Variants & Options
Variants let buyers choose options such as size, colour or finish, each with its own price.
Without variants, you would need a separate product for every size and colour. With variants, one product card holds all the choices. The buyer picks what they want and sees the right price at once.
Key words
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attribute | The type of choice | Size, Colour, Purity, Pack Size |
| Option | One value of an attribute | S, M, L, XL |
| Combination | One option from each attribute | Red / XL |
| Base price | The product's MRP | ₹650 |
When to use variants
A shirt in S to XXL, where larger sizes cost a little more, and colours that cost the same.
A ring with a finish choice, such as Yellow Gold, Rose Gold or Two-tone.
One item in different pack sizes, such as 10, 30 or 100 tablets.
A table in Teak, Sheesham or Walnut finish, each with a different markup.
Add variants to a product
- On the product form, click + Add Variant Attributes.
- Click + Add Attribute and name it, for example "Size". Tick Required if the buyer must choose one.
- Choose how options change the price: Fixed ₹ or % Markup.
- Click + Add Option for each value, such as S, M, L, XL, with its extra price.
| Option Value | % of Base Price | Addition (at current base) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | 0 | +₹0.00 | Remove |
| L | 5 | +₹32.50 | Remove |
| XL | 10 | +₹65.00 | Remove |
The Variant Attributes & Pricing card opens with one empty attribute ready to fill. Add more attributes with + Add Attribute. Use Remove to delete an attribute or a single option.
Required is not ticked for a new attribute. Tick it when the buyer must make a choice, such as Size. Leave it off for extras, such as gift wrapping.
Pricing modes
| Mode | Example |
|---|---|
| Fixed ₹ | XL adds ₹50 to the base price |
| % Markup | Silk adds 20% of the base price |
Each attribute has its own mode. So Size can use Fixed ₹ while Fabric uses % Markup on the same product.
- With Fixed ₹, you fill Option Value and Fixed Amount.
- With % Markup, you fill Option Value and % of Base Price. The Addition (at current base) column shows the rupee amount.
- Enter 0 for an option that costs the same as the base price, such as most colours.
Which mode should I use?
Use Fixed ₹ when the extra cost is the same whatever the product costs, such as ₹50 more for XL. Use % Markup when the extra cost grows with the price, such as a premium fabric that adds 20%.
Worked example
A cotton shirt has an MRP of ₹650. It has two attributes:
- Size (Fixed ₹): M +₹0, L +₹0, XL +₹50
- Fabric (% Markup): Cotton 0%, Linen 20%
| Combination | Working | Final price |
|---|---|---|
| M / Cotton | ₹650 + ₹0 + ₹0 | ₹650 |
| XL / Cotton | ₹650 + ₹50 + ₹0 | ₹700 |
| XL / Linen | ₹650 + ₹50 + ₹130 (20% of ₹650) | ₹830 |
The additions from each attribute are added together. A % Markup is always worked out on the base price, not on the price after other options.
Combination Preview
ShowCato lists every combination, such as "Red / XL", with its final price. Click Select in the Image column to link a photo to a combination. Buyers then see the right photo when they choose that option.
Link a photo to a combination
- Upload all the photos in Product Photos first, for example one photo per colour.
- In the Combination Preview, click Select in the Image column of a row.
- In Select combination image, click the right photo and click Done. Use Clear to remove the link.
- Click Save Product or Save Changes.
The picker shows only the photos of this product, so add the photo to the product before you link it.
Combinations multiply quickly. 4 sizes × 5 colours is already 20 rows. The count is shown below the preview. Keep options to what you really sell.
What buyers see
Products with variants show a Customize button. The buyer picks options, sees the live price and adds the product. See What Buyers See.
Required attributes show a Required mark, so the buyer knows they must choose. The options the buyer picked are saved with their enquiry, so you see them in Enquiries.
Tips and common mistakes
- Blank names are dropped. An attribute without a name, or an option without an Option Value, is not saved.
- Set the MRP first. % Markup amounts are worked out from the MRP box. With no MRP, every % addition shows ₹0.
- Keep option labels short. "XL / 42" or "Royal Blue" reads better on a phone than a long sentence.
- Duplicate saves time. Set variants on one product, then use Duplicate for similar products. Variants and combination photos are copied.