UPC 101
Getting a UPC can be an easily overlooked step in the process of getting your product to market. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and many companies looking to make an extra dollar by taking advantage of others. This article provides the straight facts to guide you on the path to UPC ownership.
What is a UPC?
UPC stands for Unique Product Code. It’s the barcode and accompanying number that we scan at check out. The number is broken down into 3 parts – a company identifier, a product number and a check digit. You’ll need a UPC to sell your product in retail stores or even online on sites like Amazon.
Where to Start
There is one organization that services US companies with UPCs, it’s called GS1. To start the process of getting a UPC, apply for a membership and license to GS1. They will assign your Company Identifier (which will make up the first section of your UPC).
A Word to the Wise
There are companies out there who will offer discounted UPC codes. It may be a good solution for some, but it also comes with a few risks:
- The UPC will have another company’s Company Identifier. Ultimately that means that product isn’t registered to your company. That registration doesn’t give this company legal rights to your product, but can cause a great deal of confusion.
- Sometimes these companies oversell UPCs and wind up giving duplicate codes to companies. Retailers take this seriously. Amazon monitors UPCs and if your UPC is a duplicate, you’re at risk of your listing being removed. Other large retailers may not accept your product at all.
Assign Your Product Numbers
After you’re registered with GS1, assign product numbers to your products. Each variation of your product should have its own number. I.E. Monopoly has a product code for regular Monopoly and a separate code for Monopoly Junior, as well as an individual code for each edition.
Order and Place Barcodes
GS1 will sell you the digital barcodes or barcode labels for each product. Pricing is determined by the number of barcodes you need.
If your product is already printed and ready to go, you can order and affix printed barcode labels. If you’ve registered earlier in the process, work with your printing and production partner to incorporate the digital barcode file in your packaging design. Your partner can give you best practice tips for placement, no matter where you are in your process.
Learn More
If you’re ready to put your game on the market and you’re looking for guidance, our sister company Delano Games can help. The Delano team partners with game creators through every step from ideation to production. They do all things games and are ready to answer all your questions.
