The Glouf Journal.

Why packaging alone can't prove a product is real

Most of us judge a product by how it looks. The colours are right, the logo is sharp, the seal is intact, so it must be genuine. Counterfeiters know this, and it's exactly why they put so much effort into copying packaging.

Modern printing makes it cheap to reproduce labels that are close to perfect. To a shopper standing in a busy market, the difference between an original and a good copy can be invisible.

Appearance is easy to copy. A source isn't.

What a counterfeiter can't easily fake is a product's link to the company that actually made it. That's the idea behind Glouf: instead of asking "does this look right?", you ask "who registered this product?"

When a producer registers a product on Glouf, it's linked to a unique code. When a shopper scans that code, Glouf checks it against the producer's record. If there's no match, that's a clear signal something is wrong, no matter how convincing the packaging looks.

What this means for you

• Shoppers: look for a Glouf code and scan it before you pay.
• Producers: give customers a way to check your products, so your packaging isn't your only defence.

7 warning signs a product might be fake

A Glouf scan is the quickest way to check a product's source. But it helps to know the other signs that something isn't right.

• The code isn't recognised. If a Glouf scan shows no match, don't buy it.
• The code opens a strange website. Always scan with the official Glouf app. A code that sends you somewhere unfamiliar is a red flag.
• The details don't match. The product name, size or variant on screen should match the pack in your hand.
• The label looks tampered with. Peeling edges, bubbles or a second label underneath can mean a code was moved from a genuine pack.
• The print quality is off. Blurry text, faded colours and spelling mistakes are common in copies.
• The price is far too low. A big discount on a branded product is worth a second look.
• The seller is vague. If they can't tell you where the stock came from, be careful.

If something feels wrong, trust that instinct. Take a photo, note where you found the product, and report it to us.

Adding Glouf codes to your existing labels: a checklist

You don't need to redesign your packaging to start using Glouf. Most producers add the code to labels they already print. Here's a simple checklist to roll it out smoothly.

1. Start with your most-copied product

Pick the product counterfeiters target most and protect it first. You can add the rest of your range later.

2. Choose where the code goes

Place it somewhere flat and easy to see, away from folds, seams and curved edges that make scanning harder.

3. Print it at a scannable size

Give the code enough space and a clear white border so phone cameras can read it quickly.

4. Make it hard to move

Use tamper-evident labels where you can, and one unique code per unit, so a copied or moved code is easier to spot.

5. Tell customers what to do

Add a short line next to the code, such as "Scan with the Glouf app to verify", so shoppers know what it's for.

6. Brief your distributors

Let distributors and retailers know your products now carry Glouf codes, so they can check stock too.

Ready to start? Register as a merchant.