Item variants are different versions of a base product that shoppers can choose from. With variants, you can offer an extensive catalog on your storefront, giving shoppers various options for the same item, such as size, color, or material. You can create and manage any number of combinations of options for variations of an item in fabric.

For example, a store sells a dining table in three different materials: oak, pine, or mahogany. Each material comes in options that accommodate 4, 6, or 8 people. Using the variants, you can create 9 different variations for the parent item, the dining table, as shown in the following table:

OakPineMahogany
Seats 4Oak, seats 4Pine, seats 4Mahogany, seats 4
Seats 6Oak, seats 6Pine, seats 6Mahogany, seats 6
Seats 8Oak, seats 8Pine, seats 8Mahogany, seats 8

With the above settings, the storefront displays the parent item with 9 options. Each of these options is a variant of the parent item and is referred to as the child item.

There are two ways to create a variant for an item:

  • Select existing items: Use this method to add variants to an item by selecting from the items that are already present in your items list. You can use this method only if the desired item specifications or attributes already exist within your catalog.
  • Create variants: Use this method when you want to introduce an item with new attributes or specifications as a variant of a pre-existing item. In this method, you can simultaneously create a new item and set it as a variant of an existing item.

Prerequisites

Ensure that you have at least one item in your list to use the Create variants method of creating variants.

Ensure that you have at least two items in the same category in your list (one to use as the parent and one to set as the child) to use the Select existing items method.

Procedure

Select existing items

  1. In the left menu, click Product Catalog > List > Items.
    The Items page is displayed.
  2. Click an item.
    The Item Details page is displayed.
  3. Click Variants.
    The Variants tab is displayed.
  4. Click Add Variants.
    The Create Relationship page is displayed. It shows the items that are in the same category as the item you selected in step 2. Items in the category that already have variants are not displayed.
  5. Select the checkbox next to the item to set as a variant.
    You can select as many items as required.
  6. Click Save.

The variant is added to the item.

Create variants

  1. In the left menu, click Product Catalog > List > Items.
    The Items page is displayed.
  2. Click an item.
    The Item Details page is displayed.
  3. Click Variants.
    The Variants tab is displayed.
  4. Click Add Variants.
    The Create Relationship page is displayed.
  5. Click Create variants.
    The Create variants tab is displayed.
  6. (Optional) Enter the number of variants to create.
  7. Click Add.
    The variants are added.
  8. Click Edit.
    The Edit Attributes window opens.
  9. Enter the attribute fields as required and click Save.
  10. (Optional) Repeat steps 10 and 11 for additional variants.

The variants are created.