GS1 US Apparel and General Merchandise Initiative Workgroups

Get involved to foster broad collaboration and help shape the future of the retail industry

GS1 US® launched the GS1 Apparel and General Merchandise Initiative following the 2012 merger with Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions® (VICS®). Today 100+ retailers, marketplaces, brand owners, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, solution providers, and academic institutions participate in Initiative activities—with a shared focus using GS1 Standards to improve inventory accuracy, exchange standardized product data, and achieve traceability.

By participating, you can take an active role in driving positive change and innovation in your industry.

Choose how to contribute:

Improving efficiencies
Driving inventory accuracy
Supporting better data quality between trading partners to automate business processes

No matter how you participate, all members share the same ultimate goal: enabling seamless omni-channel fulfillment and shopping experiences.

Why join our targeted workgroups?

Joining a workgroup allows you can get involved, foster broad collaboration, and make a difference—no matter your focus or expertise. As a participant, help identify challenges, explore solutions, and create adoption plans for:

Item Level RFID Discussion Group

Join this peer-to-peer forum to share what you’ve learned and to help develop guidelines and best practices for industry adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC®)-enabled Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This workgroup also works to ensure sustainability of investments, to demonstrate the ongoing benefits of EPC-enabled item level RFID across business processes, and to reinforce responsible use of the technology. Find RFID documents and content in our Resource Library.

Omni-Channel Ready Merchandise Workgroup

Identify the key merchandising challenges in preparing, packaging, and shipping product for in-store and e-commerce fulfillment. Another key focus: developing enhanced guidelines for tagging (ticketing), bagging (polybags), hangers, and item identification—prioritizing areas of opportunity to establish industry best practices for successfully delivering an integrated omni-channel customer experience. Find Omni-Channel Ready Merchandise documents and content in our Resource Library.

Product Images and Data Attributes Workgroup

Identify, develop, and document standardized methods to name, identify, manage, locate, and acquire images for the apparel, footwear and general merchandise industries. Create a consistent model for defining and exchanging the extended attributes needed for core back-office business functions and omni-channel commerce. Find Product Images and Data Attributes documents and content in our Resource Library.

Order Consolidation Best Practices Workgroup

Join the GS1 US Order Consolidation Best Practices (OCBP) Workgroup to help the retail industry develop best practice recommendations that retailers and suppliers can use when implementing multiple purchase orders in a single carton. This workgroup aims to reduce “air” shipments, lower carton handling and freight costs, improve sustainability, and decrease single unit shipments. Contact ApparelGM@gs1us.org to get involved.

General Merchandise Discussion Group

Cross-Industry Blockchain Discussion Group

To participate in any of these Workgroups, you will need to join the Initiative. To begin the process, please complete the application below. If your company is already a member of the GS1 US Apparel and General Merchandise Initiative, please contact us at ApparelGM@gs1us.org and we would be happy to help you get started.