What is Custom Attribute

A custom attribute is a product attribute that you create yourself to store exactly the kind of information your business needs. Instead of being stuck with a predefined set of fields that don’t match your product information, you can add your own, whether it’s “Material Origin,” “Sustainability Score,” or “Compatible Accessories.” Custom attributes let you tailor your product information to match your unique products, workflows, and goals.

Examples

Example Custom Attribute Attribute Type Use Case
Battery Life (hours) Number Useful for electronics where runtime is a selling point
Care Instructions Long text Important for apparel or home goods
Compliance Certificate URL URL For linking important product documentation

A brief history

As businesses started selling more complex products across more channels, the old way of managing product information (like using fixed spreadsheets) just didn’t cut it. Different teams needed to track different types of information, and no two industries or product types were alike.

Custom attributes were introduced to solve this. Instead of forcing every product into the same structure, they gave businesses the flexibility to define the data fields that actually mattered. That meant better organization, more relevant product information, and the ability to adapt to changing requirements, whether internal or external.

Good to know

Custom attributes aren’t just about flexibility; they’re about making your product information more useful. By creating fields that match your real-world needs, you avoid messy workarounds and make it easier for different teams to find and manage the information they care about.

Know more

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I use a custom attribute?
You use a custom attribute when your standard product fields aren’t enough. If you’re constantly adding extra columns in spreadsheets or using workarounds to store data, that’s a sign you need a custom attribute. They let you organize the data that matters to you in a way that actually works for your team.
Can I use custom attributes for specific channels?
Yes! That’s one of the most common use cases. You can create attributes like “Amazon Title” or “Retailer X Description,” and then group them into attribute groups for easy tracking and export. This way, your channel-specific content stays organized and easy to manage.
How do custom attributes impact data quality?
Custom attributes help improve data quality by letting you structure and validate the data you care about most. Instead of squeezing info into generic fields, you can assign types, dropdowns, and rules that make sense for your content.