01.SKU meaning in simple words
SKU stands for stock keeping unit. It is a code you create for each product variant you stock. A kurti that comes in blue and red, in sizes S to XL, is one product but eight SKUs: one for each colour and size pair.
| Term | Who creates it | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| SKU | You | A variant in your own stock |
| EAN / GTIN | GS1 India issues it | A product worldwide |
| Marketplace ID (ASIN, FSN) | The marketplace | A listing on that platform |
02.A simple SKU format for clothing
Build each SKU from parts in a fixed order. One readable pattern:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | KUR | Category or brand |
| Style | ANA | Anarkali |
| Colour | BLU | Blue |
| Size | M | Medium |
| Number | 101 | Running number |
Together: KUR-ANA-BLU-M-101. Anyone in your team can read it, sort it and spot a wrong pick.
03.Rules for good SKUs
- Keep it short: 8 to 20 characters is plenty.
- Use letters, digits and hyphens only; no spaces.
- Keep the order of parts the same for every product.
- Avoid letters that look like digits, such as O and 0, where you can.
- Never reuse a retired SKU for a new product.
- Use the same SKU for the same item across Meesho, Amazon and Flipkart, within each platform’s character limits.
04.From SKU to barcode label
Once your SKUs are set, print them as Code 128 barcodes for bins, packets and tags with the free barcode generator. Scanning a SKU barcode at packing catches wrong-size picks before they become returns. For the difference between SKU barcodes and retail EANs, read Barcode for products in India: GS1 vs SKU.
05.SKU examples for fashion sellers
| Product | Example SKU | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Anarkali kurti, blue, M | KUR-ANA-BLU-M-101 | Kurti, Anarkali, blue, medium |
| Silk saree, maroon | SAR-SLK-MAR-201 | Saree, silk, maroon (no size) |
| Men’s shirt, white, 40 | SHT-FRM-WHT-40-305 | Shirt, formal, white, size 40 |
| Kids’ frock, pink, 4-5Y | KID-FRK-PNK-4Y-410 | Kidswear, frock, pink, age 4–5 |
Products without sizes, like sarees and dupattas, simply skip the size part. Keep everything else in the same order.
06.Where SKUs pay off
- Listing: the same SKU links your stock to Meesho, Amazon and Flipkart listings.
- Packing: scanning a SKU barcode catches wrong-size picks.
- Returns: returned items go back to the right shelf quickly.
- Reports: sales by SKU show which colours and sizes actually sell.
