{"id":220,"date":"2024-11-07T17:48:19","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T22:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/?p=220"},"modified":"2024-11-07T17:48:19","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T22:48:19","slug":"start-selling-on-amazon-without-a-trademark-2025-get-brand-approval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/07\/start-selling-on-amazon-without-a-trademark-2025-get-brand-approval\/","title":{"rendered":"Start Selling on Amazon WITHOUT a Trademark 2025 | Get Brand Approval"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Start Selling on Amazon WITHOUT a Trademark 2025 | Get Brand Approval\" width=\"680\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i_JsSbJBVH0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-markdown\"><p>If you\u2019re looking to sell branded or private-label products on Amazon, you don\u2019t need to have a registered trademark to start! In fact, you can use a process called Brand Approval to list products under your own brand name instead of generically. Listing your products as generic is a huge mistake that could hurt your business in the long run\u2014so here\u2019s everything you need to know to get brand approval without a trademark in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Why Avoid Listing Products as \u201cGeneric\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>Listing products as generic on Amazon may sound tempting when you\u2019re just getting started, but it can lead to major issues:<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tNo Brand Identity: Customers won\u2019t associate the product with a brand, making it harder to build brand loyalty.\n\u2022\tFuture Problems: If you decide to add a brand later, you\u2019ll need to start over with a new listing\u2014losing all reviews, sales history, and ranking progress.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>By going through the brand approval process, you can avoid these issues and set your Amazon business up for success.<\/p>\n<p>Step-by-Step Guide to Brand Approval Without a Trademark<\/p>\n<p>Step 1: Create a New Product Listing<\/p>\n<pre><code>1.\tLog into Seller Central: Head over to your Seller Central dashboard.\n2.\tAdd a New Product: At the top of the page, select Add Products. If you don\u2019t see this option, navigate to Menu &gt; Catalog &gt; Add Products.\n3.\tUse the Blank Form Option: Since you\u2019re creating a new, unique listing, don\u2019t search by keywords. Instead, choose the blank form option to create a new product listing.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Step 2: Enter Product Details<\/p>\n<p>Product Title and Category<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tItem Name: Enter a title that describes the product. You can update this later, so it doesn\u2019t need to be perfect.\n\u2022\tProduct Category: Choose the category that best fits your product. If it\u2019s not correct, click on Select Other to manually choose the right category.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Brand Name<\/p>\n<p>This is the most critical part\u2014follow these instructions precisely!<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tBrand Name Field: Enter the brand name you want to use on Amazon.\n\u2022\tDO NOT Check \u201cThis Product Does Not Have a Brand Name\u201d: Checking this box marks your product as generic, which can cause issues later. Avoid this at all costs!\n\nPro Tip: Choosing a brand name now will save you from losing sales history, reviews, and rank if you decide to brand your products later.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Product ID<\/p>\n<p>To list your product on Amazon, you need a unique identifier:<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tUPC Code: Enter the UPC barcode you purchased. Only buy UPCs directly from GS1. Third-party UPCs can lead to Amazon shutting down your listing.\n\u2022\tGTIN Exemption: Do NOT select \u201cI don\u2019t have a product ID\u201d to avoid the hassle of GTIN exemptions, which come with limitations and can\u2019t be changed to UPC later.\n\nRelated Video: I\u2019ve created a guide on where to buy UPC codes, which you can find in the description.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Step 3: Trigger the Brand Approval Process<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve entered your brand and UPC, you may see an error message stating:\n\u201cBrand Name Approval Required: You have entered a brand name that has not been approved by Amazon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is good! This message is the start of the brand approval process. Click on Apply to Sell to begin.<\/p>\n<p>What to Do if the Error Doesn\u2019t Pop Up<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t see the error prompt, follow these steps to manually initiate the brand approval process:<\/p>\n<pre><code>1.\tGo to Help in Seller Central: Click on Help &gt; Get Help and Resources.\n2.\tScroll to the Bottom: Select My Issue is Not Listed.\n3.\tEnter \u201cError 5665\u201d: Type \u201cError 5665\u201d and click Continue.\n4.\tFollow Prompts: Select Received an error code or message &gt; Error 5661 \/ 5665 brand name authorization.\n5.\tCreate a Case: If the prompt doesn\u2019t work, Amazon will give you an option to Create a Case. This will take you to the same form you would have filled out if the error had appeared automatically.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Step 4: Complete the Brand Approval Application<\/p>\n<p>Now, you\u2019re ready to apply for brand approval. Here\u2019s how to fill out the form properly.<\/p>\n<pre><code>1.\tBrand Name Confirmation: You\u2019ll see your brand name at the top, confirming the approval process is for this brand.\n2.\tOptional Website URL: If you already have a website, enter it here. Although not mandatory, having a website can help speed up approval.\n3.\tUpload Product Photos: This is the most critical part! Follow these photo guidelines exactly, or your application may be rejected.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Product Photo Requirements for Brand Approval<\/p>\n<p>To prove you\u2019re the brand owner, you\u2019ll need to upload at least two high-quality images of your product and\/or packaging with your brand name. Here are Amazon\u2019s requirements:<\/p>\n<p>Requirement\tDescription\nClear Images\tPhotos must be clear, in focus, and high resolution. Blurry or truncated images will lead to rejection.\nBrand Name Legibility\tBranding on the product must be easily readable. Capitalization differences are acceptable.\nMatching Brand Name\tThe brand name in the images must match what you entered exactly (e.g., \u201cAcme Outdoors\u201d cannot appear as \u201cAcme-Outdoors\u201d).\nReal Photos Only\tNo Photoshopped or digitally altered images. Photoshopped images are typically rejected.\nPermanent Branding\tThe brand logo should be stamped, stitched, or printed directly on the product or packaging.<\/p>\n<pre><code>Pro Tip: Amazon\u2019s guidelines don\u2019t explicitly require you to show the UPC barcode in the images, but it can help with approval.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Tips for Taking Product Photos<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a physical product ready to photograph, consider these options:<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tRequest a Sample: Ask your supplier to send you a sample with the branding applied.\n\u2022\tUse Packaging: If you\u2019re designing a custom box, print it out and use it for the photos.\n\u2022\tCreate a Prototype Box: Print your packaging design, glue it to a plain box, and photograph it. This can be a creative workaround if you\u2019re in the early stages.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Checklist Before Uploading Photos<\/p>\n<pre><code>1.\tTake 3-4 images from different angles.\n2.\tEnsure good lighting and focus.\n3.\tAvoid any digital editing.\n4.\tInclude the product\u2019s UPC if possible.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Once your photos are ready, upload them, enter your contact information, and click Submit.<\/p>\n<p>What to Expect After Submission<\/p>\n<pre><code>\u2022\tProcessing Time: Approval can take a few days to a week. Be patient, and don\u2019t rush by sending multiple follow-ups, as this can delay processing.\n\u2022\tRejected Applications: If your application is rejected, it\u2019s usually due to photo issues. Review Amazon\u2019s guidelines, take new photos, and reapply.\n\nPersistence Pays Off: Keep resubmitting with better photos if needed. Once approved, you can list all future products under the same brand without needing to reapply.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Important Reminders and Next Steps<\/p>\n<pre><code>1.\tListing in Multiple Categories: Brand approval allows you to list products under your brand in any category. However, if the category is gated, you\u2019ll still need separate category approval.\n2.\tCategory-Specific Requirements: Some categories require additional documentation or certifications, so check before listing.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve completed the brand approval process, return to your product listing to finalize it.<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion: Get Selling with Your Own Brand!<\/p>\n<p>With Amazon\u2019s Brand Approval, you can establish your brand presence without a trademark. Just follow these steps, and soon you\u2019ll be ready to build brand recognition and customer loyalty without the hassles of generic listings. And once your brand is approved, learn how to optimize your listing for maximum visibility\u2014check out this guide on creating high-converting listings to get started.<\/p>\n<p>This method is ideal for new Amazon sellers looking to build a brand without investing in trademark registration right away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/maxresdefault-5.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions\/222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentkao.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}