How to sell on Amazon in the UK – AMZ Prep Europe Guide
Your brand’s profitability is just a click away! Selling on Amazon UK is made easier and simpler.
Dreaming of becoming an Amazon seller? You’re at the right terminal that will take you to the desired destination.
Amazon is the virtual marketplace, packed with an abundance of opportunities.
Either your product is new to the market or an existing one. You’ll undoubtedly find your online shopper in any corner of the UK!
How sure?
With a projected CAGR of 21.76 percent from 2024 to 2029, the size of the UK e-commerce market is anticipated to increase from an estimated 280.55 billion USD in 2024 to 750.80 billion USD in 2029.
If you’re reading this blog, we understand that you’re a beginner at selling products on the Amazon eCommerce platform.
As a result, we have created this article to provide information that will help you sell products online on Amazon UK.
Fasten your selling ideas and motives. Let the journey begin!
A quick guide
- Individual Plan
- Professional Plan
- Step 1: Seller Account – Sign Up
- Step 2: What do you need to submit?
- Step 3: Listing your products
- Know your product details for enhanced selling
- Impress your customers by building a detailed product page
- Title
- Images
- Variations
- Bullet points
- Featured offer (“Buy Box”)
- Other offers
- Description
- Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA)
- Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM)
- Referral Fees
- Storage Fees
Why selling on Amazon is a plus
Did you know? As of May 2024, Amazon UK had 438.46 million traffic hits.
This is HUGE!
With these insights, you can imagine how strong the eCommerce base is.
You have a higher chance of sales conversion compared to the D2C and conventional selling models.
With your custom approach and strategy, you can win customers within seconds of a visit.
Choose the plan that works for you
Amazon UK has devised two types of plans for sellers:
- Individual Plan
- Professional Plan
What do you have to choose? Do not decide in the very first instance.
You’re an entrepreneur. Does it mean that you choose an individual plan? The answer is no.
The size of your organisation doesn’t define your Amazon Seller Plan.
What are we trying to convey? Be hold.
The volume of order fulfilment is the key metric that differentiates the plan.
Read further to have a clear understanding.
Individual Plan
For beginners, the best strategy is to test the product on Amazon UK in small quantities.
Do you have the same ideology in mind? Then an individual plan will work for you.
This plan is only applicable if the order fulfillment is less than 35.
You have to pay £0.75 for each product sold on Amazon.
For every product sold more than the quantity of 35, the charges are a bit higher than the professional plan.
Most importantly, you’re not eligible to run Amazon-sponsored ads.
Professional Plan
Most sellers prefer the professional plan when selling more than 35 units per month.
You will be charged a flat fee of £25 per month.
Choosing this plan enables you to get access to advertisements.
In addition, you can make use of the most dominant feature, the “buy box,” down the line.
Amazon UK shares with you the best insights into your seller account’s performance.
What’s next?
We hope that you have decided on the best plan to meet your requirements.
Well, we are now entering into an important part that you have been reading this article for.
How to create a seller account on Amazon UK
To sell your products in the Amazon eCommerce market, creating a seller account is a must.
All it takes a few minutes to complete the account creation process.
Step 1: Seller Account – Sign Up
The very first step is to visit https://sell.amazon.co.uk/sell-online
Click the “Sign Up” button. The page will redirect you.
You can also create a seller account using the existing customer account.
If you’re new to Amazon, then signing up for a new account will be the best choice.
See, as we discussed, it’s easier.
Step 2: What do you need to submit?
Irrespective of the plan you choose, you have to submit a document for preapproval.
Here are the fields that you should be aware of:
- Chargeable credit card (International credit cards are also accepted)
- Valid passport or national ID (Identity verification protects sellers and customers)
- Company registration details (with a VAT number if possible)
- Phone number
- A bank account where Amazon can send you proceeds from your sales
It is recommended that a VAT account be created in compliance with UK norms and regulations.
Further, to cater to the EU marketplace, a VAT number helps you promote your product without any restrictions.
Step 3: Listing your products
Adding your product to the listing page is the next step involved in selling your product on Amazon UK.
Did you know? Amazon has designed a set of product listing categories that are essential for selling.
Well, is it much needed to learn about it?
Definitely yes.
Let’s say that you’re selling clothes online through Amazon in the UK eCommerce market.
You have randomly chosen the categories to finish off the completion process quickly.
The right category for clothes is fashion, but you have chosen beauty.
In the end, it will not provide you with fruitful results or order fulfilment.
Before heading to the selection of a product category, a complete analysis of the category list helps you create a highly efficient listing page.
The table attached provides you with the required information to select the product category.
| Product Category | Example Products | Conditions Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive | Parts, Tools & Equipment, Accessories | New, Certified Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| Computing | Desktops, Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets, Printers, Computing Accessories | New, Refurbished, Used |
| Consoles & Video Games | Consoles and video games | New, Refurbished, Used |
| Consumer Electronics | TVs, Audio (inc. car audio), GPS, Phones, Cameras, Electronic Accessories | New, Certified Refurbished, Used |
| Baby Products (Excluding Apparel) | Pushchairs & Prams, Car Seats, High Chairs, Toys, Fumiture, Bedding, Feeding, Changing. Monitors, Safety, Potty Training | New only |
| BMVD | Music, Books, Video/DVD/Blu-ray | New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| DIY & Tools | Hand Tools, Hardware, Workwear, Site & Safety Equipment, Fire Alarms & Security, Power Tools, Power Tool Accessories, Electrical, Decorating, Garden & Landscaping Tools, Building Material, Plumbing & Bath, Parts | New, Certified Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| Large Appliances | Cookers & Ovens, Dishwashers, Fridges & Freezers. Washing Machines & Tumble Driers, Parts | New, Certified Refurbished, Used |
| Garden & Outdoors | Seeds & Plants, Birds & Wildlife, Pest Control, Plant Care, Décor & Lighting, Tools & Accessories, Leisure & Fitness, Garden Fumiture, Structures & Ponds, Outdoor Living | New, Certified Refurbished, Used |
| Kitchen & Home | Appliances: Small Appliances, Home Appliances, Parts. Home Living: Homeware, Fumiture, Home Décor, Kitchen & Dining, Lighting, Arts & Crafts | New, Certified Refurbished, Used |
| Musical Instruments | DJ Equipment and Musical Instruments | New, Certified Refurbished, Used |
| Office Products | Printer Ink, Office Supplies, Office Fumiture | New, Certified Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| Lighting | Lights and Fidures, Light Bulbs, Lighting Accessories, Torches | New, Certified Refurbished, Used. Light bulbs new only |
| Sporting Goods | Sports Equipment, Bikes, Tents, Fan Gear | New only |
| Shoes & Accessories | Shoes, Boots, Sandals, Slippers, Shoes Accessories. Handbags, Wallets | New only |
| Pet Supplies | Pet Food, Habitats, Apparel, Training, Grooming, Healthcare, Toys, Leads, Aquatics, Terraristics | New only |
| Software & PC Games | Computer Software, Video and PC games | New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| Toys & Games | Games & Puzzles, Outdoor & Sports Toys, Arts, Crafts & School Supplies, Vehicles, Dolls, Plush, Building Sets, Leaming & Exploration, infants/Pre-School, Action Figures, Fancy Dress | New, Refurbished, Used, Collectible |
| Categories requiring approval | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jewelry | Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets (see also Watches). Available to Professional sellers only. | New only |
| Watches | All Watches. Available to Professional sellers only. | New only |
| Grocery | Beverages, Baby Food, Biscuits & Snacks, Confectionery, Cereals, Cooking & Baking, Seasoning & Condiments, Tinned Food, Pasta & Rice, Spreads, Sauces, Fresh & Frozen Food, Hampers, Home-Care & Cleaning. Category available to Professional sellers only. | New only |
| Beer, Wine & Spirits | Spirits, Liqueurs, Wine, Beer, Cider. (Separate approval from Grocery). | New only |
| Personal Care Appliances | Hair Care Appliances, Oral Care Appliances, Skincare Appliances, Shaving and Hair-Removal Appliances, Footcare Appliances, Healthcare Appliances & Equipment, Massage Equipment, Tanning Appliances, Scales, SAD Lights, Independent Living & Mobility | New only |
| Beauty | Fragrance, Skincare, Makeup, Hair Care, Bath & Shower. See also Health & Personal Care. | New only |
| Health & Personal Care | First Aid, Nutrition. See also Beauty. | New only |
| Apparel | Outerwear, Athletic Wear, Innerwear, Belts, Wallets. | New only |
Know your product details for enhanced selling
Listing your products on Amazon is the next step in the product-selling process.
As a new seller, you must create a new listing page with Amazon Seller Central.
GTIN, UPC, ISBN, or EAN are the product identification codes that are added to the listing page details.
Do your products hold these codes? No.
How do I get the identification code? It’s simple. Go to the GS1 and submit the required details to get a code.
You can request an exemption if your product does not hold a UPC code framed by the EU government.
Amazon provides you with a SKU ID, which is helpful in tracking the real-time details of your inventory.
Details that you must share with Amazon to create a listing page,
- Product name
- Targeted keywords and search terms
- Brand
- Category
- Description
- Images
- Product offer
- Price
- Product condition
- Available quantity
- Shipping options
Impress your customers by building a detailed product page
A good product listing page is the true essence of increased order fulfilment on Amazon.
Your listing page must comply with the guidelines as specified to sell the product.
In addition, it helps you improve your organic ranking, leading to sales conversion.
The guidelines are all about optimising images and content.
Amazon Product Title
It is the hook line of your product listing that draws customer attention to your product. The title of the product listing page should be crisp, clear, and meaningful.
Amazon UK has set a limit on title text (within 200 characters). The title should be in the format of “Title Case.”
Amazon can disapprove of the product listing page if the title character exceeds 200 characters.
For example,
Deconovo Grey Blackout Curtains 46 x 54 Inch Eyelet Super Soft Thermal Insulated Bedroom Curtains Blackout Eyelet Curtains for Living Room Light Grey 2 Panels
Key points to note for:
Total characters used in the title: 158 characters
Search terms that a customer looks for are: special application, material type, size, number of units, and colour.
Images
The images uploaded to the listing page should be 500 x 500 or 1000 x 1000 pixels.
The recommended size enhances the listing performance. Every image should have a white backdrop.
This would help the customer pay attention to the infographics.
Most Amazon customers prefer mobile devices and browsers to do online shopping. Complying with the guidelines makes your listing page compatible with all devices.
Also, it enables a better customer experience.
Variations
Amazon UK allows you to use different colours, scents, or sizes in your product listing page. These variations help you differentiate yourself from your similar competitors.
The utilisation of a white background elevates the coloured image with extra aesthetics.
Bullet points
Your listing page has a specific section to add short details about your product.
Make sure to highlight your product’s uniqueness in bullet points.
Once the customer lands on your product page, they intend to go through your product information.
The purchasing behaviour changes from customer to customer.
Hence, feeding the key highlights in the formats of text and infographics would generate faster conversion.
Use normal search terms with a mix of targeted keywords to improve organic ranking.
Also, refer to the Amazon UK content guidelines to eliminate the use of prohibited words.
Featured offer (“Buy Box”)
Buy Box is a feature provided by Amazon to sellers. To give you a simple understanding, it is the Add to Cart and Buy Now button provided on the product listing page.
As a new seller, it takes some time to earn the buy box feature. But “Add to Cart” is the default feature that is enabled on your listing page.
When it comes to Buy Now, it is not the same.
To learn more about the buy box, we crafted an article expressing the highlights of winning the feature.
Other offers
Amazon UK has a large base of sellers competing for the same product category as yours. Customers have a wide range of options to make their purchase.
You have to acquire customers to beat the clutter market filled with different pricing choices that a customer has.
Amazon allows you to provide discounted offers to customers on the targeted product listing page. Through Amazon Seller Central, you can customise the product promotion and offerings.
Description
The description on the product listing page is the section that allows you to provide detailed information about your product.
You have the leverage and advantage to incorporate targeted search terms to improve organic ranking.
Product description in the extended version of bullet points.
The A+ content allows you to incorporate your product’s uniqueness, applications, and many more details.
Your product listing page is allowed to feed the maximum word count within a 970 pixel.
Fulfilment methods you can choose
FBA and FBM are the fulfilment methods offered to you. As an Amazon seller, you can either choose one or both fulfilment methods.
Does it make a difference? Yes, it does.
Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA)
From starting to shipping, Amazon takes care of your product’s end-to-end fulfilment process.
Opting for FBA gives you an extra advantage in ranking your product listing. It provides a hassle-free business conversion. In addition, you’re eligible for Prime shipping.
So? Your products reach the customer’s destination within a few days. In turn, you will be charged the FBA fees for fulfilling your orders.
Fulfilment by Merchant (FBM)
Choosing FBM states that you can fulfil the eCommerce orders through self-owned or 3PL partners.
Amazon has designed a set of fulfilment guidelines. Being new to the online marketplace, it is a bit risky to choose FBM.
You must take extra care to ensure that the fulfilment process meets Amazon’s requirements.
The occurrence of simple errors costs you. Most sellers choose the FBM method due to its cost-effectiveness compared to FBA.
Do you wish to know how big the difference in rates is? If you wish, then refer to the article “FBA Rate Card 2024” for further information on the fee structure.
Understanding the Amazon Fees
Referral Fees
For every product that is sold on Amazon UK, you will be charged a commission rate of 8% to 15%.
The referral fees apply to you, whichever fulfilment method you choose. The commission rate varies with the product category.
Amazon charges you a commission rate based on the category that your product falls under.
Refer to the image attached to learn about the referral fee that you will be paying Amazon for selling your product.
Amazon Referral Fee Schedule
| Fee Categories | Referral Fee (Including Digital Services Tax) | Per-Item Minimum Referral Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Device Accessories | 45.9% | £0.25 |
| Automotive and Powersports | 15.3% for the portion of the total sales price up to £45.00 + 9.18% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £45.00 | £0.25 |
| Baby Products | 8.16% for products with a total sales price up to £10.00 + 15.3% for products with a total sales price greater than £10.00 | £0.25 |
| Backpacks and Handbags | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Beauty, Health, and Personal Care | 8.16% for products with a total sales price up to £10.00 + 15.3% for products with a total sales price greater than £10.00 | £0.25 |
| Beer, Wine, and Spirits | 10.2% | £0.25 |
| Books | 15.3% + And a closing fee of £0.50 per item sold | Not applicable |
| Business, Industrial, and Scientific Supplies | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Compact Appliances | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Clothing and Accessories | For Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) and Seller Fulfilled Prime selections: 15.3% for the portion of the total sales price up to £40.00 + 7.14% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £40.00 For all other selections: 15.3% flat fee | £0.25 |
| Commercial Electrical and Energy Supplies | 12.24% | £0.25 |
| Computers | 7.14% | £0.25 |
| Consumer Electronics | 7.14% | £0.25 |
| Fee Categories | Referral Fee (Including Digital Services Tax) | Per-Item Minimum Referral Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Cycling Accessories | 8.16% | £0.25 |
| Electronic Accessories | 15.3% for the portion of the total sales price up to £100.00 + 8.16% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £100.00 | £0.25 |
| Eyewear | 15.30% | £0.25 |
| Footwear | 15.30% | £0.25 |
| Full-Size Appliances | 7.14% | £0.25 |
| Furniture | 15.3% for the portion of the total sales price up to £175.00 + 10.2% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £175.00 | £0.25 |
| Grocery and Gourmet | 8.16% for products with a total sales price up to £10.00 + 15.3% for products with a total sales price greater than £10.00 | Not applicable |
| Handmade | 12.24% | £0.25 |
| Home and Kitchen | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Jewelry | 20.4% for the portion of the total sales price up to £225.00 + 5.1% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £225.00 | £0.25 |
| Lawn and Garden | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Luggage | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Mattresses | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Music, Video, and DVD | 15.3% + And a closing fee of £0.50 per item sold | Not applicable |
| Musical Instruments and AV Production | 12.24% | £0.25 |
| Office Products | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Pet Products | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Fee Categories | Referral Fee (Including Digital Services Tax) | Per-Item Minimum Referral Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Software | 15.3% + And a closing fee of £0.50 per item sold | Not applicable |
| Sports and Outdoors | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Tyres | 7.14% | £0.25 |
| Tools and Home Improvement | 13.26% | £0.25 |
| Toys and Games | 15.3% | £0.25 |
| Video Games – Games and Accessories | 15.3% + And a closing fee of £0.50 per item sold | Not applicable |
| Video Game Consoles | 8.16% + And a closing fee of £0.50 per item sold | Not applicable |
| Watches | 15.3% for the portion of the total sales price up to £225.00 5.1% for any portion of the total sales price greater than £225.00 | £0.25 |
| Everything else | 15.3% | £0.25 |
Storage Fees
You will be charged storage fees for storing your product’s inventories at the Amazon fulfilment centres.
Based on the product weight and space of your inventory, the charges apply. You must comply with the guidelines to maintain the minimum inventory level set by the eCommerce provider.
Failing to maintain the limit costs you an extra fine. The image attached gives you information on the storage fees.
Amazon Inventory storage fees are charged monthly based on the daily average volume (measured in cubic feet) for the space your inventory occupies in Amazon fulfilment centres. The volume measurement is based on unit size when properly packaged and ready to ship.
Amazon FBA Storage Fees
| Month | Clothing, and Shoes and Bags (standard size) | Dangerous Goods – Hazmat (standard size) | All other categories (standard size) | Dangerous Goods – Hazmat (Oversize) | All other categories (Oversize) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January-September | £0.47 per cubic foot per month | £0.75 per cubic foot per month | £0.78 per cubic foot per month | £0.65 per cubic foot per month | £0.46 per cubic foot per month |
| October-December | £0.60 per cubic foot per month | £1.05 per cubic foot per month | £1.10 per cubic foot per month | £0.90 per cubic foot per month | £0.64 per cubic foot per month |
The prime benefits of being a UK Amazon seller
If you’re the Amazon seller for the UK marketplace, you’re eligible to reach your customers from other EU nations.
Great news, indeed!
What are the EU marketplaces where you can rank your product listing and ship?
- Amazon France (Amazon.FR)
- Amazon Germany (Amazon.DE)
- Amazon Italy (Amazon.IT)
- Amazon Spain (Amazon.ES)
But is there any need for opting for UK fulfilment centres in the mentioned geographies?
Here comes the beneficial part. Yes.
You can fulfil the orders in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain from the UK Amazon fulfilment centre.
Final thoughts
Selling your product on the Amazon UK marketplace is easier. Creating a seller account, a product listing page, and complying with the defined guidelines creates a channel for maximising your profitability.
Good days are knocking on your doors, and order fulfilment is on its way!
Get ready to witness and increase your brand equity in the UK marketplace through Amazon.
