Quick Answer
Add product variants by building a clean option matrix (Size, Color, Pack) and giving every combination its own price, weight, image and stock. This keeps checkout accurate, courier weight correct for COD, and lets shoppers buy the exact SKU they want without confusion or wrong-item RTO.
What a product variant actually is
A variant is one buyable version of a product. A kurti sold in S/M/L and three colours is one product with nine variants. A masala pack sold as 250g, 500g and 1kg is one product with three variants. Getting this structure right matters more in India than most sellers think, because your variant data drives GST invoicing, courier weight, COD viability and the dreaded RTO rate.
The wrong way is to create a separate product for every size or colour. That fragments your reviews, splits your inventory, ruins fuzzy search, and confuses shoppers in tier-2 and tier-3 towns who then message you on WhatsApp instead of checking out. On HOD Media, you build a proper variant matrix instead, so one product page holds every option cleanly.
Build the variant matrix the right way
Start with your option axes. Most Indian catalogues need one to three: Size, Color and Pack. Keep option names consistent across the catalogue so filters and search stay clean. Then generate the combinations and set the fields that matter for each one.
Per-variant price, weight and image
Every variant should carry its own price, weight and image. Price varies because a 1kg pack costs more than 250g. Weight matters because HOD sums per-variant weight in the cart to fetch live courier rates from Shiprocket, Delhivery, Zippyy (HOD Shipping) and others, and to print the right label. If your 1kg variant is tagged as 250g, you under-charge shipping and lose margin on every order. The per-variant image means a shopper who picks "Maroon" actually sees maroon, which cuts returns.
| Variant | Option values | Price (₹) | Compare-at MRP (₹) | Weight | Own image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masala 250g | Pack: 250g | 149 | 199 | 0.30 kg | Yes |
| Masala 500g | Pack: 500g | 279 | 349 | 0.55 kg | Yes |
| Masala 1kg | Pack: 1kg | 499 | 649 | 1.05 kg | Yes |
| Kurti S / Maroon | Size: S, Color: Maroon | 899 | 1299 | 0.35 kg | Yes |
| Kurti L / Navy | Size: L, Color: Navy | 899 | 1299 | 0.40 kg | Yes |
Pack sizes and combos for India
Indian buyers love pack economics: "Pack of 6", "1kg", "Family Pack". Model these as a Pack option with per-variant price and weight, and set a compare-at MRP so the discount is visible. You can layer HOD's combo and bundle offers on top, such as "Buy 3 for ₹X", Buy-X-Get-Y, or automatic code-less discounts that apply at checkout. For high-RTO categories, HOD's COD partial-advance lets you collect part of the amount online on that exact variant, which filters out fake COD orders.
Add a variant video and manage stock
HOD supports product and per-variant video, so a shopper choosing the "Green" saree can watch that specific drape in motion. Short variant videos consistently lift conversion because they replicate the in-shop feel that tier-2 and tier-3 customers expect. Pair this with the out-of-stock badge so sold-out sizes are clearly disabled instead of frustrating buyers at checkout.
For inventory, use the track-quantity toggle per variant. Turn it off for made-to-order or unlimited items, or set exact counts and use the barcode scanner to adjust stock during packing. When you have hundreds of SKUs, bulk CSV import auto-detects Shopify, Wix and native formats, so migrating your existing variant sheet takes minutes rather than days.
GST, invoicing and checkout accuracy
Because each variant has its own price, HOD generates GST-style invoices with HSN codes and place-of-supply automatically, and the charge-GST toggle lets you decide how tax appears. Payments run on Razorpay using your own keys, so UPI and card money settles directly to you with no per-sale commission taken by the platform, plus native COD. Register for GST as your turnover and category require; the storefront simply produces clean, variant-accurate invoices.
A quick setup checklist
- Define one to three option axes only: Size, Color, Pack.
- Set per-variant price, compare-at MRP, weight, image and SKU.
- Add per-variant or product video for hero options.
- Set stock with the track-quantity toggle; use the scanner for accuracy.
- Layer combo, Buy-X-Get-Y and automatic discounts on pack sizes.
- Use COD partial-advance on high-RTO variants to protect margins.
Do this once and your catalogue stays clean, your courier weights stay honest, and your customers buy the exact SKU they wanted. You can start free for three months with no card on hodmedia.in and import your existing variant sheet to see the matrix in action.
What is the difference between a product and a variant on an Indian store?
A product is the item, like a kurti or a masala. A variant is one buyable version of it, such as Size L / Navy, or the 1kg pack. Keeping all sizes, colours and pack sizes as variants under one product preserves your reviews, inventory and search. It also gives shoppers a single clean page instead of scattered duplicate listings.
Why does per-variant weight matter for COD and shipping in India?
HOD Media sums each variant's weight in the cart to fetch live courier rates from Shiprocket, Delhivery, Zippyy and others, and to print the correct label. If a 1kg pack is wrongly tagged as 250g, you undercharge shipping and lose margin on every order. Accurate per-variant weight keeps your rates, invoices and courier manifests correct, especially for weight-sensitive COD deliveries.
Can I show pack sizes like Pack of 6 or 1kg with different prices?
Yes. Create a Pack option and give each value its own price, weight and image, then add a compare-at MRP so the saving is visible. You can layer combo offers like Buy 3 for a fixed price, Buy-X-Get-Y, or automatic code-less discounts at checkout. This mirrors how Indian buyers shop for value on bigger packs.
Does HOD Media support a video for each variant?
Yes, HOD supports both product-level and per-variant video. A shopper who selects a specific colour or drape can watch a short clip of that exact option in motion. This replicates the in-shop experience that tier-2 and tier-3 customers expect and typically lifts conversion, since buyers feel more confident before paying by UPI or choosing COD.
How do variants affect my GST invoice?
Each variant carries its own price, so HOD Media generates GST-style invoices with HSN codes and place-of-supply automatically, and a charge-GST toggle controls how tax is shown. This keeps the invoice accurate to the exact SKU the customer bought. Whether you must register for GST depends on your turnover and category, so follow the current rules for your business.