Bring the useful data. Leave the confusion behind.
Moving systems is a chance to improve the records you rely on, rather than carry every old inconsistency into a new workspace.
Clean the decisions, not just the spreadsheet
Two rows can share a name while describing different pack sizes. Two different names can refer to the same product. Before importing, agree which record is the reference, what its unit means and which price is current. Keep the original file unchanged so there is something to compare against if a match needs correcting. A clean-looking sheet is not the same as a reviewed catalogue.
Test a representative slice
Choose a few ordinary items, one item with options and one awkward record that people regularly misunderstand. Review the proposed matches and saved results for this small set first. For a beauty shop, that might mean checking a serum’s volume, its retail price and its category rather than approving every row called serum. The review saves time later at the counter and online.
Put it into practice
Treat importing as a review process. Names that look similar can still represent different items, pack sizes or units.
- Prepare a clean file for the import flow shown in the relevant catalogue area. Keep a copy of the original.
- Review proposed matches, categories, units, prices and required fields before confirming the import.
- Inspect representative saved items and resolve incomplete rows before using the full collection for selling.
Try this next
Review a small, varied sample before committing the full collection. Resolve units and duplicate identities while the list is still easy to inspect.
June–October 2026 editorial series. Issue dates organise the series; they are not feature launch dates.