A Beginner’s Guide: How to Add Cosmetic Barcodes to Your Brand

As a startup brand, you may not need to add barcodes to your cosmetics to easily track product inventory. However, as your product line grows, having unique product barcodes will significantly help with inventory management, streamline shipping processes, and prepare for further brand development. Therefore, barcoding is an indispensable element in creating a cosmetics brand. It helps with product identification and improves inventory management and sales efficiency.

This article will introduce the basics of cosmetic barcodes, their types, how to obtain them, and best practices to help you lay the foundation for future success.

What is a Cosmetic Barcode?

Cosmetic barcodes are machine-readable symbols designed to store and transmit product information. It is able to identify each product to achieve rapid identification and traceability of the product.

At the same time, barcodes can also quickly obtain information such as the production date, shelf life, price, etc., of the product, improving consumers’ purchasing experience and merchants’ management efficiency.

Three Barcode Types for Cosmetic Products

UPC (Universal Product Code): The most common barcode format, mainly used in the North American market, contains 12 digits and is suitable for retail environments.

EAN (European Article Number): Similar to UPC, but widely used in Europe, usually 13 or 8 digits.

QR Code: Unlike traditional barcodes, QR codes can store more information, such as product ingredients, production processes, and promotional activities, which is very suitable for interacting with consumers.

Two Types Of Barcodes Cosmetic Brands Should Consider

Choosing the right type of barcode for your cosmetics depends on the sales channels you plan to sell them. Whether you are focusing on e-commerce platforms or looking to bring your products to physical retail stores, the correct barcode can make a difference in the market performance of your products.

UPC vs. EAN: Choosing the correct barcode for your brand

You will face two main types of barcodes: UPC (Universal Product Code) and EAN (European Article Number).

• UPC (Universal Product Code): This barcode is standard in the United States and Canada.

If you plan to sell cosmetics in physical retail stores like Walmart or Target, you will need to use UPC barcodes, as it is a standard requirement for most large retailers.

• EAN (European Article Number): EAN barcodes are similar to UPCs but are more widely used in international markets, especially in Europe.

If your goal is to sell online or hope to expand to global markets, using EAN barcodes will be more appropriate.

By understanding the characteristics of these two barcodes, you can choose the most suitable encoding method for your cosmetics brand and effectively improve your sales opportunities.

Cosmetic Barcode Coding Rules

Cosmetics usually use universal product barcodes, also known as EAN product barcodes. This barcode is suitable for cosmetics and widely used for other products such as toiletries, food, and alcohol. The most common form is the 13-digit EAN-13 barcode.

• First three digits: Country code indicating where the product barcode is registered.
• Next four digits: Manufacturer code identifying a specific manufacturer.
• Next five digits: Product code assigned by the manufacturer.
• Last digit: Check the digit the system generates to ensure barcode accuracy.

Benefits Of Cosmetic Barcodes For Brands

Commodity Circulation Management

By scanning barcodes, merchants can quickly and accurately record and track inventory and improve management efficiency. At the same time, it can also effectively avoid problems such as inventory backlogs and out-of-stock.

Consumer Inquiries

Consumers can scan barcodes through their mobile phones to obtain detailed information about cosmetics, such as ingredients, shelf life, production date, etc.

In addition, some applications also provide barcode-based anti-counterfeiting functions to help consumers identify product authenticity.

Production Traceability

Through barcodes, the entire production process of the product can be tracked. Once a quality problem occurs, the source of the problem can be quickly found to reduce potential losses.

Market Analysis

By analyzing sales data, you can understand which products are popular and which are not. This will help manufacturers and retailers adjust product strategies to meet market demand.

Do Brands Need Barcodes to Sell Cosmetics

Yes, brands often require barcodes to sell cosmetics.

This is not only to meet the requirements of retailers but also to improve inventory management efficiency. Many retailers require all products on the shelf to have barcodes to facilitate quick checkout and inventory tracking.

How to Get a Barcode for Your Cosmetic Products

Getting a unique product barcode is the first step for brands to enter the market. I will guide you through how to apply for a product barcode to ensure that your products can be put on the shelves smoothly.

Choose a Barcode Type

Common barcode types include UPC (US and Canada) and EAN (international). Choose the right type according to your market needs.

Identify and Register a Barcode Supplier

Barcodes are not freely generated but are issued by authorized coding agencies.

In many countries, this is usually the responsibility of the GS1 organization, as GS1 is the globally recognized barcode standard organization.

The China Article Numbering Center (ANCC) manages and issues product barcodes in China.

Apply for a Barcode

Once you have identified a supplier, you must fill out an application form and provide relevant company information.

This usually includes the company name, address, contact information, and the range of products that the barcode is expected to be used for. Pay the relevant fees as required.

Receive and Validate Barcodes

Once your application is accepted and the fee is paid, the barcode agency will assign you one or more unique product barcodes. You will then need to validate the barcodes you receive to ensure they can be scanned and read correctly.

Generate Barcodes

Use the barcode generator software to generate a barcode image based on the prefix and product information you received. Select the appropriate format (such as PNG or JPG).

Register and Manage

Record the product information corresponding to each barcode for subsequent management and updating.

Additional Considerations

• Cost Management: While GS1 is the most well-known source for obtaining barcodes, consider exploring options through non-US GS1 portals or other authorized resellers who may offer lower prices for bulk purchases.Cost Management: While GS1 is the most well-known source for obtaining barcodes, consider exploring options through non-US GS1 portals or other authorized resellers who may offer lower prices for bulk purchases.
• Internal Use vs. External Sales: If you are initially testing a product or selling through limited channels, you might consider generating internal barcodes for warehouse use; however, these barcodes should not be used in a retail environment.
• Integration with Inventory Systems: Ensure your barcode system integrates smoothly with your inventory management software to facilitate real-time tracking.
• Future Scalability: As your brand grows, having a well-organized barcode system will allow you to quickly expand into new markets or retail channels without significant restructuring.

Applying for product barcodes is a simple process, but it is critical to successfully selling your products. By following this guide, you can obtain the necessary identification for your products to be recognized and tracked worldwide.

Remember that an accurate barcode improves the customer experience and optimizes supply chain management, bringing long-term benefits to your brand.

Things to Note When Using Cosmetic Barcodes

1. Choose the right barcode type
   Choose the right barcode type, such as EAN-13 or EAN-8, according to the product’s characteristics.
2. Determine the encoding rules
   Determine the encoding rules, such as encoding format, character set, encoding method, etc., according to the product’s characteristics.
3. Make barcode labels
   Make the barcode labels the right size and shape and paste them on the packaging.
4. Enter data information
   Enter the product’s relevant information into the computer system so that the product can be managed, queried, and traced.
5. Verify data information
   Verify the input data information to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data.
6. Print barcode labels
   Print the prepared barcode labels and paste them on the product packaging.

Summary

The cosmetic barcode reflects the quality of the product to a certain extent. For example, high-quality cosmetics usually use a more complex barcode system to ensure the uniqueness and anti-counterfeiting of the product.

In addition, by paying attention to the digital code in the barcode, consumers can understand the product’s origin, production date, ingredients, and other information. This information helps to judge the quality and safety of the product.

However, the barcode cannot fully represent the quality of the product. When purchasing cosmetics, we must consider brand reputation and user reviews. In addition, everyone’s skin quality and reaction may be different, so before actual use, it is recommended to do a skin test on an inconspicuous place, such as the wrist, to ensure that the cosmetics are suitable for your skin.

In short, the cosmetic barcode is a vital information carrier that provides rich product information and helps us buy and manage cosmetics more conveniently.