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## Resource: Online Store Catalog Setup Flow

## Article: Online Store Catalog Setup Flow

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/online-store-catalog-setup-flow.md

## Article Content:

# Flow: Online Store Catalog Setup

This article demonstrates how to set up a complete product catalog from scratch, including multi-location inventory tracking, customizable products with options and modifiers, and optional product enhancements like brands and promotional ribbons using the Wix Catalog v3 APIs.

> **Note:** This flow creates supporting elements first so you can include all their IDs in a single [Create Product](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/products-v3/create-product.md) call. You can also create products first and add supporting elements later with [Update Product](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/products-v3/update-product.md).

## Catalog setup flow

The following diagram shows the complete catalog setup flow, including optional enhancements.

![Catalog Setup Flow](https://wixmp-833713b177cebf373f611808.wixmp.com/images/882c621e877ad46deb97ad98132fc8e6.png "Catalog Setup Flow")

### Step 1 | Set up inventory locations

Configure the locations where you store inventory. This enables multi-location inventory tracking so you can manage stock across warehouses, retail stores, or fulfillment centers.

**Actions:**

- Call [Query Stores Locations](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/stores-locations-v3/query-stores-locations.md) to check existing locations.
- If you need additional locations, call [Create Location](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-management/locations/create-location.md) in the Locations API with `"INVENTORY"` in `locationTypes`. Subsequent Query Stores Locations calls return the new location.
- Save the `location.id` values for use in Step 5.

**Result:** You now have inventory locations.

### Step 2 | Set up customizations

Set up product options like size or color that create variants, and modifiers like gift wrapping that add optional features. Create customizations first that define reusable options or modifiers for your products.

**Actions:**

- Call [Query Customizations](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/customizations-v3/query-customizations.md) to check existing customizations.
- Call [Create Customization](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/customizations-v3/create-customization.md) or [Bulk Create Customizations](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/customizations-v3/bulk-create-customizations.md) with `customizationType: PRODUCT_OPTION` and `choicesSettings.choices[]` for product options, or `customizationType: PRODUCT_MODIFIER` for modifiers.
- Save all `customization.id` values for use in Step 5.

**Result:** Customizations configured.

### Step 3 | Set up product enhancements (optional)

Add optional elements that improve product discoverability, highlight promotions, and provide consistent information. These enhancements help customers filter products by brand, notice special offers through promotional ribbons, and access standardized content like shipping policies.

**Actions:**

Choose any combination of the following enhancements:

- **Brands**: Organize products by manufacturers or makers so customers can filter and browse by their favorite brands. Call [Create Brand](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/brands-v3/create-brand.md) or [Bulk Create Brands](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/brands-v3/bulk-create-brands.md). Save the `brand.id` for use in Step 5. Learn more about [brands](https://support.wix.com/en/article/wix-stores-optimizing-your-seo-for-product-pages#adding-a-brand-product-attribute).
- **Ribbons**: Add eye-catching promotional badges like "NEW" or "SALE" to product images to highlight promotions and special offers. Call [Create Ribbon](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/ribbons-v3/create-ribbon.md) or [Bulk Create Ribbons](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/ribbons-v3/bulk-create-ribbons.md). Save the `ribbon.id` for use in Step 5. Learn more about [ribbons](https://support.wix.com/en/article/wix-stores-managing-ribbons).
- **Info sections**: Create reusable content blocks like shipping policies or care instructions to add to multiple products for consistency. Call [Create Info Section](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/info-sections-v3/create-info-section.md) or [Bulk Create Info Sections](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/info-sections-v3/bulk-create-info-sections.md). Save the `infoSection.id` for use in Step 5. 

**Result:** Optional enhancements configured.

### Step 4 | Set up categories (optional)

Organize products into categories that make it easy for customers to browse and filter. Categories improve discoverability, help structure your product catalog logically by product type or collection, and provide SEO benefits by generating sitemap entries for better search engine indexing.

**Actions:**
- Call [Query Categories](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/categories/query-categories.md) to check existing categories.
- Call [Create Category](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/categories/create-category.md) for each product category you want to offer, for example "Jewelry", "Art Prints", or "Home Goods".
- Include a descriptive name and optional description for each category.
- Set `visible: true` to make the category appear in your store's navigation.
- Specify `treeReference.appNamespace: "@wix/stores"` to associate categories with your store.
- Save the `category.id` values for use in Step 5.

**Result:** Product categories created.

### Step 5 | Create products

Create your products by combining all the elements from previous steps. Each product references the customizations, brands, ribbons, info sections, and categories you configured, and includes at least 1 variant with pricing. Learn more about [product options and variants](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/about-product-options-and-variants.md).

**Actions:**

- Call [Create Product](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/products-v3/create-product.md) with `productType: PHYSICAL` or `DIGITAL`. For physical products, include `physicalProperties`. For digital products, you can optionally add `digitalProperties` to variants. Optionally include `brand.id`, `ribbon.id`, `infoSectionIds[]`, `options[]`, `modifiers[]`, and at least 1 variant with `price.actualPrice`.
- To create multiple products at once, call [Bulk Create Products](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/products-v3/bulk-create-products.md) with up to 100 products.
- After creating a product, assign it to categories by calling [Bulk Add Items to Category](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/categories/bulk-add-items-to-category.md) with the `product.id` and `category.id` values.
- Save the `product.id` and `variant.id` values for use in Step 6.

**Result:** Product created with variants and assigned to categories.

### Step 6 | Allocate inventory across locations

Assign initial stock quantities for each product variant at each location. Once you enable inventory tracking, the system automatically decrements quantities when customers purchase products, ensuring accurate stock levels across all locations. Learn more about [inventory management](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/about-inventory-management.md).

**Actions:**

- Call [Create Inventory Item](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/inventory-items-v3/create-inventory-item.md) for each variant-location combination. Include the `variantId` and `productId` from Step 5, `locationId` from Step 1, and set `quantity` to the number of units available.
- To create multiple inventory items at once, call [Bulk Create Inventory Items](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/inventory-items-v3/bulk-create-inventory-items.md) with up to 1000 items.

**Result:** You allocated inventory with quantity tracking enabled. When customers purchase products, inventory quantities automatically decrease. Multi-location catalog setup complete.

## Results

After implementing this flow, you have a fully configured multi-location catalog with products organized by brands, enhanced with promotional ribbons, enriched with reusable content blocks, and customizable through options and modifiers. You track inventory across all your warehouse or retail locations.

## See also

- [About Product Options and Variants](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/about-product-options-and-variants.md)
- [About Inventory Management](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/about-inventory-management.md)
- [Flow: Online Store Product Purchase](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/online-store-product-purchase-flow.md)
- [Adding Wix Stores products to a cart, checkout, or order](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/e-commerce-integration.md)
- [Catalog v3 APIs](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/introduction.md)
- [Locations API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-management/locations/introduction.md)