There are four essential things you need to do before creating labels in ShipStation:
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Connect your Store
The most common way to import orders is through a connected store (though this is not the only way to bring in orders to ShipStation).
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Connect a Postage Account
Connect your existing accounts to view rates and request labels.
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Set Your Label Layout
Set your label format and configure your printer.
For maximum efficiency, install ShipStation's printer app: ShipStation Connect.
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Enter a Ship From Location
This tells ShipStation where you are shipping from, which is required before your postage provider will return a rate.
The Welcome screen guides you through the first three of these steps. You'll enter the Ship From Location after you import your first orders, but before you get rates and create any labels.
This video demonstrates the steps to connect a selling channel, add a postage provider, select a label layout and add your ship from location.
If you just started your ShipStation trial, the Welcome screen will prompt you to connect a selling channel.
Connecting a store is the most common way to get orders into ShipStation so you can create labels for them. However, you can manually create orders in ShipStation without connecting a store, and you can use the ShipStation Rate Calculator to create a label without an order. If you do not need to connect a store at this time, skip ahead to the Connect a Shipping Carrier section.
To connect your store so you can import orders:
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Click Connect a Channel.
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Select the store platform you want to connect from the list.
Type the store platform name into the search bar to filter which options you see.
Follow the on screen instructions to connect your store.
Store Connection Steps
The specific steps to connect your store will vary from selling channel to selling channel. For more information on a specific store connection process, go to Integrations Help and click on your selling channel name.
You may continue to add selling channels in the Welcome screen, or move on to the next step. You can always add more selling channels later by going to Settings > Selling Channels > Store Setup.
If you just started your ShipStation trial, the Welcome screen will prompt you to set up a shipping carrier.
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Click Set up a carrier.
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Choose the carrier you want to add.
Follow the on screen instructions to add your carrier account.
Note
The specific steps and information necessary to connect your account will vary from carrier to carrier. For more information on a specific carrier process and requirement, go to Integrations Help and click on your carrier's name.
You may continue to add carrier accounts in the Welcome screen, or move on to the next step. You can always add more carriers later by going to Settings > Shipping > Carriers & Fulfillment.
Tell ShipStation whether you print labels to a thermal label printer or to a standard desktop printer.
All labels created in ShipStation are 4" × 6" labels, similar to 100mm x 150mm or A5, suitable for thermal label printers. If you use an inkjet or laser printer to print multiple labels on a standard A4 sheet, ShipStation adjusts the label orientation 90 degrees to print two labels horizontally.
The Welcome screen prompts you to select a label layout:
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Click Select a Label Layout.
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Select the format that matches the type of printer you use, and whether to print labels only or to print labels and packing slips together.
Choose one of the 4" x 6" options if you use a thermal label printer, like a DYMO or Zebra.
Choose one of the 8.5" x 11" options if you use an inkjet or laser printer.
Click Save Settings.
Label Formats with Packing Slips
When selecting a format that includes a packing slip, your label and packing slip will always print together when printing a label. You can still print packing slips separately, but the packing slip format is determined by the label document options. You will not be able to set a unique packing slip format for printing individual packing slips.
You can change your label layout at any time in Settings > Printing > Printing Setup > Label Document Options.
You've now completed the Welcome screen!
Next, you'll import orders from your connected store.