Rakuten, known as "the Amazon of Japan", is a B2B2C platform (Rakuten Ichiba) that has offered buying and selling since 1997. In Japan, Rakuten holds about 27% of the e-commerce market, versus roughly 12% for Amazon.
It currently has more than 44,000 sellers and over 40 million monthly buyers worldwide, ranking third among marketplaces after Amazon and eBay.
Through this platform you can expand your sales to the Asian market, as it is the largest e-commerce site in Japan. Rakuten covers a wide range of items: electronics, cutting-edge technology, digital content and communication services. Brands like Dell, Lenovo, Office Depot, Airweave and many others use Rakuten's marketplace as a sales channel.
Selling on Rakuten offers benefits such as: a broader reach through a diverse network of e-commerce, logistics and marketing firms and loyalty programmes; a customised store, since sellers can brand their own storefronts and set their own policies; excellent service and support, with tools and expert guidance to increase brand visibility; and savings options with loyalty points.
However, to sell on Rakuten you should consider: you'll need a Japanese business entity and bank account, since shipments must be made within two business days; if your stock is in another country, be aware of taxes and duties; and you'll need staff who speak the language to handle customer service. Rakuten reviews sellers and verifies brand authenticity, a process that takes around 4 weeks.
To sell on Rakuten, follow these steps:
- Create a seller account on the Rakuten portal.
- Enter the company's details: phone, ID, credit card.
- Receive confirmation from the Rakuten team (about 3 to 10 days); once accepted, you can add your product listings.
- Products must have one of these barcodes: UPC, EAN, JAN or ISBN.
If you want to expand your sales through Rakuten, it's important your products have an EAN code.
Do you want to sell your products on Rakuten?
If one of your challenges is selling on Rakuten, you've come to the right place: we help you clear up doubts about getting barcodes so your products can enter this Asian market that keeps climbing in global e-commerce.
Do you need a barcode to sell on Rakuten?
As we saw, to sell on Rakuten products must have one of these barcodes: EAN, UPC, JAN or ISBN. So don't wait any longer —focus on getting the barcodes your products need to reach every corner of the world.
What types of barcodes are used on Rakuten?
On Rakuten you can sell as long as products have an EAN, UPC, JAN or ISBN barcode. The most used worldwide are EAN (European Article Number) and UPC (Universal Product Code). EAN has 13 digits (used in the EU and most countries); UPC has 12 (used in the US and Canada). JAN (Japanese Article Numbering) is just another name for the EAN-13 code, where the first two digits (45 or 49) identify Japan. ISBN is the international code for books, also 13 digits.
What is an EAN and a UPC barcode?
A barcode is a system of lines used to identify a product via an optical reader quickly and effectively. They're omnidirectional and unique, so each product must have its own.
EAN barcodes have 13 digits in a 1-6-6 structure (country of origin, manufacturer number, product identifier). The UPC code is made up of 12 digits.
How do barcodes work on Rakuten?
On Rakuten every product needs a barcode: as a rapidly expanding platform, it makes inventory easier to control and gives better oversight of each product sold, with a computerised system for easy location and access.
How to get a barcode for Rakuten?
Barcodes are issued by specialised, certified companies. To request one:
- Order the codes based on the number of products you want to sell.
- Pay via the agreed method; the company confirms by email.
- Once payment is confirmed, the company emails all the barcodes in graphic format, with instructions to print and apply them.
In what format do you get Rakuten codes?
- JPEG — the most used; compresses images and is easily read by any computer.
- TIFF — used when the image needs a transparent background.
- EPS — high quality and versatility, preferred by many graphic designers.
What are the payment methods to get EAN and UPC codes?
To pay, only contact details and a credit card are needed; no product information is required. You can also pay via PayPal and bank transfer. For more information, contact us.