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Some companies deal in designing bar code labels and selling them to other establishments. These bar code label manufacturers print both preprinted and custom designed labels according to the specifications provided by the ordering company.

Preprinted labels are ready to use labels that are sold in the market. They are available in bundles of 100, 250, 500, etc. Bar code label manufacturers create preprinted labels with technologies such as reflective printing or photocomposition. Photocomposition is an expensive process, but it produces almost authentic and high quality bar codes. Bar code labels made by photocomposition are sold at higher prices than reflective labels. Companies that do not have their own bar coding equipment buy bundles of them from the market for their use.

Manufacturers also customize bar code labels according to the requirements from the ordering company. They can change the size, color, numerical and alphabetical information, nature of the bar coding, etc. as the ordering company suggests. Information such as name of the company, date of shipment or loading, location, etc. is mentioned on customized bar code labels if needed. Manufacturers use specialized software to design the labels.

Naturally, bar code label manufacturers use high-end equipment to manufacture their labels in bulk. Several companies rely upon bar code manufacturers to buy their labels as it not only saves them money, but also time and manpower.

Computers, scanners and printers are all used in conjunction to design, test and print labels. Sequential numbers are provided on the labels so that they can be used to manage inventory. If desired, manufacturers will also place information in the form of alphabetical and numerical codes on the labels.

Bar code label manufacturers also sell other things such as nameplates, location tags, sealing tags and bar code scanners and printers.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

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Looking for new leads, new contacts, new business opportunities? Do what nine out of 10 adults do, according to a recent article by the American Society of Association Executives. Join an Association. Choose from over 130,000 associations in the United States alone that represent practically any industry at national, international, regional, state and local levels.

How can you reap benefits from association contacts? OhioHelp.net, an Ohio-based company that helps businesses worldwide with their marketing, public relations and freelance writing services, shared tips based on their own client projects and Association affiliations in a 3-part series:

• Part I: “How to Develop Industry Contacts”

• Part II: “Tips For Improved Networking in Associations”

• Part III: “Researching Associations in Your Industries”

Part I:

HOW TO DEVELOP INDUSTRY CONTACTS

1. Keep lists of industry associations that your company and clients are affiliated with handy.

2. Bookmark the association websites and place their contact information in separate computer and print folders.

3. Contact all associations where appropriate and let them know that as a member and affiliate with your client who is a member, you’d like them to add your personal mailing info & email address to their member lists so that you get their member guides, newsletters, press releases & other announcements, etc.

4. Stay in touch monthly or bi-monthly with association contacts you meet either in person or via the phone, fax or email. Attend events when possible and volunteer on committees. When you can’t attend, ask for minutes of the meetings or follow up in the next newsletter. Follow up & congratulate speakers & other (workshop) presenters; asked to be placed on their mailing lists, etc. Note that many groups still have difficulties with electronic communications, so reach out with the phone. Note: If emailing, keep your emails in the “Sent” folder until you hear back. If you don’t hear back, your email most probably never reached the recipient, so call to touch base.

5. Log communications in a notebook or separate online file and follow up.

6. Keep hard copy folders for each organization to hold the membership guide, latest newsletter, URL & other contact info. What works well is to use 3-ring plastic page inserts where you can insert a bunch of papers, a brochure & other goodies into one packet, then just insert the entire pack into a 3-ring binder. Or file the plastic packets in a file cabinet for quick retrieval.

7. Take advantage of online aids. For example, keep up with the latest info to discuss with group members by joining an ebook club: http://presssuccess.com/wholesale. And share your own company / industry tips, news & other automation enhancements (like electronic downloads of your own ebooks & reports) with http://presssuccess.com/AutoPilot.

SPECIAL OFFER

For a 30-day no-cost trial of ProfitAuto, sign up online at http://presssuccess.com/AutoPilot. And download ebooks with loads of information to help with your business from the “Freebies” section of the OhioHelp.net bookstore at http://www.presssuccess.com/bookstore

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You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: diana@ohiohelp.net

About The Author

Diana Barnum is the president of http://movingaheadcommunications.com and CEO of http://ohiohelp.net. For more help with marketing, public relations and writing, email diana@ohiohelp.net or call: (614) 529-9459.

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Local businesses are often the best places to sell your original arts and crafts. If your goal is gallery representation, local sales can build your reputation, and fill in your resume. In addition, income from local sales can exceed what you earn with some galleries.

JOIN REGIONAL ART ASSOCIATIONS

Most communities have an art association of some kind. You’ll find them listed in the yellow pages of your local phone book, and sometimes online. Look in categories such as “Clubs”, “Associations”, and so on.

These groups are usually a mix of professionals and eager amateurs. At their meetings, I’ve seen everything from gorgeous, $10K watercolors to crocheted dolls in unnatural colors & fibers. No two groups are the same. Visit as a guest before joining, and see if the association or club is right for you.

Most art associations sponsor regular gallery shows in their own meeting place or in a town hall or library meeting room. They often have at least one outdoor art show, at which you can display your art and perhaps demonstrate your techniques.

Art association meetings include regular demonstrations (of art technique) by artists who will usually sell some art to the members, too. This can be a good outlet if you want to do demos.

Start by creating a form letter that you’ll send to every art association in the phone book. When the demo is announced, make sure that the publicity mentions that you’ll have art for sale, too. The art association takes a commission based on how much you sell, and everyone goes home happy.

USE THE ART ASSOCIATION’S CONTACTS FOR LOCAL SALES

Many art associations have working relationships with local businesses, especially restaurants, bookstores, beauty salons, and banks… anyone with blank wall space that wants an “art show” to generate interest. (They use this to attract visitors and for press releases, publicity, etc.) Libraries are less likely to be able to offer work for sale, but it depends upon the local laws.

This works best if the sales go through the art association. Next to each piece of art, place the art association’s business card. On it, write the title of the art, the artist, the price, and how to contact the art association for more information.

Of course, this should be something better than voicemail; someone needs to be on hand to answer the phone. A member who works at home is good for this job.

If your local art club hasn’t done this before, help them to set it up. The art association can have a single phone number, and use Call Forwarding to whomever is manning the phones that day.

HELP YOUR ART CLUB TURN PROFESSIONAL

If you are in an art association that doesn’t have a working relationship with local businesses, bring it up at the next business meeting. Some members may already work at offices or shops that would cheerfully display your art.

There are issues to sort out, including how the art is insured, if it’s protected from damage, and so on. You can check with other art associations and see how they handle it.

Once you start contacting businesses about displaying local art, you may be surprised at how easy this is.

ART ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT CARD PURCHASES

In most cases, the art association makes the sale, and has a merchant account that accepts checks and credit cards. The art association takes a percentage of the sales, usually about 20%. At the end of the month, the association issues a check to everyone whose art sold that month.

IF YOU CAN’T FIND THE RIGHT ART GROUP FOR YOUR WORK

If you don’t have a local art association–or if their interests don’t match yours–start your own. A simple, free announcement in the local newspaper will attract interest, and your public library can probably provide a free meeting room.

Selling your arts and crafts locally is a great first step for any artist. In addition, it’s usually fun, brings you recognition from your neighbors, and adds a little extra beauty to the businesses that participate.

Aisling D’Art is a third-generation artist from Belmont, Massachusetts. Today, she lives near Houston, Texas, and her paintings are displayed internationally. For more free information about creating art and succeeding as a professional artist, see Aisling’s website, www.aisling.net.

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