase less than a few hundred barcodes, it makes plenty of financial sense for larger companies who are purchasing numbers in the thousands. And they will see a massive return on their investment.
Barcode resellers - an alternative
Fortunately for smaller businesses or people looking to get their products onto shelves – including CDs, DVDs, books and magazines – there is a much simpler and cheaper route which really works with their objectives. Barcode resellers (the reputable ones, at least) purchase blocks of barcodes directly from GS1 and are then able to sell them to customers at a once-off price. There are no member registration fees or annual renewal fees included in their prices. And once the barcodes are purchased, they belong to that specific company for life and cannot be used for another product again.
GS1 is the longer and more expensive route, but it is necessary if you’re running a large business with a massive product line. Barcode resellers are a great alternative for smaller businesses and individuals, but it’s essential that you do your research to find a reputable company – we’re all aware of the spam gurus scattered across the internet.
To help get you started, check out these tried and tested online barcode resellers. We recommend their legitimacy and efficient service:
Ultimately, it depends on the scale of your business and how many barcodes you will be requiring when determining the best option for purchasing your barcodes.