Can someone help me with inventory Categories?

[cbug999]

I have been trying, for days, to upload my inventory for the first time but it seems I keep using the headers incorrectly.  Hoping someone can tell me where to put what. I have a record store and want to put Artist, Title, Price, Quantity . . . while also noting Category (Rock/Pop, Jazz, etc.) and type (Record Album).  I have thousands of records and can't put more than 250 different titles in "Variations".  This is causing me many headaches.  Any help is appreciated.  THANK YOU!

[Thevioletfox]

Hey @cbug999 - I think I might be able to help. I run a bookstore so we're dealing with similar beasts! You're right - you will never get all your titles listed in Variations. You have to create a separate item for each Record/Title. The best way to do it is via upload. Keep in mind though that the fields in Square are not customizable so the headers on the spreadsheet cannot be renamed. So you're not going to have a column/header for Artist, for example.  Instead, I suggest you use the Item Name to put in the Artist and Album Title (e.g. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours).  You've gotta make the product info fit within Square's existing fields, if that makes sense.  Let me know if you get stuck or have questions and I'll be more than happy to walk you through it!

[ryanwanner]

@Thevioletfoxgreat minds think alike. 🙂

[ryanwanner]

Hello @cbug999 !

A record store! How cool!

Inventory for you will definitely be a little bit of a challenge, that's for sure. Here's what I would recommend:

Category: by genre (I'm assuming that's how you have your store laid out so it makes sense to keep it the same)

Item: Album Name:Artist

Variations: Media type (album, cassette, cd, etc)

Keeping the Artist Name in the Item title will allow you to search for the artist or album on the search bar of the Library screen of the Point of Sale.

You may also want to consider adding a bar code scanner to your setup to make cashing out customers that much easier.

Your setup definitely screams for sub-categories, which is an ongoing Feature Request. I'd recommend jumping over to that board and adding your request.

Hope this helps!