SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique identifier — usually a short code — assigned to a specific version of a product. If a candle comes in three scents and two sizes, each combination typically gets its own SKU.

SKUs matter most once you're tracking stock in more than one shop or across several product variants. They let you refer to one exact item without ambiguity, even when its public listing uses a longer or more descriptive name.

For handmade sellers with genuinely one-off pieces, formal SKUs may matter less than for sellers with repeatable product lines. They can still make products easier to organise as a range grows.