Product Upload & Listing Standards Guide
Step-by-step instructions for adding products, bulk Excel uploads, image hosting, variant sizing, and SEO guidelines.
Seller Product Upload Guide
How to upload your products and product images to Indian Shopping Mela (ISM)
Important Notice & Summary
You have two easy ways to upload your catalogue. Choose the option that best suits you. You can upload product information first and add photos later, or prepare your catalogue with image URLs for a bulk import.
Choose Your Upload Method
| OPTION 1 - EASIEST | OPTION 2 - BULK WITH IMAGES | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sellers who want to upload product details now and add photos later. | Sellers who have many products and want to prepare product details and image links together. |
| How it works | Upload spreadsheet -> products saved -> add images manually -> publish. | Upload images in ISM Image Hosting -> generate URLs -> add URLs to spreadsheet -> upload catalogue. |
OPTION 1 - Upload Products First, Add Images Later
Recommended if you want the simplest upload process.
Step 1 - Download the Catalogue Template
From your Seller Dashboard, open Bulk Product Import and download the Excel (.xlsx) catalogue template.
Step 2 - Add Your Product Information
Open the spreadsheet and enter your product details. Complete the relevant fields such as Seller SKU, Product Title, Category, Subcategory, Brand, Regular Price, Sale Price, Stock, Size, Colour, Fabric, Occasion, Festival, Origin and Description.
Important: You do not need to add image URLs when using this method. Leave the image columns blank.
Step 3 - Upload Your Spreadsheet
Return to Bulk Product Import and drag and drop your completed Excel or CSV file into the upload area. The system accepts up to 1,000 rows per upload.
Step 4 - Your Products Are Saved as Drafts
Products imported without images will be saved as Drafts. They will not be visible to customers until you add images and publish them.
Step 5 - Add Product Images
Go to the Products section of your Seller Dashboard. Open the product you want to complete, select Edit, upload the product photos directly from your computer or device, check the product details and save.
Step 6 - Publish
Once your product information and photos are correct, publish the product. It will then be ready to appear on Indian Shopping Mela.
Important Notice & Summary
TIP: This method is ideal when your product information is ready but your images are still being organised. You can get your catalogue into ISM first and complete each listing later.
OPTION 2 - Bulk Upload Products With Images
Recommended when you already have your product photos ready and want to prepare a larger catalogue.
Step 1 - Download the Catalogue Template
From Bulk Product Import, download the Full Catalogue Template in Excel (.xlsx) or CSV format.
Step 2 - Add Your Product Details
Complete the product information in the spreadsheet. Each product should have a unique Seller SKU. For products with size or colour variants, use the appropriate variant information so related rows can be grouped correctly.
Step 3 - Open the ISM Image Hosting Tool
In the Bulk Product Import area, select Create Image URLs. The ISM Image Hosting tool will open in a new tab.
Step 4 - Upload Your Product Photos
Upload your product photos to the Image Hosting tool. ISM will prepare the images and generate direct image URLs for you.
Step 5 - Copy the Generated Image URLs
Copy the generated URL for each image and paste it into the matching product row in your spreadsheet. Use the image_1, image_2, image_3, image_4 and image_5 columns. You can add up to five image URLs per product.
Example:
| seller_sku | product_title | image_1 | image_2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAREE001 | Silk Saree | Generated image URL 1 | Generated image URL 2 |
Step 6 - Save and Upload Your Spreadsheet
After all product information and image URLs have been added, save the spreadsheet. Return to Bulk Product Import and upload the completed file.
Step 7 - Check Your Products
After the import is complete, go to Products in your Seller Dashboard and check the listings. Confirm the title, pricing, stock, variants, description and images before publishing.
Important Notice & Summary
MULTI-VARIANT PRODUCTS: If one product is available in different sizes or colours, use the same product title or variant group as required in the catalogue template. This allows the related rows to be combined into one product listing with size/colour choices.
Important Before You Upload
• Use a unique Seller SKU for each product or variant.
• Check prices and stock quantities carefully before uploading.
• Use clear, good-quality product photos.
• Make sure each image URL is placed against the correct product when using Option 2.
• Do not worry if you do not have images ready - use Option 1 and your products will remain as Drafts until completed.
• Review imported products before publishing them to customers.
How to Complete the Excel / CSV Template
Each row in the spreadsheet represents a product or product variant. Use the guide below to understand what information should be entered in each column. Do not rename, remove or reorder the column headers in the template.
| Column | What to Enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| seller_sku | Your unique product or variant code. Every sellable item/variant should have a unique SKU. | SAREE001-RED |
| product_title | The customer-facing product name. Keep the same title for variants of the same product. | Banarasi Silk Saree |
| category | Choose the main ISM category that best matches the product. | Women |
| subcategory | Choose the most relevant subcategory under the main category. | Sarees |
| brand | Enter the product brand or your store/label brand. If the product is unbranded, use your own label/store name where appropriate. | Shree Fashion |
| regular_price | Normal selling price. Enter numbers only; do not type the $ symbol. | 89.00 |
| sale_price | Discounted selling price, if applicable. Leave blank if the product is not on sale. | 69.00 |
| stock | Number of units currently available for this SKU/variant. | 12 |
| variant_group | Use the same group name/code for rows that belong to one product with different sizes or colours. Leave blank for a single product with no variants. | SAREE001 |
| size | Product size or variant size. Leave blank when size does not apply. | M |
| colour | Product colour or colour variant. Leave blank when colour does not apply. | Red |
| fabric | Main material/fabric of the product, where relevant. | Silk |
| occasion | The most suitable occasion for the product, where relevant. | Wedding & Bridal |
| festival | Festival associated with the product, where relevant. Use None/not applicable where the template requires it. | Diwali |
| origin | Country or place of origin/manufacture, where applicable. | India |
| short_description | A short summary customers can quickly read. Highlight the key feature or benefit. | Elegant Banarasi silk saree with woven zari detailing. |
| description | Full product description including important features, material, fit/size information, care instructions and other useful details. | Premium Banarasi silk saree featuring woven zari work. Suitable for weddings and festive occasions. Dry clean recommended. |
Variant example: If the same kurta is available in S, M and L, create one row for each size. Give each row its own seller_sku, keep the same product_title and variant_group, and change the size/stock values for each row.
Pricing example: If the normal price is $89 and the sale price is $69, enter 89.00 under regular_price and 69.00 under sale_price.
Which Option Should I Use?
Use Option 1 if you want to upload your catalogue quickly and add product photos manually later.Use Option 2 if your product photos are ready and you want to prepare the product information and images together for bulk upload.
Important Notice & Summary
NEED HELP? If you are unsure which upload method to use or need assistance preparing your catalogue, contact the Indian Shopping Mela Seller Support team. Email: support@indianshoppingmela.com.au
Have questions regarding this policy?
Contact ISM Legal & Merchant Operations at support@indianshoppingmela.com.au