At your peak production, you will likely have hundreds of items rolling off the assembly lines every day, and you need to be able to keep track of all of those items. Fortunately, there are many programmers out there who have your back. Inventory management apps help make tracking your goods easier than over. The following lists a few of our favorites.

Inventory Tracker

The application Inventory Tracker is a fantastic with a myriad of features to cover just about any business need. Some of its features include a barcode scanner, database backup and restoration, spreadsheet exporting, and more. All of these features allow you to not only track your inventory, but report on sales and losses. Inventory Tracker is compatible with 40 different currencies including US Dollars, British Pounds, Japanese Yen, and Euros.

All of these features come in the pro version that is only $9.99.

Retail Inventory

Another inventory management application with an unimaginative name, Retail Inventory delivers many of the same features as Inventory Tracker. In addition to being able to scan barcodes and manage your inventory, Retail Inventory can also export information into spreadsheets. It also integrates with your POS system… with a catch. The major downside to using Retail Inventory is that to get the most out of the application you have to have a subscription with CashierLive.

Even without that subscription, Retail Inventory is still a reliable inventory management system that is worth the investment.

JumpStock

JumpStock has plenty of features to help you handle every facet of managing your inventory. JumpStock was originally developed for the healthcare industry, and the language on the website still shows that this is their primary market. However, many of the apps tools and features are perfectly suited for any business. In addition to tracking how much inventory is used, JumpStock can also track how frequently the inventory is used and when. This makes it easier to plan ahead and ensure that you are never overstocked or understocked on essential supplies. The platform also features technologies for improved automation, reducing the frequency of errors.

JumpStock features a hefty price-tag of $99 a month, but it is worth the investment.

On Shelf

Another feature-rich inventory management application, On Shelf specializes in sales analysis and reporting. While a fantastic tool for tracking your inventory by itself, it also makes sure you always have enough based on sales trends. It requires at least one month of sales data for the predictive algorithm to function, but after that mark you can be sure you will always know how much of each product type you need. This is especially useful for stocking perishable goods, as it will help reduce the amount of inventory wasted due to overstocking.

On Shelf also features a customer database and order tracking systems, further enhancing the utility of the system. This application will only cost $4.99 to download.

Of course, no list of inventory management applications can be exhaustive, but this should be enough to get you started! These applications will ensure you never have any surprise shortages with your inventory.

Market Research with AdWords

Google AdWords contains a very useful tool for both online and offline marketers – the keyword planner. Starting with a few industry related keywords, you can find hundreds more keyword ideas and discover what people want. Since Google is often the first place people start when searching for a product or service, this can be a good start whether or not you are planning to sell online. You should look for those search terms that show both high volume and low competition.

By using these keywords as sources of inspiration, you will be able to come up with a product idea that meets a need people have, but few can fill.

Take an Existing Product and Make it Better

As the old cliché reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Rather than spend hours coming up with something nobody has thought of before, why not look to existing products? There is no such thing as a perfect product, and there will always be a shortcoming you can fill. Look at customer reviews for products and find common flaws. Once you know the problems that people are having with the product, you can make a version that solves the problem.

Tied into this is identifying pain points. Sometimes the problem people are trying to solve is not entirely resolved by what is out on the market. Frequently, what is out there only gets you “close enough” to solving the problem.

Leverage Existing Skills and Experience

It is probably safe to say you have tried the 9 to 5, Monday through Friday job, and it did not agree with you. During that time, you developed skills and experience that are still very useful. Ask yourself: if you ran the company, what would you have done differently? Based on this knowledge, improve the existing processes and use your experience as a selling point. Who is better suited to solving a problem than one who has spent years studying it?

Look to your experience, and come up with a product that does better what your previous employer did.

Solve Your Own Problems

The product you come up with does not always have to be about others. If you are frustrated by something, it is safe to say others are frustrated as well. Find something in your daily life that is a constant irritation, something that you no longer wish to handle. Analyze that problem, and find a way to solve it or work around it. Refine this solution until you have something you can sell. Remember, it does not have to be perfect, it just has to be better than what is already out there.

Talk to People

At the end of the day, the best way to come up with a product idea is to talk people. Sit down with potential customers and find out what they want. You may be surprised at the answers, and from there you may get your next big idea. Your friends are a good place to start for ideas, but you do not have to limit yourself. Internet forums targeted for a particular industry are an excellent source of information.

Once you have spoken with people, you should have some ideas about ways to solve the problems they are having.

Coming up with that next big product is a challenge that few are equipped to meet. However, with perseverance and a little forethought, you can be one of those few. It will take time to come up with that next big idea, and do not be surprised if you have to throw out a hundred ideas before you find the one. With time and effort, the idea will come, and you will be able to move on to creating the prototype and then getting the finished version stocked in retail stores or listed with online retailers. Make sure you do not forget to buy UPCs for your product as well, which can be easily found on our main website!

There is no denying the power of the Internet in its ability to make sales. The recent explosion of online based startups provides a fantastic case study for the power of the Internet to make entrepreneurs, and in some case, millionaires. However, for all its glamour, the majority of sales still happen in classic brick and mortar storefronts. In fact, e-commerce sales in the US for the first quarter of 2015 accounted for a scant 7% of total sales according to the US Census Bureau Department of Commerce. The cold hard reality is, as far as ecommerce has come, getting the best exposure and sales for your product still means getting it on a shelf at some point.

This post will aim to provide advice in that regard. After all, there may be thousands of competitors in your space, and without proper optimization consumers will never see your product. However, on a store shelf, every person who walks by will know what you offer. Here are a few tips for getting your product onto store shelves:

Start With Small Retailers and Local Distribution

While big names like Wal-Mart might be attractive, remember that everybody will be targeting them, and only a very small percentage of them will ever get close to having their product distributed on store shelves. However, there are thousands of smaller chains and outlets where you can put your product up, and doing well in these smaller shops can add up to just as many sales as getting into one major chain.

Just focus on one store at a time, and pitch to local chains that do well but likely don’t have the same barriers to entry that others would have.
If you cannot seem to get your foot in the door even after reading this guide entirely with even local retailers, you can never go wrong with e-commerce. While it does not represent as many sales as you might want, it will still provide hard numbers and data you can present to retailers and prove that your product sells.

Build Relationships with Managers

Networking is one of the most valuable skills you can learn in business. By building up a relationship with local store managers, you can get your foot in the door. You still need a product that will be worth the time, money, and floor space, but getting that relationship established will go a long way. Get friendly, start talking business, show that you know what you are doing and respect their ability to do what they do. Once this relationship is established, don’t be surprised to get a call asking you to show them what you have to offer.

Focus on the Data

Once you get the opportunity to make your pitch, focus on your data. Most retailers do not care about your story (and if you networked, they probably know it), they want to know: will it sell? Will it turn a profit? Is it worth my time to include in my inventory? When making your pitch, get directly to the point and give them the hard figures. The hard data that will help make your case include:

• Consumer demand for your product or a product like it
• How much you can make and how quickly you can make it
• Price points
• Profit margins on a per unit basis

Making your pitch will ultimately require you to know your product inside and out, and how it will turn a profit for the retailer. If you have gotten your product into other stores, showing how well it performed will go a long way towards solidifying your place on the shelf.

UPC Product Codes

UPC codes are a necessity for any product you sell. This system facilitates inventory tracking for the retailer and is a requirement for having your product sold with any retailer. It is what allows barcode scanners to function and without this system, commerce would not be nearly as efficient as it is today. As such, make sure you have your UPC product codes lined up and affiliated with your product. Remember you will need a unique code for every color and version of your product that you put out on the market, but not every iteration of the same product. Keep this distinction in mind: to use the same UPC code on an item, it has to be the same in every way, not merely “fundamentally similar.”

About 1% of retailers will also require GS1 certification before they will accept your products, so do your homework before you buy.

We hope this guide will help guide you towards success in your endeavors. Following these tips you are sure to get your product on store shelves, and from there watch the profits roll in!

Firstly, you will need to determine the number of different products you expect to sell during the near future as well as the life of your business. If you expect to manufacture and sell tens of thousands of different products then it makes sense to purchase your barcodes from Speedy Barcodes. However, if you plan to market your products in major retailers around the world, such as Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Macy’s, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Bloomingdales, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Amazon then obtaining your barcodes directly from GS1 is your only option per those retailers requirements.

If you are a smaller business or need barcodes for a specific purpose such as selling through an online service, then a specialty barcode service such as Speedy Barcodes is your best bet. Learning how to buy a upc code can make all the difference in the quality of product that you receive. Barcodes can be purchased through Speedy Barcodes one at a time, or in lots to suit your needs. The cost would be much less than obtaining codes through GS1, and there aren’t yearly renewal fees.

When learning how to buy a upc code, it is important to note what geographic area you plan to sell in as well. In the United States and Canada, the UPC code is commonly used, and can be found on just about every item in most stores. In Europe and other overseas countries, EAN codes take center stage. Speedy Barcodes can provide both code types for your assigned item codes. This makes packaging for different areas much easier and avoids the need to purchase different codes for different parts of the world. If you end up selling your products worldwide, including the United States and Canada, you can use the EAN format of the barcode with confidence because since the Sunrise 2005 Industry Initiative the United States and Canada have been required to have their barcoding systems set up to read a 13 digit barcode number.

For most users, a barcode specialty service such as Speedy Barcodes will probably be the right choice for obtaining barcode numbers and the associated artwork for printing the codes onto the packaging for products or on labels. With these services providing easy to navigate sites where purchases can be easily made, along with plenty of features and affordable pricing, they are definitely worth a look. With Speedy Barcodes, learning how to buy a UPC code is easy.

Buy a UPC Code

Dependent on quantity, and intended use, it is possible to buy upc codes cheap, for retail packaging for less than the cost of a cup of coffee. This has not always been the case in the past. Historically, it was required to obtain an entire block of UPC codes with a unique identifier code.  This proved to be financially non-feasible for many manufacturers and distributors.

One of the best pricing points for bar codes is from Speedy Barcodes.  Speedy Barcodes offers the opportunity to buy upc codes cheap, for as low as $0.04 each when purchased in bulk. Additionally, there are no recurring charges or annual renewal fees associated with the codes they sell.

Many barcode sellers charge a yearly renewal fee.  This fee can run from just a few dollars per year, to upwards of thousands of dollars.  These hidden fees can create problems for purchasers of bar codes that are not aware of them, and can even cause cancellation of their codes in some circumstances.

Utilizing the services of suppliers such as Speedy Barcodes can eliminate the hassle and hidden fees associated with other vendors and satisfy your need to buy upc codes cheap.  This can save lots of money in packaging costs by not having to make changes due to issues with expired codes. Additionally, Speedy Barcodes offers both UPC and EAN versions of barcodes for use worldwide.

Buy a UPC Code

Most retailers – from grocery stores to big-box superstores – depend on UPC barcodes to track items in their stores, reduce human error and speed the transaction process with customers. “UPC” stands for Universal Product Code and is a 1D (linear) code with the typical ‘picket fence’ style most people are familiar with. This type of barcode is commonly used in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries. The most common form, the UPC-A, consists of 12 numerical digits, which are uniquely assigned to each trade item.

History of the UPC

The beginnings of the UPC barcode kicked off in 1932 when Harvard business student Wallace Flint wrote about a punched card system in his master’s thesis, where each card represented a product in the store. Unfortunately, it did not catch on.

Later in 1970, a group of grocery industry trade associations formed the Uniform Grocery Product Code Council to define the numerical format of the Uniform Product Code. Technology firms, including names you might recognize like IBM and RCA, proposed alternative symbol representations to the council, many of whom had been working on the barcode technology for decades. In the end, the council chose a slightly modified version of the IBM proposal, developed by IBM’s George Laurer, giving it the name we use today. Laurer is now considered the inventor of the UPC.

Pop quiz: The first UPC-marked item ever scanned at a retail checkout was a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit in 1974 at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio. The pack of gum is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Creative Uses for the Barcode           

Today, FedEx is one of the world’s largest users of the barcode. Yet over the years, there have been many creative uses for the barcode, including the following:

• Tracking Bees. Dr. Stephen Buchmann of the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona, wanted to find a way to track bees when they left the hive. He needed to know how far bees fly to find pollen, how long they’re gone and how often they leave and return to the hive. So, he created the world’s smallest barcode on a paper label 1/20th the weight of the pollen a bee carries, shaped to fit a bee’s thorax. A laser scanner mounted over the tunnel-shaped entrance to the hive then recorded their activities. (Source: The New York Times).
• Tracking Boats. The US army uses 2ft-long barcodes to label 50ft boats which are in storage at its West Point military academy in New York. These huge barcodes store information about the boats’ previous travels. (Source: The Free Library).
• Tracking Patient Identification. In the healthcare industry, barcodes used in the patient admittance process, to track medication and care admission, and identify patients throughout their entire stay. Barcode wristbands are typically created at the point of admission and updated continually on the patients’ needs. (Source: Health Management Technology).

They are also used to keep track of rental cars, airline luggage and even nuclear waste. Barcoded tickets allow attendees to enter sporting events, movie theaters, fairgrounds and public transportation.

Based on enthusiastic adoption around the world, barcodes such as the UPC have become a universal element of the modern world. While other systems have entered the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) market, the simplicity, universality and low cost of barcodes have remained a standard in the retail industry over 40 years after the introduction of the first commercial barcode. They have also paved the way for related technologies including RFID and QR codes.

When you are ready to use your UPC Code all you need to do is create your listing on CD Baby, iTunes, eBay, Pandora, or any other location that requires you to have a barcode. No, this isn’t all of the stores where you can use your UPC Code, but there are some larger retail stores that will not accept them. You can read the information on our Barcode Questions page to find out the ones we know that will not accept a UPC Code other than directly from a company named GS1.

An EAN Bar Code is a unique lookup number that is primarily used outside of the United States and Canada. It can be placed directly on your product’s package by your graphic designer. You just need to provide your graphic designer with the EPS format of your barcode that is included in the barcode package you purchased from us. Be sure to keep a list of what barcode you are assigning to each of your products, so you do not accidently duplicate the barcode on more than one unique product.

EAN Bar Code numbers are 13 digits long. EAN originally stood for “European Article Number” but they are now known as “International Article Number”. Some other common names for EAN Barcodes are EAN-13 or GTIN-13. You should use an EAN if you are selling your product internationally. When you buy barcodes from Speedy Barcodes you will automatically receive this type of number as well as UPC Barcodes.