How should I order the fields on my label?
We keep it one line, left to right: STONE-SHAPE-SIZE-HOLE-LENGTH/COUNT-LOT-SKU. Uppercase, hyphens between fields, spaces only inside values. Shapes match common bead terms like rondelles and pear.
Example, 16 inch 6 mm rondelle strand: SAPPH-RON-6 MM-HOLE MM-16 IN/70 PCS-LOT B3-SKU GSXXXX. Example, loose earring pair: EMERALD-PEAR-6X9 TO 7X10 MM-HOLE TOP-PAIR/2 PCS-LOT F2-SKU GSXXXX. We print the price elsewhere to avoid reprints if pricing shifts.
- STONE: SAPPH, TOUR, LAB, MOON, OPAL, AMETH, ROSEQTZ, ONYX, SPIN
- SHAPE: RON, HEI, PEAR, OVAL, MARQ, TEAR, RECT, HEART
- SIZE: whole-mm or WxL for drops (e.g., 6X9 MM)
- HOLE: MM or TOP, SIDE, CENTER
- LENGTH/COUNT: 13 to 16 IN or PAIR/2 PCS, or count only for short hank
What label sizes and fonts actually read well on baggies?
We print on standard address labels for most strands. For chunky shapes or price stickers with barcodes, we switch to larger shipping labels. Use a clear, readable sans serif so shoppers can read under show lighting.
Barcode goes on the right edge if vertical space is tight, or centered on the bottom line on larger labels. Anish Tandon: we run both sizes at shows so we can rebag quick between trays. See our upcoming dates on the show schedule.
- Black text on bright-white labels reads best through poly bag glare.
- Place the sticker high on the bag so it is visible when bins overlap.
How do I convert caliper readings to a size range?
Measure several beads across a strand, including the smallest and the largest. If your smallest lands just over 2 mm and the largest just under 4 mm, label 2 to 4 mm. For drops, use width by length, like 6x9 mm to 7x10 mm.
Keep ranges clean and whole. If a reading straddles a boundary, round toward the nearest whole millimeter the customer can plan around.
- Rondelles: diameter by height is standard.
- Drops: width by length reads best on cards and in catalogs.
Where should the barcode and SKU go?
We encode only the SKU and price in the barcode so cash-out is fast. Put the barcode on the right edge of a narrow label, rotated if needed, or on the bottom line of a larger label.
Print the human-readable SKU after LOT. That lets you swap price-only stickers without relabeling the identity line. Link your SKU to the product page in your system; ours map to items in the shop.
- One barcode per bag. Avoid doubling barcodes on price tags and identity labels.
- Keep a short SKU so scanners read cleanly through plastic.
What counts do I print so buyers can plan?
Add one count that helps most shoppers. For 15 to 16 inch 6 mm rondelles, print about 65 to 70 beads. At 8 mm rondelles, expect about 48 to 52 beads. For 4 mm rondelles, about 95 to 100 beads.
Stringing counts help too. A 7.5 inch bracelet needs about 25 of 6 mm, about 19 of 8 mm, about 15 of 10 mm. An 18 inch necklace needs about 70 of 6 mm, about 52 of 8 mm, about 41 of 10 mm. Keep these on a cheat sheet taped near your printer.
- 25.4 mm per inch if you must convert.
- Knotting adds roughly 1 mm per knot, so reduce bead count if fully knotted.
- See stone names and shapes in our stone guides to keep naming consistent.
- Print counts as whole numbers customers can scan quickly.
Which abbreviations are clear to customers?
We keep stones short and unambiguous. SAPPH, TOUR, LAB, MOON, OPAL, AMETH, ROSEQTZ, ONYX, SPIN. Shapes mirror what shoppers ask for: RON, HEI, PEAR, OVAL, MARQ, TEAR, RECT, HEART.
Tie your abbreviations to what you actually stock so staff label consistently. Our trays use the same shape words you see on our pages for rondelles and pear.
- Avoid one-letter codes. Short codes, a few letters, scan faster at checkout.
- Do not abbreviate SIZE or HOLE; keep them readable for quick stringing decisions.
What quick checklist prevents mislabeling?
We run this before bagging. It saves reprints and returns.
- STONE matches tray and receipt text.
- SHAPE matches what is drilled and cut.
- SIZE range rounded to whole mm, format matches shape.
- HOLE noted as mm or position (TOP, SIDE, CENTER).
- LENGTH/COUNT entered from strand length or count sheet.
- LOT and SKU present and scannable.
- Barcode prints once and in a clear spot.
- Sticker placed high on the bag front, flat, no wrinkles.