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Building Your Inventory SKUs

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Learning Experience Team

Inventory items are the products you sell to your Associates. Each item has a set of configurations. This guide demystifies the item creation process, taking you through the required and optional tasks.

Add Inventory Items

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemList
Permission: ViewInventory()

  1. Click the New Item button.

    New Item button

    You navigate to the New Item page.

    Item Detail page

  2. The New Item page is where you enter the specifications for your inventory item (referred to in other articles as the Item Detail page).

    For each inventory item:

  3. Click Save Changes.

    The item adds to the Inventory Items page.

  4. To edit an item:

    1. Navigate back to the Inventory Items page.

    2. Locate your item in the list.

    3. Click the SKU or Product name link.

    4. Edit the configuration from the Item Detail page.

Enter the Item’s Name and Details

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items > Item Detail > General
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemDetail?iid=[ITEM_ID]
Permission: ViewInventory()

Under the General tab:

General tab elements (Click to enlarge)

  1. Select the Language.

    Defaults to English.

    If you have multiple languages set up, you can enter the translations for each one. Read more in Localizing Inventory Items.

  2. Enter the Product Name.

  3. Enter Description details in the TinyMCE Text Editor.

  4. Enter any Specifications.

    • In the Web Office, Description and Specifications show up as one block of text.

    • In the eCommerce Shop, they show up in two different sections.

    • In the Corporate Shop, the description displays under the Description tab, and the specifications under the Benefits tab.

  5. Click Save Changes.

Enter Item Data (SKU, Category, Shipping Info, Etc.)

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items > Item Detail > Data
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemDetail?iid=[ITEM_ID]
Permission: ViewInventory()

The Data tab features a variety of fields. The data entered depends on your product’s specifications.

Required Fields

Required Fields

SKU

Enter the Stock Keeping Unit for an item.

This is the item’s unique identifier. The system sends this to the logistic and tax providers when doing calculations.

The SKU and Item ID appear at the top of the page for reference.

SKU and Item ID

Category

Select the inventory item’s category. Categories display:

  • In the Corporate Shop and eCommerce Shop sidebars

  • As tabs in the Web Office

Categories are created in the Inventory > Categories page. Read more in Adding Categories.

Main Image

Main Item Image

Under Image, upload and select an item’s main image (recommended size: 500x500 PX).

To add an image:

  1. Click Select Image.

    The Select Image pop-up opens.

  2. In the pop-up, select the image.

    Or, click the Upload button to select an image from your computer.

      Is There a Way to Delete the Images in the Select Image Pop-up?

  3. Click the Select Image button.

  The inventory images are uploaded under the base URL [CLIENTID].directscale.com/CMS/inventory/.

To remove an image:

  1. Click Clear Image.

    The image removes without warning.

You can add additional images under the Image tab. Read more in Selecting Additional Item Images.

Item Codes

Item Codes

UPC

Universal Product Code.

MPN

Manufacturer Part Number.

HS Code

The Harmonized Tariff Commodity Code.

This code appears in an order’s Customs Invoice. You can access this invoice by clicking the Print Customs button in the order’s Detail page’s Packages widget.

In the Customs Invoice, the HS Code displays under the Full Description of Goods, preceding the Inventory Item’s Name (showing in the following image).

HS Code highlighted in the Customs Invoice

Shipping Information

Shipping Information

Dimensions (L x W x H)

  1. Type the Length, Width, and Height of the item.

    Required if shipping the item.

  2. Enter Length Class, or the unit of measurement, for the length.

Weight

  1. Type the Weight of the item. You must enter a weight if you base the shipping cost per pound or on a table.

  2. Enter Weight Class, or the unit of measurement, for the weight. Required if you have entered a weight.

Package Group

Select the package group to separate the order’s items into different shipments.

Examples include:

  • Separating items that could be flammable

  • Preventing cross-contamination

You can add more package group options by adding a row to the INV_PackageGroup data table. Learn more in Data Editor.

  You must manually change each package’s status to "Shipped". Learn how in Changing an Order’s Status to Shipped in Corporate Admin.

Requires Shipping

  1. If you have to ship the physical item to the Associate, select Yes.

  2. If the item is digital (like a subscription service), select No.

Kit Level

Type the Kit Level for the inventory item. The system bundles items with the same Kit Level.

Item Info and Status

Item Info and Status

Product Class

Select whether the item is a standard item or raw material.

Tax Class

Select a Tax Class for the item.

Your Tax Provider requires this information. Because each tax class has a different tax rate, it’s important to choose an accurate tax class.

You can add/edit tax classes on the Administration > Sales Tax page. Read more in Adding Tax Classes.

Unit Of Measure

Assign a unit of measurement to the item itself. For example, an item sold in bulk by the pound.

Out Of Stock Status

You can select what status displays for your inventory items when the item is out of stock:

  • In Stock — Item is in stock and ready to buy

  • 2-3 days — Item will be in stock at a future date

  • Out of Stock — Item is out of stock until further notice

  • Pre-order — Item is not yet released, but an Associate can buy

  Setting the Out Of Stock Status for an inventory item is required. Stock Level tracking and out-of-stock behavior are dependent on this setting and will have no effect unless set. Read more in the Stock Levels Guide.

Status

  The Status setting has no current functionality.

California Prop 65

CA Prop 65

There are two California Proposition 65 fields that must be set if your business is in California:

  1. CA Prop 65 - Causes Birth Defects (Yes/No)

  2. CA Prop 65 - Causes Cancer (Yes/No)

Assign whether an item is meeting the compliance requirements for California Proposition 65.

Item Sort Order

Sort Order

Type a number to sort the order the item appears in the Corporate Shop.

  • When viewing the inventory list in Corporate Shop:

    • Items sort from smallest to largest, with 0 being the smallest number.

      0 is set by default on all new items.

    • Use groups (0s, 5s, 10s, etc.) to leave space for other items you may want to appear in the gaps.

  • When viewing in a eCommerce Shop or Web Office:

    • Sort order applies per category. Category order follows the order on the Inventory > Categories page.

Add Prices and Discounts

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items > Item Detail > Price and Discounts
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemDetail?iid=[ITEM_ID]
Permission: ViewInventory()

The Price and Discounts tab is where you set a price for your item. You can define the amount and for which Stores and Associate Types they appear.

Setting a Price

To set the inventory item’s price:

  1. Click the Add Price Adjustment button.

    Add Price Adjustment button

    The Price and Discounts pop-up opens.

    Price and Discounts pop-up

  2. Complete the applicable fields (see the following sections).

  3. Click Set Price.

  If you have multiple prices set for an item, the item uses whichever price is at the bottom of the list.

Setting Price and Currency Type

Price options

  1. Click Display As and select Price.

      You must set a Price before adding any Discounts.

  2. Enter the standard sales Price for the item.

  3. Select an available Currency type (USD by default).

Setting Volume and Bonuses

Commission Volume setup

  1. CV Amount - Type the Commissionable Volume for the item.

  2. QV Amount - Type the Qualifying Volume for the item.

  3. Bonus Paid - Type the bonus paid to the Associate.

The CV, QV, Bonus Paid fields are only applicable to compensation plans that allow for them. If programmed, enter applicable volume in the fields; otherwise, leave blank.

  Read more on how to set up this bonus.

(Optional) Reward Points

Reward Points field

If you have Reward Points set up in the system, enter the reward points amount.

To learn how to set up Reward Points, see Reward Points Guide.

Setting Price Availability

Price Availability options

  1. Stores - Assign for which stores this item will appear.

    The item will only show if you configure the category selected on the Data tab with a matching store.

  2. Price Group - Determine which Associate Type will see this item.

  3. Order Type - Determine the Order Type assignment of the item.

    Read more in Understanding Order Types.

  4. Regions - Assign the item to a region.

    Associates must be in the selected region to see this item (determined by the Associate’s address).

Setting the Beginning and Ending Date

Publishing date settings

Adjust the date and time parameters to your preference for the price. If you want to leave the price active with no end, make no change to the default parameters.

This feature is useful when a price or item is promotional or seasonal. By setting parameters, the price will not appear outside of these dates and times.

Entering an end time of 12:00 a.m. means the price will end at the beginning of the day of the assigned end date, not the end. To end a price at the end of the day, make sure the end time is set to 11:59 p.m. on the end date.

Adding Discounts

You can add a Discount that overrides any Price options you have set up for applicable:

  • Stores

  • Price Groups

  • Order Types

  • Regions

  You must set a Price before adding any Discounts.

To add a Discount:

  1. Click the Add Price Adjustment button.

    Add Price Adjustment button

    The Price and Discounts pop-up opens.

    Price and Discounts pop-up

  2. Click Display As and select Discount.

  3. Enter the discounted sales Price for the item.

  4. Select an available Currency type (USD by default).

  5. You can complete the rest of the configuration in the same manner detailed in the previous Setting a Price section.

  6. Click Set Price to add the Discount.

Correctly configured Discounts display in the shops with a strike through the full price followed by the discounted price.

Discount example

(Optional) Add Item Options (Sizes, Flavors, Etc.)

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items > Item Detail > Options
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemDetail?iid=[ITEM_ID]
Permission: ViewInventory()

You can add Options (such as sizes, flavors, etc.) to your inventory item with their own images. These Options have SKU Extension, allowing you to track each Option’s stock separately.

Adding Options

  1. Click the Add Option button.

    Add Option button

    The Add Option pop-up window opens.

    Add Option pop-up window

  2. In the pop-up, enter a Name.

    This name displays in the shopping cart.

  3. Enter the Option name (For example, Sm/Med/Lrg) and SKU Extension.

    This Extension affixes to the item’s SKU defined under the Data tab (for example, EXAMPLESKU-SKUEXT). SKU Extensions have a 10 character limit.

  4. Click Add Row to add additional rows of the Option and SKU Extension fields.

  5. Click Save to close the pop-up and add the option.

    An Option record adds with options to Edit and Delete.

  6. Click Save Changes.

Adding Images

For each Active Option you want to add an image:

  1. Click the Change button.

    Change button

    The Select Image pop-up window opens.

    Select Image pop-up window

  2. In the pop-up, select an existing image.

    Or, click Upload to upload an image from your computer.

  3. Click Select Image to close the pop-up and add the image.

  4. Click Save Changes.

Deactivating Options

If you want to deactivate an Option temporarily:

  1. Locate the Option in the table.

  2. Uncheck the Active checkbox to disable it.

    Active checkbox

To permanently delete an Option:

  1. Click the Edit button on the Option record.

    Edit button

  2. Delete the Option and SKU Extension value.

    Option and SKU Extension value

  3. Click Save.

  4. Click Save Changes.

Troubleshooting

(Optional) Add Additional Images

Admin: Corporate Admin
Page: Inventory > Inventory Items > Item Detail > Images
URL: [CLIENTID].corpadmin.directscale.com/Corporate/Inventory/ItemDetail?iid=[ITEM_ID]
Permission: ViewInventory()

Add more images to your product that show up in the product detail pages in the stores with the Images tab:

  1. Click the Add Image button.

    Add Image button

    The Select Image pop-up window opens.

    Select Image pop-up window

  2. Select an image from the previously uploaded images.

  3. Or Upload a new image from your computer.

    Computer dialog box

    Once uploaded, select the image.

  4. Click Select Image to add the selected image to the item.

    Select the image
  The inventory images are uploaded under the base URL [CLIENTID].directscale.com/CMS/inventory/.

Additional Settings

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