Inventory glossary
What is Supplier SKU?
Supplier SKU is the code a supplier uses to identify a specific product or variant in their own catalog, which may differ from the SKU you use internally in Shopify.
Supplier SKUs matter because purchase orders need to speak the supplier's language, not yours. If you send a PO with your own internal SKU and the supplier does not recognize it, you get delays, wrong items, or a confused email back asking what you actually meant.
Keeping a clear mapping between your internal SKU and each supplier's SKU means anyone on your team can generate a correct purchase order without calling the supplier to double check codes. This becomes more important as you add suppliers, since the same product can have a different code at each one.
Example
A candle store sells "Vanilla Oak 8oz" under its own SKU VO-8OZ-001. The wax supplier lists the same jar under their code WX-4471-V. When the store places a purchase order, it uses WX-4471-V so the supplier's warehouse picks the right item, while Shopify still tracks sales under VO-8OZ-001.
Common mistakes
- Using your internal SKU on a purchase order instead of the supplier's code, causing shipping delays or wrong items received.
- Not updating the mapping when a supplier changes their catalog codes or discontinues an old code.
- Assuming one supplier SKU always maps to one internal SKU, when suppliers sometimes bundle or split items differently than you do.
Supplier SKU and SteadyShelf
SteadyShelf lets you map your internal SKU to each supplier's SKU so draft purchase orders list the correct supplier code automatically.
SteadyShelf is launching on the Shopify App Store. Join early access to get the install link first.
Related terms
SKU · Purchase order · Supplier · Product master data · SKU naming convention
FAQ
Is supplier SKU the same as my Shopify SKU?
No. Your internal SKU is what you use in Shopify to track and sell the product. The supplier SKU is what the supplier uses to find and ship it. Many stores keep both on the same product record so staff can order fast without mixing them up.
Should I use one SKU system for everything?
You can, but it gets confusing once you add a second supplier or a second warehouse. If two suppliers sell you the same candle jar under different codes, one internal SKU with two supplier SKU mappings keeps your catalog clean and your purchase orders accurate.
Let SteadyShelf do this math for every SKU
Order-by dates per supplier, seasonal forecasts and draft POs for your Shopify store. $29/month after a 30-day free trial.
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