In the world of e-commerce, particularly on platforms like Amazon, having a unique identifier for each product you sell is critical. This identifier is known as a SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number – a unique alphanumeric code that allows you to track inventory, manage sales, and streamline the ordering process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to get a SKU number for Amazon.
To get a SKU number for Amazon, log into your Amazon Seller Account and navigate to Inventory > Add a Product. Select the product category, then choose either Amazon-Generated or Seller-Generated under the SKU section. Enter the product information, then click Save and Finish. Amazon will then assign an SKU to your product and add it to your inventory. Remember, each SKU must be unique and should not exceed 40 characters.
Table of Contents
- Understanding SKU Numbers
- Importance of SKU Numbers on Amazon
- How to Obtain a SKU Number on Amazon
- Requirements for Getting a SKU Number on Amazon
- Assigning a SKU Number to a Product on Amazon
- How SKU Numbers Affect Product Visibility and Sales
- Cost of Getting a SKU Number for Amazon
- Successful Product Listing with a SKU Number on Amazon
- Common Mistakes to Avoid When Obtaining a SKU Number
- Tips for Creating Effective Product Listings with SKU Numbers
Understanding SKU Numbers
SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit. It’s a unique alphanumeric code used by businesses to track and organize products in their inventory. On Amazon, SKU numbers are essential for sellers as they help manage inventory, track sales, and streamline the ordering process. SKU numbers are different from ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers), which are assigned by Amazon to each product in its catalog.
Importance of SKU Numbers on Amazon
SKU numbers are crucial for selling on Amazon for several reasons: – They help sellers keep track of their inventory levels, preventing issues like phantom inventory and ensuring timely reordering of products. – Unique SKU numbers allow sellers to track which products are selling well and which aren’t, helping them adjust pricing, keywords, and other product details to improve sales performance. – SKU numbers make it easier for sellers and the Amazon system to identify products, especially when dealing with multiple variations. – SKU numbers simplify data management for Amazon businesses, allowing sellers to organize their inventory in spreadsheets and easily find product listings using the SKU numbers.
How to Obtain a SKU Number on Amazon
To obtain a SKU number for your product on Amazon, you can either let Amazon generate one for you or create one yourself. Here’s how to do both: – Amazon-generated SKU: Log into your Amazon Seller Account and go to Inventory > Add a Product. Select the product category, then click the Amazon-Generated button under the SKU section. Enter the product information, then click Save and Finish. Amazon will then assign an SKU to your product and add it to your inventory. – Seller-generated SKU: Log into your Amazon Seller Account and go to Inventory > Add a Product. Select the product category, then click the Seller-Generated button under the SKU section. Enter the product information to create an SKU for your product, and click Save and Finish. Amazon will then add your product to your inventory with the SKU you created.
Requirements for Getting a SKU Number on Amazon
Amazon SKU numbers should not have more than 40 characters. They should contain information that helps you categorize information, manage inventory, and streamline communication between you, vendors, and customers. You can use a combination of numbers and letters in your SKU to convey details such as manufacturer, country of origin, size, condition, price, color, and other variations. Each SKU assigned to your product must be unique; they cannot be identical to any other SKU in your inventory.
Assigning a SKU Number to a Product on Amazon
Assigning a SKU number to a product on Amazon involves creating a unique alphanumeric code that helps sellers identify and manage their inventory. SKUs are required for all products sold on Amazon and are only visible in your Seller Central account.
How SKU Numbers Affect Product Visibility and Sales
Having a SKU number can positively affect the visibility and sales of a product in several ways. SKU numbers help retailers track inventory levels across multiple stores, ensuring that products are available when customers want to purchase them. They also help merchants anticipate which products they need to reorder and when, preventing stockouts and lost sales opportunities.
Cost of Getting a SKU Number for Amazon
There is no direct cost associated with getting an SKU number for Amazon. However, there are other fees associated with selling on Amazon, such as referral fees, fulfillment fees, and subscription fees for individual or professional selling plans.
Successful Product Listing with a SKU Number on Amazon
Here’s an example of a successful product listing on Amazon with a SKU number: Contoso Sports Vintage Green T-Shirt, SKU: CS-VG-04032021-UP-50D-10.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Obtaining a SKU Number
When obtaining a SKU number for Amazon, there are several common mistakes to avoid. These include generating SKUs by yourself, inconsistency in custom SKU format, using characters that resemble both numbers and letters, exceeding the character limit, entering incorrect product IDs, and mismatched variation themes.
Tips for Creating Effective Product Listings with SKU Numbers
Creating effective product listings with SKU numbers on Amazon involves optimizing various aspects of your listing, such as title, images, description, and keywords.
In conclusion, getting a SKU number for Amazon is a critical step in managing your inventory and boosting your sales on the platform. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this guide, you can navigate this process with ease and set your Amazon business up for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a SKU and an ASIN on Amazon?
While both SKU and ASIN are unique identifiers used on Amazon, they serve different purposes. A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a code created by the seller to manage their inventory. It helps in tracking sales, restocking inventory, and managing product variations. On the other hand, an ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) is a unique block of 10 letters and/or numbers that identify items. ASIN is created by Amazon and used for product-identification within their product catalog.
Can I change the SKU of a product after it has been listed on Amazon?
No, once a product is listed with a certain SKU on Amazon, the SKU cannot be changed. If you need to change the SKU, you would have to delete the product listing and create a new one with the desired SKU.
Do SKU numbers appear on the customer-facing side of the product listing?
No, SKU numbers are not visible to customers. They are used internally by sellers for inventory management and tracking purposes.
Can two products have the same SKU on Amazon?
No, each product listed on Amazon must have a unique SKU. Even if the products are similar, they should have different SKUs, especially if they have different attributes such as color, size, etc.
Do I need to have a professional seller account to create SKU numbers?
No, both individual and professional sellers can create SKU numbers for their products on Amazon. However, professional sellers have access to more tools and features that can make inventory management and tracking easier.
Is there a specific format I should follow when creating my own SKU numbers?
There’s no specific format enforced by Amazon for creating SKU numbers. However, it’s a good practice to create SKUs that contain meaningful information about the product, such as manufacturer, product type, color, size, etc. This can help you manage your inventory more effectively.
