ShipWave Channels

Mapping categories to marketplaces

How to map Shopify product types to marketplace category taxonomies.

Why categories matter

Each marketplace organizes products into categories (also called taxonomies or browse nodes). Correct categorization:
  • Helps customers find your products through browse and search
  • Determines which attributes/item specifics are required
  • Affects search ranking and visibility
  • Is required for listing approval on some platforms (Walmart, TikTok)

How category mapping works

ShipWave maps your Shopify product types to marketplace categories:
  1. Check listing override: If a listing has a manual category set, use it
  2. Check cached mapping: Look for a saved mapping for this product type + channel
  3. API search: If no mapping exists, query the marketplace's category API
  4. Cache result: Save the mapping for future use
Once mapped, all products of that type automatically use the same category.

Creating a category mapping

  1. Go to Admin → Marketplace → [Channel] → Category Mappings
  2. Click New Mapping
  3. Select the Shopify product type (e.g., "Electronics")
  4. Search for the marketplace category
  5. Browse the category tree or search by keyword
  6. Select the most specific category that fits
  7. Click Save Mapping

Auto-resolution

When you push a listing without a category mapping, ShipWave attempts to auto-resolve:
  1. Takes your Shopify product type
  2. Searches the marketplace category API
  3. Picks the best match based on relevance
  4. Caches the mapping for future listings
Auto-resolution works well for common product types but may need manual adjustment for niche categories.

Category breadcrumbs

Categories are hierarchical. ShipWave shows the full path (breadcrumb):

Amazon: Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Computer Components > Graphics Cards

eBay: Computers/Tablets & Networking > Computer Components & Parts > Graphics/Video Cards

This helps you understand where your product will appear in the browse tree.

Bulk category assignment

To assign categories to multiple listings at once:
  1. Filter listings by product type
  2. Select all listings
  3. Click Bulk Actions → Set Category
  4. Search and select the category
This updates all selected listings and creates a mapping for future use.

FAQs

What if I pick the wrong category?
Update the category mapping and push the listings again. The marketplace listing will be updated with the new category.
Can different variants have different categories?
Typically no. Most marketplaces require all variants of a product to be in the same category. However, you can create separate parent listings if needed.
Why can't I find my category?
Some categories require approval or are restricted. Try searching with different keywords. If you still can't find it, check the marketplace's category documentation.
Do I need to set categories for every product?
For best results, yes. Uncategorized products have lower visibility. However, auto-resolution can handle common categories automatically.

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