A Billion Dollar Idea

This is a familiar problem at the supermarket.  Everything has a scannable UPC code except the fruits and vegetables.  So when you buy an apple the clerk, or you if you are using self checkout, has to key in the PLU code that is on the little sticker.  It slows evrything down and discourages both use of self checkout and the purchase of fresh produce.

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The old sticker

This takes time and is subject to error.  The problem is that the fruit label has to be small enough to conform to the fruit but not wrinkle which means that it is not large enough to print a scannable bar code on.

But what if there were a barbell shaped label with two adhesive patches connected by a polyester strip that was large large enough for a UPC code.

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It would scan and therefore would save markets millions of dollars per year in labor expense.

Who could make this happen?  A company with label experience who had the skill set to sell this idea to the entire supply chain, from the market all the way back to the packing house.  I think that it could be a patentable idea if it hasn’t been patented already.


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