If you’re starting a WooCommerce store, or thinking about it, you might be wondering how to deal with variable products. Do you need a different product for each size, color, or variation? How do you keep track of inventory for all those products?
The good news is that WooCommerce makes it easy to add and manage variable products. In this post, we’ll show you how to add variable products in WooCommerce, and give you some tips on managing them effectively.
What is a Variable Product?
A variable product is a product with multiple variations, each of which has its own SKU, price, stock status, and other data. For example, a t-shirt might come in multiple colors and sizes, each of which would be a variation. Likewise, a pair of shoes might come in different colors and sizes.
How to Add Variable Products in WooCommerce
To add a variable product in WooCommerce:
1. Go to WooCommerce > Products > Add New. Enter a product name and description in the appropriate fields.
2. Scroll down to the Product Data section. Select Variable product from the dropdown menu.
3. Configure the product’s settings:
- General – Enter pricing and SKU information here.
- Inventory – Manage stock for each variation here. You can also mark variations as backordered here.
- Shipping – Set weight and dimensions for shipping here.
- Linked Products – Upsells and cross-sells can be added here.
- Advanced – Product attributes can be set here.
4. Click the Add Variation.
A new row will appear for each variation you add. Configure the variations as follows:
Select an Attribute from the dropdown menu – Attributes are configured under WooCommerce > Products > Attributes.
If no attributes have been configured yet, you’ll need to do that first, select Create new attribute, enter an Attribute Name and Slug. Then click the Add Attribute button. The attribute will be added and will appear in the Attribute dropdown menu, click the Update Attributes button. The new attribute will now appear in the list of attributes on the product page.
Now that you know how to add variable products in WooCommerce, let’s take a look at some tips for managing them effectively.
Tips for Managing Variable Products in WooCommerce
Here are some tips to help you manage your variable products effectively:
- Use Product Categories. Organize your products into categories to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. You can create categories under WooCommerce > Products > Categories. Drag and drop products into the appropriate categories.
- Use Product Tags . Product tags can help customers narrow down their search results.
For example, if you have a t-shirt that comes in multiple colors and sizes, you could tag it with “red,” “blue,” “small,” “medium,” etc. You can add tags under WooCommerce > Products > Tags. Type in the tags you want to use and click the Add New Tag(s) button.
Use Images wisely. When adding images to your product page, make sure they’re high quality and accurately represent the product. Customers should be able to see what they’re buying without having to zoom in on an image.
