What can I sell on Amazon Marketplace?
The choice of what you can sell on Amazon Marketplace is huge. Whether you’re looking to sell on vintage and pre-loved one-off items, or for repeat sales of brand-new products, Amazon provides the platform you need.
If you’re planning to run a business through an online marketplace, it pays to do your research. Start by finding a niche or product category you want to sell in. Then research popular items, the strength of demand, and current market trends help you home in on your chosen area.
You can sell certain categories of product without approval from the company. The Amazon website has a handy list of items that can be sold without approval, and also those that require it. There are a few areas Amazon prohibit sales of, including:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Animals and animal products
- Prescription medication
- Weapons and ammunition
- Coins and gift cards
Also remember, if you’re planning to send your products through Post Office, there are also lists of items prohibited from or restricted when sending in the post. Check the guidelines for partner courier such as Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, DPD and Evri. It’s worth making doubly sure so you don’t get caught out and can’t fulfil your orders.
Make your listings stand out
You’ve made the decision of what to sell, so how best to market your products? It all starts with the product detail page. This is the page displayed on Amazon’s website or app that contains all the information about the item you’re selling.
When the same product is sold by lots of sellers, Amazon combines the data from all those sellers on a single detail page, so customers easily compare the offers. As the seller, you can add extra information to the page, and ask for detail page reviews if you think the information displayed isn’t correct.
As you’re building your product detail pages, think about what will best help customers find your products. Include clear information to help them decide to buy from you over another seller. Think about the sort of questions they might ask about your items, and how to provide the best possible answers. If you gain positive customer reviews this way, it can help you build a strong seller reputation.
Creating the ultimate product detail page
For the very best customer experience, make your listings concise, accurate and easy to understand. Here are some handy tips on how to lay out your product details in your listings:
- Title – you can use up to a maximum of 200 characters. Use capitals on the first letter of every word of the title
- Images – you can upload up to nine images to your Amazon listing. In the image carousel, only the first seven images are displayed, or six images if you also upload a video. Aim to use photos of 1,000 x 1,000 to 1,600 x 1,600 pixels for the best picture quality when zooming in
- Variations – if the item you’re selling has a variety of choice in colours, scents or sizes, be sure to list all options available
- Product details – list the key information here, such as brand, material, number of items included in the product; include everything that makes it easy for the customer to find exactly what they need
- Bullet points – try to describe the product in short, descriptive sentences. Highlight key features and benefits with bullet points to keep the description brief
- Description – give as much information as possible about your product. Include keywords in the copy so that your item can rank highly in search results
If you’re planning to sell products under a registered trademark, you could consider enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry. It’s a free service that gives sellers extra control over product detail pages that feature their brand name.
Order fulfilment
You have two choices when it comes to fulfilment, which is the packing and delivery of your sales.
The first is to handle it yourself, a good option if you don’t sell very much or very often. This is known as Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM).
You could start out by using the UK and international delivery services available at Post Office branches. You can also pay for postage from a range of carriers online and drop off items in branch when it suits you. Read our guide to choosing the right courier service for your needs.
As you get more orders, the Post Office Drop & Go service can help you fulfil them quickly without taking up lots of your time waiting in branch.
As your business grows and things get really busy, there are also options like Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) and Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP), through which Amazon handles delivery.
How to fulfil your orders with Post Office
If you’re using the Fulfilment by Merchant method, Post Office can help you when you’re ready to send your products for delivery to customers.
Whether you’re sending within the UK or internationally, our Parcels Online cost calculator can help you easily work out your postage charges. You can pay for postage upfront and drop off items at thousands of participating branches across the UK when it suits you.
If you’re posting regularly or in bulk, it might be worth setting up a Drop & Go account. This service lets you drop parcels off in branch and go. There’s no waiting at the counter, scanning, weighing or adding postage labels. Your mail’s processed the same day, and we charge your account for the services used to send them. You can sign up for an account online or while you’re in a Post Office branch.
Read our handy guide on how to get started with Drop & Go.
How does Fulfilment by Merchant work?
The FBM option saves money on Fulfilment by Amazon fees, but you need to store your stock, handle shipping and manage customer enquiries. Some sellers use third-party companies for storage and delivery.
If you have your own storage, the Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) scheme lets you deliver directly from your warehouse with the Prime badge, offering free, express delivery. This boosts visibility and trust, increasing sales. After a sale, Amazon notifies you of payment. You must ship the item within two days and confirm dispatch so Amazon can deposit the money into your account.
How does Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) work?
As your business grows and you start selling in bulk, you might consider Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA). Amazon will store your inventory, pack and deliver orders and handle all customer service issues. Simply send your items to an Amazon fulfilment centre and they will manage the rest, including fulfilling orders across Europe. Amazon collects payment from customers and pays you every two weeks. While there are no subscription fees, you will need to pay for fulfilment services and storage space used.
Summary
- As the largest online marketplace, Amazon helps you reach a wide audience and grow your business
- Whether you're selling a few items or running a full-time business, it provides flexible options – including individual and professional accounts
- You can sell a wide range of products in an extensive marketplace that allows you to tap into various niches and market trends
- Start by fulfilling orders yourself using Post Office services for UK and international deliveries
- As your business expands, consider options like Post Office Drop & Go or fulfilment by Amazon for more efficient order management
