Educational
How to Organize Your Inventory with SKUs and Barcodes
Published on February 28, 2026•By Dapplesoft
What is a SKU?
A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to a specific product to help track inventory. Unlike universal barcodes (like UPCs), SKUs are internal codes created by your business for your own use.
Why You Need SKUs on Your Tags
Including a SKU on your price tag bridges the gap between the physical product and your digital inventory system. It allows you to quickly identify an item, check stock levels, and reorder when necessary.
Best Practices for Creating SKUs
- Keep it logical: Use abbreviations that make sense. For a large blue t-shirt, a SKU might be `TSH-BLU-LRG`.
- Avoid confusing characters: Don't use the letter 'O' and the number '0', or the letter 'I' and the number '1', as they look identical on printed labels.
- Keep it short: Aim for 8-12 characters.
When using the Dapplesoft Label Maker, you can easily input your custom SKU into the "Barcode / SKU" field to ensure it is printed clearly on every tag.