SKU numbers (or stock keeping units) help retailers track products within their inventory system. Here’s how to create SKU numbers for your retail business.
SKU numbers, or stock keeping unit numbers, help retailers track products within their inventory system. Here’s how to create SKU numbers for your retail business.
A SKU number is used to identify and track products. Retailers rely on SKUs to retrieve purchases from the stockroom, organize merchandise, and sort items by factors such as price, color, and size.
Whether you’re an ecommerce website or brick-and-mortar store—with a massive inventory or limited stock—assigning SKU numbers to products will help you fulfill orders more efficiently.
In this guide, learn what a SKU number is, how to create one, and how to use SKUs to organize your inventory.
How does a SKU number work?
SKUs are alphanumeric and provide information on the most important characteristics of a product. That might include a product’s price, color, style, brand, gender, type, or size. This information is encoded into SKUs in order of importance, so that the most useful information appears first.
Where to find SKU numbers
Here are common places where you can find SKU numbers:
Manufacturers print the SKU number on product packaging. Look for a small label or printed number.
Retailers include SKU numbers on price tags, especially when selling in store.
When you sell a product, the receipt may list the SKU number alongside the product description.
Your inventory management system or point-of-sale (POS) system will have SKU numbers for all your products.
Amazon and eBay sellers typically include SKU numbers in the product details section of their listings.