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How to Add Custom Product Attributes

Updated

Custom product attributes allow you to add flexible metadata to products for display on the storefront, filtering, internal tracking, or marketplace integrations. This guide covers creating global attributes, assigning them to products, and configuring Amazon integration attributes.

Related Articles: For product creation basics, see How to Create Products Manually. For product options and variants, see Product Options, Variants & Matrix Products.
🏷️ Understanding Custom Product Attributes

Custom product attributes are flexible data fields you can add to products beyond the standard fields (name, price, description, etc.). These attributes can be used for storefront display, filtering, internal tracking, or integration with third-party systems like Amazon.

Custom Attributes vs Product Options

Feature Custom Attributes Product Options
Purpose Display additional product specifications or metadata Allow customers to select variations (size, color, etc.)
Customer Interaction View only (cannot select or change) Interactive (customer selects from dropdown)
Common Uses Material, brand, year, warranty, dimensions, Amazon integration Size, color, style choices that affect purchase

Common Use Cases

  • Product Specifications: Material, dimensions, weight, warranty period
  • Vehicle Fitment: Year, make, model for auto parts
  • Technical Specs: Processor speed, memory, screen size for electronics
  • Filterable Properties: Brand, color, style for search filtering
  • Internal Tracking: Supplier code, labor cost, MAP pricing
  • Marketplace Integration: Amazon-specific attributes for inventory sync
  • Sales Commissions: Commission percentage or fixed amount per SKU
➕ Creating Global Custom Attributes

Before assigning custom attributes to products, you must first create the attribute definitions globally. These act as templates that can be applied to any product in your catalog.

Create a New Custom Attribute

1Navigate to Products Custom > Product Attributes.

2In the Label field, enter a descriptive name for the attribute.

Examples:

  • Year
  • Make
  • Model
  • Material
  • Brand
  • Warranty Period
  • Amazon Active

3Click Add New.

4Repeat for each attribute you want to create.

Important: Attribute names should be consistent and descriptive. Once created, attributes can be assigned to any product in your catalog. You can also reorder attributes using the Move functionality to control display order.

Managing Existing Attributes

From the Custom Product Attributes page, you can:

  • Update: Modify the attribute label
  • Delete: Remove unused attributes (will remove from all products using it)
  • Move: Control attribute display sequence on the Custom Product Attributes screen.
📝 Assigning Attributes to Individual Products

After creating global custom attributes, assign them to individual products with specific values. Each product can have different values for the same attribute (e.g., Product A: Year=2023, Product B: Year=2024).

Assign Attributes at Product Level

1Navigate to Products > Product Catalog Manager.

2Click Edit for the product you want to add attributes to.

3Click the Advanced tab at the top of the Product Editor.

4Scroll down to the Edit Custom Product Attribute section.

5From the Product Attribute dropdown, select the attribute you want to add.

Note: If the dropdown is empty or the attribute you need doesn't exist, you must first create it at Products Custom Product Attributes before you can assign it to products.

6Enter the Value for this specific product.

Example: If attribute is "Year", enter "2026".

7Set the Sort Order to control where this attribute appears in the list (lower numbers appear first).

8Check or uncheck Visible to control storefront display:

  • Checked: Attribute displays on product page for customers to see
  • Unchecked: Attribute hidden from storefront (internal use only)

9Click Add New Attribute.

10Repeat steps 5-9 for each additional attribute you want to add to this product.

Bulk Attribute Management

For assigning or updating custom attributes across many products, use the Import/Export feature. This allows you to manage attribute values in bulk via CSV file instead of editing products individually.

See How to Import Products for bulk update instructions.

🏪 Marketplace Integration Attributes (Required for Amazon, BigCommerce, etc.)

If you sell on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, or BigCommerce through Pulse Commerce's marketplace integrations, you must configure specific custom attributes to synchronize inventory, pricing, and product data between Pulse Commerce and your connected marketplace channels.

Critical for Marketplace Sellers: These attributes control which products sync to each marketplace and how inventory/pricing are updated. Configure these attributes correctly to avoid inventory discrepancies or overselling across channels.

Required Marketplace Attributes

Create these custom attributes at Products > Custom Product Attributes. 

Then assign values to each SKU you want to list on your connected marketplaces. Replace "[Marketplace]" with the specific marketplace name (e.g., Amazon, eBay, Walmart, BigCommerce):

  • Amazon Active
  • BigCommerce Active
  • eBay Active
  • Walmart Active
Attribute Name Required? Details
[Marketplace] Active Required Set to 1 to enable Amazon sync for this SKU. Inventory and price will be synchronized to Amazon. Set to 0 or leave empty to exclude from Amazon sync.
[Marketplace] Quantity Optional Specify a custom quantity to push to Amazon. If not set, quantity from the Simple tab will be used. Useful for reserving inventory for other sales channels.
[Marketplace] Quantity Buffer Optional Add or subtract from available quantity before sending to Amazon. Use positive numbers to add inventory (e.g., +10) or negative numbers to reduce (e.g., -5). Helps prevent overselling across channels.
[Marketplace] Price Optional Specify a custom price for Amazon. If not set, Customer Price from the Simple tab will be used. Only applies when Amazon Active = 1.
[Marketplace] SKU Optional Use a different SKU for Amazon than what's in Pulse Commerce. Allows you to maintain existing Amazon SKUs without changing your internal SKU structure.
Multi-Marketplace Example: If you sell on both Amazon and eBay, you would create separate attribute sets: Amazon Active, Amazon Price, Amazon Quantity Buffer, etc., AND eBay Active, eBay Price, eBay Quantity Buffer, etc. Each marketplace has its own independent attribute set.

Setup Workflow for Amazon Integration

Step 1: Create the Attributes

Navigate to Products > Custom Product Attributes and create all 5 Amazon attributes using the exact names shown in the table above (case-sensitive).

Step 2: Assign to Products

For each SKU you want to list on Amazon:

1Open the product in Product Editor > Advanced tab > Edit Custom Product Attribute.

2At minimum, add Amazon Active with value 1.

3Optionally add other Amazon attributes based on your needs.

Step 3: Bulk Update (Recommended)

For managing Amazon attributes across many SKUs, use Import/Export to update attribute values in bulk via CSV file.

Best Practice: Use Amazon Quantity Buffer with a negative value (e.g., -5) to reserve a safety stock and prevent overselling when orders come in simultaneously from multiple channels.

Amazon Integration Example Scenarios

Scenario 1: Standard Amazon Sync

  • Amazon Active = 1
  • All other attributes blank (uses default values from Simple tab)
  • Result: SKU syncs to Amazon with standard inventory and price

Scenario 2: Amazon-Specific Pricing

  • Amazon Active = 1
  • Amazon Price = 29.99
  • Customer Price (Simple tab) = 24.99
  • Result: Amazon shows $29.99, your website shows $24.99

Scenario 3: Reserved Inventory for Other Channels

  • Amazon Active = 1
  • Quantity (Simple tab) = 100
  • Amazon Quantity Buffer = -20
  • Result: Amazon receives 80 units, 20 reserved for other sales channels
❓ Common Questions About Custom Attributes

Can I delete a custom attribute after creating it?

Yes, you can delete custom attributes from Products Custom Product Attributes using the Delete link. However, deleting a global attribute will remove it from all products currently using that attribute.

What happens if I mark an attribute as not visible?

Attributes marked as invisible (Visible checkbox unchecked) are hidden from the storefront but remain in the product data. This is useful for internal tracking attributes like labor cost, MAP pricing, or Amazon integration attributes that customers don't need to see.

Can I use custom attributes for filtering or search?

Custom attributes can be used for advanced filtering and search if configured in your storefront design. Consult with your developer or Pulse Commerce support for implementing attribute-based filtering.

How do I update custom attributes in bulk?

Use the Import/Export feature to update custom attribute values across many products at once. Export your product catalog, modify the attribute columns in Excel, and re-import the CSV file.

Do custom attributes affect product variants or matrix products?

No, custom attributes are separate from product options and matrix products. For product variations customers can select (like size or color), use Product Options instead of custom attributes.

Can I use custom attributes for sales commissions tracking?

Yes! Create custom attributes like "Sales Commission Gross Profit Percentage" or "Sales Commission Fixed Amount" and assign values at the product level. These can be tracked in the Reports Sales Commissions and Rebates Report.

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