If you're transitioning from a platform that only supports simple products or want to streamline your inventory for e-commerce, you can consolidate multiple simple products into organized products with variants or attributes.

This guide explains the difference between simple products, variants, and attributes, and provides two methods for combining your simple products into a more efficient inventory structure.

A simple product doesn't have multiple options or variants. It's a single, standalone item.

For example, a banana is likely a simple product—it’s straightforward and doesn’t come in different options.

Simple products have no variant name listed and no additional versions.

A product with variants offers multiple options that customers can choose from. Each option is a separate variant.

An easy example is fountain soda, which is available in different sizes as seen here:

A product with attributes also offers multiple options that overlap and combine. Attributes can create variants based on every possible combination.

A classic example is a T-shirt available in different sizes and colors.

Here’s an example in Thrive:

Products with attributes ultimately create multiple options/variants, but they display differently and work with integrations differently than products with manually created variants.

There is no automatic merge or consolidate function in Thrive. You must manually convert simple products into products with variants using one of the methods below.

Both methods require you to create the new product structure and then delete the old simple products.

This method is great for building on existing simple products and works best if you only need products with variants.

This method does not work if you want to create a product with attributes. To create attributes, continue reading the Bulk Upload option.

Step 1: Choose which simple product to keep Decide which version of the simple product will become your main product with variants.

Step 2: Add variants to that product Manually add the other simple products as variants of the product you're keeping. Transfer quantities from the old simple products to the new variants.

Step 3: Save the new product Save the updated product with all its new variants.

Step 4: Delete the old simple products Delete the old standalone versions to avoid confusion at checkout and in your inventory system. Learn how to delete products in Thrive.

Note: Converting simple products into variants of another product will result in the loss of inventory history.

This option is ideal for creating multiple products or creating products with attribute sets quickly (e.g., for e-commerce).

Step 1: Tag products for deletion: Before creating new products, identify and tag the simple products you'll delete after conversion. Assign them to a temporary vendor called "TO BE DELETED" (or similar).

Why this helps: After creating your new products, you can easily bulk-delete all products assigned to the "TO BE DELETED" vendor.

How to assign vendors:

Important SKU note: Thrive doesn't allow duplicate SKUs. If your new products will use the same SKUs as existing simple products, you must either:

Step 2: Generate the appropriate bulk upload: Choose the right bulk upload type for your needs:

Step 3: Fill in the spreadsheet. Enter all necessary information for your new products:

Step 4: Submit the spreadsheet Upload your completed spreadsheet to create the new products with variants or attributes.

Step 5: Delete the old simple products Remove the old standalone products to prevent confusion during checkout.

If you completed Step 1: You can easily bulk-delete all products with the "TO BE DELETED" vendor assignment. Double-check the deletion list to ensure you're not removing anything you want to keep.

By consolidating your inventory, you’ll create a more organized and efficient system that’s easier to manage.