Guide

How to prepare your product catalogue for online ordering

Published

Your catalogue is probably already somewhere: a price list, a spreadsheet or a supplier PDF. It does not have to be perfect to start, but a few habits make the difference between a store customers can use and one they still phone about.

Start from the list you already have

Use your current price list or stock sheet as the starting point. Aim for one row per item that you can sell, so a pump in two sizes is two rows.

Give every product a unique code

A product code, often called an SKU, is your own reference for an item. It stops two similar products being mixed up, and it lets you match the online store to your stock or accounting system later.

Write names that say what the item is

A good name tells a buyer what they are getting without opening the page. Put the type first, then the size, the material and the pack size.

  • Weak: "Valve 2".
  • Better: "Brass ball valve, 20mm, female thread".

Add the details buyers look for

Think about what a buyer asks when they phone. Put those answers on the page.

  • Size, material, rating or voltage.
  • The unit it is sold in, such as each, per metre or box of 50.
  • Brand or standard it meets, if that matters to buyers.
  • Whether it is a stock item or made to order.

Add a clear photo

One clean photo helps a buyer confirm they have the right item. Photos from the manufacturer are fine if you have the right to use them. Where there is no photo yet, a plain placeholder is better than a wrong one.

Decide where prices and stock come from

Know which price is the list price and which customers get a different price. Know where your stock numbers come from, and how often they update, so the store does not promise stock you do not have.

Check for duplicates and gaps

Before you load anything, sort the list and look for the same item entered twice, missing units or blank prices. Fixing these in the spreadsheet is much easier than fixing them online.

If this sounds like a lot, it is the part Mercatura does with you. We take your existing list and set up your products for you, even if it is a spreadsheet or a PDF today.

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