How To Get A Barcode On
Your Product or Publication
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Barcode Basics >
Retail Barcode FAQ[
Do
I need a barcode? ]
[ What kind of barcode should I get? ]
[
Where do I get the data (the number) for the barcode?
]
[ How do I get the barcodes
on
my product or publication? ]
For further information, contact us.
Do I need a barcode?
Although it is not law to have a barcode on any retail product or publication, it is
often required by re-sellers and distributors. They use the barcode to efficiently
keep active inventories and sales records.
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What kind of barcode should I
get?
Most small manufacturers or self-publishers are pursuing barcodes to meet some
requirement of a re-seller or distributor. This requirement should be specified by
those re-sellers and distributors, and may differ from one to the next. There are
industry standards, which are most often the requirements. Always check with your
re-seller or distributor to make sure you meet their specifications.
For retail products, the standard symbology in the U.S.A. is
UPC-A, or the Universal Product Code.
Internationally, the standard symbology is EAN-13
(European Article Numbering international retail product code).
For books, the international standard is the
Bookland
EAN symbology (or an ISBN barcode).
For periodicals, the international standard symbology is
ISSN (International Standard Serial Numbering ). In
addition to the ISSN code, SISAC (International Standard Serial Numbering) codes are often
found on serial publications.
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Where do I get the data (the number)
for the barcode?
For a UPC-A or an
EAN-13 manufacturer number, contact
GS1 (formerly the UNIFORM CODE COUNCIL)
Princeton Pike Corporate Center
1009 Lenox Drive
Suite 202
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone: 1 609 620 0200
Fax: 1 609 620 1200
Telephone: (609) 620 - 0200
Telefax: (609)
620 - 1200
www.gs1.org
For manufacturers outside the USA, visit their website
for local offices.
For an ISBN number in the U.S.A., contact
BOWKER/MARTINDALE-HUBBELL
121 Chanion Road
New Providence, NJ 07974
Telephone: (908) 665 - 6770
toll free: (877) 310 - 7333
Telefax: (908) 665 - 3502
www.isbn.org
For an
ISSN number in the U.S.A., contact the
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
National Serials Data Program
Washington, D.C. 20540-4160
Telephone: (202) 707-6452
Telefax: (202) 707-6333
Email:
issn@loc.gov
www.loc.gov/issn/
For an ISSN number outside the U.S.A., contact
ISSN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
20 rue Bachaumont, 75002 Paris, FRANCE
Telephone: +33 1 44 88 22 20
telefax : +33 1 40 26 32 43
E-mail: issnic@issn.org
www.issn.org
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How do I get the barcodes
on my product or publication?
After obtaining unique numbers for your product or publication, you are ready to
translate them into barcodes.
Generally there are two ways to get a barcode on a product or publication. Either
print it directly on an item or item's packaging, or print labels and adhere them to an
item.We offer many solutions for both of these procedures.
For labels we offer labeling software and
hardware, as well as a service where we
provide customers with pre-printed barcode
labels.
For pre-press barcode artwork to add to your package layout we have
software, as well as a service where we provide
customers with a barcode graphic.
This graphic can be supplied to a professional printer, or imported into an existing
packaging layout.
For more options, contact us.
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