Bar codes?

[Shawn808]

Hello everyone,
I have a bar code question. Some have suggested to me that I need to have a bar code for every single piece of jewelry I have to make it easier for the reps/stores to sell and keep track of. A few problems came up and I was wondering if you could give me some advice.

1) I have over 80 pieces of jewelry do I need to bar code them all? Or can I just give them an item number?

2) If I need to bar code every piece how do I put the bar code on the jewelry? Or do I just put the bar code on the catalog or order form? (I am selling individual pieces NOT on cards or anything)

3) I was thinking I can just sell $200, $400 and $600 "sets" and just have a bar code for that for the sales reps.and have the store figure out a way to keep track of the jewelry themselves? is this ok?

Any help you guys may have will be appreciated. I love this forum and your guys experience out there in the "real world" help me allot now in this prep stage.

Thanks
Shawn C.

[Luann Udell]

Well, I would check with your stores to see if that's something they'd be interested in before investing in that.

The problem with saying "what stores want" is that behind every store is an owner who is simply a person.  There is no set of rules or agreement on what would work for every store.  And frankly, every time I've tried to figure out the one thing every store would want, I've given up.  

As with anything--tags, packaging, display, pre-pricing, bar coding, etc.--just get out there and actually sell some pieces to a few stores first.  Otherwise, you'll end up investing in all kinds of stuff you'll end up ditching later.

IMHO, of course.
Luann

[Shawn808]

Hello Luann
Thank you very much for your reply and suggestion. You really have the experience I look up too and your advice helps tremendously get over my fears and anxiety in approaching stores and reps.

I think I will do as you suggested and just get a price sheet together with item numbers. And simple "best seller" packages.

Thanks again Luann
Shawn C

[Polly]

In my opinion, bar codes are for big companies, selling to big companies.  They require an investment in software (and more) that I think you can safely avoid for many years.

For most craftspeople and galleries, I'd stick with stock numbers on great jewelry.  '>

As I buyer, I always liked stock numbers that hade a little bit of "obviousness" built into them for those who look for it.
For example:  
ER-001-BO might be Earring style 001, with Black Onyx.
NE-009-AM would be Necklace style 009, with Amethyst.
BR-101-green could be Bracelet style 101, with mostly-green beads (any material).
ER-123-MIX or -AST for mixed colors, or for assorted (various) colors.

Keep your stock numbering system "built for growth".  If you go for 4 digits, then you can make 9,999 styles before needing to expand your numbering system.  

--Polly

[Shawn808]

Thank you polly for that advice I will be sure to use it.

One problem I have is that I do not have the time to card all my jewelry. I buy some jewelry from wholesale locally also and they also do not have the time or resources to card all the pieces for me.

If I am selling via sales reps to stores I and am worried about volume later. How do I put the stock number on the jewelry or make sure when the stores get it they know which one is which and how much it costs? Do I make a sheet of all 80 of my pieces with pictures and prices?

Thanks
Shawn

[Luann Udell]

I don't card any of my jewelry.  I bag it in small ziplock bags and write the item number on the outside of the bag in Sharpie marker.  The item number matches the packing slip/invoice I include with the shipment.  The invoice/packing slip has a more detailed description of the piece.

If you don't want to do that, you could simply put a slip of paper with the item number inside.

Another option is to use small jewelry tags with the information.  They are cheap and there are many sources for all different styles and shapes and sizes.  

The thing is, no matter what you do, the individual stores usually end up retagging with their OWN info anyway.  That's why I said, before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a system, just see what works for YOU.  You will go crazy trying to find something that works for everyone if you try to customize for stores....

Also, some stores don't care if you also put your wholesale price on the tags with each piece, or even on the packing slip.  Other stores don't want their employees to know what the wholesale cost is, or the markup.  So they want an invoice with prices mailed separately.  Again, every store is different.

Some stores use cards, and have their own.  Some use the cards provided by the artist/jewelry company.  Most stores don't want your contact info on anything.  Some don't even want your NAME on anything (which is not really fair for handcrafted jewelry.)

Many stores just use their own display fixtures, or lay out jewelry on pads in cases.  

I can't tell if you are just starting out with wholesale, or if you are doing a lot of buy/sell and are already into volume.  

If you're just starting out, these issues will resolve organically.  It's actually pretty rare to have your jewelry jump from a few orders to tens of thousands of dollars of orders overnight, even with a rep.  

Usually it takes a few years for business to grow to the point where you have to worry about things like bar coding, and the other things you've brought up.  You SHOULD have plenty of time to adjust your packaging issues as you grow.

On the other hand, if you have quite a large customer base, and you are selling so much jewelry you can throw your weight around with your customers, then everything I've said goes out the window.   '>  

Seriously, if you are wholesaling in huge quantities and are having trouble managing inventory and customers are having trouble reordering, then you may want to check in with someone like Amy Peters Studio, who has over 600 wholesale accounts, and ask what SHE does.  I think she has a little forum on her website, and she may be able to help you better with this.

As I think about this, it seems like you are trying to identify/price/tag each piece somehow so it goes from you, through the store, to the customer.  In reality, most handmade jewelry gets identified enough by the artist for the store to inventory it, fix a price, keep track of what sold, and then reorder.  For this, they usually use their OWN systems and processes, over and above what the artist uses.  Stores with huge volumes like WalMart and JCPenney etc. have stricter rules about bar coding, how things will packaged and marked, etc.  But for the little shops your rep is probably going to visit, this is overkill.

I hope this puts it into perspective for you better.  As I said, it's hard to tell what kind of volume you're selling now, but it seems like you're trying to solve problems right now that are actually a few years down the road.

[Shawn808]

Thanks Luann
You have such great insight and experience.

Yes I am just starting out and am going to sell via sales reps.

Please tell me if the following will work and if you have seen it before:

What is easiest for me is to put all the jewelry (80 pieces) on a catalog/price sheet with the price and item number along with a small photo of the jewelry. And mail it out with every order. (even if they order 9 pieces they get a full price sheet/catalog with all 80 pieces)   Then all the store does is go though the catalog and  match up the jewelry to the small photo to get the price and item number.

That way I dont have to individually price each piece and just need to print up the catalog/price sheets on my computer.  I was also thinking of putting little check boxes so I just do a check mark to the items that they do order.

Then with every order include the invoice as well.

So every order to the stores will have a universal price sheet/catalog with photos of all 80 pieces prices and item numbers. Then a separate customized invoice with just item numbers and a total cost.

Do you think this will work? I dont want to do something so out of the ordinary that my company looks too unprofessional.

Thank you Luann
Shawn C.

[Luann Udell]

Personally, I would match up item # to item #.  Especially if you are using "tiny photos"...!!   '>

That, with a brief description and the tiny photo, should be enough information.

And yes, sending out this mini-catalog with every order is smart.

What Polly said about creating item numbers is GREAT.

And stop worrying about looking unprofessional.  You are not some huge conglomerate mass-producing jewelry.  You are an individual person who loves to make jewelry.   '>   Keep your records straight, make improvements as you go along, stay cheerful and open to learning, and you will be as "professional' as you need to be.   '>

Luann (always looking to use that dancing banana emoticon...!)

[Shawn808]

Hello Luann
What do you mean when you say "Match up item # to item #? Does that mean I have to write an item number on every piece?

Thanks
Shawn

[Luann Udell]

yes.