Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Barcodes for All Your Products

Barcodes are indispensable for making sure your items are ready for retail, enabling smooth transactions and effective stock management. This tutorial will guide you through the simple process of acquiring and applying EAN-13 barcodes for your products in New Zealand.

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Obtaining barcodes for your items is vital for enhancing operations, boosting inventory management, and ensuring your products are ready for the retail shelf. In New Zealand, the most frequently used barcode type is the EAN-13, accepted by retailers both locally and globally. The EAN-13 barcode consists of 13 digits uniquely identifying your product, essential for tracking, sales, and distribution. This guide will walk you through the process of acquiring EAN-13 barcodes for your products, ensuring you meet industry standards with ease.

Step 1: Acquire Your Barcodes

First, determine how many EAN-13 barcodes you require. Each product and its variations, such as different sizes and colours, need a unique barcode number. After calculating the total number of barcodes you need, you can purchase them online from trusted barcode suppliers like Barcodes NZ. You will receive an email with your unique 13-digit Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and the corresponding EAN-13 barcode images.

Step 2: Assign Barcodes to Your Products

Once you've got your barcodes, the next step is to link them to your products. Each GTIN matches a specific product variation, such as different sizes or colours. It's crucial to maintain an accurate record of which GTIN is associated with each product, as this will directly impact your product's identification and tracking capabilities in the supply chain.

Step 3: Print Your Barcodes on Your Packaging

With the barcodes assigned, the next critical step is to print them on your product packaging. This can be done either in-house or through a professional printing service. It’s vital that the barcodes are printed clearly and at the correct size to ensure they can be easily scanned at the point of sale. The minimum recommended size for an EAN-13 barcode is approximately 30mm wide x 20mm high. Ensure you leave a 3mm blank space to the left and right of the barcode bars, and place the barcode in a flat, clearly visible location on the packaging.

Step 4: Distribute Your Products to Retailers

The final step is to send your barcoded products to your retailers. Upon receiving your products, retailers will enter the barcode number and product details into their system. This step is crucial as it ensures that when the barcode is scanned in the future, the correct product information will automatically appear on the retailer's system. This seamless integration enhances efficient product management and checkout processes, improving the customer experience and boosting your product's visibility in the retail market.

By following these steps, your products will be retail-ready and smoothly integrated into your retailers' systems. With barcodes in place, you'll be well-prepared for success in the competitive New Zealand market. To order barcodes or to learn more, please visit Barcodes NZ.