Mass Upload New Products – Bright Stores

This tutorial will go over using a spreadsheet to upload new products into the store.

Article Sections

Download the Products Template
Upload the Products into the Store
Breakdown of Columns in File
Tips and Tricks for Successful Product Uploads
Related Articles

Download the Products Template

To get started, download the template that will be used to upload new products.

Access the Products & Categories page.
Click the Products tab.
Click the Upload new products button.
Click the Download Products Template button.

A spreadsheet will be downloaded to your system and you will use your spreadsheet program to populate the spreadsheet with your product information. As with all spreadsheet uploads in the Bright Sites platform, you must not remove, rename, or re-order any columns or you will receive an error upon uploading the file. A detailed explanation of each column can be found here.

Upload the Products into the Store

Once the product information has been added to the spreadsheet, save the file in a .csv format and upload the products spreadsheet.

Access the Products & Categories page.
Click the Products tab.
Click the Upload new products button.
Drag and drop or click the box to select the product spreadsheet file from your system.
Click the Upload button.

Two emails will be generated by the system when the upload is processing, the first one letting you know it’s in queue and second one letting you know if it was successful or failed:

If it’s successful, Congratulations! Your product upload was processed successfully.
If it fails, the failed products will be emailed to you in a spreadsheet and those products are not uploaded into the system. We recommend you make the necessary corrections based on the error message(s) returned, and then try the upload again after saving your changes to the file.

Status Notifications for Upload

After the file is added into the queue, you will receive notification in the upper right-hand area of the screen, letting you know the process has started and then you will receive a second notification that it was complete or that there are errors. If you’re having issues with doing the upload, we recommend taking a look at this guide for assistance.

Here is an example of a successful upload

Here is an example of the message that appears for an upload that failed

Find out more about an unsuccessful upload

Click the bell (notifications) icon.
Click the specific error for this upload.
CSV Errors - Check the errors that appear in the pop-up window. Match the line number to the row in the spreadsheet to fix and reupload the record that did not upload initially.

Breakdown of Columns in File

Fields marked with an asterisk(*) in this guide and the template are required.

Fields marked with a double asterisk(**) in this guide have special requirements. These do not appear on the upload template.

*Product Name (Column A): This field will contain the product name that will appear on the storefront.
*SKU (Column B): This field will contain the item SKU that will appear on the storefront for the product.
Internal ID (Column C): Enter an optional item internal ID which only appears in the admin area and on reports; this will not appear on the storefront.
SKU Separator (Column D): This would be how you want the SKU and subSKU separated. A blank input defaults to a dash (-) and if you don't need a separator at all, input "null" (no quotes).
Category ID 1 (Primary Category) (Column E): This field will be the category ID for the primary (main category) assignment for the product. This ID number is located under theproduct categoriestab. Remember, category IDs are specific to each store, so category IDs in one store WILL NOT be the same in another.

Category ID 2 (Column F): This field will contain the ID for any additional categories assigned to the product.
Category ID 3 (Column G): This field will contain the ID for any additional categories assigned to the product.
Category ID 4 (Column H): This field will contain the ID for any additional categories assigned to the product.
*Tax Exempt (Column I): This field will be marked “TRUE” or “FALSE” depending on if the product is exempt from sales tax calculation. Keep in mind that this does not affect integrated sales tax calculation.
*Shipping Exempt (Column J): This field will be marked “TRUE” or “FALSE” depending on if the product is exempt from shipping estimates calculation.
*Base Price (Column K): This field will contain the price for ordering 1 unit of the product. Pricing can be entered UP TO the “hundredths” place (i.e. $36.99).
Retail Price (Column L): This field will contain the MSRP price for 1 unit. When this value is higher than theBase price, a discount ribbon will appear on the storefront showing a percentage off.
Cost (Column M): This field will contain the price you, as a distributor, pay when purchasing the item from a supplier.
Setup Charge (Column N): This field will contain the OVERALL charge to be applied when the product is ordered. (e.g. if the setup charge is $50, then $50 will be added to the total product price).
Minimum Order Quantity (Column O): This field will contain the numerical value that must be ordered before the product(s) can be added to the shopper’s cart.
Maximum Order Quantity (Column P): This field will contain the numerical value that is the highest number of units that can be ordered for a specific product.
Tax Code (Column Q): This field will contain the “Tax Code” for the product. Product specific tax codes are used in conjunction with sales tax integrations to determine if the product has a different method of being taxed (e.g. for example, some apparel items in some states may not charge sales tax - this is determined by the tax code entered for the product). Keep in mind that tax codes only work with sales tax integrations.
Weight (Column R): This field will contain the value in pounds (LBS) for the weight of the item “as shipped.” Weights are required if you’re using a shipping integration (even if the product is “shipping exempt”). If you have questions about “as shipped” weights, we recommend reviewing this article going over integrated shipping rate estimates.
Length (Column S): This field will contain the value in inches (IN) for the length of the item “as shipped.” Dimensions are required if you’re using a shipping integration (even if the product is “shipping exempt”). If you have questions about “as shipped” dimensions, we recommend reviewing this article going over integrated shipping rate estimates.
Width (Column T): This field will contain the value in inches (IN) for the width of the item “as shipped.” Dimensions are required if you’re using a shipping integration (even if the product is “shipping exempt”). If you have questions about “as shipped” dimensions, we recommend reviewing this article going over integrated shipping rate estimates.
Height (Column U): This field will contain the value in inches (IN) for the height of the item “as shipped.” Dimensions are required if you’re using a shipping integration (even if the product is “shipping exempt”). If you have questions about “as shipped” dimensions, we recommend reviewing this article going over integrated shipping rate estimates.
Description (Column V): This field will contain the description for the product which will appear on the storefront. You can input plain text into this field or HTML. If you need to customize text with design or styling, upload the products first, then edit the products that need adjustments made using the WYSIWYG editor for each individual product.

**Size Option Names (Column W): If there is sizing for the product (apparel items, hats, etc.), you would input that data into this field. Sizing information must be entered in a specific manner in order for the upload to succeed. For example, if you’re offering X-Small through Large for sizing you would input it like so:

X-Small|Small|Medium|Large

The separating character between each option is a “|” (pipe symbol) and is used to separate the different size options being offered.

**Size sub SKUs (Column X): If you need sub SKUs for each of the individual sizes, you would input them in this field. The format is the same as the above and uses the “|” to separate the different options. You need to ensure that sub SKUs order matches the order of sizes or the sub SKUs may not be assigned properly. For example:

xs|s|m|l

If this were “s|m|l” or “s|xs|m|l” the actual sub SKUs assigned into the store would not be correct (“s|m|l” only has 3 sub SKUs out of 4 sizes and “s|xs|m|l” is incorrect in it’s order compared to the order of size options offered).

**Size Price Modifiers (Column Y): If you need to charge more for certain sizes, you would input that data in this field. The format would need to match with the order of size options being offered. For example, using the above size option assignment, we need it so Large sizes have a mark-up of $3.50 per unit ordered. So you would enter it in the following format since the other sizes don’t have markups for ordering:

0.00|0.00|0.00|3.50

Since the other sizes aren’t marked up, you set their modifier to “0.00” and then for the size that DOES get a markup, you input the actual numerical value (in this case, “3.50”).

**Size Price Modifier Type (Column Z): If you have size options being offered for the product, this column is required and you MUST set this to be either Percentage or Dollar for the modifier type. For example:

**Color Option Names (Column AA): Like sizing, if there are multiple colors being offered for the product so the shopper can select between them, you would input that data into this field. Color options names are input in the same format as sizes so for a shirt offered in multiple colors, you would do:

Red|Yellow|Blue|Green

Then the above corresponding colors will be uploaded as separate color options for the shopper to select.

**Color sub SKUs (Column AB): If you need sub SKUs for each of the individual colors, you would input them in this field. The format is the same as the above and uses the “|” to separate the different options. You need to ensure that the sub SKUs order matches the order of colors or the sub SKUs may not be assigned properly. For example:

rd|yw|bl|gr

If this were “rd|bl|gr” or “yw|rd|bl|gr” the actual sub SKUs assigned into the store would not be correct (“rd|bl|gr” only has 3 sub SKUs out of 4 sizes and “yw|rd|bl|gr” is incorrect in it’s order compared to the order of size options offered).

**Color Image URLs (Column AC): If you have color images for the individual colors, you would paste the public URL for it in this column. For multiple image links, you would use the “|” to separate them. Depending on the order of the links, the corresponding image will be assigned to the color. Keep in mind this must be a direct URL link to an image and not the link to an "image viewer" website displaying the image. For example: https://colorimage.com/red.png|https://colorimage.com/yellow.png|https://colorimage.com/blue.png|https://colorimage.com/green.png

Each URL corresponds to the color being upload. The only supported image file types are jpeg and png files. Keep in mind the system is copying the image from that URL and importing it for the product. So even if that source image changes, the image on our system won’t update unless you change it manually.

**Color Price Modifiers (Column AD): If you need to charge more for certain colors, you would input that data in this field. The format would need to match with the order of color options being offered. For example, using the above color option assignment, we need it so the color yellow has a mark-up of $1.50 per unit ordered. So you would enter it in the following format since the other colors don’t have a markup for ordering:

0.00|1.50|0.00|0.00

Since the other colors aren’t marked up, you set their modifier to “0.00” and then for the color that DOES get a markup, you input the actual numerical value (in this case, “1.50”).

**Color Price Modifier Type (Column AE): IF you have color options being offered for the product, this column is required and you MUST set this to be either Percentage or Dollar for the modifier type. For example:

**Include Color Images in Main Images (Column AF): If you’re offering colors, you need to set this switch to either TRUE or FALSE (even if color images aren’t being uploaded). If it’s empty and you’re uploading colors for the product, the upload will produce an error.

Product Option Template IDs (Column AG): This ID is specific to your store and you can see IDs for product options by navigating to Products and then Product Options:

When that product option ID is added to a product in the upload template, upon the upload being processed, this product option is assigned to the product. If you need to assign more than 1 product option you can separate multiple product option IDs with a “|” symbol. So for example, that would look like this:

710609|710610|1161957|1840414

Image URL 1 - Primary/Thumbnail Image (Column AH): This will be the field you input the URL for item images. You would use columns AG-AK if you have more than 1 item image you need to upload. For a second item image, you would need to input that URL in the corresponding column (Image URL 2 - Column AI). Lastly, the image in Column AH will be the primary and thumbnail image used for the product on the storefront - you do NOT need to input anything in to have those settings created. Keep in mind this must be a direct URL link to an image and not the link to an "image viewer" website displaying the image.

**Quantity Discount Quantities (Column AM): If you need to add quantity discounts for the product, you will input the corresponding quantity amounts in this field. Multiple quantity amounts are separated by a “|” symbol. So for example, if I were offering quantity discounts for ordering 25, 50, and 75 units, I would input the following:

25|50|75

Keep in mind that this order must match with the order for quantity discount amounts to ensure the correct quantity is assigned the correct discount amount.

**Quantity Discount Amount (Column AN): If you’re using quantity discounts, you would set up the corresponding discount amounts in this column. Multiple quantity discount amounts are separated by a “|” symbol. So for example, if I were offering discount amounts of 3.50, 2.00, and, 0.50 for base price based on units purchased, I would input the following:

3.50|2.00|0.50

Then, when the upload is processed, each discount amount will correspond to Column AL’s discount quantities so that:

Ordering between 25-49 units is $3.50/unit.

Ordering between 50-74 units is $2.00/unit.

Ordering between 75+ units is $0.50/unit.

**Discount Type - Percent or Dollar (Column AO): If you have quantity discounts configured in the template, you MUST input whether it’s a Percent or Dollar discount type. If you leave this blank and are uploading products with quantity discounts, the upload may receive errors.
New Product (Column AP): You can use this column to indicate an item is a new product but inputting TRUE if it is, or FALSE/blank if it's not.
Unmark as New on (NULL, or date, NO TIME) (Column AQ): You can input a date for when the new product banner should be removed, or keep blank to have the new banner always appear until manually removed on the item.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Product Uploads

Always make sure to download a new product upload template from the store when you’re uploading new products.
The mass product upload template is ONLY for uploading new products. Mass edits to products can be made via the “bulk edit” functionality.
As a recommendation, it may be easier to upload products in batches of 50 in case you receive errors due to the data input. Then you can resolve errors for each batch of products rather than for an entire list of products.
If you’re having issues uploading the file - you can contact us by submitting this form and provide the file you are uploading and the error message you’re experiencing and our support team will respond with the best course of action for resolving this.
We recommend using your spreadsheet's available functions/tools if you need to remove white-space. White-space before or after data can cause issues with uploading items.