For zero waste store owners: how do you enter your products in the POS?

[lvitoux]

I am selling products in bulk (so no barcode) and I am curious to know what is the most efficient way to enter a product in the POS so the cashier can easily look it up. 

For instance, if I sell 3 different shampoos from 3 different brands, do you create a code number for each product? Or do you put the brand in the product name and type key words? 

[Doran]

Hi @lvitoux 

I also sell in bulk and here is how I do it.  

I put all my items in under their brand and item name then assign a SKU.  

Thank I have all the SKUs in a book to easily scan at the cash wrap.  For my top-selling items, I have them saved to my favorites so I can just tap them on the checkout screen.  

On the off chance the SKU won't scan--- it happens-- I just type in the keywords.  

[lvitoux]

Thanks, Doran! Really appreciate your help. Isn't typing keywords faster than typing SKU numbers? Like this you don't even need to look at the book with the SKU numbers.

[Candlestore]

When I have to enter items that the Barcode does not read,

Square searches both the Item Name and the SKU for a match at the POS.

So if you have your items in by name and by a Square generated SKU, you could search for either.

So When I started out I sell Candles that are scented.  So my Item names start with the Scent, and my SKU's start with the size.

This way if I have to look up an item I do not have to think was it by size or scent , I am covered both ways.

My Item is Macintosh Apple 28oz and the SKU is 28oz Macintosh Apple.  

So if I search by 28oz... I start getting a list of all my 28oz scents. 136 varieties

If I do a search by Macintosh Apple I get a list of all my Macintosh Apple Sizes or about 13 sizes

So if you were using shampoos, you could put in by Scent of Shampoo or bottle size to look it up quicker too.

The biggest problem is remembering how you have the items in Square when looking them up, or how the cashier will try to look them up.