Yes, barcode labels and hang tags can be printed in India and attached at the workshop before your order ships. The printing is easy. The part that needs care is the barcode number: retail barcodes are licensed to the brand owner through GS1, so you supply the numbers and the maker only prints and applies them.
Applying labels in India saves time at your warehouse and means goods arrive ready for sale.
Barcode numbers come from you
Most retailers require GS1 barcodes, known as GTINs, registered to the brand that sells the product. You get a company prefix from GS1 in your own country and assign a number to each style, colour and size. Send the maker a spreadsheet linking each style to its number, and ask for printed proofs before labels are applied.
Marketplace fulfilment services may use their own label codes on top of the GS1 barcode. Check what your platform wants, and in what position on the pack.
Hang tags and labels that can be printed
- Hang tags with your brand, style number, price area and barcode, attached with a string or a plastic loop.
- Sticker labels for boxes, cards and polybags.
- Small swing tickets for chains and bracelets.
- Care and material labels, which are often required by law or by the retailer.
- Country of origin marking such as "Made in India".
Avoid common mistakes
- Wrong barcode on the wrong style. Ask for a photo of each style with its tag before packing.
- Labels that peel off in humid weather or cold storage. Test the adhesive on your packaging.
- Barcodes that do not scan. Ask the printer to check with a scanner, and keep print quality high.
- Tags that scratch plated surfaces. Use soft string or plastic loops, not wire.
Put it in the purchase order
List the tag artwork, the barcode file, the attachment method and the position on each product in your purchase order. See what a jewellery purchase order should include.
Plan the tagging step in the production timeline. Tagging and labelling hundreds of small pieces is slow manual work, and it often happens after inspection and before packing. If tags arrive late from the printer, the whole shipment waits, so order them as soon as the artwork and barcode file are final.
What this means for a buyer
Supply the numbers, approve a proof and check a tagged sample before bulk tagging. Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We arrange printing near Rajkot, scan-check labels on site and supervise packing. Ask for a free sourcing review.