Note:
This feature is only available with the Business and Premium package.
If your item has options, you can establish variations for it. Variations are distinct sets of choices (such as dimensions, hue, substance, etc.) that exist for this specific item.
For instance, if a t-shirt comes in two dimensions (small and medium) and two shades (yellow and gray), it has four alternatives:
You can establish variations for items that have two or more choices with different values (like in the example above). You can also establish variations for items that have only one choice with numerous values (e.g., dimensions petite, medium, and large). You can establish as many variations as you desire.
Product variations can assist you:
- Assign distinct images for every set of choices your item has (frequently utilized for attire and footwear)
- Automatically adjust prices based on the choices your customer selects
- Track inventory with unique SKUs for each set of choices to avoid overselling
- Specify weight, length, width, and height for each combination of choices your item has to obtain more precise shipping rates at checkout
Table of content
Creating product variations
Each item can have an unlimited number of choices. Based on them, you can establish an unlimited number of variations for this specific item. The combinations of choices, as well as the choices themselves, can differ from item to item. For instance, one item has different dimensions and shades, while another has different styles and substances.
To create an product variation:
- From your store admin, go to Catalog → Products.
- Create a new product or choose an existing product that comes with different options (such as shades, dimensions, shapes, etc).
- Go to the Options tab and click Add Product Options to add a choice and its parameters. You can utilize the Drop-Down List, Radio Buttons, or Size types for each choice, so you can further create variations. Since you can then set fixed prices for each variation, we do not advise using price modifiers when creating choices.
In our instance, we add "Maroon" and "Black" for "Hue" and "Petite" and "Medium" for "Size":
If your item has only one choice, but this choice has more than one value (for example, size Petite and size Medium), you can also create variations for it. This way, every choice value will become a separate variation that can have its own image, weight, SKU, etc. - Switch to the Variations tab.
- Click + New Variation.
- Select values of choices for this variation. In our instance, it's the values of hue and size:
- (optional) Set the SKU, Price, Weight, Length, Width, Height, UPC, Brand, and a different image for the variation. You can also set the cost price if it's enabled in your store.
- (optional) In the Price section, set "compare to" price, price per unit, and/or bulk discount pricing for the variation.
- (optional) Click on the arrow icon next to Stock Control to set the stock of the item variant. Set the number in stock, quantity for the low stock notifications, behavior when out of stock, and purchase quantity limits.
Learn more about stock tracking for variations →
- Click OK.
- Repeat the steps for all the necessary variations.
- Click Save.
That's it! Now your clients can pick from choices and see corresponding pictures and prices while browsing. This is how variations can appear in the storefront:
Modifying product variations
You can utilize various tools to update item alternatives in your store:
- First, you can always update alternatives for an item on the item editing page in Catalog → Products, in the Options → Variations tab. This way, you can update all the properties for a chosen alternative.
- Second, you can update item alternatives in bulk using the Bulk Product Editor tool. Just choose the items you need for editing in Catalog → Products, enter the Bulk Product Editor and scroll the table down to edit their alternatives.
- Third, you can utilize the built-in import tool to re-upload updated data on product variations using a CSV file.
- You can also utilize the Bulk Product Editor app from the App Market. Along with other features, this app has a wide variety of settings that can assist you in updating product variations in your store.
FAQ
Here is a brief list of answers to common questions along with some tips to use alternatives effectively in your store.
If I add a variation to an item, does that count as an additional item?
No. You can add as many product variations as you need, they don't count towards item limits. We count items based on the number of items shown on the Items page in your store's admin.
Can I have different stock for each item size?
An item should have its own SKU and stock quantity so that its stock level can be automatically reduced upon sales. You can set a separate SKU and quantity in stock for every product variation in your store, i.e., for every combination of different options (usually, it’s a combination of hue and size).
For example, if you sell shirts and offer them in certain hues (Black, Red) and sizes (5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, or Large, Small, Medium, etc). You want to track the inventory level of every alternative of the item (e.g., Red 7) to know when it’s time to replenish its stock and make this alternative unavailable for online purchase when its stock reaches zero. For this, first, add options Hue and Size to that item and create Hue + Size alternatives out of these options’ values, then assign a unique SKU and specify the stock quantity and out of stock behavior ("Show on storefront") for every product variation.
What if variation options differ between products?
There may be cases when you do not have consistent options across variations. For example, you have white t-shirts in sizes XS, S, M and L, and red t-shirts only in size S and M. You need to make sure your customers do not order red t-shirts in XS or L sizes.
For such situations, we recommend that you create the variations for unavailable combinations of item options (for red t-shirts in XS and L in our example) and mark them as "Out of Stock":
Is it possible to use the same SKU for the base item and its variations?
Yes, you can use the same SKU for an item and its alternatives if you don't need to track inventory for alternatives separately. However, your store will prompt you to set a unique SKU once you change an alternative stock, price, or weight. Once the alternative is treated as a separate item, it should have its own SKU.
How to set the default alternative?
A default item alternative is the set of options your clients see as preselected when opening an item details page for the first time. It appears based on the default set of option values that you’ve set for this item. For example, if "White" is the default option for "Hue" and "S" is the default for "Size", then your customers see "White, S" values highlighted on the item page.
To set a default value for an option, choose it in the Value selected automatically dropdown for each of the item options in the Options tab where you edit item details:
If you do not need any preselected defaults, just choose the None. Require customers to select setting.
Is it possible to use bulk discounts for variations?
Yes, you can offer tiered pricing for each alternative based on quantity tiers. You can find the detailed instructions here: Bulk discount pricing for product variation.