Source-tag hats
Explore encoding and attaching RAIN RFID tags during production, before hats reach New Orleans.
Suggestions only · Not an approved projectBetter product data.
World Hat Company × Meyer The Hatter
Better product data.
Faster receiving.
More opportunities to sell.
A practical discussion about how World Hat might help Meyer The Hatter receive hats more efficiently and make its local inventory easier to discover online.
The opportunity
Start by helping a retailer—not by changing World Hat's ERP.
These ideas are offered for discussion. World Hat may already have some of this information or may prefer different approaches. We would like to learn what is practical before proposing any implementation.
Share product identifiers
Explore a consistent export of manufacturer part numbers, valid GTINs and key product attributes.
Improve local discovery
Let MTH combine manufacturer data with its own prices, Shopify listings and store inventory for Google Merchant Center.
Discussion principle: Nothing on this page is a requirement, purchase authorization, commitment by World Hat, or claim that an integration is already operational.
Suggestion 01 · RFID
Explore a Zebra ZD621R at the Ecuador production location.
One possible approach is a network-connected RFID printer/encoder operated by a trained local team member, with a reliable internet connection and a defined replenishment and support process.
1. Encode in Ecuador
Print, encode, verify and attach a unique RAIN UHF RFID tag to each finished hat.
2. Create EPC manifest
Associate each EPC with the product variant, shipment and purchase order.
3. Receive at MTH
Read arriving tags and compare them to the expected shipment and open PO.
4. Reconcile in NX™
Review exceptions and post verified quantities into retailer inventory.
Proposed Ecuador operating needs
ZD621R with suitable regional approval; wired network where practical; secure local print service; verified RFID labels and ribbons; a primary operator and backup; training for loading media, changing ribbon, calibration and exception handling; local service and spare supplies.
Proposed New Orleans capability
Meyer The Hatter, at 120 St. Charles Avenue, could print replacement RFID tags from NX™ for untagged goods and exceptions. EPC numbering must be coordinated across both locations to prevent duplication.
Technical questions to validate: Ecuador radio approval and printer configuration; tag performance on real hats; secure print-job delivery; EPC serialization and encoding; offline recovery; confirmation of successful encoding; and the actual receiving workflow in NX™. The Zebra printer alone does not complete this integration.
Suggestion 02 · Product information
A lightweight manufacturer data exchange.
Rather than requiring a new system at World Hat, a simple, repeatable CSV or spreadsheet export may be sufficient for an initial pilot.
| Suggested manufacturer field | Why it helps | Discussion note |
|---|---|---|
| UPC / GTIN | Globally recognized product identification for matching and online listings. | UPC-A is GTIN-12; GTIN-14 representation is the same number padded with two leading zeros. Use legitimately assigned identifiers. |
| MPN / manufacturer part number | Connects World Hat's catalog to the retailer's records. | Confirm whether MPN varies by size and color. |
| Brand | Identifies the consumer-facing brand in Google listings. | Confirm brand ownership for MTH-exclusive/private-label hats. |
| Style / item group | Groups variants of the same hat style. | Useful when color or size differs. |
| Title and description | Improves product listings and search relevance. | Retailer may refine customer-facing wording. |
| Color, size, material | Distinguishes individual sellable variants. | Include hat sizing conventions where applicable. |
| Age group, gender, size system | Supports applicable apparel/accessory attributes. | Google requirements depend on the item and market. |
| Images, if available | Supports product listings and shopping discovery. | For custom runs, MTH may need to photograph products. |
| Country of origin | Useful for product and trade records. | Not universally a mandatory GMC feed attribute. |
| Shipment / PO / EPC manifest | Enables serialized receiving against expected shipments. | Operational exchange, not a Google product attribute. |
Suggested starting fields, not a representation that all are universally required by Google. Each distinct sellable variant may require its own GTIN under applicable GS1 rules. Confirm who assigns GTINs for exclusive/private-label products.
Suggestion 03 · Google Merchant Center
World Hat provides product facts. MTH controls retail facts.
Google Local Inventory is a retailer workflow. World Hat would not need to operate MTH's Google Merchant Center account.
World Hat might provide
GTIN / UPC, MPN, brand, variant attributes, descriptions, images where available, and shipment data.
MTH / NX™ would provide
Retail SKU, selling price, Shopify product URL, store identity, actual on-hand inventory, local availability and applicable Google feed attributes.
Important: A GTIN does not itself tell Google that a hat is in stock. NX™ would need to send valid product and local inventory data after receiving. Google's processing and publication may take time; eligibility and visibility are not guaranteed.
A possible first pilot
One shipment. A small number of styles. Clear results.
We suggest validating the process locally before committing to an overseas installation.
1
Confirm the data
Review 10–20 actual hat variants, their identifiers and whether World Hat already has images and exportable records.
2
Prove RFID locally
Test ZD621R encoding, EPC uniqueness, label placement, reader performance and NX™ purchase-order reconciliation at MTH.
3
Assess Ecuador rollout
Identify the operator, site connectivity, approved printer configuration, supplies, training, responsibilities and support.
Suggested success measures: tagging accuracy, EPC-to-item match rate, time to receive a shipment, exception rate, completeness of product records, and Google listing eligibility. These are proposed measures—not promised results.
For Michael, Geoffrey and Paul
Questions worth discussing together.
World Hat / Michael
- Who actually produces and tags the hats in Ecuador?
- Does World Hat already have GS1-assigned GTINs or UPCs, MPNs and usable product images?
- Can the current system export item and shipment information?
- Who could own daily printer operation and supplies?
NX™ / Geoffrey & Paul
- Can NX™ reserve and track unique EPCs across multiple printers?
- What Zebra print/encode verification and local gateway would be needed?
- How will scanned EPCs reconcile with purchase orders and exceptions?
- What GMC and Shopify data is already working, and what needs development?
Our intention
Help Meyer The Hatter sell more World Hat products.
This is a starting point for collaboration—not a software proposal, a purchase request or a commitment to change World Hat's systems. We welcome corrections, alternatives and practical suggestions from everyone reviewing it.
Text Gary to discuss →CoNXnus Corp · NX™ End-to-End Commerce