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What is everthing one would need to do this right? Such as bar codes, security labels, Packaging Tips for Retail Chain Stores, Grocery Stores, Hardware, etc.
What works best?
Thank you,
Marvin
www.iwantmyhelpinghands.com
Meanwhile, I`ll have my packaging prototypes completed on April 26th for my OEM. I don`t think I`m any further along than you are, but I will share any notes I have!
Hi Leslie
It`s nice seeing you over here from the qvc, oprah board.
I thought I`d start a board on packaging to get some insight on what makes great packaging and what`s needed.
The UPC Code council want`s $750.00 just to join. I found this company called upccode.net that will make the bar code and send it your way for $89.00. Do you know of them? and your thoughts appreciated.
Who have you used for Product packaging design and printing?
I was also just informed that one should have security labels on their packaging. Do you know anything about this.
Thank you,
Imi, a.k.a Marvin
Yes, you are correct... $750.00 smack-a-roo`s exactly! OUCH! Your larger retailers will require your GS1 Prefix Certificate which you can only get from joining the GS1. Any other UPC`s you buy have someone else`s prefix. Nothing "wrong" with it, but eventually you will find a large retailer that will expect you to play with the big dogs and cough up the proof. I figured it might be best to do it right out of the gate so later when it`s required, I don`t have to tell all the other customers I have that my UPC is changing. This line of thinking might be right, might be wrong, but that`s what I`ve decided to do. Regarding my packaging design, I got the golden ticket on that one... Here`s the story... I am all about using free resources to my fullest advantage. Places of higher education are a gold mine of knowledge! I am in SC and Clemson University (go Tigers) has one of the best "Packaging Science" departments in the country. I applied to be an industry sponsor for their senior class project which includes....
"PKGSC 420, Package Design and Development, is the capstone course of our undergraduate curriculum. The students are introduced to a systematic procedure and supporting documents to carry a package design project from an idea presented by marketing or production, through writing of a consistent set of package and packaging material specifications. Intermediate steps include: idea generation, idea prioritization and selection, describing the packaging system in a Total Product Concept, preliminary economic analysis, collection of design information, distribution, geometric, performance (structural and shelf life), graphical and packaging process design, planning for design verification, construction of a prototype packaging system, testing of the packaging system, re-design if necessary, economic analysis (manufacturing economics only), writing of specifications, documentation of the project both in writing and orally. Projects generally encompass all facets of the packaging system, including the primary package, the secondary package or shipper, the tertiary package or pallet, the machinery required to fill and assemble the package, and the distribution system"
As you can see, I lucked out on my packaging. I go up to Clemson on April 26th (yes 1 day before our QVC announcement) for the final presentation along with receiving all prototypes, documents and files for manufacturing my packaging. Lesson: call colleges and universities as ask to be part of a class project! Answer to your question, had I not been accepted, I would have googled "consumer goods packaging designer" and asked around like you are doing. I`m leaving all this up to the students and faculty who have made this science their life, and I`ll have tons of answers for you when I get back from Clemson on the 27th
Great post, Imi! I am also looking for information on UPC`s, security labels, warnings and information on complying with federal standards. Here`s the ASTM website:
For my product, I believe I need to comply with the D4236 (for art materials) standards. It`s all so confusing!
As far as the packaging goes I`ve designed my own but there was a SUN member that offered to help me a while ago. I can look back in my mail and get her name if anyone wants it.
You can view my packaging here - I would love to hear your thoughts!:
http://www.storybookstudio.net/kits.htm
I do need to come up with something for inside the box to keep things from moving around. I`m thinking maybe a plastic or cardboard insert should do the trick.
Good Morning Leslie and Mellisa.
Thank you for joining in and your great input.
Leslie great information. Thank you. I`d love to see your final packaging when done.
Melissa. Your packaging is Perfect. A simple card stock insert like a sock organizer to keep items from moving around would be a inexpensive way to do this and still keep with the integrity of your product.
This is the UPC company I found:
http://www.upccode.net/index.html and this was taken right off their web site.
Yes, our barcodes are UPC codes and they originate with the only legal source, GS1 (formerly know as the Uniform Code Council or UCC).
(Leslie your input here please on the GS1)
They do this all for you for $89.00 and send you a barcode in a hour`s time.
And this is the Company I found for Security Labels:
http://www.imprints.com/securitypage.htm
Wouldn`t a great package designer know everything needed to comply. Someone who`s done this before for many types of clients? I`m looking at First Choice Packaging and have been looking at the various packaging product`s thru them. Pretty impressive.
I don`t know anything about Federal standards and complying. I`ll look into the link you so kindly enclosed on astm.org.
Thank you,
Imi a.k.a Marvin
Thanks Marvin! I`m thinking of something similar to what you described for the inside of the packaging, only having the actually compartments customized for each item in the kit. It needs to hold each item so that if the box is turned upside down, things stay put.
I checked out the upc website you sent and it sounds great - almost too good to be true? I would guess that a packaging designer would know all the ins and outs as far as complying to the standards, and UPC`s. Or...maybe someone with experience in this area from our wonderful SUN community will step-up and provide more info on this!
Hi Melissa
It does sound to good to be true but after speaking with a representative of the company I was assured this was the same UPC Code that the UPC Code Counsil offers. I would invite you to give them a call and share your experience with us.
Here`s what they have posted along with a toll free phone number:
To request more information regarding UPC Codes, Bar Codes, EAN Codes, GS1 Barcodes, Universal Product Codes (UPC) & more, please call on 1-877-768-4977 (toll-free) or 1-404-885-6066. We sell authentic & authorized UPC bar codes that originate through GS1 (formerly known as the Uniform Code Council or UCC).
Best, Marvin
Hi Marvin,
Here is an interesting article on UPC, EDI (and other business `booby traps`)
Here is a quote from the section of this article on UPC`s:
To get the ball rolling, go to the GS1 US website (www.gs1us.org) formerly known as the Uniform Code Council Inc. There you can apply for your own UPC. Once they`ve accepted your application, your bar code can be used on up to 100 products, which means there`s no need to apply for additional bar codes if your first product spins off into multiple offerings. The fee you`ll pay is determined by the number of unique products you need to identify and your company`s gross sales revenue. That means if your company is small and you begin with a single product, you won`t be charged the same as, say, Pepsi when it registers a new drink offering. Still, the very lowest fee is $800, so it`s good to be prepared for this cost.
I`m wondering if this means that for $750, you can use the UPC on 100 different products? If that`s true then each is really costing you $7.50 (as opposed to $89 that upccode.net charges). I don`t know..I`m confused!
Hi Melissa
Great information on UPC.
It appears to me to mean $7.50 per bar code is alot better than $89.00 per bar code. Now that you mention it. I have 8 different designed products that I offer and was told it would be $89.00 per designed product, per bar code. That alone would be $712.00. Maybe the way to go then is thru the GS1 US website so further down the line it wouldn`t end up costing me more.
Leslie Please advise. How is a product boxed once packaged? by what quantities, size of boxes, pallets sizes? labels, code`s etc etc for shipping to large retailers, qvc. and who handles this type of operation?
Best, Marvin
www.iwantmyhelpinghands.com
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