Barcode Guides & Resources for Sellers

Barcode Basics
GS1 Sunrise 2027: What the 2D Barcode Shift Means for Small Sellers - gs1upc.shop
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GS1 Sunrise 2027: What the 2D Barcode Shift Means for Small Sellers

If you've seen "GS1 Sunrise 2027" mentioned and worried your UPC barcodes are about to become obsolete, here's the reassuring version: they're not. Here's what's actually changing, and what — if anything — small sellers need to do about it.

Aug 11, 202623 views
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Small Business
Do You Need a Barcode for Your Coffee Shop or Bagged Coffee Business? - gs1upc.shop
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Do You Need a Barcode for Your Coffee Shop or Bagged Coffee Business?

If you run a coffee shop and just started bagging beans to sell, or you're launching a coffee brand and eyeing grocery shelves, the barcode question comes up fast — and the answer depends entirely on where you're planning to sell.

Aug 11, 202627 views
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Retail Sellers
Target Barcode Requirements for Suppliers: What You Actually Need (2026) - gs1upc.shop
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Target Barcode Requirements for Suppliers: What You Actually Need (2026)

Target's barcode requirements go a layer deeper than Amazon or Walmart's, and a lot of new suppliers only discover the gap after a shipment gets hit with a labeling chargeback. Here's what Target actually expects at each level, in plain terms.

Aug 06, 202642 views
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Barcode Basics
QR Code vs Barcode: What's the Difference (and Which Do You Need)? - gs1upc.shop
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QR Code vs Barcode: What's the Difference (and Which Do You Need)?

QR codes and barcodes get lumped together constantly, and free "barcode generator" tools online often blur the line further by making both look like the same kind of thing. They're not — and using the wrong one for the wrong purpose is a common, avoidable mistake.

Aug 05, 202614 views
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Barcode Basics
How Do Barcodes Work? A Plain-English Explanation - gs1upc.shop
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How Do Barcodes Work? A Plain-English Explanation

You've scanned thousands of barcodes without ever seeing what's actually happening in that half-second beep. Here's the plain version, no engineering degree required.

Aug 05, 202613 views
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Barcode Basics
EAN Barcode Prefixes: What Country Does Your EAN Code Come From? - gs1upc.shop
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EAN Barcode Prefixes: What Country Does Your EAN Code Come From?

Look closely at any EAN-13 barcode and the first few digits actually mean something — they indicate which GS1 member organization issued that number, not necessarily where the product was made. Here's how to read them.

Jul 28, 202650 views
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Barcode Basics
How to Check If an EAN Number Is Valid (Free EAN Checker Guide) - gs1upc.shop
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How to Check If an EAN Number Is Valid (Free EAN Checker Guide)

If you've been handed an EAN number by a supplier, manufacturer, or marketplace listing and want to confirm it's real before you use it, here's what "valid" actually means and how to check it.

Jul 28, 202630 views
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Barcode Basics
Free UPC Code Generator: Why Amazon Rejects the Codes It Creates - gs1upc.shop
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Free UPC Code Generator: Why Amazon Rejects the Codes It Creates

A search for "UPC code generator" turns up dozens of free tools that will spit out a 12-digit number in seconds. Here's the part those tools don't tell you: a randomly generated number and a real, marketplace-valid UPC are not the same thing.

Jul 28, 202624 views
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Barcode Basics
How to Look Up a UPC Barcode Number (Free Guide) - gs1upc.shop
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How to Look Up a UPC Barcode Number (Free Guide)

Whether you're checking what a product is from its barcode, or verifying that a UPC you were given is real before you use it, a UPC lookup answers the same basic question: what does this number actually correspond to?

Jul 26, 202635 views
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Barcode Basics
What Is a GS1 Company Prefix? (And Do You Need One or Just a UPC?) - gs1upc.shop
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What Is a GS1 Company Prefix? (And Do You Need One or Just a UPC?)

If you've looked into getting barcodes "the official way," you've probably run into the term GS1 Company Prefix and the steep annual membership fee that comes with it. Here's what it actually is, and why most sellers don't need one.

Jul 26, 202625 views
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Barcode Basics
SKU vs UPC: What's the Difference and Why It Matters - gs1upc.shop
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SKU vs UPC: What's the Difference and Why It Matters

SKU and UPC both look like a string of numbers on a product, and sellers mix them up constantly — but they solve two completely different problems. Here's the difference in plain terms, and why using the wrong one causes real inventory headaches.

Jul 26, 202629 views
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Small Business
Do You Need a Barcode for Handmade Products? A Straight Answer - gs1upc.shop
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Do You Need a Barcode for Handmade Products? A Straight Answer

Most handmade sellers only think about barcodes the moment a platform or retailer asks for one — and by then it feels urgent. Here's what actually determines whether you need one, and how to get set up without overcomplicating it.

Jul 23, 202637 views
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Barcode Guides & Resources

Expert guides on UPC barcodes, EAN codes, GS1 standards, Amazon seller requirements, and everything you need to know to get your products listed and selling globally.