Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Understanding Options and Variants
- Creating and Assigning Options
- Creating Variants
- Assigning Variant Images
- Other Essential Settings
- Benefits of Options and Variants
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Imagine walking into a store where every possible variation of a product is displayed separately—each size, each color, each material. The clutter would be overwhelming and finding what you need would be a nightmare. This is precisely what options and variants help avoid in the digital world of ecommerce. These features allow you to offer multiple choices within a single product page, improving the user experience and keeping your digital shelves organized.
In this guide, we are going to delve into the specifics of how to create options and variants for your products, enabling a streamlined shopping experience and more efficient product management.
Understanding Options and Variants
What Are Options?
Options are choices that a customer can select for a particular product, such as color, size, or material. These options allow a single product to offer multiple choices, without the need to create individual listings for each variation. For example, a t-shirt can have different color and size options.
What Are Variants?
Variants are combinations of the different option values. When you combine different options such as color and size, you end up with multiple variants. So a shirt available in red, blue, and green, and in small, medium, and large sizes, would have nine variants (Red-Small, Red-Medium, Red-Large, etc.).
Creating and Assigning Options
Before diving into creating options, it's essential to gather all relevant product information. This will make the process more systematic and organized.
Steps to Create New Options
- Navigate to Options Tab: Start by going to the Options tab in the Product Editor.
- Select Drop-down Menu: Click the SELECT dropdown menu. You will see a list with the option to CREATE NEW.
- Create New Option: Choose CREATE NEW and type your Option title, such as "Color," into the text field. This title will be visible on the product page.
- Add Values: After entering the Option title, click the Create Option button. A Values table will appear where you can enter values like "Black," "Red," etc. To add more values, type the values in the text field and click Create value.
- Save and Close: Once all values have been added, click the close X icon on the top right of the Values table. The new Option is now assigned to the product. Make sure to save your changes.
Customizing the Option Display
In the Option Editor, you can further define how your options will appear on the product and category pages.
Display Settings:
- Refine Block: Decide if the options should be included in the refine block on category pages by ticking the appropriate checkbox.
- Product Page Appearance: Specify how the options should display on the product page. You have four field type choices: Select field, Radio buttons, Option icons with select field, and Option icons only.
- Include and Minimize: Options can be included or minimized in the refine block. Minimized options will show values only upon expanding the list, enhancing the user interface.
Creating Variants
Once your options and values have been established, the next step is to create combinations of these values, known as Variants.
Steps for Creating Variants
- Navigate to Variants Tab: After setting up your options and values, a new Variants tab will appear in the Product Editor.
- Define Variants: Variants are automatically generated from your options. For example, if you have a shirt with options for both color and size, all possible combinations will be created.
- Unique Data: Each variant can have unique data such as price, stock level, SKU, and more. To add unique information, each variant must have a unique SKU. You can generate SKUs by clicking the "Generate Variant SKUs" button.
Assigning Variant Images
Images play a crucial role in helping customers visualize the product they are selecting. Assigning specific images to variants can greatly enhance user experience.
Steps to Assign Images to Variants
- Navigate to Images Tab: Go to the Images tab in the Product Editor.
- Select Variant: In the Select Parent or Variant section, choose the appropriate variant from the Image Type dropdown list.
- Upload Images: Click the Assign Images button and upload the images for that specific variant. A checkmark will indicate that images are assigned to that variant.
For consistency, it’s recommended to have the same number of images for the parent product and all variants. You can also apply the same images to multiple variants if necessary.
Other Essential Settings
In Sequence Setting
Using the "In Sequence" setting ensures customer selections are made in a logical order. For example, a customer must choose the color first before seeing available sizes. This is configured in Settings > Settings > Products tab > Selectable Product Options and Availability section.
Stock and Availability
In addition to selecting sequence, options can quickly update the inventory status. When an out-of-stock option is chosen, remaining variants update instantly to show available stock, providing real-time inventory information.
Benefits of Options and Variants
- Improved User Experience: Customers can quickly find exactly what they want within a single product page.
- Simplified Inventory Management: By grouping product variations, you can maintain an organized inventory system.
- Enhanced SEO: Offering multiple variants under a single product page can improve search engine indexing, potentially driving more organic traffic.
- Increased Sales: The ease of finding the right product variant can lead to higher conversion rates and increased customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
Creating and managing options and variants is an essential task for any ecommerce store owner. These features not only simplify inventory management but also contribute to a better shopping experience for your customers. From setting up the basic options to customizing their display and assigning unique images to each variant, each step is designed to make your ecommerce platform more efficient and user-friendly.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can offer a seamless shopping experience that caters to diverse customer needs and stands out in a competitive ecommerce landscape.
FAQ
Why should I use options and variants for my products?
Using options and variants allows you to offer multiple choices within a single product listing, improving user experience and keeping your inventory organized.
Can I have unlimited options and variants?
While there is no limit to the number of options, variants are capped at 500 per product. Plan your options and variants accordingly.
How do I assign different images to each variant?
In the Images tab of the Product Editor, select the desired variant from the Image Type dropdown and upload the specific images for that variant.
What is the "In Sequence" setting?
The "In Sequence" setting ensures that customers make their choices in a predefined order, providing real-time updates on stock availability.
Can options and variants be added via CSV import?
Yes, options and variants can be added or updated via Product Import. For more detailed instructions, refer to the appropriate guide on CSV import and export.
