Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hey, I`ve been reading the board for a while, but this is my first time posting. I was hoping someone with some knowledge on this subject could help me out.

I am setting up a laundry service for college students and I`m looking for a way to keep track of accounting easier. I am running a few different schools, so keeping track of all the bags that will be going back and forth to the laundromat can get tricky.

I thought that there might be a way to have barcodes put on the bags and that way they could be scanned at the laundromat after they have been weighed and everything. Do you think this would be possible? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Hi - I know nothing about barcodes, but a quick search on google and I found many sites that offer barcode equipment and pos (point of sale) products.  Staples had several barcode readers,  One that sounded interesting for you was "designed for home or small business",  included a barcode scanner, barcode labeling software & tracking software.  Was $350.     Maybe this is what you are looking for.  Sounds doable for your laundry bag idea.     Good luck.

Hey thanks!

I`m just wondering if a barcode can give me the information that I need. Like, how much each bag weighed in at the laundromat. I`ll try to do some more research on google.

Barcodes are usually pre-existing numbers that your employees associate with a record in a database.  So your barcode can mean whatever you want it to mean.  Of course, anything is possible if you`re willing to develop custom bar code creation software, however typically your barcodes will come in rolls with barcodes in sequential order already printed out.  Your employees assign data to the preprinted barcode in your business` software.

The experience that I`ve had with the type of service you`re talking about is that the business assigns a number to the customer and then counts the number of pieces of clothing.  The business then prints out that many washable labels (labels have the assigned customer number printed on them) and staple them to the clothing. 

All the numbers are used for is to identify the clothing as the customers if it becomes separated from the bag.  From what I understood, the clothing was actually washed in the bag to keep it together (I don`t know that for sure though), it was just separated by color/temperature etc.  The bags were a very light mesh.  Anyways, I know that has nothing to do with barcodes, just wanted to share my experience with that type of service.

If you print your own barcodes (there are many afforable softwares to do this, we use WASP see: http://www.waspbarcode.com/ ) you can assign your own codes. Certain codes can remain static or locked. For example: the first 2 or 3 digits can be the school id (01, 13, 145 etc..) the second set can be the student id.  Then you can enter variable numbers relate to the date, weight, etc. Generally a barcode should range from 7 -15 numbers for ideal scanning, unless you spring for a more expensive, comprehensive scanner, but realistically you should be able to set the whole thing up (providing you already have a computer) for under $500.

Hope this helps!

Maybe I can help? need more information - I am in the bar code business

We have used a ton of different barcoding drivers and software in conjunction with our products over the years.  There are a number of great companies out there that can help you.  We list many of them for use with our products on our Hardware page located at http://www.harveysoft.com/hard_int.htm.  All of them work well in just about any situation.  When you are looking for drivers and software for barcodes you might also want to check out Seagull Scientific on the Hardware page above.  Our clients tell us they are the best and we find they are trouble free ourselves.

 

Hope this helps,

Bert

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Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...

Lots of good insight & direction here.  Can I ask a question of the barcode experts?  What is the difference with using an in-house barcode software for products & registering a true UPC?  Are there compliance issues when it comes to the sale of products?

Thanks!


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Christine Trice
Founder & President
Brown Bag Botanicals
877-SHEA NUT (743-2688)
www.brownbagbotanicals.com

Voted MOST POPULAR INSTRUCTOR at Borders Live Classes. visit www.bordersliveclasses.com & search Green Beauty Queen for class schedule.

A great explanation with links about UPC barcodes can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Product_Code.   All barcode software that supports printing the UPC numbers will do it in the proper format after you obtain one for each product.

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Bert at Harvey Software, Inc.
Multi-Carrier Shipping Software and Supply Chain Solutions for Internet Retailers

Also a provider of free shipping information and resources at Harvey Software`s Parcel Shipping Blog along with free tracking solutions at TrackingPage.com...