How do I create new listings on Amazon?
This guide outlines the essential preparations you need to make before using CS Amazon Sync to create new product listings on Amazon. Ensuring your Shopify catalog, product identifiers (barcodes), brand status, and images meet Amazon's requirements is crucial for a smooth listing process and successful integration. Taking these steps now will save you time and prevent potential errors when you configure the export within our app.
1. Prepare Your Shopify Catalog
A well-structured Shopify catalog is the foundation for successfully listing products on Amazon through our app. Please review and update your catalog as needed:
Structure: Organize your products logically. Using Shopify Collections, Product Types, and Tags can help manage products effectively, especially when selecting items to export later in our app.
Variation Consistency: Ensure products with variations (like size or color) use consistent variation families (e.g., all size variations are under a 'Size' option). Inconsistent variations can cause errors during export.
Unique SKUs: Every product and variant must have a unique SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) in Shopify. Amazon relies on SKUs for inventory management. Duplicates will cause failures.
Unique Barcodes (If Applicable): If your products have barcodes (UPC, EAN), ensure these are correctly entered in the designated barcode field in Shopify and are unique for each variant. We'll cover Amazon's specific barcode rules next.
2. Understand Amazon's Barcode Requirements (Product Identifiers)
Amazon uses standardized barcodes (known as GTINs - UPC, EAN, JAN, ISBN) to identify products. You have two main paths when creating new listings:
Option A: Using Official GS1 Barcodes
Requirement: If your products have barcodes, they must* be valid, official GS1 (Global Standard 1) registered barcodes.
Warning: Do not purchase cheap barcodes from third-party websites. Amazon verifies barcodes against the GS1 database, and invalid codes will lead to listing rejection.
Brand Link: The brand name associated with your GS1 barcodes should match the brand name you intend to use on Amazon. Your brand must also be approved by Amazon (see Section 3).
More Info: Refer to Amazon's policy on product UPCs/EANs: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/LE2KYT2UVPMTYGS
Option B: Requesting a GTIN Exemption (Listing Without Barcodes)
When to Use: If you manufacture your own products, sell private-label items, or have products that genuinely do not have a manufacturer barcode, you can apply for a GTIN exemption from Amazon for specific categories and brands.
How to Apply: You must apply for this exemption directly* through your Amazon Seller Central account. Follow their step-by-step process through product creation.
Brand Requirement: You will still need brand approval (see Section 3) even when applying for a GTIN exemption.
3. Get Your Brand Approved or Registered on Amazon
To create new product listings on Amazon under your brand name, Amazon requires your brand to be either approved or registered through their Brand Registry program.
Requirement: This is mandatory for creating new listings, whether you use GS1 barcodes or apply for a GTIN exemption.
How to Apply: Apply for brand approval or enroll in Amazon Brand Registry through your Seller Central account. This process involves proving your association with the brand.
Exception: If you only intend to sell products that already exist on Amazon (i.e., adding your offer to an existing ASIN created by another seller), brand approval is typically not required. Our app primarily focuses on creating new listings from your Shopify catalog.
4. Prepare Your Product Images
Amazon has strict image requirements to ensure a consistent customer experience.
Main Image Requirement: The main image for every listing must have a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255). Listings with main images that do not have a pure white background will be suppressed or rejected by Amazon.
Other Images: While only the main image must have a white background, review Amazon's full image guidelines for recommendations on additional images (lifestyle shots, infographics, etc.) to optimize your listing.
Action: Ensure your main product images in Shopify meet this requirement before you attempt to list them on Amazon.
Next Steps: What To Do On The App
Once you have completed these preparations in Shopify and Amazon Seller Central, our app streamlines the process of sending your product data to Amazon. Within the app, you will use features like:
Matching Groups: To select which categories or collections of Shopify products you want to export to Amazon.
Models: To prepare the product data (attributes, values) based on Amazon's requirements for the specific product type (e.g., clothing requires size, color, material). This ensures the data is structured correctly for Amazon's review.
Mappings: To connect specific Shopify values (like your size or color names) to the corresponding values recognized and accepted by Amazon, particularly for categories like clothing with specific attribute requirements.
By preparing your data according to the guidelines above, you'll be ready to export your Shopify products through the app to create your Amazon listings.
Exporting Products
Once every requirement is completed, you can go to Actions > Catalog > Export, use the Search Options to choose the Matching Group you want to export first, then click on the export button.
Need Help?
If you have questions about preparing your Shopify catalog or understanding Amazon's requirements, we recommend reaching out to our support line.
1. Prepare Your Shopify Catalog
A well-structured Shopify catalog is the foundation for successfully listing products on Amazon through our app. Please review and update your catalog as needed:
Structure: Organize your products logically. Using Shopify Collections, Product Types, and Tags can help manage products effectively, especially when selecting items to export later in our app.
Variation Consistency: Ensure products with variations (like size or color) use consistent variation families (e.g., all size variations are under a 'Size' option). Inconsistent variations can cause errors during export.
Unique SKUs: Every product and variant must have a unique SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) in Shopify. Amazon relies on SKUs for inventory management. Duplicates will cause failures.
Unique Barcodes (If Applicable): If your products have barcodes (UPC, EAN), ensure these are correctly entered in the designated barcode field in Shopify and are unique for each variant. We'll cover Amazon's specific barcode rules next.
2. Understand Amazon's Barcode Requirements (Product Identifiers)
Amazon uses standardized barcodes (known as GTINs - UPC, EAN, JAN, ISBN) to identify products. You have two main paths when creating new listings:
Option A: Using Official GS1 Barcodes
Requirement: If your products have barcodes, they must* be valid, official GS1 (Global Standard 1) registered barcodes.
Warning: Do not purchase cheap barcodes from third-party websites. Amazon verifies barcodes against the GS1 database, and invalid codes will lead to listing rejection.
Brand Link: The brand name associated with your GS1 barcodes should match the brand name you intend to use on Amazon. Your brand must also be approved by Amazon (see Section 3).
More Info: Refer to Amazon's policy on product UPCs/EANs: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/external/LE2KYT2UVPMTYGS
Option B: Requesting a GTIN Exemption (Listing Without Barcodes)
When to Use: If you manufacture your own products, sell private-label items, or have products that genuinely do not have a manufacturer barcode, you can apply for a GTIN exemption from Amazon for specific categories and brands.
How to Apply: You must apply for this exemption directly* through your Amazon Seller Central account. Follow their step-by-step process through product creation.
Brand Requirement: You will still need brand approval (see Section 3) even when applying for a GTIN exemption.
3. Get Your Brand Approved or Registered on Amazon
To create new product listings on Amazon under your brand name, Amazon requires your brand to be either approved or registered through their Brand Registry program.
Requirement: This is mandatory for creating new listings, whether you use GS1 barcodes or apply for a GTIN exemption.
How to Apply: Apply for brand approval or enroll in Amazon Brand Registry through your Seller Central account. This process involves proving your association with the brand.
Exception: If you only intend to sell products that already exist on Amazon (i.e., adding your offer to an existing ASIN created by another seller), brand approval is typically not required. Our app primarily focuses on creating new listings from your Shopify catalog.
4. Prepare Your Product Images
Amazon has strict image requirements to ensure a consistent customer experience.
Main Image Requirement: The main image for every listing must have a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255). Listings with main images that do not have a pure white background will be suppressed or rejected by Amazon.
Other Images: While only the main image must have a white background, review Amazon's full image guidelines for recommendations on additional images (lifestyle shots, infographics, etc.) to optimize your listing.
Action: Ensure your main product images in Shopify meet this requirement before you attempt to list them on Amazon.
Next Steps: What To Do On The App
Once you have completed these preparations in Shopify and Amazon Seller Central, our app streamlines the process of sending your product data to Amazon. Within the app, you will use features like:
Matching Groups: To select which categories or collections of Shopify products you want to export to Amazon.
Models: To prepare the product data (attributes, values) based on Amazon's requirements for the specific product type (e.g., clothing requires size, color, material). This ensures the data is structured correctly for Amazon's review.
Mappings: To connect specific Shopify values (like your size or color names) to the corresponding values recognized and accepted by Amazon, particularly for categories like clothing with specific attribute requirements.
By preparing your data according to the guidelines above, you'll be ready to export your Shopify products through the app to create your Amazon listings.
Exporting Products
Once every requirement is completed, you can go to Actions > Catalog > Export, use the Search Options to choose the Matching Group you want to export first, then click on the export button.
Need Help?
If you have questions about preparing your Shopify catalog or understanding Amazon's requirements, we recommend reaching out to our support line.
Updated on: 17/04/2025
Thank you!