01
Configure your SKU scheme once
Define the attributes your SKUs encode, category, gender, condition, destination market, sequential ID, custom fields. Set the format and order. The configuration applies to every new item across the operation.
IN SHORT
Thriftify creates a unique SKU at intake, encoded with custom attributes you choose. The SKU becomes the single linking key across eBay, Shopify, photography, reporting and your WMS, EPOS and PIM; so every item's live state is one click away.
- Unique SKU per item
- Custom encoding scheme
- One linking key everywhere
- Live workflow state
PART 03THE PROOF
The proof,in production.
SKU management isn't glamorous, but it's the spine of every resale operation that runs at scale. Here's what production looks like.
01SCALE
500,000+ items tracked.
Our largest users track items across countries and dozens of statuses. Real operations, real inventory, real-time visibility.
02TRUTH
One source of truth.
SKU is the linking key. Thriftify, eBay, Shopify, WMS, PIM, EPOS, Reporting. Every system points to the same record.
03VISIBILITY
Real-time workflow state.
Photographed, pending, in-transit, arrived, on-shelf, pricing review, listed, sold, fulfilled. Fully customisable stages.
04FLEXIBLE
Custom SKU schemes.
Configure attribute order, format, sequencing. Match existing systems, reporting and pick & pack workflows.
01SCALE
500,000+ items tracked.
Our largest users track items across countries and dozens of statuses. Real operations, real inventory, real-time visibility.
02TRUTH
One source of truth.
SKU is the linking key. Thriftify, eBay, Shopify, WMS, PIM, EPOS, Reporting. Every system points to the same record.
03VISIBILITY
Real-time workflow state.
Photographed, pending, in-transit, arrived, on-shelf, pricing review, listed, sold, fulfilled. Fully customisable stages.
04FLEXIBLE
Custom SKU schemes.
Configure attribute order, format, sequencing. Match existing systems, reporting and pick & pack workflows.
How SKU generation works
Four steps from intake to inventory truth. The SKU follows the item through each system.
01
Configure your SKU scheme once
Define the attributes your SKUs encode, category, gender, condition, destination market, sequential ID, custom fields. Set the format and order. The configuration applies to every new item across the operation.
02
Item enters the workflow
Either via Thriftify's interface or via API push from your intake system. Thriftify generates the SKU automatically using, your scheme, prints on a barcode label, attaches to the item, and travels with it through the operation. SKUs are generated along with photography, saving time.
03
SKU links every system
When the item is photographed, the SKU links the photos to the listing. When the listing publishes, the SKU links to the marketplace listing IDs. When the item sells, the SKU links to the fulfilment record. One key unifies all your systems and reporting.
04
Dashboard shows the live state
Thriftify shows every item by workflow stage, with filtering by category, channel, location, age, or any other attribute. HQ visibility across multi-shop operations. API access for integration into BI or warehouse management systems.
Using the SKU dashboard for photography
Live photography view, image management and editing, SKU generation and barcode printing.
What you can see and do
- Connect large-lense cameras or mobile devices
- Connect local or cloud folders to source your imagery
- Edit images: such as crop, background removal and more
- Customise the input data: such as Consignor ID, Gift Aid or anything else
- Edit the format and structure of your SKU and/or barcode
- Capture key data that needs to be in your listing that the AI won't find: such as weight or condition information
- Save drafts and control permissions
- Remove image backgrounds
What it looks like
Benefits of a SKU system
Three examples of how customer operations benefit from having a proper SKU system in place.
Easier Logistics & Operations
VC-WO-CL-VG-DE-RUZB2M- Picking orders becomes faster and easier
- Stock takes become faster
- Processing returns & refunds takes less time
- You can scale without having to put in place new systems
- Implementing new tools such as a Warehouse Management System becomes viable and easy
Accurate & Reliable Reporting
WO-CS-EX-GB-RUZB2M- One source of truth across all systems makes it easier to do reporting
- Thriftify can track the time between scans, user actions and much more; giving you visibility on your entire operational performance
- Finance teams and others doing reconciliations or reports find it much easier to prepare data and save time doing manual reporting work; a unified SKU system enables you to have automated reporting
Grow Without Limits
OX-DUB-CL-GD-2026-04812- Adding more complexity to your inventory management, such as a new row of shelves, usually breaks the old process and means everything has to be re-labelled. Thriftify ensures changes are easy and process is scalable.
- Unique SKUs for each item enable Thriftify to switch on its powerful pricing engine; giving you visibility on aged stock and the ability to sell stock when you need to at the price you want
The SKU scheme is configured once and applies to every new item. Operations with multi-shop or multi-region structures can encode location and market into the SKU itself, which makes downstream filtering and reporting easy. Operations with simpler structures keep schemes shorter. The dashboard supports any approach your business needs.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why SKU truth matters more
than most listing tools admit.
Most listing tools generate SKUs as an afterthought, random strings, no encoded meaning, no dashboard, no truth source across systems. Three operational consequences of that shortcut.
01INVENTORY DRIFT
Inventory drift between systems
Without a single linking key, your eBay listing IDs, your Shopify products, your warehouse stock, and your accounting records diverge over time. Reconciling at end-of-quarter is a manual project. SKU truth makes the reconciliation automatic, every system points to the same key.
02AGED STOCK
Aged inventory you can't see
Without dashboard visibility on SKU age, you don't notice inventory that's been sitting for 90 days. Using relist date rather than original SKU intake date is one of the most common pricing mistakes, it masks stagnation. Thriftify tracks original SKU age, so aged inventory is flagged before it becomes a problem.
03MULTI-LOCATION
Multi-location complexity that doesn't scale
Two locations is manageable manually. Fifty locations isn't. The SKU dashboard's location filter, paired with multi-shop role-based access, lets HQ see consolidated state across the estate without asking each shop to export a spreadsheet.
How SKU truth connects the rest of Thriftify
The SKU isn't a standalone feature, it's the spine that connects AI listing, cross-listing, pricing rules, and the API.
With AI listing creation
Every AI-generated listing carries the SKU from intake. The listing on all channels references the SKU; the dashboard tracks the listing performance back to the SKU. The link is automatic, no manual data entry.
With cross-listing
The SKU is the inventory truth across multiple-regions and channels. When the item sells on any channel, the SKU's state updates in real time and the de-list propagates within 5 seconds across all other channels.
With pricing rules
Pricing rules (including Strike Through Pricing) target SKUs by age, items that have been live for 29 days, 60 days, 90 days. Without the SKU age tracking, this isn't possible. With it, pricing automation is precise.
With the API
Every API operation, create, update, mark sold, push status, uses the SKU as the reference key. Integration with WMS, ERP, or PIM systems happens at the SKU layer. Push-based status updates from authorised partners use the SKU to identify the affected item. Enabling automation at scale.
Who uses SKU truth, and for what
SKU truth scales with operational complexity. Each segment uses it slightly differently.
Vintage businesses
Aged-inventory flagging and category tracking across seasonal stock turnover. Help picking teams to easily find orders.
See vintage in detailConsignment stores
SKU linkage between POS, Thriftify, and online channels, single inventory truth across in-store and online. Track consignee codes.
See consignment in detailCharity retail
Multi-shop SKU schemes with location encoded. HQ visibility across the entire estate. Make complex reporting automated.
See charity retail in detailEnterprise resale
API-driven SKU sync between WMS and Thriftify. Used by large organisations to power comprehensive operational automation.
See enterprise in detailCommon questions about SKU Generator
See all FAQ'sSKU stands for stock-keeping unit. It's a unique code that is used to track your inventory. In almost every business except preloved a SKU will have multiple quantities or variants. In preloved retail, each listing is usually a one-of-one item; which requires a unique solution.
It's sometimes called an 'article number', 'custom-label' or 'item-ID'.
Try the SKU dashboard on your real catalogue
Your first 500 listings are free. No credit card required. Connect your existing eBay or Shopify account and Thriftify will generate SKUs for your inventory using a default scheme, customise the scheme once you've seen how the dashboard works.
Listing 500+ items a week? Book an enterprise call