A variant is an altered form or variation of the original product. This could be (but isn't limited to) size, flavor, or color. Each variant has its own inventory quantity and is an option for its "parent" product.
Below you'll see examples and explanations of how variants are vital to setting up an efficient catalog that is easy to search, update, and manipulate.
Catalog "layers" hierarchy
Thrive offers three "layers" of differentiation: Category, Product, and Variant.
Layer 3: Variant - The specific variations (like "BBQ flavor" or "Size Medium/Blue")
A Category is the first layer.
Then you select the Products under that Category.
Finally, you select the Variants under that product.
Bonus Layer: In addition, depending on your integration, we also integrate with modifiers, which you can read more about here!
Examples: How Variants Work
Each field allows you to add plenty of info. Here are some real-world examples:
Example 1: Snacks
Category: Snacks
Product: Potato Chips
Variant: Classic
Variant: BBQ
Variant: Sea Salt & Vinegar — etc...
Example 2: Athletic Shoes
Category: Nike
Product Name: Men's Zoom KD - Regular Fit
Variant Name: Size 10 - Black
Variant Name: Size 10 - Blue
Variant Name: Size 8 - Black ... etc.
How you set up your variants depends on what makes the most sense for your business. As a reminder, each variant will have its own price, cost, and quantity.
How to Add Variants
Adding variants is simple and can be done right from the Product Details page.
This opens the Product Details page, where you can add variants to your product.
For Simple Products (No Variants Yet)
If it's a simple product, you'll see an option to "Create variant." This lets you enter an initial variant name.
What's a simple product? A simple product does not have multiple variants or "options." For example, a single "Banana" product without different sizes or types.
After creating the first variant: Once you add a variant, you can continue adding more variants to the same product.
For Products with Existing Variants
If your product already has one or more variants, you can still select "Add variant" to add another one.
Creating Multiple Variants
When creating a new product, you'll have options to create variants efficiently.
Option 1: Create Variants One at a Time
Click "Create Variant" to create a single variant, one at a time. This works great when you have just a few variants to add.
Option 2: Use Attributes for Mass Creation
After clicking "Create Variant," you'll also have the option to "Use Attributes" for the mass creation of variants for that specific product based on the attributes you assign to it.
Common attributes:
Size (Small, Medium, Large)
Color (Red, Blue, Green)
Flavor (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry)
How it works: Attributes automatically generate all possible combinations. For example, 3 sizes × 3 colors = 9 variants created automatically!
Learn more: For more information about adding variants with attributes, please click here.
Simple Products vs. Products with Variants
There's only a slight difference between simple products and products with variants, even though they are both commonly referred to as "products."
Simple Product
No variants or options
Single item with one price, cost, and quantity
Example: A single "Banana" product
Product with Variants
Multiple variations available
Each variant has its own price, cost, and quantity
Example: "T-Shirt" product with Size Small, Medium, Large variants
Questions? If you have questions, don't hesitate to chat with our Customer Care Team; we can help you through it!
Important Note About Integrations
The integration you're syncing to may display attributes differently. With all things, if you're unsure, it's always best to test out your specific integration first to see any potential differences.