Introduction

This article explains how the product importer in TRAEDE can be used not only to create new products, but also to update existing ones or add new variants to existing products.

You'll learn how TRAEDE identifies whether a row in your import sheet represents a new product, new variant, or update to existing data, and what fields must be included depending on the action.

This guide is useful for anyone importing product data — whether you're starting from scratch or maintaining your current product catalog.

Video guide

How TRAEDE determines create vs. update

Creating new products

To create a new product, TRAEDE requires these fields in your import sheet:

• Product name

• Item number

• At least one attribute (e.g., color or size)

• At least one variant with a unique SKU

• Sales price (WHS) in default currency

All SKUs must be unique across the entire system.

All other fields are optional and can be added either during the initial import or updated later.

Example: Create a new product

If your sheet includes a product with item number 1000 that does not yet exist in TRAEDE, the system will treat it as a new product and create all its variants.

However, if any SKU already exists in the system, the import will fail for those rows — as SKUs must be unique.

Adding new variants to existing products

You can also use the importer to add variants to an existing product — for example, when launching a new color or size.

TRAEDE checks the item number first to determine the product, then the SKU to check for new or existing variants.

Example scenario:

• "My Cool T-shirt" with item number 1000 exists, but only in black

• You import new rows with white variants and the same item number (1000)

• TRAEDE will add the new white variants to the existing product

Updating existing products or variants

If both the item number and SKU in your import sheet already exist in TRAEDE, the system will assume you're trying to update that variant.

You can update any of the following fields:

• Category or subcategory

• Description

• Custom fields

• Prices (sales, cost, retail)

• Visibility settings

• Supplier info

• Country of origin

• ...and more

Example: Update subcategories

Let’s say you want to change the subcategory from “T-shirts” to “Shirts” for a group of products:

Just update the relevant column in your spreadsheet and re-import. As long as the item number and SKU match existing products, TRAEDE will apply your changes.

Updating existing product subcategories by re-importing the same item numbers and SKUs

Important limitations

❌ You cannot update item numbers or SKUs

TRADE does not allow you to change:

• Item number

• SKU

If you change the item number or SKU in your import:

• TRAEDE will treat it as a new product

• The import will fail if the new SKU already exists elsewhere in the system

If you need to update item numbers or SKUs, use the dedicated SKU/item number update importer, which is covered in another video in the product import course.