QR Codes for Retailers
Product details shoppers ask for
Store windows, shelf tags, receipts, and empty out-of-stock spots are where retail QR codes answer product questions before a shopper looks for staff.
79% of consumers are more likely to buy a product with a scannable QR code that shows extra product information, a 2025 GS1 US survey found.
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Where a Retail QR Code Earns a Spot
Each code should match one moment in the shopping trip.
Store Windows
Browsing after closing time
A code in the window opens current offers, store hours, or a product page for people passing outside.
Shelf Tags
The details that do not fit
A code on the shelf tag opens specs, reviews, or size charts for that product.
Checkout and Receipts
A reason to come back
A code on the receipt opens a loyalty signup, a review form, or a return policy page.
Out-of-Stock Spots
A sale you keep
A code where an item is sold out opens the product online or a back-in-stock signup.
What Is a Retail QR Code?
A retail QR code is a code on a window, shelf tag, display, or receipt that opens product information, an offer, a loyalty signup, or an online store page when a shopper scans it. It is separate from the barcode scanned at checkout, which identifies the product for the point-of-sale system.
What GS1 US Found About Product Information
GS1 US, the standards body behind UPC barcodes, published these figures from its 2025 consumer survey on its Sunrise 2027 page.
- 79% of consumers are more likely to buy a product with a scannable QR code that provides extra product information.
- 77% say product information is important when making a purchase.
- 62% are willing to pay more for a product with detailed information.
- GS1 US’s Sunrise 2027 initiative supports moving from 1D UPC barcodes to 2D barcodes, such as QR codes, that point-of-sale systems can read.
How to Create a Retail QR Code in TLinky
Use dynamic codes for shelf tags and windows, since prices, offers, and stock change faster than printed signs.
Here is the step by step guide:
- Log in to your TLinky account, click Create, then select QR Code.
- Name the code and choose a domain (domains apply to dynamic codes and depend on your plan).
- Select Link for a product page, offer, or loyalty signup.
- Enter the page URL.
- Customize Templates, Colors, and Design to match your store, click Generate QR, then Save Changes and download.
Pro Tip: A marketing QR code is not a checkout barcode. Codes meant to scan at the register need a GS1 GTIN in the GS1 Digital Link format, which your supplier or barcode provider sets up.
Retail Placements That Get Scanned
Shelf tags: Link to specs, reviews, and comparisons so shoppers decide without searching on their phone.
Product packaging: Brands add QR codes on product packaging for ingredients, care, or setup guides.
Fitting rooms: Open size charts and other colors so shoppers can check fit without leaving the room.
Window displays: Open the featured product online for people passing after hours.
Receipts: Open a loyalty signup or a short review form while the purchase is fresh.
End caps and promotions: Open the promotion terms or a bundle page from QR code displays at the end of the aisle.
Before You Print Retail Codes
- Add a short call to action, such as Scan for reviews, so shoppers know what they will get.
- Check codes on display every week, since the FTC warns that scammers cover real codes with their own stickers.
- Never ask for card details through a code on a shelf or window; keep payment at checkout.
- Build linked pages for phones, with the product details at the top.
- Test each code under store lighting before you print a full run.
Change the Offer, Keep the Tag
Prices and promotions move weekly. Edit the page behind the shelf tag instead of reprinting it.
Retail QR Code Questions
Do shoppers scan QR codes in stores?
GS1 US found 79% of consumers are more likely to buy a product with a scannable QR code that shows extra product information. Shoppers scan when the code promises something useful, such as reviews or sizing.
Is a QR code the same as a barcode?
Both are machine-readable codes, but they do different jobs. A UPC barcode identifies a product at checkout. A marketing QR code opens a web page. A 2D barcode can do both when it carries a GTIN in the GS1 Digital Link format.
Will QR codes replace barcodes at checkout?
GS1 US’s Sunrise 2027 initiative supports the move toward 2D barcodes that point-of-sale systems can read. GS1 US describes it as a gradual transition, not a single switch-off date for UPC barcodes.
Can a retail QR code take payments?
A QR code just points to a web page. Payment happens on whatever checkout page or system it opens, so keep payments inside your point-of-sale or online store.
Are retail QR codes safe for shoppers?
They are when the store checks them. Fake stickers placed over real codes are a known scam, so inspect displayed codes regularly and link only to your own domain.
See How QR Codes Can Grow Your Business
Brands, grocers, and online sellers use many of the same shelf and package codes.
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