We generally use the standard 12-digit UPC-A barcode styles, although we have permission to print the space saving, 6-digit, zero-suppressed UPC-E style reserved for companies selling small products.

The 12-digit unified product codes (UPC) barcode consist of three portions, the company code (first six digits), the product stocking code, or SKU (next five digits), and finally a checksum digit to verify that the scanner read the barcode correctly. Clay Critters’ company code is 093300 and is registered with the Uniform Code Council (UCC), so there is never a possibility of a misread or mischarged code from us.

All of our barcodes are printed in-house using a Zebra-4M barcode printer. We never have to wait for a label shipment. This high-contrast printer is unique; instead of printing round dots, like your laser printer and FAX does, it prints square dots, which make the barcode bars crisper and more accurately scanned. Learn more about barcodes at Wikipedia.