What is SKU in Shopify and How to Create It?
ByAsif
What is SKU in Shopify? This is a question that a lot of business owners have when they are starting to use Shopify as their eCommerce platform. The SKU, or stock-keeping unit in Shopify, acts as a unique identifier for each product that allows you to track inventory and sales.
Each product in your shop will need its own SKU. In this blog post, we will discuss SKUs and how to create SKUs in Shopify.
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What is SKU in Shopify and Why Is It Important?
An SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) in Shopify is a unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to each product or product variant in your store.
It plays a crucial role in inventory management, helping you track stock levels, monitor sales, and streamline product organization.
SKUs act as a shorthand system, allowing you to differentiate between similar items, such as different sizes, colors, or styles of a product.
Using SKUs in Shopify, you can ensure accurate stock management, reducing the risk of overselling or underselling products.
They simplify the order fulfillment process by making it easy to locate and verify items during packing and shipping.
Additionally, SKUs enhance your ability to generate detailed sales reports, enabling better decision-making for reordering and inventory planning.
In short, SKUs are a vital tool for improving efficiency, reducing errors, and keeping your Shopify store running smoothly.
How to create SKU in Shopify
To create SKU numbers for Shopify products, navigate to the product page and add SKU details manually or use Shopify’s auto-generate feature. The steps for adding or editing a product’s SKU on Shopify are as follows:
Step 1: Go to the “Products” page by clicking.
Step 2: Choose an existing product or enter a new one.
Simply choose the product and double-click it will allow you to select and edit SKU while editing an existing product.
Step 3: The “Variants” section is there.
With its new SKU, a new product version is simple to add.
Step 4: Go to your product page’s “Variants” section to add the variants.
Step 5: Then, select “Add variant.” You can then choose to add a new variant to the chosen product.
Step 6: You can add a new variant’s physical characteristics after adding it.
Step 7: Add the SKU for the version in the “Inventory” area by scrolling down.
Step 8: When finished, press the “Save” button to generate SKUs for your products in Shopify.
Following these steps will ensure you correctly add or edit a product’s SKU on Shopify.
The benefits of using SKUs in Shopify
Adding SKUs to your products in Shopify can offer several benefits for you and your customer. First, it can help ensure that your inventory is accurately tracked.
This is because each SKU corresponds to a specific product, so you can quickly see how many items you have in stock.
This can be especially helpful if you sell products in different sizes or colors, as you can assign a different SKU to each variation.
Plus, including SKUs on your product pages can provide customers with additional information about the products they are considering purchasing.
This can include things like size, color, or material options. Including this information can help reduce customer confusion and increase satisfaction levels.
Ultimately, adding SKUs to your products in Shopify can offer several advantages that can benefit you and your customers.
Tips for using SKUs in your shop
SKUs, or stock-keeping units, are numbers that identify products in your inventory. They are essential for managing your stock but can also be used to track sales and generate reports.
But with so many potential uses, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are three SKU best practices to help you get the most out of this valuable tool:
- Make your SKUs easy to understand. A good SKU should be short and descriptive to be easily remembered and referenced. Avoid assigning SKU numbers with long strings of numbers or letters, as this can make them difficult to read and remember.
- Sort words in order of importance. Sort the words in the SKU following importance. For instance, size should come first in the SKU if you sell t-shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. Finding and monitoring the products in your inventory will be simpler.
- Avoid using letters that resemble symbols, spaces, accents, or digits. Avoid using spaces, accents, and characters that could be mistaken for assigning SKU numbers, such as “I” or “l,” as well as symbols like “@” when giving a product an SKU. This can lessen the accuracy inventory management system’s likelihood of data entry errors.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your SKUs are easy to use and manage.
FAQs about SKUs in Shopify
What is SKU?
An SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique alphanumeric code used to identify and track products in inventory. In Shopify, SKUs help streamline inventory management, track sales, and improve organization. Each product or variant has a unique SKU, ensuring accurate stock and order management.
What is a Shopify SKU?
A Shopify SKU, or stock-keeping unit, is a unique identifier for products used for tracking inventory and sales on your Shopify store.
What are the best practices for creating SKUs in Shopify?
1. Use short, descriptive codes that are easy to read and understand.
2. Avoid using confusing characters like spaces, symbols, or similar-looking letters (e.g., “I” and “l”).
3. Follow a consistent structure, such as “Category-Size-Color” (e.g., TSH-M-RED).
4. Assign unique SKUs for each product variant to ensure proper inventory tracking.
Can Shopify generate SKUs automatically, or should I create them manually?
Shopify allows both options. You can manually create custom SKUs based on your preferred format (e.g., product type, size, color) or use inventory management tools to generate SKUs automatically, ensuring consistency and saving time.
What are Shopify variant SKUs, and how are they used?
Shopify variant SKUs are unique identifiers assigned to different variations of a single product, such as size or color. For example, a t-shirt with “Red – Medium” and “Red – Large” variants would have separate SKUs for inventory tracking and streamlined order fulfillment.
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, using SKUs can be a helpful way to keep track of your inventory and ensure that you always have the products that your customers need.
Shopify SKU aids in maintaining an accurate inventory management system in your store.
Nevertheless, SKUs can be a valuable tool for any business if used correctly.
With a little planning and attention to detail, you can use SKUs to streamline your operations and keep your shelves stocked with the products your customers want.