Product model: definition and role in PIM

In PIM practice, the product model carries the values that all its variants share, such as brand, description, material and main images. Variants hold only the values on their variant axes. Some PIM systems support two levels of models, for example a style level and a colour level above the size variants.

Illustrative example: a sneaker style is a product model with one description and one set of material attributes. Below it, a colour level holds colour-specific images, and the size variants hold SKU, GTIN and size.

In a selection, the depth and flexibility of product models matter for apparel, footwear, furniture and technical ranges with many dimensions. Buyers should check whether the model can be sold or published on its own, as many marketplaces require a parent record. The scenario should cover inheritance, overrides and the export of the model and its variants together.