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Pet store step 3: pet food by bag, can, case and weight

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Pet food comes in more shapes than almost any other product: dry food in several bag sizes, wet food by the can or the case, and in some stores loose food by weight. Each needs a slightly different setup.

You sell Setup Example
One recipe in 4 lb, 12 lb, 24 lb bags Variable product, option Bag size Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Dog Food
A can singly or by the case Unit Can with sub-unit Case (24 cans) Chicken Stew Dog Food 13 oz Can
Loose kibble, seed, chews Weight unit with decimals Bulk birdseed per lb

Before you start

Section titled “Before you start”

Enable Sub Units, Enable Product Expiry and Enable Lot number are on (step 1).

Bag sizes as variants

Section titled “Bag sizes as variants”
  1. Products › Add Product (or edit), name the recipe, choose brand and category (Dog Food › Dry Dog Food).
  2. Variations & pricing: Product Type = Variable. In the Variant builder, add the option Bag size with values 4 lb, 12 lb, 24 lb and click Generate variants.
  3. Enter each size’s purchase and selling price, and the barcode from the bag in each SKU.
  4. Add a photo per bag size in Variation Images if the bags look different. Save.
Variations & pricing tab of a dog food product with Product Type Variable, TX Sales Tax 8.25%, the Variant builder and the variation table for Bag size
One recipe, three bag sizes, each with its own barcode and price.

Cans and cases

Section titled “Cans and cases”
  1. Products › Units: add Can (no decimals). Add Case (24 cans) with Add as multiple of other unit, 24 times base unit, base unit Can.
  2. On the product, choose Unit = Can and pick Case (24 cans) in Related Sub Units.
  3. Buy by the case on purchases; sell by the can or the case at the till by changing the unit on the line.
Units page with Bag, Can, Case (24 cans) (24 can), Pieces and Service
Case (24 cans) is a multiple of Can, so stock is always counted in cans.
Edit product for Chicken Stew Dog Food 13 oz Can with Unit Can (can), Related Sub Units Case (24 cans), brand, category Dog Food and sub category Wet
The can product with its case sub-unit.

Loose food by weight

Section titled “Loose food by weight”
  1. Add a unit Pound (short name lb) or Kilogram with Allow decimal = Yes.
  2. Add the bulk product with that unit and the price per pound or kilogram.
  3. At the till, type the weight as the quantity (2.5). With a label scale, set up scale barcodes so the weight comes from the label (barcodes, scales and labels).

Best-before dates

Section titled “Best-before dates”

Enter the Lot Number and EXP Date on every purchase line. Check Reports › Stock Expiry Report weekly and move short-dated food to the front or onto an offer. See Expiry and batches.

Next: step 4: grooming services and appointments.

Variable products
Categories, brands and units
Expiry and batches

Frequently asked questions

Bag sizes or sub-units, which do I use?

Bag sizes are different products on the shelf (4 lb, 12 lb, 24 lb), so use a variable product. A case is just 24 of the same can, so use a sub-unit.

Is the case price always 24 × the can price?

By default the case is priced from the can price × 24. For a case discount, use a discount on the product or a separate case product.

Can I sell loose kibble or birdseed by weight?

Yes. Add a unit such as Pound (lb) or Kilogram with Allow decimal set to Yes, sell the bulk product in it, and type the weight as the quantity.

How do I keep track of best-before dates?

With Enable Product Expiry and Enable Lot number on, enter the lot and expiry on every purchase line. Reports › Stock Expiry Report shows what expires soon.

Do staff see the bag size at the till?

Yes. Each variant is its own product tile and search result, with its size in the name and its own barcode.