Product variants & families
Create product families, define options like colour and size, and link individual products as variants.
→ Open the "Product families" module in SimpliServ
A product family bundles several versions of the same item (e.g. a t-shirt in different colours and sizes). The family itself isn't a sellable item but the frame: it defines options (e.g. colour, size) and groups the individual variants. Each variant is a full-fledged product with its own SKU, price and stock.
You create a single product without versions directly in the Products module – see Create a product. Only when an item exists in several variants is a product family worthwhile.
How the model works
Product family
The frame: name, description, categories, images. Carries no price and no stock itself.
Option
A property like colour or size – of type text or colour – with a list of values (Red, Blue / S, M, L).
Variant
A single product assigned to the family, carrying one value per option (e.g. Blue / M). Has its own SKU, price and stock.
Create a product family
Open the module
Open the Products → Product families area (or directly via the link above) and click Create product family in the top right.
Capture master data
- Name (required), e.g. "T-shirt Basic"
- Description – formattable text (rich-text editor)
- Active – inactive families are hidden from new selection lists
- Visible in the shop – controls whether the family appears in the online shop
Assign categories
In the category tree, choose one or more categories.
Add images
In the Media area you upload images via drag & drop. The first image is used as the main image.
Save
After saving you land in the family's detail view, where you maintain options and variants.
Define options
Options are the properties in which the variants differ. Open the family and click + in the Options section.
Name the option
Assign a name (e.g. "Colour" or "Size").
Choose the type
- Text – normal values like S, M, L
- Colour – each value additionally gets a colour as a swatch
Capture the values
Enter the individual values. After each entry, press Enter or add a comma – that way you create several values quickly in a row. For the Colour type you then choose a colour per value.
Create all options and their values before you create variants. The combinations result from the option values – for "Colour (Red, Blue)" × "Size (S, M, L)" that's six possible variants.
Create variants
A variant is a standalone product linked to the family. You create it in the Products module and assign it the family and option values there.
Create or open a product
Create a product as usual – with its own SKU, EAN, price, unit, tax rate and, if applicable, stock control.
Assign the family
In the product form, in the Product family section, choose the matching product family under Family.
Assign option values
Once a family is chosen, its options appear. Pick exactly one value per option (e.g. Colour: Blue, Size: M), so the variant is uniquely assigned.
Save
After saving, the product appears in the family's variant matrix.
You can change option values later at any time: open the product to edit and adjust the values in the same Product family section. If a variant is still missing a value, the form points you to the missing options.
Variant matrix
In the lower Variants area of the family detail view, the matrix shows all assigned products. Per row you see the combination (e.g. "Blue / M") and the key fields:
- Variant – the option combination and the product ID
- SKU and EAN
- Price (net and gross), purchase price, unit, tax rate
- Weight and categories
- Serial-number requirement and track stock
- Active status
If a variant is still missing an option value, the matrix marks it with the Incomplete badge and names the missing options in the tooltip. Via the pencil icon you jump straight into editing the respective product.
Edit multiple variants together
With Edit variants you open a dialog in which you maintain all of the family's variants in a table:
- In the Shared values for all variants box you set default values (price, tax rate, unit, active/inactive, etc.).
- With Apply to all variants you transfer these to all or the selected rows.
- Then you adjust individual rows individually and save with Save changes.
Shop & channel sync
If a Wix connection is set up, you can push a family to the shop via the action menu with Sync with Wix. For families linked to Wix, the description is maintained in Wix and is read-only in SimpliServ. Details on the connection are in the guide Channel sync.
Delete a family
Via the action menu you remove a product family. This permanently deletes the family and all its variants – this step can't be undone.
Before deleting, check whether variants are still used in ongoing proposals, orders or invoices. If you only want an item to disappear from new selection lists, set the family to inactive instead.
Related topics
- Create a product — each variant is a standalone product with its own SKU and price
- Product categories — categories you assign to the family and its variants
- Set up channel sync — push families and variants to Wix and other channels
- Scanning & serial numbers — find variants by barcode and manage serial numbers
- Manage inventory — track the stock of individual variants per location
How is this guide?