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SKUs Overview

SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) are the foundation of your product catalog in Tether. Each SKU represents a unique product variant that can be tracked, forecasted, and managed throughout your supply chain.

What is a SKU?

A SKU is a unique identifier for a specific product. In Tether, SKUs contain:
  • Basic Information: Name, code, UPC, and identifiers
  • Classification: Type, collection, and status
  • Attributes: Dimension values (Size, Color, etc.)
  • Relationships: Suppliers, pricing, and bill of materials

SKU Types

Tether supports six SKU types to model your product structure:
TypeDescriptionExample
Finished GoodProducts sold directly to customers”Blue T-Shirt, Size M”
VariantProduct variations generated from dimension combinations”T-Shirt - Blue - Medium”
ComponentItems purchased and used in other products (raw materials, packaging, parts)“Cotton Fabric”, “Shipping Box”, “Button Set”
BundleA group of SKUs physically assembled and sold together”Gift Set”
KitProducts assembled from components at fulfillment time”DIY Kit”
Virtual BundleLogical grouping for pricing/promotions (not physically assembled)“Buy 2 Get 1 Free”
Component is the type to use for all purchased items that go into other products, including raw materials, packaging materials, and parts.

The SKU Dashboard

The SKU dashboard is your central hub for managing products.

Dashboard Layout

The dashboard consists of:
  1. Filter Panel (left side) - Narrow down the SKU list
  2. Data Table (center) - View and edit SKUs
  3. Actions Bar (top) - Create SKUs, manage views, export data

Key Columns

ColumnDescription
NameThe display name of the SKU
SKU CodeUnique identifier code
UPCUniversal Product Code (barcode)
Amazon IDAmazon ASIN or identifier
TypeSKU type classification
CollectionParent collection
StatusActive or Archived
DimensionsAttribute values (Size, Color, etc.)

Quick Actions

From the dashboard, you can:
  • Create SKU: Add a new product manually
  • Export: Download SKU data as CSV/Excel
  • Manage Views: Save and load filter configurations
  • Inline Edit: Click cells to edit directly
Click on any SKU row to open its detail page, where you can access:

Overview Tab

Basic SKU information, dimensions, and unit conversions

Bill of Materials Tab

Components that make up this SKU and where this SKU is used

Inventory Tab

View inventory levels across warehouses

Pricing Tab

Configure pricing by sales channel

Suppliers Tab

View supplier relationships and costs

Processes Tab

Manufacturing processes associated with this SKU

SKU Status

SKUs can have two statuses:
StatusDescription
ActiveSKU is in use and available for operations
ArchivedSKU is hidden from most views but data is retained
Archiving a SKU doesn’t delete any historical data. You can always restore an archived SKU if needed.

Understanding SKU Relationships

SKUs and Collections

Every SKU belongs to a collection. Collections define:
  • Shared dimensions (Size, Color, etc.)
  • Product hierarchy
  • Bulk settings and configurations

SKUs and Channels

SKUs are made available on channels through availability settings. A SKU might be:
  • Available on all channels
  • Restricted to specific channels
  • Channel-specific pricing

SKUs and Warehouses

Inventory is tracked per SKU per warehouse. A single SKU can have inventory in multiple warehouses.

Best Practices

Use consistent naming patterns:
  • Include key attributes: “Product Name - Size - Color”
  • Keep names concise but descriptive
  • Avoid special characters that might cause issues in exports
Create meaningful SKU codes:
  • Use a consistent format across all products
  • Include category or collection indicators
  • Make codes human-readable when possible
  • Example: TSH-BLU-M for T-Shirt, Blue, Medium
Choose the right SKU type:
  • Use Finished Good for products you sell directly
  • Use Variant for dimension-based variations of a base product
  • Use Component for all purchased items used in other products (raw materials, packaging, parts)
  • Use Bundle when you physically assemble products together
  • Use Kit for products assembled at fulfillment time
  • Use Virtual Bundle for promotional groupings that aren’t physically assembled

Next Steps

Creating SKUs

Learn how to add new products to your catalog

Editing SKUs

Modify existing SKU information

Filtering SKUs

Find SKUs quickly with powerful filters

Collections

Organize SKUs into collections