This is the step-by-step. For what it is and how it fits the bigger picture, read Stock Management in the reference.
What this is
A product (what you sell) and a stock item (the SKU you hold) are not the same thing, and the link between them is flexible on purpose. Understanding it lets you model packs, bundles and pick-your-own without duplicating data.
Product is not SKU
A stock item is a thing you physically hold and value. A product is a line a customer can buy. One product can point at one SKU, several SKUs, or none at all. A product sets how it handles stock:
- Single item. The product is one specific SKU.
- Multiple item. The product offers several set SKUs to choose between.
- Loose item. The actual SKU is chosen at the point of sale, so the seller picks the exact item on the order.
- No stock. A service or fee that holds no stock at all.
Selling in a different unit
A product can sell in one unit while its stock is held in another. A Multiple qty links the two: it says how many stock units one sold unit draws. So you can hold singles but sell a carton, or hold a roll but sell by the metre, and stock moves by the right amount automatically.
Combos and packages
To sell a bundle, build it as a Bill of Materials: several stock items in set quantities, combined into one sellable package. Components can be required or optional, so a combo can include fixed parts and choices.
Related
- Set up a product
- Set up a stock item
- Build with Bill of Materials