wix Product Creation Workflow Guide - Best Practices
Overview
Best practices and guided workflows for creating optimized, complete products in Wix Stores.
Optimal Product Creation Workflow
Phase 1: Preparation (Before API Calls)
Step 1: Gather Product Information
- Product name (clear, descriptive)
- High-quality images (1200x1200px minimum, white background)
- Product description (benefits, features, specifications)
- Pricing (cost, retail price, compare-at price)
- SKU (unique identifier)
- Category assignment
- Weight and dimensions (for shipping)
Step 2: Define Product Structure
- Product type: Physical, Digital, or Service
- Variants needed? (size, color, material)
- Custom options? (personalization, gift wrap)
- Subscription offering?
Step 3: Plan Inventory
- Track inventory? (yes for physical, optional for digital)
- Starting quantity
- Low stock threshold
- Backorder/preorder policy
Phase 2: Product Creation API Sequence
Recommended API Call Order:
1. Fetch Categories
GET /_api/wix-ecommerce-renderer-web/store-manager/categories
Purpose: Get available categories to assign product
2. Fetch Tax Groups
POST /_api/tax-groups/v1/taxGroups/query
Purpose: Get tax group ID to assign (usually default tax group)
3. Fetch Shipping Groups (Optional)
POST /_api/wix-ecommerce-graphql-web/api
# Query: getShippingGroups
Purpose: Get shipping group if product needs special shipping
4. Create Product
POST /stores/v1/products
Include:
- Basic info (name, description, price)
- Cost of goods (for profit tracking)
- Tax group ID
- Category IDs
- Initial inventory quantity
- Visibility (false until ready)
5. Add Product Images
PATCH /stores/v1/products/{id}
Best practices:
- Main image: Hero shot, white background
- Additional images: Different angles, lifestyle shots
- Alt text for SEO
- Proper ordering (main image first)
6. Add Variants (If Applicable)
PATCH /stores/v1/products/{id}
Define:
- Product options (size, color)
- Option selections (Small, Medium, Large)
- Variant-specific pricing and SKUs
- Variant-specific inventory
7. Set SEO Data
PATCH /stores/v1/products/{id}
Include:
- SEO title (60 characters)
- Meta description (160 characters)
- URL slug (keyword-optimized)
8. Make Product Visible
PATCH /stores/v1/products/{id}
# Set visible: true
Product Quality Checklist
Must-Have (Required for Professional Store)
- Clear, descriptive product name
- High-quality main image
- Accurate price
- Product description (minimum 100 characters)
- SKU assigned
- Category assigned
- Tax group assigned
- Inventory tracking enabled
Should-Have (Recommended)
- Compare-at price (for showing discounts)
- Cost of goods (for profit tracking)
- 3-5 product images
- Alt text on all images
- Product weight (for accurate shipping)
- SEO title and description
- Product ribbon (Sale, New, etc.)
Nice-to-Have (Enhanced Experience)
- Brand assignment
- Additional info sections
- Custom text fields (personalization)
- Related products
- Digital downloads (if applicable)
- Subscription options
Variant Best Practices
When to Use Variants
Use variants when:
- Same product, different attributes (t-shirt sizes/colors)
- Shared description and images
- Related SKUs
- Example: "T-Shirt" with sizes S/M/L and colors Red/Blue
Don't use variants when:
- Completely different products
- Different descriptions needed
- Different categories
- Example: "Mug" and "T-Shirt" should be separate products
Variant Naming Convention
Good:
- Option: "Size", Selections: "Small", "Medium", "Large"
- Option: "Color", Selections: "Red", "Blue", "Green"
Bad:
- Option: "S/M/L", Selections: "1", "2", "3"
- Option: "Options", Selections: "Option 1", "Option 2"
Variant SKU Pattern
Format: {BASE_SKU}-{OPTION1}-{OPTION2}
Examples:
- TSHIRT-S-RED
- TSHIRT-M-BLUE
- TSHIRT-L-GREEN
Variant Pricing Strategies
Same price for all variants:
- Set base product price
- All variants inherit
Different prices by variant:
- Set variant-specific pricing (common for size-based pricing)
- Example: Small $19.99, Medium $24.99, Large $29.99
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Missing Cost of Goods
Issue: Can't track profit margins
Solution: Always set cost.price when creating products
2. Not Setting Compare Price
Issue: Can't show discounts effectively
Solution: Set comparePrice higher than price to show savings
3. Forgetting Weight
Issue: Inaccurate shipping calculations Solution: Always set weight for physical products
4. Poor Image Quality
Issue: Low conversion rates Solution: Use 1200x1200px minimum, white background, professional photos
5. Weak Descriptions
Issue: Poor SEO, low customer confidence Solution: Write detailed descriptions (100-500 words) with benefits and features
6. Creating Products Visible Immediately
Issue: Customers see incomplete products
Solution: Create products as visible: false, complete all details, then publish
Advanced Workflows
Bulk Product Creation
For creating multiple products:
- Prepare all product data in structured format (JSON/CSV)
- Create products with
visible: false - Batch process images separately
- Validate all required fields
- Bulk update to
visible: true
Variant-Heavy Products
For products with many variants (10+ combinations):
- Create base product
- Define all options upfront
- Generate variant SKUs systematically
- Set inventory per variant carefully
- Use variant-specific images where needed
Seasonal Product Management
For seasonal/temporary products:
- Use product ribbons ("Limited Edition", "Seasonal")
- Set compare price to show discount
- Plan inventory carefully (no overstock)
- Use collections for seasonal grouping
- Schedule visibility changes if possible