Creating SKUs

How to add new products to your Tether catalog

Creating SKUs

There are multiple ways to create SKUs in Tether, from adding individual products to generating hundreds of variants at once. This guide covers all creation methods.

Creating SKUs requires Admin access. Sales Rep users can only view existing SKUs.

Creating a Single SKU

The most straightforward way to add a product:

1. Open the Create SKU Dialog

   1. Navigate to SKUs in the sidebar
   2. Click the Create SKU button in the top-right
2. Enter Basic Information

   Fill in the required fields:

   Field	Required	Description
   Name	Yes	Display name for the SKU
   SKU Code	Yes	Unique identifier (must be unique)
   Type	Yes	Select the appropriate SKU type
   Collection	Recommended	Parent collection for the SKU
   UPC	No	Universal Product Code
   Amazon ID	No	Amazon ASIN identifier

3. Add Dimension Values (if applicable)

   If you selected a collection with dimensions:

   • Select the appropriate value for each dimension
   • Example: Size = “Medium”, Color = “Blue”
4. Save the SKU

   Click Save to create the SKU. It will appear in your SKU list immediately.

Using the SKU Generator

For products with multiple variants (size/color combinations, etc.), the SKU Generator can create all combinations automatically.

Prerequisites

Before using the SKU Generator:

1. Create a collection for your products
2. Set up dimensions with values (Size: S, M, L, XL; Color: Red, Blue, Black)

Generating SKUs

1. Open the Collection

   Navigate to your collection and go to the SKUs tab

2. Launch the SKU Generator

   Click the SKU Generator button

3. Configure the Generator

   Naming Template Define how SKU names will be generated:

   • Use placeholders: {collection} - {Size} - {Color}
   • Example result: “T-Shirts - Medium - Blue”

   SKU Code Template Define the code format:

   • Example: {collection_code}-{Size}-{Color}
   • Result: “TSH-M-BLU”
4. Select Dimension Values

   Check which dimension values to include:

   Size:
   ☑ Small
   ☑ Medium
   ☑ Large
   ☐ XL (excluded)
   
   Color:
   ☑ Red
   ☑ Blue
   ☑ Black
   

   This would generate 9 SKUs (3 sizes × 3 colors)

5. Preview and Generate

   • Review the preview of SKUs to be created
   • Click Generate to create all SKUs
   • SKUs are created immediately

The SKU Generator is ideal when launching new product lines with many variants. It ensures consistent naming and coding across all variants.

Batch Creation from Import

For large-scale SKU creation, you can import from a spreadsheet:

1. Prepare Your Data

   Create a CSV or Excel file with columns:

   • name (required)
   • sku_code (required)
   • type (required)
   • collection_id or collection_name
   • upc
   • Dimension columns as needed
2. Navigate to Import

   Go to Integrations → Create Integration → SKU Import

3. Upload and Map Fields

   • Upload your file
   • Map columns to Tether fields
   • Review the preview
4. Execute Import

   Click Import to create all SKUs

SKU Type Selection Guide

Choosing the right SKU type is important for accurate inventory and forecasting:

Finished Good

Use when: The product is sold directly to customers

Examples:

• Apparel items
• Consumer electronics
• Any retail product

Characteristics:

• Has demand forecasts
• Tracked in sellable inventory
• Available on channels

Raw Material

Use when: The item is used to produce other products

Examples:

• Fabric for clothing
• Electronic components
• Raw ingredients

Characteristics:

• Consumed during production
• Linked via BOM to finished goods
• Ordered from suppliers

Component

Use when: The item is a part that goes into other products

Examples:

• Buttons for shirts
• Screws for furniture
• Straps for bags

Characteristics:

• Similar to raw materials
• Often reusable across products

Bundle

Use when: Multiple products are physically packaged together

Examples:

• Gift sets
• Starter kits
• Multi-packs

Characteristics:

• Contains other SKUs
• Inventory is assembled
• Component inventory is consumed

Kit

Use when: Products are assembled on-demand

Examples:

• Build-your-own kits
• Made-to-order bundles

Characteristics:

• Components are picked at order time
• No pre-assembled inventory

Virtual Bundle

Use when: Products are sold together but not physically assembled

Examples:

• “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” promotions
• Logical product groupings

Characteristics:

• No physical inventory
• Components shipped separately

Required vs. Optional Fields

Required Fields

Field	Description
Name	Display name shown throughout Tether
SKU Code	Must be unique across your organization
Type	Determines how the SKU behaves

Recommended Fields

Field	Why It’s Useful
Collection	Enables dimension management and bulk operations
UPC	Required for retail channels and barcode scanning
Dimensions	Powers filtering and reporting

Optional Fields

Field	Use Case
Amazon ID	Required for Amazon integration
Description	Internal notes and details
Custom Fields	Organization-specific data

Validation Rules

When creating SKUs, Tether validates:

• SKU Code uniqueness: No duplicates allowed
• Required fields: Name, code, and type must be provided
• Dimension consistency: Values must exist in the collection’s dimensions
• Format requirements: Codes cannot contain certain special characters

If a SKU code already exists, you’ll see an error. Each SKU code must be unique across your entire organization.

After Creating SKUs

Once SKUs are created, you’ll typically want to:

1. Set up inventory - Configure initial inventory levels
2. Add suppliers - Link suppliers who provide the product
3. Configure pricing - Set up channel-specific pricing
4. Enable on channels - Make SKUs available for sale

Next Steps

Editing SKUs

Learn how to modify SKU information

Collections

Organize SKUs into collections

Dimensions

Configure product dimensions

Suppliers

Add supplier information for SKUs