.svg)
Let's give a special shoutout to those little black and white lines that make our shopping experience so much easier – it's National Barcode Day on June 26! This day marks the anniversary of the first patent for the barcode being issued in 1952, paving the way for modern retail and inventory systems. Can you imagine having to manually enter prices for every single item at the grocery store? Thanks to barcodes, we can now breeze through checkout lines and get back to our busy lives. So let's celebrate this innovative invention and appreciate its convenience on National Barcode Day!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1952</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Barcode Patent Issued</div><div class='timeline-text'>Two inventors, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, received a patent for the barcode, paving the way for modern retail.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1970</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Universal Barcode Standard</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Universal Product Code (UPC), a specific type of barcode, was developed as a standard to be used in the retail industry.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1974</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Item Scanned with UPC</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first item marked with the UPC was scanned at a Marsh supermarket in Ohio; the item was a packet of Wrigley's gum.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Barcode Technology Advancement</div><div class='timeline-text'>With advancements in technology and decrease in costs, barcode scanners started to become commonplace in many retail environments.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>2D Barcodes and QR Codes</div><div class='timeline-text'>The development of 2D barcodes, such as QR codes, revolutionizes the industry, allowing more data to be encoded and a wider use of barcodes.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Throw a barcode themed party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Decorate your party space with barcode designs and serve snacks with barcode labels. You can even create your own barcode invitations to send out to guests.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Scan and win game</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Create a game where guests have to scan barcodes on different items and whoever scans the most in a given time wins a prize. This is a fun way to incorporate barcodes into your celebration.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a store with a barcode scanner</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Go to your local store and take turns scanning items with a barcode scanner. It will give you a new appreciation for the technology that makes shopping so much easier.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create barcode art</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Use colored markers or paint to create your own barcode art. You can even use a real barcode scanner to scan and decode your masterpiece.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a barcode scavenger hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Hide items around your house with barcodes on them and have guests find and scan them. The first person to scan all the items wins a prize!</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates the impact of barcodes on our lives</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Barcodes have become an integral part of our daily lives, from scanning items at the grocery store to tracking packages. National Barcode Day allows us to appreciate and recognize the convenience and efficiency that barcodes bring to our world.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a reminder of technological advancements</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Barcodes may seem commonplace now, but they were a revolutionary invention when they were first introduced in the late 1940s. Celebrating National Barcode Day is a way to honor the innovative minds behind this technology and acknowledge the progress made in the field of retail and logistics.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a day for exploring new products</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>On National Barcode Day, many companies offer discounts and releases of new products with special barcodes or unique designs. It's a great opportunity to discover new items and explore different uses for barcodes besides just price scanning.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Barcodes Improved Checkout Accuracy</h3><p class='facts-content'>Before barcodes, cashiers had to manually enter each item's code, leading to potential errors. Barcode introduction drastically improved checkout accuracy, reducing shopper frustration.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The First Barcode Scanner was as big as a Desk</h3><p class='facts-content'>When barcode technology was first developed, the scanners were quite large. The first commercial scanner was about the size of a desk and weighed 30 pounds.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Barcodes Help Track Wildlife Populations</h3><p class='facts-content'>Barcodes aren't just for retail. Scientists use them to track wildlife populations. Each animal is assigned a unique barcode that holds information about their species, making tracking and identifying easier.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Barcodes Simplify Hospital Management</h3><p class='facts-content'>Hospitals also benefit from barcode technology. They use barcodes to track patient locations, medical records, and even medication distribution, enhancing the efficiency and safety of patient care.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Barcodes Are Essential in Airlines</h3><p class='facts-content'>Airlines use barcodes for everything from tickets to luggage. Scanning the barcode on a ticket allows airline staff to quickly access passenger and flight information, speeding up the check-in process.</p></div></div>
National Barcode Day is celebrated on June 26 every year. In 2024 National Barcode Day will occur on a Wednesday.
2023
Jun 26
Monday
2024
Jun 26
Wednesday
2025
Jun 26
Thursday
2026
Jun 26
Friday
2027
Jun 26
Saturday
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
