Guides
Plan First Catalogue
Your first online catalogue works best when it is narrow, clear and easy for staff to run. A careful launch list helps you price correctly, proof artwork cleanly and avoid messy quoting later.
Start with the jobs your team already knows well
Begin with products that have steady specs, repeat sizes and familiar finishing. A first catalogue should cover the work your shop can quote without chasing too many exceptions, because that makes setup cleaner and staff training easier.
Think about the orders that already arrive by phone, WhatsApp or message every week. If a product needs a long technical explanation before it can be sold, leave it for a later phase and keep the opening range tighter.
- Choose products with set sizes, set materials and clear finishing choices.
- Keep variable options under control, such as paper weight, colour, quantity and turnaround.
- Avoid one-off jobs that need manual pricing every time.
- Include items your team can explain without changing the script each time.
Group products by how customers actually buy them
Online shoppers do not think in department names, they think in use cases. A catalogue that mirrors buying behaviour is easier to browse, and it also makes template build work less fragmented for your team in Durbanville or a branch city like Pretoria or Durban.
Arrange the first launch around practical groups such as marketing print, office essentials, event items and business stationery. Each group should have only the products that belong there, not every possible variation the shop can produce.
- Put similar sizes together, then split by material or finish.
- Separate trade-only items from simple retail items.
- Keep bulk quantities in the same family where price matrices stay neat.
- Use the same naming style across every category.
Check whether each item can be built into a product template
A product that looks simple on paper may be awkward in a web builder if the fields are not clear. Before launch, map the choices that the customer must make and decide which ones need rules, proofing or artwork preflight.
This is the point where many first catalogues get too wide. If a product needs special instructions for bleed, folds, trim, panel order or variable data, it may still belong in the plan, but only if the template can guide the buyer without staff correcting the order later.
- List every field the buyer must complete.
- Mark which options change price, artwork, production time or delivery.
- Check whether file upload needs size checks or format checks.
- Note where proof approval should sit before release to production.
Set the pricing rules before you add the last item
Price matrices work best when they are built from the real patterns in your shop. If a catalogue opens with too many products, pricing rules get copied in a hurry and mistakes spread across the store. Start with a smaller list and confirm the logic item by item.
For each chosen product, decide how quantity breaks, size changes, finishes and print sides affect the price. Some products need exact steps, while others only need a simple matrix. Keep the structure steady so the customer sees a clear price and your admin team sees the same logic every time.
- Confirm how unit price changes across quantity bands.
- Decide which add-ons are fixed and which are variable.
- Keep delivery and collection options separate from product pricing.
- Check whether VAT display needs to match your sales flow.
Treat artwork rules as part of the product choice
Artwork rules are not a side note, they shape the order from the start. If the customer can upload the wrong size, the wrong colour mode or a low-resolution file, the support load grows fast and the proofing queue gets messy.
Choose products that can share clear preflight rules at launch. That lets your team train buyers on file expectations, and it keeps the proofing workflow consistent across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and the rest of the service area.
- State acceptable file types and file size limits.
- Set minimum resolution and safe area rules.
- Explain whether the buyer must approve a proof before print.
- Mark products that need layout review before production can move forward.
Leave room for B2B buyers without crowding the launch
If you serve corporate clients, the first catalogue should still be lean enough for public browsing. A B2B portal works better when the core product list is stable, because account pricing, order tracking and approval flows all depend on clean product data.
Do not try to launch every corporate special at once. Start with the products that repeat often, then add account-specific rules once the base catalogue is proven in live use. That keeps staff training manageable and gives procurement teams a clear buying path.
- Include items that can be reused across multiple client accounts.
- Keep approval steps simple for the first portal rollout.
- Make sure order status stages are clear before launch.
- Reserve custom contract pricing for products with steady demand.
Use a release list that your team can actually run
Before launch, every item should pass a final internal check. The list below helps the shop avoid half-finished products that create admin friction once orders start moving through the system.
Keep the list short and practical. A first catalogue does not need to show everything the shop can produce, it only needs enough range to make the online store useful from day one.
- Product name, size and finishing are final.
- Template fields match the production spec.
- Price matrix is loaded and tested.
- Artwork rules are visible to the buyer.
- Proofing path is set for that product.
- Delivery or collection choices are correct.
Storefront questions
How many products should a first online catalogue include?
Start with a focused set of products that your team can price, proof and produce without constant manual fixing. A smaller first launch is easier to run and simpler to expand later.
Which product types usually belong in the first launch?
The best starting items are repeat jobs with clear sizes, stable materials and familiar finishing. Marketing print, stationery and common business items often work well because the rules are easier to standardise.
What should be checked before a product goes live?
Check the template fields, price matrix, artwork rules, proofing steps and delivery settings. If any of those parts are unclear, the product will create extra admin as soon as orders start arriving.
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