ShipWave Channels

Required category attributes

Understanding and filling in marketplace-required attributes for each category.

What are category attributes?

Each marketplace category has attributes (also called item specifics or product attributes). Some are required, some are recommended, some are optional. Examples:
  • Brand – Required on most platforms
  • GTIN/UPC – Required on Walmart, recommended on Amazon
  • Color – Required for apparel categories
  • Size – Required for apparel/footwear
  • Material – Common for many categories
  • Model Number – Common for electronics

Viewing required attributes

When you set a category mapping, ShipWave shows the attributes for that category:
  1. Go to Admin → Marketplace → [Channel] → Category Mappings
  2. Select a mapping
  3. View the Required Attributes and Optional Attributes sections
Required attributes must be filled in for the listing to validate.

Setting default attributes

For each category mapping, you can set default values:
  1. Open the category mapping
  2. In the Default Attributes section, fill in values
  3. These defaults apply to all listings using this mapping
This is useful for attributes that are the same across all products (e.g., Brand = "Your Company").

Per-listing attributes

To set attributes for a specific listing:
  1. Open the listing detail page
  2. Go to the Attributes section
  3. Fill in or override any attribute values
  4. Per-listing values take priority over mapping defaults

Automatic attribute mapping

ShipWave automatically maps some Shopify fields to marketplace attributes:
  • Shopify Vendor → Brand
  • Shopify Barcode → GTIN/UPC
  • Variant Options → Size, Color (where names match)
  • Product Weight → Item Weight
This reduces manual data entry for common attributes.

Handling missing attributes

If a required attribute is missing, the listing will fail validation. To fix:
  1. Add the data to your Shopify product (if it maps automatically)
  2. Set a default value in the category mapping
  3. Set a per-listing override
The validation error will tell you exactly which attribute is missing.

FAQs

What if I don't know the correct attribute value?
Check the marketplace's allowed values. For attributes like "Material" or "Size Type," there's often a predefined list. ShipWave shows these when available.
Can I bulk-update attributes?
Yes. Use the CSV export/import feature to update attributes across many listings at once.
Why are required attributes different for each category?
Marketplaces define requirements per category based on what's relevant for that product type. Electronics need different info than clothing.
What happens if I leave optional attributes blank?
The listing will validate and push, but may have lower visibility. Filling in more attributes generally improves search ranking.

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