Monthly Archives: February 2017

Barcode Printers In All Shapes And Sizes

Realizing your business may have a need for a new product can be stressful. For one, there is the potential cost associated with the item. For small organizations, the budget is often stretched near its capacity already. Even amidst the budgetary restrictions associated with starting and growing a small business, or any sized business, for that matter, there comes a point when expenditures must be made. To cope with an unexpected potential expenditure, business owners may want to focus on shifting their mindset.

If the expenditure is for a product that will help their business operate more efficiently, it really should be treated as more of an investment than expenditure. Products that can make businesses and employees do their jobs faster or focus more on important tasks are really opportunities. Just think of all the expenditures that won’t happen as a result of the new product. Certainly, an expenditure on office supplies like paper and folders should not be considered in the same category as an unexpected plumbing emergency (although, as business owners realize, they both count as expenditures on the balance sheet).

An even more drastically different type of expenditure is one that can streamline your business process. These are the aforementioned products that are investments. One such item for many businesses is a barcode printer. If your business frequently uses barcodes, it may be efficient to have your own barcode printer. Many barcode equipment companies offer barcode printer rentals if you think it would be beneficial to use one on a trial basis and see its value firsthand. Once you make the decision to investigate a barcode printer, you quickly realize there are several types to choose from, mostly varying by size. Here are a few examples of barcode printers.

 

barcode-printer-rentals

 

Industrial Barcode Printers

 

Industrial printers are the largest, most expensive and among the most advanced barcode label printers on the market. Companies who need to print out large quantities of shipping labels may benefit from purchasing or renting an industrial-sized barcode label printer. Specific advanced applications, like printing long-lasting inventory labels are also a function of these advanced devices. They are designed for warehouses and other manufacturing settings, and have a durability and capability to match.

 

Desktop Barcode Printers

 

A step below the industrial printers in size and capability are Desktop Barcode Label Printers. This is an ideal size for retailers who need to print barcodes, as well as small businesses with online stores or warehouses that need to print shipping labels or inventory barcodes at lower volumes, perhaps only on a seasonal basis. Seasonal small businesses may particularly benefit from purchasing or renting a desktop barcode printer.

 

Mobile Barcode Printers

 

As the name indicates, these barcode printers are designed to function anywhere and to connect with computers and smartphones via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB. Anyone who needs to print barcode labels and needs the flexibility that this connectivity affords should investigate mobile barcode printers.

 

Wristband Barcode Printers

 

Though it might seem like a small niche, there is enough demand for barcoded wristbands that there exists a class of printers specifically for their output. Hospitals and theme parks are two certainly contrasting examples of situations where barcoded wristbands might be necessary, but businesses holding events have also found them useful. Many businesses use barcodes; and if you use enough of them, you just may need to start printing your own.

 

Trade Show Marketing Tips

The area of business that many casual observers associate with a trade show is sales. People think of trade shows as a sort of market, where businesses go to sell products to interested consumers. These same people logically assume that the business skills needed to thrive at trade shows are all related to the art and science of selling. It isn’t just casual onlookers who fall victim to this sales-driven mindset when it comes to trade shows. Even participating businesses get caught up in the potential sales involved in a trade show. These businesses spend all of their time and resources, prior to the trade show, honing their sales pitches. During the trade show, they focus primarily on closing sales and become discouraged if they are not moving product. When the dust has settled and the show is over, these businesses base the success of their trade show on their sales only. To be sure, sales are a potentially important aspect of trade shows. It should be noted, however, that trade shows are at least as much of a showcase of the business area of marketing as they are of sales.

Increasingly, individuals and businesses are coming to view trade shows as the valuable marketing opportunities that they are and have always been. These folks understand that, even if the sales don’t happen, a trade show can still be a success from a marketing perspective; in the long run, they further acknowledge, trade show marketing may have a greater, more sustainable impact on their bottom line. This all begs the question, what contributes to successful trade show marketing? Here is a look at a few contributing factors.

 

Branding

 

The primary reason trade shows are marketing opportunities is that trade shows are opportunities to convey and develop your brand. Thus, it can behoove a business to think less about making sales, a short-term gain, and more about how the trade show can leave the interested customers and industry professionals at a trade show with a favorable impression and an increased awareness of their brand. This brand development is what will ultimately yield long-term business growth. Because trade shows are industry-specific, decisions about how to present your brand in the context of the industry and your competitors are more important than usual. One helpful trade show marketing tip would be to think of your brand not only in the largest possible sense, but also your brand for that specific day. How are your aesthetics and presentation perceived in the moment by potential customers? This may be more productive than a sales-oriented mindset.

 

Equipment

 

Of course, there is trade show equipment that can contribute to your marketing success. Think about how your audio-visual equipment, decorations, music, promotional giveaways, etc. all can contribute to the perception of your brand both inside and outside of the convention center. Distributing items such as t-shirts or pens with your company’s name and logo can be an effective way of developing your brand, depending on your target market.

 

Follow Up

 

tradeshow-scanners

 

Your marketing efforts on the day of the trade show will have little impact if you do not successfully follow up with the leads you generate during the show. The pace at which your competitors are able to track, store, retrieve, export and follow up on the customer data they acquire at a trade show has never been faster. Your business needs to keep pace accordingly, and there is equipment that can help you do so. A tradeshow scanner will help you scan the barcoded badges and business cards of tradeshow attendees and can quickly connect to a computer with the right software to turn your tradeshow leads into sales further down the road.

 

Why Use Barcodes For Inventory?

There have never been more reasons to use barcodes to manage your inventory. These inventory management solutions related to barcodes are useful and accessible no matter the industry of your business. Of course, different industries maintain inventories for different reasons. Many businesses have constantly fluctuating inventories; these businesses need to monitor this fluctuation in quantity, as well as monitor the sources of the fluctuation, in order to move products where they need to be to generate revenue for the business. Failure to have product where it needs to be can result in losses for a business and can end up being one of the chief problems a business will face over its lifetime. For larger businesses with multiple locations, the need for effective inventory management is obvious. But what about smaller businesses that have a need for inventory management, as well?  What about organizations that don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional for-profit businesses? Groups like event planning organizations, non-profit organizations and even schools all potentially have needs for inventory management. All of these organizations may benefit from inventory management solutions that employ barcodes. After reviewing this list of reasons to implement barcoded inventory management solutions, you may be intrigued but not yet sold on the idea of barcoded inventory. For those who are not sold, there is a literal solution in barcode inventory rentals. Companies who offer barcode equipment and software often rent out these solutions for companies who are looking to use them on a temporary, seasonal or trial basis. Consider the following barcoded inventory rationales and then try out the solutions for yourself.

 

barcode-inventory-rentals

 

Efficiency

 

The primary reason to use barcoded inventory is the efficiency. Those who are keeping track of inventory manually may believe they are keeping it simple, but barcoded inventory is truly the simplest route. For those with some variety in their inventory, they may think it is easier to keep track of by using their own labels and spreadsheets. What these folks may not realize is the versatility available in modern barcoding, where certain inventory items can be associated with different, even unique barcode labels. Once you get the hang of an electronic system of inventory control and tracking, the old method will seem like the complicated one. Barcoded inventory is also efficient in terms of cost, an obviously important decision-making factor for any business. Barcoded inventory can cut down on labor costs, while keeping effective track of your inventory can lower capital costs by letting you know exactly how much you have and how much you need.

 

Technology

 

The main reason barcoding your inventory is so necessary today—more so than ever before—is the advances in the technology of barcode equipment and software. Not only is the technology more advanced than ever before, it is easier to use than ever before. The quicker your company invests in barcode technology, the quicker you will begin to see a return on your investment and the quicker and more capable you will be to adopt similar cost-saving solutions going forward.

 

Accuracy

 

As mentioned above, certain aspects of inventory management with barcodes are cost-effective. This is because of accuracy. Modern barcode inventory equipment is designed to sync not only with associated inventory management software but also with other software, such as marketing software, relevant to your business. This connection between aspects of your business, from manufacturing to inventory to sales and marketing, makes your business smarter, less error-prone and ultimately more profitable.