Cloning a Product

Click here for information on this function in Sellercloud’s original interface.

Cloning a product creates a new item that is identical but separate from the original item.

Cloning can save you time and labor when creating similar products, because product information is copied over to the cloned product, and only some changes need to be made.

A similar, but separate, action can copy information from existing SKUs.

However, a cloned product is not the same as a shadow. Whereas a shadow
product’s inventory is tied to that of the parent, a cloned product has no association with the
original product.

N-Matrices (variations) cannot be cloned.

Several Client Settings configure which product information will be cloned:

  • Enable images copy on Shadow product clone
  • Do not copy Product Specifics when cloning product
  • Clone N-Matrix configuration when cloning a Product with N-Matrix
  • Enable images copy on product clone (simple)
  • Enable UPC copy on product clone (simple)
  • Enable Title copy on product clone (simple)
  • Keep channel active status on Shadow clone
  • Copy kit properties on product clone.
To view these settings, you must enable Advanced Client Settings. This is accessed using Settings > Client Settings > General Client Settings > Advanced.

To clone a product:

  1. Open the Manage Inventory page.
  2. Select the product you want to clone.
  3. Open the Action Menu and click Clone SKU.
  4. Enter the new SKU on the next page.

The history of the item will log the SKU as a clone and from which SKU this new item was cloned.

Sellercloud allows you to clone the product and change various attributes. For example, you can adjust the Fulfilled by and Kit Dependency options of the product. The image under Step 3 shows dropdowns for Fulfilled By and Dependency Option. However, when importing cloned items, you can only change FulfilledBy.

Cloning an item will not copy certain key information, such as inventory, cost, and price. This is to ensure that those values have been updated correctly before being posted to a
channel.

Importing clones in bulk
Clones can be created in bulk through a file import. Some attributes can be modified in the file.
See headers below.

Navigate Inventory > Import Product Info> Import Clone Products. Download the template,
populate and import.

Column headers are:

  • ProductID– existing SKU that you would like to clone
  • ClonedProductID– the desired SKU of the newly created clone
  • CompanyID– numerical ID of the company the clone should be created into
  • FulfilledBy– entering Amazon will set clone as FBA, entering Merchant will set clone as FBM
  • CopyUPC– if you want to copy from existing item to clone put True, or else blank
  • CopyASIN– if you want to copy from existing item to clone put True, or else blank

Understanding product clones

Cloning a product creates a new item that is identical but separate from the original item.

Cloning can save you time and labor when creating similar products, because product information is copied over to the cloned product, and only some changes need to be made.

A similar, but separate, action can copy information to existing SKUs.

However, a cloned product is not the same as a shadow. Whereas a shadow product’s inventory is tied to that of the parent, a cloned product has no association with the original product.

N-Matrices (variations) cannot be cloned.

Several Client Settings configure which product information will be cloned:

  • Enable images copy on Shadow product clone
  • Do not copy Product Specifics when cloning product
  • Clone N-Matrix configuration when cloning a Product with N-Matrix
  • Enable images copy on product clone (simple)
  • Enable UPC copy on product clone (simple)
  • Enable Title copy on product clone (simple)
  • Keep channel active status on Shadow clone
  • Copy kit properties on product clone
To view these settings, you must enable Advanced Client Settings. This is accessed using Settings > Client Settings > General Client Settings > Advanced.

 

Cloning a product

  1. Access Catalog > Manage Catalog.
  2. Choose the product you wish to clone. Copy the SKU.
  3. Select your products > action menu > Clone SKUs.
    sellercloud manage catalog grid clone skus
  4.  Type the new SKU into New SKU > Clone SKUs.
    sellercloud cloning skus window cloning a product

The history of the item will log the SKU as a clone and from which SKU this new item was cloned.

Sellercloud allows you to clone the product and change various attributes. For example, you can adjust the Fulfilled by and Kit Dependency options of the product. The image under Step 3 shows dropdowns for Fulfilled By and Dependency Option. However, when importing cloned items, you can only change FulfilledBy.

Cloning an item will not copy certain key information, such as inventory, cost, and price. This is to ensure that those values have been updated correctly before being posted to a channel.

 

Importing clones in bulk

Clones can be created in bulk through a file import. Some attributes can be modified in the file. See headers below.

  1. Navigate Catalog > Tools > Import Product Info > Import Product Clones.
  2. You can make your own template or download one directly from Sellercloud. Use the following column headers:
       Column Header    Description
       ProductID    Existing SKU that you would like to clone
       ClonedProductID    The desired SKU of the newly created clone
       CompanyID    Numerical ID of the company the clone should be created into
       FulfilledBy    Entering Amazon will set clone as FBA, entering Merchant will set clone as FBM
       CopyUPC    If you want to copy from existing item to clone put True, or else blank
       CopyASIN    If you want to copy from existing item to clone put True, or else blank
  3. Refer to the example belowsellercloud import product clones excel template example
  4. To download a preset template, use the icon indicated belowsellercloud import product clones bulk product update window
  5. Save your file. Return to Import Product Clones > Click to upload file > Import

 

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