Need some big picture advice for new store

I will be selling wool in my store. One price ($23) for one yard unwashed straight off the bolt and one price ($3) for a 1/16 yd piece that is washed and ready for rug hooking. The same pictures would apply to both. I have a lot to enter.

What is the best way to enter these? I'm reviewing easy Populate but am nervous about installing an add on. I decided to go with zencart after unsuccessfully trying to get a coupon module to work on osCommerce.

I did get attributes to work on a test product, but I am still confused on how that affects the stock level. After much changing and fiddling, I must put a qty in Product set up or I get an OUT of STOCK error message. The sizes create two different, but related products. The customer must be aware that the other exists and make a choice based on need. I thought about entering them as two separate products, solving the stock issue, but creating new ones.

What am I overlooking?

After so much research, I am getting bogged down in the details. I think I can figure it out, I just need to set a plan.

rughooker:

I will be selling wool in my store. One price ($23) for one yard unwashed straight off the bolt and one price ($3) for a 1/16 yd piece that is washed and ready for rug hooking. The same pictures would apply to both. I have a lot to enter.

What is the best way to enter these? I'm reviewing easy Populate but am nervous about installing an add on. I decided to go with zencart after unsuccessfully trying to get a coupon module to work on osCommerce.

I did get attributes to work on a test product, but I am still confused on how that affects the stock level. After much changing and fiddling, I must put a qty in Product set up or I get an OUT of STOCK error message. The sizes create two different, but related products. The customer must be aware that the other exists and make a choice based on need. I thought about entering them as two separate products, solving the stock issue, but creating new ones.

What am I overlooking?

After so much research, I am getting bogged down in the details. I think I can figure it out, I just need to set a plan.

I'm sure that what you wish to do is possible.

I think the best way to achieve your goal is to seperate the 2 lengths.

Though it is possible to do both in the one it may be easier to have sizing sub Categories. (Having to edit pricing can be tedious). This will also help with stock levels.

Wool > 1 yard
> 1/16 yard piece

I would create for example a one yard product with all info. Then use the copy feature and duplicate it. Do this as many times as required for the one yard range. (Copy feature is a C icon visible after creating a product)

Then you can go into each one edit to correct name or other.

Once one yard is complete.

Duplicate one of the one yard products to the 1/16 yard piece category. Then edit this to the correct price for that length and any other details. Then same process over duplicating as many times as required for each different color and so on.

Hope this makes some sense.

There is also a mod here which allows you to track stock by attributes, and the new Zencart version (2.0) will have that function built-in.
**
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=310**