How to Create Options and Variants for Ecommerce Products

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Options and Variants
3. Creating and Assigning Options
4. Setting Up Variants
5. Best Practices for Managing Options and Variants
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine scrolling through an online store and finding the perfect shirt. You love the design, but you want it in blue and a size medium. Without options and variants, you would have to sift through countless listings to find the exact combination you want. Thankfully, the world of ecommerce utilizes a smarter approach. Options and variants streamline the shopping experience, allowing customers to customize their products effortlessly.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the intricacies of creating options and variants for your ecommerce products. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how to utilize these tools to offer a versatile and user-friendly shopping experience, keeping your product catalog organized and attractive to your customers.

Understanding Options and Variants

Options

Options are the selectable attributes of your products, such as color, size, material, and finish. These attributes allow customers to personalize their choices, adding flexibility to your product offerings. For instance, a t-shirt might have options like color (red, blue, green) and size (small, medium, large).

Variants

Variants are combinations of these options. Each unique combination represents a specific product configuration. For example, a red medium t-shirt would be one variant, while a blue small t-shirt would be another. Variants let you manage each combination independently, including aspects like stock levels, pricing, and even individual skus.

Creating and Assigning Options

To create and assign options, follow these steps:

1. Access the Options Tab: Navigate to the Options tab in your product editor.
2. Select or Create a New Option: Click on the SELECT dropdown. You'll see an option to CREATE NEW and a list of existing options.
3. Add New Option Title: Choose CREATE NEW and input a title for your new option, like "Color." This title will appear on your product page.
4. Define Option Values: After setting the option title, enter the values (e.g., Black, Purple, Red) in the Values table. You can add additional values by typing or selecting a value and clicking Create value.
5. Assign Option to Product: Once all values are entered, close the Values table and assign the new option to the product.
6. Save and Review: Save the product and review it on the front-end website to ensure everything is correctly set up.

Using the Option Editor

The Option Editor allows you to control how and where options are displayed, including within the refine block on category pages and on individual product pages.

1. Access the Option Editor: Click the option title in the Options tab or navigate to Products > Options in the main menu.
2. Include in Refine Block: Tick Include in refine block if you wish to display the option within the refine block, helping customers filter products more efficiently.
3. Customize Display: Choose how the option appears on the product page using the Field Type dropdown, offering formats such as select fields, radio buttons, and option icons.

Setting Up Variants

Once you've established your options and values, the Variants tab will appear automatically.

Managing Variant Details

Each variant can carry unique data like:

• Stock Information: Manage stock levels, unique SKUs, barcodes, and pricing.
• Product Details: Set specific details like weight, VAT, country of origin, and more.
• Images: Assign specific images to each variant to visually represent differences like color or size.

Adding Variant Images

1. Navigate to Images Tab: Go to the Images tab in the product editor.
2. Select Parent or Variant: Use the Select Parent or Variant section to choose the variant you are updating.
3. Upload Images: Assign images to the selected variant. Ensure the number of images is consistent across variants to avoid display issues.

Example: Applying Images

For a product like a Midi Dress with multiple color options:

• First Variant: Assign initial variant images to the Parent.
• Additional Variants: Use the Apply to all Variants with feature to quickly apply images to all variants sharing a common option.

Best Practices for Managing Options and Variants

Sequence Settings

Utilize the In Sequence setting found under Settings > Settings > Products tab > Selectable Product Options and Availability section. This setting ensures customers select options in the specified order, providing immediate feedback on available stock levels and choices:

• Order Matters: For example, customers must select color first, then size, ensuring accurate stock presentation.

No Limits on Options

Platforms like Bluepark allow you to create unlimited options, with a cap of 500 variants per product. This flexibility ensures you can cater to a wide range of customer preferences without overwhelming your product pages.

Importing and Exporting

Use comprehensive product import tools for updating options and variants in bulk. This approach simplifies managing large inventories and ensures consistency across your product catalog.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively utilizing options and variants transforms the shopping experience for your customers. It streamlines the process, reduces clutter, and captures the unique preferences of every shopper. From creating and assigning options to managing intricate variant data and images, each step is crucial in enhancing your ecommerce store's functionality and appeal.

By implementing these strategies, not only do you offer a better customer experience, but you also maintain an organized, professional product catalog. Dive into your product editor today and start experimenting with options and variants to see how they can revolutionize your online store!

FAQ

Q: What are product options? A: Product options are selectable attributes like color, size, and material that allow customers to customize their product choices.

Q: How do variants differ from options? A: Variants are specific combinations of option values, each representing a unique product configuration, such as a red medium t-shirt.

Q: Can I add multiple images to product variants? A: Yes, each variant can have its own images to reflect different attributes, like different colors or sizes.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of options or variants I can create? A: While you can create unlimited options, most platforms cap the number of variants at 500 per product.

Q: How can I manage options and variants efficiently for a large inventory? A: Utilize bulk import tools to update options and variants, ensuring consistent and efficient management of extensive product catalogs.