How to Add Products to BuildIt Material Exchange

Adding Products One by One (Manual Entry)

Use this method if:

• You are adding a small number of products
• You want to upload photos directly from your computer
• You are editing or updating an existing product

Each product is added individually through your Vendor Dashboard.

STEP 1: Product Title

Title
Enter a clear, descriptive product name that buyers will recognize.

Good example
Engineered Hickory Hardwood Flooring – 3/8″ Tongue & Groove

Tips

• Include material, size, or finish when possible
• Avoid internal SKUs, warehouse codes, or abbreviations
• Think like a buyer searching for this product

STEP 2: Product Type

Product Type
Leave this set to Simple Product.
If you have variables like sizes or colors – choose Variable

STEP 3: Category (Required)

Choose one primary category that best fits your product.

BuildIt Material Exchange Categories

• Lumber & Plywood
• Lumber
• Plywood
• Flooring
• Roofing & Siding
• Drywall & Insulation
• Electrical
• Plumbing & Fixtures
• Hardware & Fasteners
• Lighting & Hardware
• Paint & Finishes
• Cabinets & Countertops
• Kitchen & Bath Cabinets
• Doors & Windows
• Molding & Millwork
• Decking & Outdoor
• Tools & Equipment
• Building Materials
• Other

Important

• Choose the category based on what the product is, not how it might be used
• You can choose multiple categories

STEP 4: Pricing

Price
Enter the regular price per unit.
Numbers only. No dollar signs.

Example
2.75, 30.00, 100.00

Discounted Price (Optional)
Enter a discounted price only if you want the item to display as on sale.

STEP 5: Tags (Optional)

Tags help with internal organization and search but are not required.

Examples

• surplus
• discontinued
• clearance
• bulk lot
• brand
• product/use

STEP 6: Short Description

This appears near the top of the product listing.

Use 1 to 2 sentences summarizing the product.

Example
Discontinued engineered hardwood flooring in a warm hickory finish. New, unused surplus inventory.

STEP 7: Description (Long Description)

This is the main product description buyers will read.

Include when applicable:

• Material type
• General dimensions or thickness written in plain language
• Condition
• Intended use
• Any limitations or notes

Example
This engineered hardwood flooring features a durable 3/8 inch construction with a tongue-and-groove profile for easy installation. The warm hickory tone offers a classic look suitable for residential remodels or light commercial use. New and unused surplus inventory from a discontinued product line.

STEP 8: Inventory Settings

SKU
Enter your internal SKU if you use one.
This is optional.

Stock Management – Check if you have more than one of this product (ie boxes of flooring, etc)

• Enable Stock Management
• Enter total Stock Quantity
• Enter a Low Stock Threshold if desired

Backorders
Set to Do Not Allow.

Stock Status
Set to In Stock.

STEP 9: SEO (Optional but Helpful)

Focus Keyword
Enter a short phrase that describes the product.
You can use a simplified version of the product name.

Examples

• engineered hickory flooring
• surplus electrical conduit
• discontinued cabinet hardware

This helps search visibility on the site.

STEP 10: Shipping and Tax

Shipping Details
Complete these fields if the product is available for shipping:

• Weight
• Length
• Width
• Height
• Shipping Class – Choose  Local Pickup or Shipping

These fields are used only for shipping calculations and do not affect product filters.

STEP 11: Linked Products (Optional)

Upsells / Cross-sells
You may leave this section blank.

STEP 12: Attributes

Optional, but very important for search and filtering

Attributes are not required, but they significantly improve how buyers find your product.

Products with more complete attributes:

• Appear in more search results
• Are easier for buyers to filter and compare
• Tend to sell faster

Brand / Manufacturer
Enter the brand or manufacturer name.

Examples

• Mohawk
• Georgia-Pacific
• Simpson Strong-Tie

Free text entry.

Condition (Preset Options – Select One)

• New
• New – Discontinued
• Scratch & Dent
• Open Box

This is one of the most important filters for buyers.

Material
Enter the primary material.

Examples

• Hardwood
• PVC
• Steel
• Aluminum

Free text entry.

Color / Finish
Enter the visible color or finish.

Examples

• Hickory
• White
• Natural
• Galvanized

Free text entry.

Use / Application (Preset Options)
Select the option that best matches how the product is typically used.
Choose the closest match available.

Region / Location
Enter the city and state where the product is located.

Example
Council Bluffs, IA

STEP 13: Other Options

Product Status
Set to Online.

Visibility
Set to Visible.

Purchase Note (Optional)
You may add a note the buyer will see after purchase.

Example
Pickup by appointment only. Buyer will be contacted after purchase.

Enable Product Reviews
Leave enabled.
Product reviews are encouraged on BuildIt Material Exchange.

STEP 14: Product Images

How to Add Photos

1. Click Add Product Image
2. Upload your main image
3. Add additional images to the Product Gallery if available

Photo Guidelines – See the full Photo Guideline Guide

• Use a clean, neutral background when possible
• Show the full product clearly
• Avoid clutter, people, or unrelated objects
• Good lighting matters more than professional equipment

Recommended

• 1 main image
• 2 to 4 additional angles if available

Final Step: Publish

Click Publish to make your product live.

Bulk Product Upload Instructions (CSV)

Use this method if:

• You are adding multiple products at once
• You want the fastest way to get products listed
• You are comfortable working in Excel or Google Sheets

All products are uploaded using the official BuildIt CSV template.
Do not rename, delete, or reorder columns.

BEFORE YOU START

Important rules:

• Do not change column names
• Do not add new columns
• Do not merge cells
• Use plain text only
• Hidden columns are OK
• Save the file as CSV (Comma Separated Values) before uploading

COLUMN-BY-COLUMN INSTRUCTIONS

Below is exactly what to enter in each column.

PRODUCT BASICS

Type

Required.
Enter:
simple

All products on BuildIt are listed as Simple Products.

SKU

Optional.
Enter your internal SKU if you use one, or leave blank.

Example:
BME-FLR-001

Name

Required.
Enter a clear, descriptive product name buyers will recognize.

Good example:
Engineered Hickory Hardwood Flooring – 3/8″ Tongue & Groove

Tips:

• Include material, size, or finish when possible
• Avoid internal codes or abbreviations
• Think like a buyer searching for this product

Published

Required.
Enter:
1

This makes the product live after upload.

Visibility in catalog

Required.
Enter:
visible

DESCRIPTIONS

Short description

Optional but recommended.
1–2 sentences summarizing the product.

Example:
Discontinued engineered hardwood flooring in a warm hickory finish. New, unused surplus inventory.

Description

Recommended.
This is the main product description buyers will read.

Include when applicable:

• Material type
• General dimensions or thickness (written in plain language)
• Condition
• Intended use
• Any limitations or notes

PRICING

Regular price

Required.
Numbers only. No dollar signs.

Examples:
2.75
30
100

Sale price

Optional.
Enter only if the item should display as discounted.

Leave blank if not on sale.

CATEGORIES (REQUIRED)

Categories

Required.
Enter at least one category.

You may choose multiple categories using a vertical bar |.

Approved Category Options

• Lumber & Plywood
• Lumber
• Plywood
• Flooring
• Roofing & Siding
• Drywall & Insulation
• Electrical
• Plumbing & Fixtures
• Hardware & Fasteners
• Lighting & Hardware
• Paint & Finishes
• Cabinets & Countertops
• Kitchen & Bath Cabinets
• Doors & Windows
• Molding & Millwork
• Decking & Outdoor
• Tools & Equipment
• Building Materials
• Other

Example (multiple categories):
Flooring | Building Materials

Important:

• Choose categories based on what the product is, not how it might be used
• Category names must match exactly

TAGS (OPTIONAL)

Tags

Optional.
Use commas to separate tags.

Examples:
surplus, discontinued, clearance, bulk lot

Tags help with internal organization and search but are not required.

INVENTORY SETTINGS

Stock status

Required.
Enter:
In stock

Manage stock?

Required.
Enter:
yes or no

Use:

• yes if you are tracking quantity (boxes, cases, pallets)
• no if there is only one of this item

Stock

Optional.
Enter the quantity available (numbers only).

Leave blank if:

• Manage stock is set to no
• There is only one item

Allow backorders?

Required.
Enter:
no

Backorders are not allowed on BuildIt.

Sold individually?

Optional.
Enter:
yes or no

Use:

• yes if only one unit can be purchased per order
• no for most products

SHIPPING & PICKUP

Weight (lbs)

Optional unless shipping is offered.
Numbers only.

Length (in)

Optional.

Width (in)

Optional.

Height (in)

Optional.

Shipping class

Required if shipping is offered.

Use one of the following exactly:

• local-pickup
• shipping

This determines whether the product is pickup-only or available for shipping.

IMAGES

Images

Optional in the CSV.

Rules:

• Images must be publicly accessible URLs
• Separate multiple image URLs with commas
• Leave blank if you plan to upload photos manually after import

Example:
https://example.com/image1.jpg,https://example.com/image2.jpg

REVIEWS

Reviews allowed?

Optional.
Enter:
1

Product reviews are encouraged on BuildIt Material Exchange.

FINAL STEPS

1. Save the file as CSV
2. Upload through your Vendor Dashboard
3. Review your products after import
4. Edit any product to:
   
   • Add photos
   • Update details
   • Adjust inventory if needed

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR VENDORS

Attributes (such as brand, material, or condition) are optional and can be added later when editing a product.
They are not required for bulk upload.