One product for sale is two items I paid for separately, how do I track the variable costs?

[Sydeswept]

I sell shirts. Sometimes I use my own prints while other times I outsource DTF prints for my shirts. The cost of the shirt itself stays the same, but each design is different. Right now, to accurately track the costs of this, I'm adding a new item for every single shirt and every single variable design--it's a pain. I have 40+ shirt color and size options, and I have 100+ designs I've had available in just the last few months. Is there a way that the shirt can be one thing and the design can be another thing so their costs can be tracked separately WITHOUT having to create a variable for every single shirt and design? I'd love to be able to just enter in designs with their costs as I get them and then those designs to automatically apply as options for my shirts. The variations also don't work because it will show that I have way more in stock than I actually do, if I have 5 of the same design, that doesn't mean I have 40+ shirts with that design on it. The option for 5 of that design is able to be used on any of my shirts available. 

When checking out, I'd like to be able to select the shirt color and then click to add which design goes with that shirt and have it be simple. Is this somehow possible?
Modifiers would be PERFECT for this if I could track the modifier costs!!! I don't know why that isn't an option

[Candlestore · Accepted solution]

@Sydeswept ;

Look into Square Bundles.

You would need to add each Shirt Color to a bundle and also Each Print.  The lower of the print or shirt would be the most amount available.  You would then need to add items of each shirt color and size plus create an item of the design also.  Then in the Bundle select the Shirt size and Design.  You would create alot of Bundles but you could track costs for both items.  

Here is more on Bundles : 8057-create-managing-bundles-with-square-for-retail 

The big issue with Bundles is you can not make them variable.  

So you would need 40 colors X 100 Designs X the Sizes you sell which is also alot to enter and keep track of.

Bundles would be your choice for selling the Least amount of a certain Item but would require the most work on your part to get everything in your system.  You might be able to speed this up with Spreadsheets of your catalog and upload it to Square.  Bundles would let you keep track of the Shirts in a size and the Shirt in a color, plus the Design.

There are too many variables for what you are trying to do for a retail location to track each item with each variation.  Each item to track would require a unique SKU or Barcode (GTIN).  Especially if your trying to do this Online.  That way with one code you the seller would know which Item was being Sold.  Now to help create Variations Quicker you could look into Option Sets.  These create Variations per Item  Here is how to create Options : https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6689-item-options 

[Candlestore]

@Sydeswept ;

Here is how I create my different Scents in all Varitions the Quickest.

For you Create two Option Sets:

• Size Options  (Sm, Med Large.... etc)
• Color Options (red, Blue, Green etc...)

Now create Item New Design in a Category you do not use and add both of these Option Sets to the Item. so Square creates the Item in the Various Sizes and Colors.

Once that is completed in Square, on a computer goto your Square Dashboard > Items then filter for your Category then Export the catalog.  Save This file and DO NOT replace it save as Design Template for example.  This file should only have your Newly Created Item with the different Variations of Size and Color.

In the name Column you should have "New Design" and also in the Variation area possibly.  Chose Edit in your Spreadsheet Menu and the Search for New Design and Replace New Design with design Name.  Clear the Columns Token and Refrence Handle.  These are only used to UPDATE items in your catalog so for New items Square will create these fields.

 Then save this file as edited (Design Name), up load this to Square.  

I do this but for Item name I saved as Scent and then Replace Scent with 'French Vanilla' for example and then Upload and 18 variations of French Vanilla are created at once.  Then I have Square Create SKU field for all items that have no SKU. 

Now for you have 3 Variables and keeping track of each to apply to an Item would still have to be done in Bundles which can be a nitemare with all the variables you have.

[Sydeswept]

Thank you for your response and including so much detail!

I had considered bundles a long time ago but haven't thought about it since then. It's going to be a ton of work but it might be the only way to track the costs and quantities the way I need it to. It's unfortunate with add-ons/modifiers being right there and sooooo close to what I need to make it simpler. 

I've started creating each design as an individual item and continue restocking my shirts as they come in. It is easier than creating individual items every single time I have an order, but it doesn't make my website user-friendly and might mean I need to not use a website at all until I can figure it out. I don't know if trying to create a bundle for 5 new designs and a million different shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, etc is actually possible, but I might give that another trial run. 

I appreciate all the information. I didn't think about letting each design be its own item, so while it's definitely not perfect, it's a small improvement--far better than none!