Online Stores Enhancements: Product Catalog
Today we’ve released an update to the Online Stores platform, which will make the Product Catalog visible to end users on the store front.
Product Catalog vs. Product List Component
To understand the value of the Product Catalog you need to know the difference between the Product Catalog & Product List Component. These two features are distinctly different, but very valuable when used together.
Product List Component
The Product List Component allows you to showcase products on the homepage of an InkSoft powered store. By bringing attention to these products, you can make it easy for your customers to see those limited edition, featured, or required products.
Think of this as more of a marketing tool for certain products. Remember to be strategic on which products you promote here.
Product Catalog
The Product Catalog is essentially a warehouse for all products that have been assigned and are active for a particular store.
The Product Catalog gives your customers a simple, clean, and easy shopping experience allowing them to shop with intention. Your customers have the ability to view all products or specific sub-categories directly from the homepage. For example, if a customer wants a long-sleeve t-shirt, they can easily drill down from All Products->T-Shirt->Long Sleeve, to find exactly what they want. Additionally, the customer who isn’t quite as sure what he wants can view all of your products on one organized page.
Sub-categories are also visible from the “View All Products” page on the left-hand side bar. Once again this is all strategically designed with the purpose of making the shopping experience convenient for your customers.
Adding Products to the Product Catalog
First, you will have to sign-in to your admin portal, toggle to the edit mode, and click products.
You have three ways to add products to your product catalog.
- From the Products Page: Click “Add Products” at the top of the page. Here you can search for all your products, see a chronological display of all your pre-decorated products, and easily add to the Product Catalog.
- Add Product List Component: Anytime you add a new product to the Product List Component, if it wasn’t already in the store, it is automatically added to the product catalog. Makes sense right? If a customer sees a product on the homepage, they would want to see it in the Product Catalog as well.
- From the Edit Product View: There is a “Store & Category Assignment” functionality in the “Edit Product” page. This is where you can assign products to multiple stores and set categories/sub-categories. This will put the product into the Product Catalog and determine which the product categories/sub-categories the product shows up for.
Questions?
Online Stores still giving you trouble? Contact the Success Squad at support@inksoft.com, and we’ll help you out!
Still not a customer? Looking to improve the way your shop operates? We’d love to show you around.
