How to Create Options and Variants for E-Commerce Products

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. What are Options and Variants?
  3. How to Create Options
  4. How to Create Variants
  5. Best Practices for Options and Variants
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine shopping for a t-shirt online. You want it in red, size large. What if every color and size had to be listed as a separate product? The shopping experience would quickly become overwhelming! Providing options and variants for products is the solution. By offering a structured and organized selection process, your e-commerce site can become more user-friendly, making it easier for customers to find exactly what they need.

In this blog post, we will delve into the process of creating options and variants for your e-commerce products. You'll learn what options and variants are, why they are useful, and how to set them up effectively to enhance your online store. Let’s explore this topic in depth.

What are Options and Variants?

Options

Options refer to the different selectable choices available for a product. Common examples include color, size, material, and finish. Implementing options allows a single product to offer a range of choices, improving the user experience by keeping the shopping process streamlined and organized.

Variants

Variants are combinations of the values from the options available for a product. For example, if a product has color and size options, then "Red - Large" and "Blue - Medium" would be different variants. Each variant can have its own SKU, price, stock level, and other unique attributes.

How to Create Options

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Accessing the Options Tab: First, navigate to the Options tab in your Product Editor.

  2. Adding a New Option:

    • Select the dropdown menu and choose "CREATE NEW".
    • Enter the new Option title, such as "Color".
    • Click the "Create Option" button to generate a Values table.

  3. Entering Values:

    • Input your first value (e.g., "Red") in the value line that appears.
    • To add more values, type each in the text field and click "Create value" for each one.

  4. Saving the Option:

    • Once all values are entered, click the close X icon.
    • The new option, along with its values, is now assigned to the product.
    • Save the product by clicking the Save icon.

    Repeat these steps to add more options like "Size".

Option Editor

In the Option Editor, you can manage how and where your options are displayed:

  1. Refine Block:

    • Tick "Include in refine block" to display the option in the Refine block on category pages.
    • Avoid ticking "Minimize in refine block" to ensure that all refining options are visible on the page.

  2. Product Page Display:

    • Choose from four display types using the "Field Type" dropdown:
      1. Select field
      2. Radio buttons (only for products with one option)
      3. Option icons with select field (V2 themes only)
      4. Option icons only (V2 themes only)

How to Create Variants

Step-by-Step Guide

Once your options and values are set up, the Variants tab will appear.

  1. Generating Variants:

    • Example: If you have a "Color" option with values "Red" and "Blue", and a "Size" option with values "Small" and "Large", the Variants tab will list combinations like "Red - Small", "Red - Large", "Blue - Small", and "Blue - Large".

  2. Customizing Variant Details:

    • By default, variants use the main product's data.
    • Add a unique SKU to each variant to customize attributes like price, stock level, and weight.
    • Other details that can be specified include Barcode, Part Number, VAT inclusion, and more.

  3. Variant Images:

    • Assign specific images to each variant, so when a customer selects a variant, the corresponding images are shown.
    • Navigate to the Images tab in the Product Editor, select the variant, and upload the images.

Organizing Images

Organizing images ensures customers can see the correct visual representation of the product variant they are interested in:

  1. Assigning Parent Images:

    • Assign the first variant's images to the Parent category to save time.
    • Optionally, use images that showcase different colors or finishes to help customers before they make a selection.

  2. Consistency:

    • Ensure that the number of images for the Parent and each variant is the same to avoid conflicts.

Best Practices for Options and Variants

Sequence Settings

  • In Sequence Setting: Ensure customers choose their options in order. This ensures accurate stock levels and available choices are displayed progressively. For example, they must select "Color" before "Size".

Limits and Scalability

  • Bluepark imposes no limit on the number of options you can create, but variants are capped at 500 per product. Plan carefully to ensure you stay within this limit.

Importing and Exporting

  • Options and variants can be managed through product import and export tools. This is especially useful for bulk updates.

Conclusion

Creating options and variants for your products not only improves the shopping experience but also keeps your product listings organized. By following the guidelines outlined here, you can offer a range of product choices without overwhelming your customers. This structured approach ensures that your e-commerce site is both functional and user-friendly.

FAQ

What are the benefits of using options and variants?

Using options and variants keeps products organized, simplifies the shopping experience, and prevents the need for multiple product listings for each variation.

How can I ensure that the correct variant images are displayed?

Assign specific images to each variant within the Product Editor, under the Images tab. This way, the correct images are shown when a customer selects a variant.

Is there a limit to the number of options or variants I can create?

While there’s no limit to the number of options you can create, the number of variants per product is capped at 500 on Bluepark. Plan your options and values accordingly.

Can I update options and variants in bulk?

Yes, Bluepark offers product import and export features that allow you to manage options and variants in bulk, streamlining your workflow.

What happens if I exceed the 500 variant limit?

If you exceed the limit, you will need to re-evaluate your options and values to reduce the number of variants or consider dividing your product into multiple listings.

By understanding and implementing these strategies, you can enhance product organization and customer satisfaction on your e-commerce platform.