Each marketplace has specific labeling and packaging requirements which can be confusing and cumbersome. To succeed on any marketplace, it is crucial to get both labeling and packaging right so that you can keep your account and product safe, and not pay unnecessary penalty fees.
Packaging: every product needs to be packed properly. Good packaging helps protect the product, holds all of the contents together, and offers customers a great unboxing/opening experience. There are three types of packaging most commonly used:
- Box: you can go for a generic box or a custom-designed one that showcases your brand
- Poly-bag: you opt for a generic, clear poly-bag or a custom-designed one with an insert card
- Blister pack: this makes the most sense for products you want to show off. Think toothbrush or Sharpies
Each of these packaging types comes with dimensions and guidelines specific to each marketplace. Not adhering to the marketplace requirements will result in penalty fees and additional expenditure on rebagging.
Labeling: every product needs to:
- Have a marketplace-specific barcode in addition to the universal UPC barcode: Amazon requires FNSKU, and is very particular about this barcode as it uses it to map the product to the seller. It’s almost like a unique id for each product that helps Amazon identify the seller. Similarly, Walmart requires the GTIN code
- Mention the country of origin
- Carry a suffocation warning, if your product warrants it
You can either have a label for each of the three things mentioned above. Or—and this is what we do—have one label with all the required information because it’s cleaner and slicker.
While the above three things are what the marketplace mandates for each of your products, suppliers need to add two more labels to the collection of products being shipped to the fulfilment centre. Additionally, the shipping carrier also puts labels to track and ensure the safe shipment of your products.
Seems like too much? Because it is! You should continue focussing on your sales and revenue, and leave the logistics to us! We will:
- Pick the order for packaging and labeling
- Package products in clear plastic bags such that the customers can see the clothes along with details like their size, tags, and labels. Clear bags also make the barcode process a lot easier. Having said that, we’re finding ways to reduce plastic use including minimum or no use of plastic tape. We also ensure no additional plastic is used on the master box, and that there’s no plastic strapper on the packaging
- Print the labels in accordance with the requirements of the marketplace: FNSKU for Amazon, GTIN for Walmart along with the other details
- Prepare barcode sheets that you can use in the future
- Organise shipment to the fulfilment centres of the respective marketplaces, and the labeling needed for that, in line with the guidelines of the marketplace
