The History of Get A Barcode Limited: From Registration to Today
In the world of retail and ecommerce, barcodes are an essential piece of infrastructure — enabling products to be tracked, scanned, and sold across markets globally. Behind every barcode you see on a product lies an issuer, and for some small UK businesses that issuer is Get A Barcode Limited — the company operating the website www.getabarcode.co.uk.
Origins: Incorporation and Early Years
Get A Barcode Limited was officially incorporated in the United Kingdom on 24 January 2011 as a private limited company under the Companies Act. Its initial incorporation established it as a UK-based enterprise focused on information technology services, as indicated by its company filing records.
At the time, the UK ecommerce sector was in the midst of rapid transformation, with Amazon, eBay and other online marketplaces expanding fast. There was a growing demand for affordable barcode services from startups and small businesses seeking unique product identifiers without the complexity or cost of larger barcode authorities.
Registered Office and Company Structure
Since its incorporation, the company’s registered office has been located in County Durham, England, with address changes over time as recently as October 2023.
The company is categorised as a micro-entity, meaning it has a small scale of operations — often with under 10 employees and modest financial turnover.
Leadership
From the earliest filings, Paul Andrew Bloomfield has been a central figure in the company’s leadership, having been appointed director on the very day of incorporation in 2011. His role continues today as a key director and person with significant control.
Domain History and Online Presence
The getabarcode.co.uk domain itself provides an important piece of the company’s timeline. While the domain’s WHOIS details are partially redacted due to privacy protection, available web-domain review tools show that getabarcode.co.uk was registered around November 2010 — indicating the company began planning its online presence before formal incorporation.
According to web safety and reputation sites, the domain has existed for well over a decade — a longevity that online trust checkers often cite as a positive signal for legitimacy.
Business Focus Over Time
Since inception, the company’s core business model has centred on providing barcodes (like EAN and UPC) to UK sellers — particularly ecommerce vendors, independent producers and small enterprises that need product identification numbers but may not want to engage directly with larger barcode standards organisations.
Over the years, getabarcode.co.uk has marketed itself as a cost-effective solution: offering instant delivery of barcode codes and printable images, with lifetime ownership and no recurring subscription fees. This positioning caters directly to small businesses and startup founders seeking simplicity and affordability over complex licensing agreements.
Modern Status and Continuity
As of the most recent company filings:
- Get A Barcode Limited remains an active company in the UK corporate register, indicating ongoing business operations.
- Accounts and confirmation statements are up to date, which means the company continues to meet statutory filing obligations.
Despite its small size, the business has persisted through more than a decade of technological and market change, remaining focused on its niche in the barcode provision sector.
Final Thoughts
The history of Get A Barcode Limited isn’t a dramatic tale of rapid expansion or disruptive innovation — it’s a story about a steady, focused business serving a specific need in UK ecommerce and retail. What began as a simple idea — to make barcodes accessible and affordable to smaller sellers — has continued for over 14 years, anchored by consistent leadership and an enduring online presence.
If you’re selling products online or stepping into retail for the first time, understanding where your barcodes come from — and the history behind the company that supplies them — can give you confidence in the systems that support your business.