Work Plan: Importing Amazon Products into WooCommerce Using Excel/CSV (Including Variations)
This guide explains the exact workflow we use to import products from Amazon into WooCommerce using an Excel/CSV file.
It is designed to ensure that variable products and variations appear correctly in WooCommerce.
Critical Rules (Read First)
- We do not use Affiliate links. Products are imported as normal WooCommerce products.
- We use the “Good file” template as the permanent base for all future imports.
- Do not change existing variation values (e.g., sizes or colors) once defined for a product.
- Attributes must be created in WooCommerce BEFORE importing.
- Attributes are NOT always “Color” and “Size”. They depend on the product type.
Step 0: Create the Correct Attributes in WooCommerce (Mandatory)
Do not start the import until all required attributes for this specific product exist in WooCommerce.
If attributes are missing or incorrectly defined, variations may import but will not show under the product variations tab.
Where to create attributes
WooCommerce Dashboard → Products → Attributes
Important: Attributes depend on the product type
Attributes are selected based on what the customer must choose on the product page. Different products require different attributes.
Do not assume every product needs “Color” and “Size”.
Example: Shofars
- Length (Inches) (e.g., 9–11, 12–14, 15–18, etc.)
- Horn Type (Ram, Kudu, Yemenite, etc.)
- Finish (Natural, Polished, Silver Plated, etc.)
- Kosher Level (Standard, Mehadrin, etc.)
Example: Tallit
- Size (XS, S, M, L, XL, etc.)
- Color (Blue, Black, White Silver, etc.)
- Material (Cotton, Wool, etc.)
- Style (Classic, Modern, etc.)
Example: Accessories
- Type (Bag, Case, Cover, etc.)
- Compatibility (Fits Ram Shofar, Fits Kudu Shofar, etc.)
- Material (Leather, Fabric, etc.)
How to decide which Attributes to use
An attribute should exist only if the customer needs to choose it on the product page and it affects
the variation, price, image, or stock. If it does not affect the variation, it is usually content (description), not an attribute.
Step 1: Export / Collect Data from Amazon
- SKU (each variation must have a unique SKU)
- Parent SKU (the variable product identifier)
- Price (regular price per variation)
- Image URLs (preferably one image per color/variation if available)
- Basic content to build the product page (title, bullet points, description)
Note: Images must be a full public URL. File names or local paths are not usable for WooCommerce import.
Step 2: Use the “Good file” as the Permanent Import Template
Always start from the Good file. It is based on WooCommerce’s native export/import structure, which is the most stable
format for variable products and variations.
Key principle
We keep the structure (columns) of the Good file and only replace values (SKU, parent, price, images, content).
Do not change the variation attribute values (sizes/colors/etc.) once defined for that product.
Step 3: Create the Variable Product (Parent Row)
The parent (variable product) is a single row with Type = variable.
It contains the main product content and defines which attributes are used for variations.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Type | variable |
| Name | Product title (professional, premium tone) |
| SKU | Unique parent SKU |
| Categories | Correct WooCommerce category (e.g., Tallit) |
| Short description | Short premium summary |
| Description | Full product description (premium tone) |
| Images | Main image URL + gallery URLs (comma-separated) |
| Attribute 1/2/3… | Define attribute names that match WooCommerce Attributes and set global = 1 |
Step 4: Create the Variations (One Row per Variation)
Each variation is a row with Type = variation. It must reference the parent SKU and include the attribute values
exactly as defined in WooCommerce.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Type | variation |
| SKU | Unique variation SKU |
| Parent | Parent SKU (must match exactly) |
| Regular price | Price for this variation |
| Attribute X name | Attribute name (must match WooCommerce attribute) |
| Attribute X value(s) | Exact attribute value (no spelling changes) |
| Attribute X global | 1 |
| Images | Variation image URL (e.g., one image per color) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Importing before creating the correct WooCommerce Attributes and their values.
- Using generic values like “Any Color” (do not do this).
- Changing attribute spelling (values must match exactly what exists in WooCommerce).
- Using the wrong product type (must be variable for parent and variation for child rows).
- Incorrect Parent SKU (even a small difference breaks the variation link).
Step 5: Import into WooCommerce
- WooCommerce → Products → Import
- Upload the CSV file
- Use the automatic field mapping (do not change mapping unless instructed)
- Run the importer
Step 6: Post-Import Checks (Mandatory)
- Open the parent product and go to Variations.
- Confirm all variations are visible and selectable.
- Confirm prices are correct per variation.
- Confirm each variation has the correct image (if importing images by color).
- Confirm no invalid attribute values exist (e.g., “Any Color”).
Escalation Rule (When to ask the manager)
If variations do not appear after import, do not attempt random fixes. Verify:
Type, Parent SKU, Attribute names, Attribute values, and that all attributes exist in WooCommerce.
If the issue persists, contact the manager with screenshots and the CSV file used.
