Catalog attributes in promotion purchase conditions

You can specify that a promotion applies only to catalog entries that have certain attribute values. Attributes are properties of SKUs in an online store, such as color, size, or manufacturer. In the promotion, you can specify any defining or descriptive attributes that you defined for catalog entries in the Catalogs tool. This option is available for promotion types that target specific catalog entries and categories.

Here are a few examples of promotions that use attribute values in the purchase condition:

  • Example 1: 20% off power tools and air tools that are manufactured by Thiscompany or Thatcompany.

    In this example, the promotion purchase condition specifies that power tools and air tools must have a manufacturer attribute. The manufacturer attribute must have a value of either Thiscompany or Thatcompany to qualify for the promotion.

  • Example 2: Buy any LCD television that is 52" or larger and get 50% off a DVD player.

    In this example, the promotion purchase condition specifies that televisions must have:

    • A Size attribute with a value greater than or equal to 52.
    • A Type attribute with a value of LCD.

Manufacturer-based promotions

To create a promotion that targets catalog entries that are manufactured by a specific company, you can use the Manufacturer field value. The Manufacturer field displays on the Manage Products tab for the catalog entry in the Catalogs tool. In other words, you do not have to create a descriptive attribute to capture the manufacturer information if you are already using the Manufacturer field.
When you set up the promotion in the Promotions tool:
  • For the Attribute name, use manufacturer.
  • For the attribute Value, use the exact value that displays in the Manufacturer field in the Catalogs tool.

Guidelines for using catalog attributes in promotion purchase conditions

Follow these guidelines when you are specifying attributes and values:

  • The attributes and values must be defined in the Catalogs tool before you can use them in a promotion.
    Note: Descriptive attributes with multiple values are not supported for use in creating promotions.
  • You must use the exact names of attributes and attribute values as they are defined in the Catalogs tool, in the store default language. The attribute names and values are not case-sensitive.
  • For attributes:
    • The attributes that you specify must be common to all catalog entries targeted by the promotion. In Example 1, both the power tools and the air tools must possess the manufacturer attribute with the specified values to qualify for the promotion.
    • You can specify multiple attributes; however, all catalog entries that are targeted by the promotion must possess all attributes to qualify for the promotion. In Example 2, a television must possess both the Type attribute and the Size attribute, or the promotion does not apply.
  • Attribute values can be either text or numeric. Example 1 uses text values of Thiscompany and Thatcompany. Example 2 uses a numeric value of 52.
  • Ensure that the product details or category pages for the promotional items contain the attribute details that are relevant to the promotion. This way, customers can understand which catalog entries qualify for the promotion.
  • When you are evaluating promotions with catalog attribute conditions, the server must perform some additional processing. Where possible, consider targeting the promotion at a category that contains the catalog entries you want to promote, rather than specifying catalog attribute conditions.
  • When you are activating promotions that use catalog attributes, validation must be performed to ensure that the promotions target valid products. This validation ensures that the attribute name specified in each promotion attribute rule exists for all catalog entries that are targeted in the promotion. It also ensures that at least one of the values that are specified in each promotion attribute rule exists for the attribute in each catalog entry.

    If a specified attribute name or value does not exist for all catalog entries that are targeted in the promotion, the validation prevents the promotion from being activated.

  • Descriptive attributes with multiple values are not supported for use in creating promotions.