We’re currently working on an e-commerce website that sells, among other things, clothing and underwear in a large variety of sizes and colors. Using the WooCommerce e-commerce plugin for WordPress is fairly straightforward, but once you have four (or more) sizes, and five colors, for each product, we found that it started to get a bit unwieldy, especially once product photos, color swatches, and product variations entered the picture.
In order to make the shopping experience easier, we added the WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos extension, which enhances the default drop-down menus for size and color, by replacing them with visuals. This is of course particularly important for color, where you can show the exact shade or a thumbnail image of the exact product, making browsing a snap. With the addition of product variations, customers can quickly view and select their desired options, streamlining the shopping process.
But just seeing a small color swatch or image isn’t enough. What we wanted to do was enable clicking on a color swatch to change the main product image, so that for instance, if you clicked on the blue color swatch, you would see the full image in that color, reflecting the different product variations available.
But wait, we still need to present sizes, remember?
Based on the extension documentation and even conversations with support, we were led to believe that if we wanted to make bulk edits, such as adding or changing the blue color for a Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large product, that we’d have to do it 4 times, one for each size. Even worse, if the price changed on a product, we’d have to edit each variation, because you can’t enter an overall product price if you have product variations enabled. Of course, for our type of product, this was very frustrating, because the price remains the same whether the color is blue or pink or the size is small or medium.
We were told “I’m afraid there’s no way to accomplish this… within WordPress. You will need to update the price for each variation.”
Well, it turns out that in a case such as this, it’s not necessary to actually enable each variation, meaning that since the only thing that changes is when a color is selected, and not the price, we could associate each color with “Any” size. We want the main image to change with the color selection, but not with price selection. So we only need to manage the number of color variations, and not the number of color variations X number of size variations. Phew!
Additionally, there is a bulk editor at the top of the “Variations” tab. Just merely enter the field you wish to edit, such as “Price”, and then a pop-up window appears. Enter the desired value and boom! you’ve just updated the price for all variations!
So if you’re selling something like clothing, don’t get bogged down trying to manage every product variation. Find out which is the main variable, and focus on that. You could save yourself a lot of time and frustration!
Maybe this stuff is obvious to those who regularly use the plugin, but we found all of the options overwhelming and the documentation not specific enough about how to find the easiest way to make your updates, depending on your needs, especially when dealing with product variations. Contact us for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are product variations in WooCommerce?
Product variations in WooCommerce allow you to offer different versions of a product, such as different colors, sizes, or styles. These variations are linked to a single product, making it easier for customers to select their preferred options without navigating away from the product page.
How do I set up product variations in WooCommerce?
To set up product variations in WooCommerce, first, create a variable product. Then, go to the “Product Data” section and select “Variable product.” Next, add your attributes (like size, color, etc.), and define each variation under the “Variations” tab. After that, you can add specific details like price, stock status, and images for each variation.
Can I display product images based on variations in WooCommerce?
Yes! With the WooCommerce Variation Swatches and Photos extension, you can replace the default dropdown menus with visual swatches. This allows customers to see the product images change as they select different variations like color or size, enhancing their shopping experience.
How can I bulk edit product variations in WooCommerce?
WooCommerce provides a bulk editor that lets you make changes to multiple variations at once. To use it, go to the “Variations” tab under the product page, select the variations you want to edit, and use the bulk edit feature to update fields like price, stock status, or SKU for all selected variations simultaneously.
Do product variations affect the price in WooCommerce?
By default, product variations can have unique pricing. However, if the price remains the same across all variations (such as for different colors or sizes), you can use the bulk editor to set the same price for all variations. You don’t have to edit each variation individually, saving time.
