Namshi: marketplace guide

About this guide

This is a ChannelEngine guide on the Saudi Arabia-based marketplace Namshi. Here you can find information on how to request a Namshi account, how to configure this marketplace on ChannelEngine, and what the specific requirements are.

Table of contents

Commercial information

How to request an account

Associated costs

Marketplace features

Settings and configuration

Marketplace-specific requirements and exceptions

• Setup
• Mappings
• Pricing
• Listed products

Additional information

FAQs

Commercial information

* Under the cross-border selling model, it is possible to sell from India, Turkey, and the United States.

How to request an account

To start selling on Namshi, set up a seller account on its website. The following requirements apply:

• VAT registration. Non-resident VAT registration is required for the cross-border selling model, and resident VAT registration is required for local sellers.
• Trade license or commercial registration.
• A valid bank account.
• Bank details provided as either a canceled check/bank statement or a letter with the bank’s letterhead.
• Registered seller account on Namshi.

Associated costs

Namshi does not charge setup or monthly fees. However, it does charge a commission fee – which ranges from 4% to 27%, depending on the product category.

Marketplace features

1. Namshi allows buyers to cancel orders up to the time they are delivered. Orders with the status In progress can be canceled by Namshi.
2. Marketplace returns with the API status Received are imported from Namshi into ChannelEngine. Check out the Returns section below for details on how to manage marketplace returns from Namshi. 
3. Namshi supports two- and three-level product structures, i.e.: (grand)parent-child relationships. 
4. Multiple fulfillment models are supported. For details on first-mile/last-mile/cross-border shipping models, check out the Additional information section below. 

Settings and configuration

Setting up each channel on ChannelEngine follows the same flow, though not every channel includes the steps listed below.

1. Go through the Setup.
2. Create a Product selection.
3. Complete the Categorization.
4. Set up the Mappings: content, offers, and carriers.
5. Configure the Pricing: rules and currency conversion.
6. Fill in the Stock settings.
7. Finish the Activation.
8. Check the Listed products overview.

Setup

On Namshi

1. Sign in to your partners account.
2. Go to User & Access, Project users.
3. Create a new service account by clicking +Add new, Service account.
4. Enter your username and email, and select the GSP service account credentials checkbox.
5. Click Save. Copy the generated credentials.

On ChannelEngine

1. Go to the Setup page of your Namshi marketplace.
2. Enter your credentials in the Connection section:
   • Seller name - your seller account name.
   • Seller credentials - your seller credentials in the JSON format.
   • Partner ID - your unique partner ID.
   • GCP account username - your GCP account username, formatted as 'name@p123456.idp.Namshi.partners'.
   • Warehouse code - your warehouse code, used for stock management.
3. Click Save.

Mappings

Content

All products (required)

• Brand - the product's brand or the manufacturer.
• Image URL 1 - the product's main image. The requirements are:
  • High-resolution image showcasing the product's design and features.
  • Set on the parent level.
  • File format - JPEG or JGP.
  • Aspect ratio - 0.73.
• Product title - the product's title in English, providing a clear description of the product's nature and contents. E.g.: Oversized Printed Shirt.
• Size variation -  the product's size, set on the child level. If the product is not a size variation, i.e.: the product is standalone, enter 'One size'.

All products (optional)

• Error fix - identifies whether the previous export error was resolved. Set the value to '1' if you want to re-export the content after resolving an error. If the content has not changed, set the value to '0'. The value must be set on the parent level.
• Capacity - the volume that can be contained by the item, given as a number.
• Capacity unit - the volume's unit, e.g.: 'mL'.
• Care instructions - special instructions for caring for the item.
• Colour family - the color family of the product; input one color.
• Colour name - the color of the product, which can be the same as the colour family.
• Colour name ar - the color of the product in Arabic.
• Compatible with - the specifications of the device (tablet, e-reader, or laptop) that the product is compatible with. Select one of the dropdown options.
• Country of origin - the country where the product was manufactured.
• Fine luxury material - select from the dropdown which precious metal or gemstone the product contains.
• Grouping axes - the product's aspect used to group parent products. E.g.: colour_name. Use for product variations. 
• Grouping keys - the product's grandparent code, used to group parent products together. The attribute is used in combination with Grouping axes. Use for product variations.
• GTIN - the product's unique Global Trade Item Number.
• HS code - the minimum six-digit customs code, complying with the Harmonized System.
• Image URL 2-8 - the product's additional images. The requirements are:
  • High-resolution image showcasing the product's design and features.
• Long description - long description in English, in HTML format. Sample value: <p><font size=”3”><center>This effortlessly chic bag is an accessory that you'll be using for seasons to come.</center></p></font><br><li>Free Textured and durble Free Textile upper</li><li>Main compartment with zipper closure</li><li>Broad and adjustable crossbody strap</li>
• Long description ar - long description in Arabic, in HTML format. Sample value: <p><font size=”3”><center>شنطة انيقة بتصميم بسيط من الاكسسوارات التي ستسخدمينها حتما في المواسم القادمة.</center></p></font><br><li>جزء علوي من نسيج متين بملمس مميز</li><li>جزء اساسي مع سحاب للاغلاق</li><li>حمالة كتف عريضة وقابلة للتعديل</li>
• Namshi size map - the product's standard Namshi size, set on the child level.
• Structured attributes - select an option from the dropdown for the following attributes:
  • Namshi age group
  • Namshi bottom length
  • Namshi clean
  • Namshi closure fastener
  • Namshi finish
  • Namshi fit
  • Namshi fit type
  • Namshi gender
  • Namshi ingredient preferences
  • Namshi interior material
  • Namshi is exchangeable
  • Namshi is returnable
  • Namshi lining material
  • Namshi material, code
  • Namshi occasion, pattern, print, shape
  • and more.
• Product height, length, depth - the product dimensions, given as a number.
• Product height, length, depth unit - the unit of the product dimensions' measurements, e.g.: 'cm'.
• Namshi warranty - the item's warranty. Select a warranty term from the dropdown.
• Product title ar - the product's title in Arabic.
• Serve count - a count of the number of servings the product can deliver, if applicable.
• Set includes - an extra description of a product that contains multiple items. 

Offer

Required

• Export to - the countries you want to export your products to. Ensure that the selected countries have corresponding Price and HS code values.
• [country] Shipping type - the type of shipping for that country, which can be cross-border or local.
• Price before (re)price rules - the standard price for the product, before discounts.

Optional

• Actual weight in kg - the product's weight in kg.
• Dimensions height in cm - the product's height in cm.
• Dimensions length in cm - the product's length in cm.
• Dimensions width in cm - the product's width in cm.
• Discount percentage [country] cross-border - the product's discount for that country, under the cross-border selling model. Enter a decimal value between 0 and 0.99. E.g.: 0.25 represents a 25% discount.
• HS code [country] - the product's customs tariff number for the given country.
• MSRP [country] local - the product's catalog price for that country, under the local selling model. To set up a discount, the value in this attribute must be higher than that under Price [country] local.
• Price [country] local - the product's price for that country, under the local selling model. Submit this price in the local currency of the country, excluding any applicable sales tax. To set up a discount, the value in this attribute must be lower than that under MSRP [country] local.
• Sale price [country] local - the product's sale price for that country, under the local selling model. To create a valid discount, enter a value lower than the value in Price [country] local.
• Price [country] cross-border - the product's price for that country, under the cross-border selling model. Submit this price in USD, excluding any applicable sales tax.
• Volumetric weight - the overall size of the package in volumetric kg, not in cm. This is used to calculate prices and margins for products sold on Namshi. The formula to calculate the volumetric weight is [package length in cm]×[package width in cm]×[package height in cm]÷5,000.

Pricing

In Mappings, Offer mappings, the following offer attribute may appear on this channel, if this channel uses pricing v2:

• Allow promotion below min price - set it to ‘true’ to allow the promotion price to drop below your product's minimum price. 

In Mappings, Fee group mappings, map the marketplace fee group ID of the product.

Namshi requires prices to be submitted in either:

• USD for the cross-border selling model
• Local currency for the local selling model

Prices should exclude any applicable sales tax. After you submit a price, Namshi may adjust it to include shipping costs, import fees, and sales tax. This means the price you enter on ChannelEngine differs from the final selling price displayed on Namshi.

Listed products

If you have problems with products not appearing on Namshi (especially if you are trying to add products that do not exist yet), check the Listed products page for more information.

You can either filter on Channel status (Invalid for all products that ChannelEngine has not exported, such as products with an empty EAN) or use the Validation and feedback tab to see all known validation/feedback errors for specific products.

Products that are either under secondary review or are fully approved by Namshi have the Published status on the Listed products page, while those that did not pass Namshi's validation have the Not published status. To check whether your product is fully approved by Namshi, check Namshi's seller portal. 

Additional information

First-mile delivery by merchant

Ship products to Namshi's warehouse, and select your preferred carrier for these shipments.

On Namshi

1. In your Seller Lab account, go to Fulfilled by partner, Warehouse.
2. Select the warehouse you use to fulfill orders.
3. Click the warehouse, then click Edit in the Order fulfillment & handover types section.
4. Select the type of fulfillment from the dropdown – Drop-off.
5. Choose a drop-off point.

On ChannelEngine

1. When creating a shipment via POST v2/shipments, add a shipping method (i.e.: name of the carrier) and a tracking code, which should match the barcode you attach to the parcel.
2. ChannelEngine exports shipment details to Namshi after the creation of the shipment
3. Attach the barcode to the parcel and deliver it to Namshi's warehouse through your preferred carrier.
4. Namshi scans the barcode and forwards your parcel to its final destination.

Last-mile delivery by Namshi

Use last-mile delivery by Namshi (a.k.a. direct ship) so that Namshi handles the delivery of your package to the buyer. It is also possible to process orders via the cross-border selling model (noon shipping). Use an Air Waybill number or a shipping label, where necessary, when making use of last-mile delivery. 

To retrieve the Air Waybill number and shipping label:

On Namshi

1. In your Seller Lab account, go to Fulfilled by partner, Warehouse.
2. Select the warehouse you use to fulfill orders.
3. Click the warehouse, then click Edit in the Order fulfillment & handover types section.
4. Select the type of fulfillment from the dropdown – Pick-up.

On ChannelEngine

1. In Setup, Advanced settings, enable the Save shipping label to PDF for AWB flow setting. If you create your own shipping labels, skip this step.
2. When creating a shipment via POST v2/shipments, set the shipping method as either:
   1. Namshi- if you want ChannelEngine to provide an air waybill (AWB) number. In this case, leave the tracking code field empty.
   2. Your seller name - if you provide an AWB number yourself. Enter the AWB number in the tracking code field.
3. ChannelEngine exports shipment details to Namshi after the shipment is created.
4. Attach the AWB number to the package so that Namshi can recognize and process it. If you still need to retrieve it from ChannelEngine, refer to the next section.

If ChannelEngine generates an AWB number:

1. The AWB number is stored as a shipment field AirWaybillNo on ChannelEngine.
2. To retrieve the AWB number via the Merchant API, call the GET /v2/orders/{merchantShipmentNo}/airwaybillno endpoint.
3. To retrieve the shipping label via the Merchant API, call the GET /v2/orders/{merchantShipmentNo}/shippinglabel endpoint. By default, the response is a PDF file. To receive a shipping label in the ZPL format instead, set the Accept header to zpl.  Accept: application/zpl

Creating a manifest on Namshi

After you create shipments on ChannelEngine, you must hand them over to Namshi. You can either schedule a pickup or drop the items off at the nearest Namshi hub.

Before the handover, you must generate a manifest that lists all the shipments. To create a shipment manifest:

1. Sign in to your Namshi partners account.
2. From the left-hand side menu, go to Namshi, Fulfilled by partner, Direct ship.
3. Select your web integration warehouse.
4. On the Pending tab, click Manifestation.
5. Click Create manifest in the top right corner.
6. Select the destination warehouse and enter the number of shipments you are handing over.
7. Click Save changes.

Once the manifest is created:

1. Click Print QR Code.
2. In the pop-up, review the manifest details and print the QR code.
3. Present the printed QR code when handing over the items to Namshi.

Returns

Marketplace returns with the API status Received are imported into ChannelEngine. The Received status indicates that Namshi has received and accepted the return at its warehouse. Marketplace returns are subject to the following conditions:

• As a merchant, you cannot approve or reject marketplace returns – Namshi decides the return status independently. However, you can dispute returns in your Namshi Seller Lab account. 
• If a product is not delivered to the customer after three delivery attempts, Namshi marks it as undelivered and returns it to its warehouse. On ChannelEngine, a marketplace return is created with a comment indicating that the product was undelivered. 

To process marketplace returns, first retrieve them via API in Received status and then acknowledge them. Acknowledgement allows you to add your own MerchantReturnNo (your internal return number). Adding your merchant return number is important so you can reference the same return in later API calls and in your internal processes, e.g.: refund/repair/exchange. 

To retrieve and acknowledge marketplace returns via the Merchant API:

1. Retrieve all unacknowledged returns with the status Received by using the /v2/returns endpoint with filters, e.g.: GET /v2/returns?statuses=RECEIVED&isAcknowledged=false.   
2. Then acknowledge the returns with POST /v2/returns/merchant/acknowledge.

For more guidance on processing marketplace returns, check out Merchant API: returns.

FAQs

How often does each task run on Namshi?
Namshi follows the schedule below:

Why is no additional customer data, such as emails or addresses, included in the order extra data?
Namshi only provides basic information about buyers. This is because Namshi handles the last-mile delivery, and detailed order information is not required by the merchant. Therefore, the customer's address and email are not included in the order extra data.

I cannot see the products' prices on the Partner catalog page on Namshi? How can I make sure the prices are correct?
Namshi does not display prices on the Partner catalog page. However, you can export the prices in CSV. For that, in your Namshi partners account, go to Exports, Add export. In the Category dropdown, select Pricing, and under Sub-category, select Global price. A CSV document containing the prices is generated for download.

Can I see when a package was delivered to the buyer by Namshi?
Yes, once Namshi has shipped the package, you can find the estimated delivery time in the Delivered at field under the shipment details on ChannelEngine.