Link products together without duplicating data. With a Product Reference attribute in the Family, each product can reference one or more other catalog products dynamically: if a related product changes name, status or attributes, the link updates automatically.

Use this feature to build looks and outfits (Fashion), kits and bundles (Cosmetics/Electronics), technical compatibility (Manufacturing), accessories and cross-selling (Retail/E-commerce), room compositions (Interior Design).

 

Configure the reference attribute in the Family

Before you can link products together, the Product Reference attribute must be created and assigned to the product's Family. This is a one-time operation for the Admin or Team Leader.

1. Go to Platform Settings → Products → Attributes.

2. Click New Attribute and choose the Product Reference type.

3. Assign a clear name and identifier code (see the relationship types table for recommended codes).

4. Go to Platform Settings → Products → Families.

5. Open the product Family that must host the relationship.

6. Add the newly created attribute to the Family and save.

Note: Create a separate Product Reference attribute for each type of relationship you want to manage. Avoid a generic "Related products" field: one attribute per type makes product sheets more readable and simplifies filters and exports to channels.

If you are starting from scratch, create only one reference attribute for the main use case of your industry. Add the others later when the team is ready to compile them. An uncompiled attribute does not cause technical problems, but increases the "noise" in product sheets.

 

Add related products to a product

You have two add modes, depending on the volume and the search method.

Add via search and filters

1. Go to Products and open the detail page of the product to be enriched.

2. Access the Attributes section and locate the desired Related Products attribute.

3. Click Add References: a panel opens with the same search functions as the main product list (search by code, name, specific attributes, custom filters).

4. Select the products and confirm.

5. Click Save in the upper right to make changes permanent.

Bulk add via codes

1. In the Related Products section, click Bulk Add.

2. Paste one or more identifier codes, one per line.

3. Confirm: the found products are added to the list.

4. Click Save in the upper right.

Note: To update relationships on multiple products at the same time, use Products → Bulk Edit → Related Products.

 

Remove related products

Single removal: click the disconnect icon next to the product. The item is removed from the list. Click Save to make the change permanent.

Multiple removal: select the products via the checkboxes, then click Detach selected references. Click Save to confirm.

 

Sort related products

The order you define is respected in e-commerce, marketplaces, PDFs and Brand Portal.

1. In the Related Products section, click the double arrow icon to open the sorting panel.

2. Reorder the rows via drag & drop or use the up/down arrow buttons to the right of each row.

3. Confirm the order and click Save.

 

Discover the reverse relationship "Used by"

The Used by function shows the reverse relationship: from which other catalog products this product is referenced.

1. From the product page, click the USED BY button.

2. You are redirected to the list of products referencing it.

3. The URL of this view can be shared directly with the team.

4. Click Back to all products to return to the main list — any filters active prior to navigation are preserved.

 

Multi-level relationships

Each related product can in turn reference others. THRON automatically maintains the consistency of the chain: the products remain connected at every level and you can use different levels per channel.

Fashion Example:
Spring Look → Jacket → Shirt → Pants → Shoes

Interior Design Example:
Living Room Set → Sofa → Lamp → Coffee Table → Rug

 

Best practice

Relationship types

Create a distinct Product Reference attribute for each relationship type. Use the recommended attribute codes to ensure consistency and readability across teams.

 

Use cases in channels

Once the relationships are configured, they are automatically propagated to the connected channels. Here is how to exploit them concretely:

Fashion — Complete look on e-commerce
Connect jacket, sweater, trousers and shoes via LOOK_ITEMS. The main product's PDP automatically displays the complete look, and on Zalando it is published as "Complete the Look".

Cosmetics — Gift Set on marketplace
Group the products of a gift set via BUNDLE_ITEMS. The set is exported to Amazon as a preconfigured bundle and to eBay as a "Bundle Listing".

Manufacturing — Technical Compatibility
Connect compatible spare parts and accessories via COMPATIBILITY and ACCESSORIES. On Amazon the field is mapped as "Compatible With"; in technical catalogs generated via Dynamic Print Publishing it becomes the "Components" section.

Interior Design — Room composition on Brand Portal
Build the room set via ROOM_SET. In the Brand Portal and in the B2B Area the composition is presented as a complete commercial proposal — sofa, lamp, coffee table, rug — with all related assets.

 

Technical limits

• Maximum 100 products per single reference attribute.

• Referenced products must already exist in the catalog at the time of linking: it is not possible to create a reference to a product that is not yet present.

• The Product Reference attribute is not localizable: the relationship is unique and does not vary by language or market.

• The relationship is unidirectional: the link goes from the "parent" product to the referenced products. To see the reverse direction use Used By.