Dan Gilmore, Editor in Chief of SupplyChainDigest recently published this piece entitled “Worrisome Trend in Retail Label Requirements.” It’s about two specific problems. The first is this:
Several retailers, which include we believe Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and a few others, are starting to prohibit any other bar code other than that found on the GS1-128 (formerly UCC-128) shipping label that they require… Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, and others require a “case code” bar code, or ITF-14, which basically is the product UPC number plus a case pack identifier, on each carton… If you happen to be a manufacturer selling to both Wal-Mart and Macy’s, you cannot have the bar required by the former when shipping to the latter, as just one example.
Mr. Gilmore provides many additional examples of how this trend messes up lots of thing, not the least of which is distribution center efficiencies.
The second issue: A small, but increasing, number of retailers are moving away from the original “guidelines” for GS1-128 label placement, which used to be (and still is for most) on the right-hand side of the long dimension of the box, roughly an inch up from the bottom and three inches in from the carton edge. Some, such as SteinMart and a growing number of others, now want the GS1-128 in the lower left-hand side, or in the middle of the side (e.g., Bed, Bath and Beyond). Others now want the GS1-128 on the top of the box, or in the case of Rite Aid, it appears it wants a shipping label (not necessarily GS1-128) on the front (short side) of the box.
The product labeling and handling implications of this will make your head spin. But you’re not alone. Other than one person leaving a comment on Mr. Gilmore’s post who said, “The stupidity of this is extraordinary…” you’ll find very many others, from well-known organizations, voicing their agreement on the issues and concern for some quick remedies.
Filed under: Bar code, GS1, GS1 Adoption
