What a good price sheet includes (and a free template layout)

Most stores already keep a price list somewhere: a spreadsheet from a supplier, a stock count, a list of what's going on sale this weekend. A little structure turns that list into something that can update your store in minutes instead of an evening of copying and pasting.

The columns that matter

You don't need all of these. Include whichever change.

• SKU or style number. The single most useful column. It lets each row be matched to exactly one product, even if two products have similar names.
• Product name. Used when there's no SKU. Keep it close to the name on your store.
• Price. The regular price. Plain numbers like 59 or 59.00 are best.
• Sale price. Only for items on sale. Leave it blank to end a sale.
• Sizes. For example S, M, L, XL or S-XL.
• Stock. A total number, or one column per size (S, M, L) with quantities underneath.
• Status. Write discontinued or remove to take an item down.
• Category. Only if you want to move an item or start a new collection.

A simple layout

SKU      | Product name        | Price | Sale price | Sizes   | Stock | Status
LD-100   | Linen Wrap Dress    | 68    |            | S-XL    | 24    |
LD-200   | Silk Cami           | 45    | 29.99      | XS-L    | 12    |
OLD-14   | Velvet Slip Dress   |       |            |         |       | discontinued

Habits that prevent mistakes

1. Don't delete rows to remove products. A missing row is ambiguous: did you forget it, or is it gone? Use the status column instead.
2. Keep one sheet as the master. Update it and send the whole thing each time. Only the rows that actually changed need to change in your store.
3. Watch for big jumps. A price going from $98 to $189 is sometimes right and sometimes a typo. It's worth a second look before it goes live.
4. Write numbers as numbers. Avoid "call for price" or "TBD" in the price column; leave it blank and add a note instead.

What about PDFs from suppliers?

Supplier line sheets often arrive as PDFs. They can still be used: the important part is that each item has a code or name and a price. If you add your own retail prices, write them clearly next to the supplier's cost so the two don't get mixed up.

A clean price sheet is one of the easiest ways to keep your store accurate, and accurate prices are the fastest way to lose fewer sales and answer fewer customer emails.