Advice: What is the benefit of Using Marketplace Connect vs Having a Separate Amazon Account

[NamataBay]

Excuse my ignorance since I am new to this and just building out.  I am trying to understand if I should just use Shopify Marketplace Connect and sell on Amazon or build out a separate Amazon store.  I was planning on having an Amazon store and a Shopify store and then using Amazon MCF for fulfillment for everything.  But I am not sure if it is more beneficial to use Marketplace connect.  Dont know the cost trade offs and benefits.  If anyone has a similar setup I would love to hear your take.  Cheers.

[Codisto · Accepted solution]

Hi,

With the Marketplace Connect app, you can seamlessly integrate your Shopify products into your Amazon account, utilizing your Shopify catalog as the primary source of information. The process is simple: just connect your Amazon Professional Seller account to the app, and you'll gain the ability to create new listings on Amazon. Furthermore, if you already have existing Amazon listings, the app allows you to connect them to your Shopify products, enabling the app to effectively manage those listings going forward.

Additionally, the Marketplace Connect app streamlines the synchronization of Amazon orders with your Shopify platform, ensuring convenient order fulfillment. It also maintains inventory synchronization between your Shopify and Amazon accounts, making it easier for you to manage your products efficiently.

Incorporate the Marketplace Connect app into your e-commerce strategy to enjoy a more seamless and integrated selling experience across both Shopify and Amazon. You can also expand your market to different marketplaces as the app also supports eBay, Walmart and Etsy. 

Feel free to contact us at marketplace-connect@shopify.com if you have further questions/concerns.

[NamataBay]

Thanks really solid information. One other question. I have built out my shopify site. I will probably make the MCF connection. Since I am a new business, I don’t receive my inventory till January. How do I prevent my shop/amazon from going online until I have my inventory in the warehouse.

Do I just keep my inventory at Zero or is there a on/off selection somewhere that prevents sales until I get inventory. I also don’t want to get dinged by Amazon for not having inventory to sell.

Cheers,
Vern

[Codisto]

Hi,

You have the option to activate vacation mode for your Amazon account, preventing your listings from being purchasable. However, please note that Shopify does not offer a dedicated vacation setting. You can explore this Shopify article to learn how to temporarily restrict visitor access to your store instead.
https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/shopify-vacation-setting

[ilsu]

Hi,

If you could guide me on a similar topic please. I have an amazon account, and selling my product there already using FBA. I have finalised my shopify store for off Amazon reach. Would I be able to receive orders on my shopify store, and continue to fullfill these via FBA? is this automated with the Shopify Marketplace Connect? Or is it just the other way around; selling shopify products on amazon. Would love to get this clarified before I launch my shopify store. If this app works for selling amazon products on shopify, than I will proceed. Or else, I think I should checkout Amazon's MCF app.

Looking forward to a timely response.

Thanks,

[JoesIdeas]

@NamataBay Any app you use to connect Shopify / Amazon will have you authorize your Seller Central account to communicate with your Shopify account, so you'll need a Seller Central account (you could call this an Amazon store as well I guess) either way.

I'm assuming by asking if you should have an Amazon store you mean adding listings on Amazon, in that case then 100% do both Amazon and Shopify! (and Etsy :D)

I was an Amazon seller and Shopify store owner for 7 years (exited last year), we had great success on Amazon, then Shopify, then connected both (Amazon US to manage US shipments, Amazon UK and DE to manage European shipments, etc).

You can set up an Amazon store (a page dedicated to your listings / about your brand) by grouping your listings to a branded page on Amazon, and having pics / collections, that you can direct people to. You'll see how to do that in Seller Central.

I recommend having both Shopify and Amazon, and expanding Amazon marketplaces, then using Amazon fulfillment (you can try Shopify Fulfillment network too but they have minimums in place, so starting out Amazon would be your easiest). That allows you to automate international shipments as well (and reach more customers, and give people domestic shipping when they're international).

I wrote a game plan on what I would do if I was doing it over again (starting a brand / Shopify store / Amazon account): https://orderautomator.com/shopify-vs-amazon

Good luck this holiday season ✊

[NamataBay]

Thanks for the reply. Initially I want to build a customer base, but ultimately want to drive revenue and profit. I was thinking use Amazon to get me reach and then my Shopify website to drive profitability.

For convenience sake I was thinking of using Amazon as my 3PL for both. That way I only have 1 inventory to maintain.

My main question was pertaining to just using the Amazon MCF app to link products from the Shopify store or to build out Amazon store. I havent built an Amazon store so didn’t know the additional benefits I would receive by going this route. I would have to pay for the Amazon Sellers subscription either way.

Cheers,
Vern