Table of Contents
Introduction
When managing an online store, presenting products effectively can have a huge impact on customer experience and sales. With products coming in a myriad of shapes, colors, and sizes, it might seem like an arduous task to manage each variation individually. However, leveraging product options and variants can significantly simplify this process. This guide will deeply explore how to create options and variants, ensuring your products are organized and easy for visitors to navigate.
Options and variants not only aid in maintaining a structured product catalog but also enhance the user experience, making it simpler for customers to find exactly what they're looking for. By the end of this blog post, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to create and manage product options and variants, ultimately streamlining your eCommerce operations.
Understanding Options
What Are Options?
Options are selectable choices that you can offer for your products. Common options include attributes like color, size, material, and finish. These options allow customers to customize their purchases based on their preferences. For example, a T-shirt might have options for color and size.
Creating and Assigning Options
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Navigate to the Product Editor: Begin by accessing the Options tab within the Product Editor of your eCommerce platform.
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Create a New Option: Click the SELECT dropdown and choose CREATE NEW. Enter a new Option title, such as "Color" or "Size," into the text field that appears. This title will display on the product page.
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Enter Option Values: After creating the option, a Values table will appear. Here, you can enter the specific values for the option, such as "Black," "Purple," "Small," "Medium," etc. To add more values, type or select a value in the provided field and click Create Value.
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Assign the Option to the Product: Once all values have been entered, close the Values table by clicking the X icon. The new option will now be assigned to the product in the Options tab.
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Save the Product: Click the Save icon to apply these changes to your product. Repeat this process to add additional options if necessary.
Utilizing the Option Editor
The Option Editor provides a suite of tools to customize how and where your options are displayed both on product pages and category pages. Here’s how to use it:
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Refine Block Settings: In the Details section, check "Include in refine block" if you want the option to appear within the refine block on category pages. Checking "Minimize in refine block" will initially hide the values within the refine block, requiring customers to expand it to see the options.
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Display Settings on Product Page: In the "Displayed on the Product Page" section, select how the option will display from the Field Type dropdown. Choices include Select Field, Radio Buttons, Option Icons with Select Field (V2 only), and Option Icons only (V2 only).
By optimizing these settings, you ensure that your product options are displayed in an engaging and user-friendly manner.
Delving Into Variants
What Are Variants?
Variants are product variations created from combinations of option values. For instance, if a product has a color option with values "Red" and "Blue," and a size option with values "Small" and "Medium," then variants will be combinations like "Red-Small," "Red-Medium," "Blue-Small," and "Blue-Medium."
Managing Variants
Once your options and values are set, a new tab called Variants will appear. Here, you can manage each product variant individually:
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Default Data Usage: By default, variants use the main product's data, such as price and stock level.
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Customizing Variant Data: If you wish to set unique data for each variant, ensure that each has a unique SKU. You can generate SKUs automatically or type them in manually. Once done, you can edit other fields like barcode, prices, weight, and stock quantity for each variant. Each variant can also be marked as active or discontinued, and settings like VAT inclusion or if it’s an intangible product (e.g., a digital download) can also be configured.
Adding Variant Images
To enhance the customer's shopping experience, you can assign specific images to each variant. Here’s how:
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Upload Variant Images: Go to the Images tab in the Product Editor and find the Select Parent or Variant section. The Image Type dropdown will list the variants. Choose a variant and click the Assign Images button to upload images.
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Applying Images to Multiple Variants: Use the Apply to all Variants with dropdown if the same images should be added to all variants sharing a specific option value. For example, if a dress comes in multiple sizes but the same color, you can upload images for the color option and apply them to all size variants.
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Parent Images: Initially, you may want to assign the first variant’s images to the parent product to save time. Alternatively, use parent images to show different colors or finishes so customers can preview the overall product before making their choices.
Other Critical Settings
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Option Selection Sequence: Set this in the Settings menu under the Products tab by choosing the "In Sequence" setting. This ensures customers select options in a logical order, such as choosing color before size, which helps display relevant stock and availability information immediately.
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Option Limits: While there is no limit to the number of options you can create, each product can have up to 500 variants. Therefore, plan your option values and combinations wisely to avoid exceeding this limit.
Conclusion
Effectively utilizing options and variants in your product catalog can significantly enhance your eCommerce platform’s functionality and user experience. By carefully setting up and managing options, assigning unique data to variants, and leveraging tools like the Option Editor, you ensure a streamlined and user-friendly shopping environment.
These techniques not only help in keeping your product listings tidy and navigable but also provide customers with the freedom to select products tailored to their specific needs. This comprehensive approach to handling product variations ultimately leads to higher customer satisfaction and potentially, increased sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between options and variants?
Options are attributes such as color or size that customers can choose from. Variants are the specific combinations that result from these choices, like a "Red, Medium" T-shirt.
Can I add multiple options to a single product?
Yes, products can have multiple options, like color and size, allowing customers to choose from different combinations.
How do I display options on the category page?
Use the Option Editor to include options in the refine block on category pages, making it easier for customers to filter products based on their preferences.
What should I do if I have more than 500 variants for a product?
You should reconsider and limit some option values. Having too many variants can complicate inventory management and overwhelm customers.
Can I assign images to specific variants?
Absolutely, you can assign specific images to each variant, enhancing the shopping experience by showing customers exactly what the selected variant looks like.
With this guide, you're well-equipped to start efficiently using options and variants in your product catalog, ensuring your online store is both user-friendly and professionally organized.
