Product Variants
Variants let you offer different versions of the same product without creating separate listings. A product can vary by size, color, material, style, capacity, or any other characteristic you choose.
What Are Variants?
A variant is a specific combination of a product's options. For example, a t-shirt available in 3 sizes (S, M, L) and 2 colors (Red, Blue) generates 6 variants, each with its own SKU, price, and inventory.
Common use cases:
- Clothing: size and color
- Electronics: capacity and color
- Furniture: material and dimension
- Footwear: size and style
Variants or separate products?
Use variants when the options share the same description, images, and category. If the products are fundamentally different (different descriptions, images, categories), create separate products instead.
Enable Variants
To activate variants on a product:
Open the product
Go to Products and select the product you want to edit, or create a new one.
Enable variants
In the variants section, toggle Has Variants on. This reveals the configuration options.
Define Options
Options define the axes of variation for your product. Fenicia offers predefined suggestions to speed up configuration.
Add option type
Click Add option and select the type: Color, Size, Material, Style, or a custom one. Fenicia automatically suggests the most common types.
Add values
Enter the values for each option. For example, for Color: Red, Blue, Black. For Size: S, M, L, XL.
Add more options (optional)
You can add multiple option types. Each additional type multiplies the number of possible combinations.
Tip
Keep option names short and consistent. Use "Red" instead of "Bright red color" so variants display cleanly across your sales channels.
Auto-Generated Combinations
When you define your options, Fenicia automatically generates all possible combinations. For example:
| Size | Color | Generated variant |
|---|---|---|
| S | Red | S / Red |
| S | Blue | S / Blue |
| M | Red | M / Red |
| M | Blue | M / Blue |
| L | Red | L / Red |
| L | Blue | L / Blue |
With 3 sizes and 2 colors, 6 variants are generated automatically.
Number of combinations
Keep in mind that each additional option multiplies the number of variants. 5 sizes x 4 colors x 3 materials = 60 variants. Keep options to the minimum needed.
Edit Individual Variants
Each variant can be configured independently. Click on a variant to open its edit modal with the following fields:
Identification
- SKU: Unique code for the variant in your inventory
- Barcode: UPC, EAN, or other barcode
Pricing
- Price: Sale price specific to this variant (overrides the product price)
- Compare-at price: Original price to show discounts
Dimensions and Weight
- Weight: Variant weight including packaging
- Dimensions: Length, width, and height of the package
Per-Variant Images
Assign specific images to each variant. For example, the "Red" variant shows only photos of the product in red.
Tip
Assigning images per variant improves the shopping experience. When a customer selects a color, they automatically see the corresponding image.
Per-Channel Availability
Configure which sales channels each variant is available on. This lets you:
- Offer certain sizes only on your online store
- Exclude variants from specific marketplaces
- Gradually roll out new options
Inventory Per Variant
Inventory is tracked independently for each variant and each location. This means:
- Each variant has its own stock level
- Stock can be distributed across multiple locations (warehouses, stores)
- Low inventory alerts apply per variant
Inventory tracking
To configure locations and inventory levels, see the inventory management section.
Reorder Variants
You can change the display order of variants by dragging and dropping them. The order you define here is reflected in your sales channels.
SKU Naming Convention
A good SKU convention makes inventory management easier and enables quick product identification.
Recommended format: BRAND-MODEL-SIZE-COLOR
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
NK-AF1-42-BLK | Nike Air Force 1, Size 42, Black |
AD-UB22-M-WHT | Adidas Ultraboost 22, Size M, White |
LV-NF-S-RED | Levi's Neverfull, Size S, Red |
Duplicate SKUs
Fenicia does not allow duplicate SKUs within your account. Each variant must have a unique SKU.
Tips and Best Practices
- Less is more: Don't create unnecessary options. If you only have 2 colors, don't add "Size" with a single value.
- Consistency: Use the same option names across all your products (always "Size", never sometimes "Size" and sometimes "Measure").
- SKUs from the start: Assign SKUs with a clear convention from creation. Changing them later can cause sync issues.
- Per-variant images: Always assign images when variants have visual differences.
- Review combinations: After generating combinations, remove those that don't apply (e.g., if XXL doesn't come in all colors).
Next Steps
Need help? Contact support or check our FAQ.