You might have wondered whether or not the beauty category is gated on Amazon? Well, we have come across this same question in addition to the questions like What is Amazon gated category? So, here we are to clear the doubts and queries that you might be dealing with, as an Amazon seller?
Did you know that Amazon limits the number of beauty brands on its platform? It's true — unless you create your own private label and you have been approved by some of the laws under federal or state laws (with Amazon policies), you will have a hard time getting your beauty brand listed on the world's largest e-commerce platform if you are not aware of the rules and regulations that are to be followed. There are various gated categories on Amazon, each with its own set of eligibility criteria. The beauty category is one of them.
But before you get along with the eligibility process, it is needed to get along with the seller account, which can be accessed using the seller central account.
Gated categories are those that require sellers to complete an application and wait for approval decision from Amazon before being allowed to list their products on the platform, as well as use Amazon services like FBA.
In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about gated category restrictions on Amazon and how they can impact your business.
What Is a Gated Category on Amazon?
Gated categories are product categories on Amazon that require sellers to be reviewed and approved before being allowed for product listing in that category. Sellers can also be gated from using certain Amazon services due to their product category. Product categories like beauty or grocery require sellers to be reviewed and approved before being allowed to list products in those categories. In contrast, the sports collections might not require all that in most cases.
Each gated category has its own set of rules that sellers must follow. These restrictions are designed to protect consumers from unsafe products and level the playing field for sellers across all product categories.
Gated categories are often looked at as “exclusive” categories. In other words, they are only available to sellers who have been approved to sell in them. And, typically, these categories have much more competition than non-gated ones.
Some may say that being in a gated category is like a “badge of honor” — it shows that your product passes certain quality standards and is meant for “serious” sellers who are willing to jump through the necessary hoops just to be allowed to sell on Amazon. Well, all this can be done by going along with the application process, and once your request approval is done, you can go very well in terms of Amazon selling.
Why are there Gated Categories on Amazon?
Amazon has gated categories to make sure that products in those categories meet certain quality standards. They have a stringent review process for people who want to sell in those categories. The idea behind it is that people who go through the trouble of getting approved for a gated category will probably be more selective about the products they sell and that their products will be of a higher quality. Beyond quality control, gated categories also make sure that sellers don't compete with Amazon's own brands.
Amazon's brands are generally cheaper than other brands that are sold on Amazon. By only allowing sellers who meet a certain quality standard to sell in those categories, Amazon can make sure that they don't compete with their own brands.
Eligibility for the Amazon Beauty Category
Not all beauty products are eligible for the Amazon beauty category. To be eligible, your product must fall into one of the following categories: Makeup, Fragrances, Skincare, Haircare, and Hair removal Cosmetics include makeup and skincare products and can be made from natural or synthetic ingredients. The Amazon beauty category is open to all makeup, skincare, hair care and hair removal products, provided that they are sold in a new condition. You can sell the following types of products in the Amazon beauty category:
- Makeup – Makeup is intended for application to the face, eyes, lips and/or nails. Makeup can also be used on the body by applying it to the areas that would otherwise be covered by clothing.
- Fragrances – Fragrances are scented mixtures that are often applied to the human body. To be included in this category, the product must be both fragrance and perfume.
- Skincare – Skincare products are used to clean, moisturize, protect, treat or change the appearance of the skin. So the eligibility criteria are a bit under policies.
- Haircare – Haircare products are used for the prevention, treatment or maintenance of hair loss or for the beautification of the scalp or hair.
- Hair removal – Hair removal products are used to remove hair from the body by the use of chemicals, heat or a depilatory agent.
Well, these beauty products and categories are all applied on the skin or are applied on the body in one way or another, so having some policies by Amazon is pretty simple. Since Amazon work as an intermediate/e-com platform, the quality of products can be considered one of the important things.
How does being in the Gated Category affect your Business?
Being in a gated category on Amazon has a lot of positives, but there are also some negatives.
The positives of being in the Amazon beauty gated category includes:
- High standards: Products must meet high-quality standards. They must be safe to use and must be fully compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Increased sales: By being reviewed by the Amazon buyers, the products will be able to increase traffic to your Amazon page and, thereby, increase sales.
- Customer trust: Products listed in Amazon's beauty category are likely to rank high in search results. This could also boost sales.
- Better conversion rates: Amazon customers trust products that are listed in the beauty category. Customers are likely to buy the products from your Amazon store.
- More traffic: Your products are likely to be featured in the “Customers who bought this item also bought” section. This could bring more traffic to your Amazon page.
- Better brand recognition: Being in the beauty category might increase your brand recognition.
The negatives of being in the Amazon beauty gated category includes:
- Higher competition: There is more competition for the Amazon beauty category than for the other categories. So, it might be harder to rank high in search results.
- More reviews needed: The products listed in the beauty category must have a certain number of reviews before they can be approved. So, it might take longer to get your products approved.
- Additional fees: You might have to pay more fees to sell in the beauty category.
Categories of Product to Look After
Well, as we have already mentioned that you can look after some other gated subcategories and categories while getting along with the Amazon FBA and selling. Here are some of the gated categories you can look after:
- Sports Collectibles
- Automotive & Powersports
- DVD, Music and Blu-rays
- Gift Cards
- Collectible Books
- Jewelry
- Major Appliances
- Watches
Well, it is worth mentioning that you can look after the entire categories before getting along with your Amazon FBA; the list of these restricted or gated categories is changed every year depending upon the Amazon policies and Federal laws, so it is highly recommended to check out the list before getting along with the further selling process. Just check out the list for better product selections for your Amazon FBA.
Can Amazon Seller Status Affect My Access to Gated Categories?
Yes, Amazon seller status can affect your access to Gated Categories; this can basically depend upon different stuff, including the status of the Amazon seller; some of the factors that can make a difference upon your Gated category access are as follow:
- Shipment Rate
- Defect Rate
- Fulfillment rating
Not only this, there are some other factors as well which can be looked forward to, some of them are listed below:
- A defect rate under 1%
- Late Shipments under 4%
- Cancel rates under 2.5% (pre-fulfilment)
Well, it is worth mentioning that you can look after these different criteria and factors as a better way of keeping things done for your business for gated categories. The percentage of all the factors that I just mentioned above can be different for different categories.
What Can You Do About It?
The best way to deal with gated categories is to get into them. If you want to sell in the Amazon beauty category, first create an account on Amazon Seller Central and apply to sell in the Amazon beauty category. As the name suggests, you will have to wait for Amazon to review your account before you get along with the approval process for the Amazon beauty category. The process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
In the meantime, it is important that you prepare your product listing in advance. With gated categories, you will have to jump through several hoops, but the effort is worth it. Once your account is approved for the Amazon beauty products and category, you will get lots of traffic from Amazon. With the tips we have highlighted above in this blog post, you should be able to take full advantage of the opportunities that come with being in a gated category on Amazon.
🌟 FAQs related to Amazon Gated Category
❓What does it mean to be gated on Amazon?
A gated category is one that requires Amazon's approval before being sold. Amazon may require performance checks, additional fees, and other qualifications for certain products and categories. The categories are gated in order to protect both buyers and sellers.
🔥What exactly is the difference between gated and ungated categories?
A gated category is one of the many restricted categories on the website, and being ungated simply means you've been approved to sell in one of those categories. Many people are quickly discouraged when they discover that a product they want to sell is restricted.
✔How do you get Amazon category approval?
Click the inventory link in Seller Central and then Add a Product. Perform a search for the item you want to sell. Click the Listing limitations and apply the link across from the item in the search results. To begin the application process, click the Request Approval button.
🤔What is Amazon's approval process?
Amazon requires sellers to obtain approval before listing products for sale for certain products, brands, categories, and subcategories. Document requests, performance checks, and other qualifications may be part of the approval process.
🔎 What exactly is an ungated category?
It simply means that Amazon restricts the sale of certain categories, subcategories, or brands. This prevents new sellers from selling these products before they have been approved. So, when it says “ungated on Amazon,” it simply means you have permission to sell those items.
👉 How can I become an Amazon restricted brand?
Amazon restricts certain brands, such as Toys, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. If you want to become a restricted brand on Amazon, you must contact Seller Support and request that your brand be gated & must provide proof of eligibility. It can take 8 weeks or more to receive confirmation, and there is no guarantee that Amazon will agree to your request or gate all of your brand's ASINs.
Conclusion: Amazon Gated Category
As an Amazon seller, getting along with the different types of product categories to sell stuff can be a bit difficult if you are not very well aware of the gated and ungated categories. Getting along with the product categories and understanding which category is good to go while getting along with the Amazon policies. Well, if you are someone who is looking forward to getting along with the beauty category, you might need approval from Amazon in order to sell them. In addition to all this, you can also look forward to other categories as well which are mentioned above.
Hopefully, this article has helped you in getting all the information that you were looking forward to.
