EMS - Creating and Managing Retail Categories

EMS - Creating and Managing Retail Categories

Estimated time: 3 minutes

👤 Role: Admin, Retail Manager

What you'll learn:

  • How to create new retail categories for the Point of Sale (POS).

  • How to add descriptions to help Organise your inventory.

  • How to manage and deactivate categories during a retail refresh.

When should I use this?

Retail categories should be established before you begin creating products. They allow you to group similar items together, making it significantly easier for staff to navigate the POS during a sale.

Key Logic: Proper categorisation is the foundation of your retail reporting. By splitting items into logical groups, you can track which departments (e.g., Skincare vs. Equipment) are performing best.

Before you start:

  • Decide on your high-level category names to avoid over-complicating the POS screen.

  • Ensure you have administrative access to the Settings menu.

Step-by-step:

1. Navigate to Retail Settings

Open the Settings menu from your main navigation bar. Locate the Retail section and select Categories.

2. Initialise a New Category

Click the Add New button to open the category creation window.

3. Enter Category Details

Enter a clear, concise Category Name (e.g., "Sun Care"). In the Description field, provide additional context regarding what types of items should be assigned here.

4. Finalise the Category

Click Create Category. The category is now live and ready to be linked to your inventory.

5. Managing or Deactivating Categories

If you need to retire a category, first ensure all linked products are either marked as inactive or moved to a new category. Select the desired category from the list, toggle the Active Status to off, and click Save.

Best practice:

  • Keep it Simple: Limit the number of active categories to ensure the POS screen remains uncluttered for front-of-house staff.

  • Consistency: Use consistent naming conventions (e.g., all caps or title case) to keep the interface looking professional.

  • Product Linking: Once finished here, refer to the guide: Creating / Managing Retail Products to begin populating your new categories.

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