Product Taxonomy & Size Taxonomy
Overview
Ribbn uses two connected taxonomies to keep your catalog consistent and make AI-powered automation (like attribute extraction and filtering) reliable:
- Product Taxonomy: how items are categorized (what the item is).
- Size Taxonomy: how sizes are standardized and mapped (how the item fits).
These systems are designed to work together through a shared top-level field: Primary Segment. (ribbn.ai)
The **Primary Segment** value should be consistent across both taxonomies. This alignment is the key that lets Ribbn connect a product’s classification to the correct sizing logic. ([ribbn.ai](https://www.ribbn.ai/blog/size-taxonomy))
Product Taxonomy
Ribbn’s Product Taxonomy is a 4-tier hierarchy that standardizes how you classify inventory so products are easier to manage, search, and filter—and so Ribbn’s AI can reliably map attributes into the right structured fields. (ribbn.ai)
The 4 tiers (Product Taxonomy)
| Tier | Field | What it means | Example values |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary Segment | Broadest grouping (gender, intended user, usage context) | Woman, Man, Unisex, Indoor, Outdoor (ribbn.ai) |
| 2 | Product Category | General type of product | Jackets, Jeans, Sneakers, Bags, Decor (ribbn.ai) |
| 3 | Product Type | More specific classification within the category | Blazers, Puffers, Loafers, Crossbody (ribbn.ai) |
| 4 | Product Style (optional enhancements) | Most granular refinement to improve filtering/discovery | Chelsea (Boots), Persian (Rugs) (ribbn.ai) |
Why Product Taxonomy matters
A structured taxonomy helps Ribbn:
- Improve search and filtering for shoppers.
- Speed up inventory organization and reduce messy categorization.
- Enable AI to map product attributes into the right standardized fields more consistently. (ribbn.ai)
Where to configure Product Taxonomy
In Ribbn, Product Taxonomy is managed from:
Products > Settings > Product Taxonomy(ribbn.ai)
Importing Product Taxonomy via CSV
Ribbn supports setting up taxonomy by preparing a CSV and uploading it in your dashboard. (ribbn.ai)
Use a 4-column structure that matches Ribbn’s tiered taxonomy fields (Primary Segment → Product Category → Product Type → Product Style). Ribbn provides a sample CSV in their documentation/blog flow. ([ribbn.ai](https://www.ribbn.ai/blog/product-taxonomy))
Size Taxonomy
Ribbn’s Size Taxonomy is also a 4-tier hierarchy, built to standardize sizes across brands and regions (and to reduce confusion from inconsistent labels). It links sizing to product classification using the shared Primary Segment field. (ribbn.ai)
The 4 tiers (Size Taxonomy)
| Tier | Field | What it means | Notes / examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary Segment | Shared key that links Product Taxonomy to Size Taxonomy | Woman, Man, Unisex, Indoor, Outdoor (ribbn.ai) |
| 2 | Measurement Category | Ribbn-defined measurement grouping used by AI | Predefined, non-editable options assigned by Ribbn (ribbn.ai) |
| 3 | Standard General Size | The main “unified” size customers filter by | XS–XL, US 8/10/12, Small/Medium/Large (ribbn.ai) |
| 4 | Standard Label Size | Standardized representation of the raw label size | EU 38, 28W, 6x9 feet (should be unique) (ribbn.ai) |
Why Size Taxonomy matters
Size standardization is critical in resale because:
- Brands use inconsistent sizing (e.g., “Medium” varies by brand).
- Labels can be ambiguous (e.g., “Size 10” could mean different regions).
- Filters become unreliable without a structured system. (ribbn.ai)
Ribbn’s 4-tier approach improves:
- Discoverability (more reliable size filtering)
- Accuracy (better mapping from label → standardized size)
- Efficiency (less manual correction and data entry) (ribbn.ai)
CSV templates and required columns
Size Taxonomy CSV (required 4 columns)
To import Size Taxonomy, prepare a CSV with exactly these columns:
- Primary Segment
- Measurement Category
- Standard General Size
- Standard Label Size (ribbn.ai)
Example CSV structure (Size Taxonomy)
csv
Primary Segment,Measurement Category,Standard General Size,Standard Label Size
Woman,Bottoms (Pants, Shorts, Skirts, etc.),M,28W
Woman,Shoes,US 8,EU 38
Unisex,Accessories,Small,Small
Measurement Category values are defined by Ribbn and are intended to stay standardized. If your CSV uses values outside Ribbn’s allowed set, your import may fail or create inconsistent mappings. ([ribbn.ai](https://www.ribbn.ai/blog/size-taxonomy))
How Product Taxonomy and Size Taxonomy connect
The shared key: Primary Segment
Ribbn uses Primary Segment as the bridge between:
- how a product is categorized (Product Taxonomy), and
- how that product’s sizes are interpreted and standardized (Size Taxonomy). (ribbn.ai)
Practical flow (conceptual)
- Your product is classified into a Primary Segment via Product Taxonomy. (ribbn.ai)
- Ribbn’s AI uses that segment to determine the right sizing context and assigns/uses a Measurement Category. (ribbn.ai)
- A raw label size is interpreted and mapped to a Standard Label Size and then consolidated into a Standard General Size for filtering. (ribbn.ai)
Importing your Size Taxonomy into Ribbn
Where to upload
To import your Size Taxonomy CSV:
Products > Settings > Product Size Taxonomy(ribbn.ai)
Step-by-step import checklist
- Create and save your CSV using the required 4 columns. (ribbn.ai)
- Log into your Ribbn Dashboard. (ribbn.ai)
- Navigate to
Products > Settings > Product Size Taxonomy. (ribbn.ai) - Upload your CSV and review mappings before confirming. (ribbn.ai)
Best practices
Keep Primary Segment consistent across both systems
- Use the exact same Primary Segment values in Product Taxonomy and Size Taxonomy (same spelling, capitalization, singular/plural approach). (ribbn.ai)
Design for the customer-facing size filter
- Treat Standard General Size as the “public-facing” size your shoppers will use to filter. (ribbn.ai)
Preserve label specificity without cluttering filters
- Use Standard Label Size to capture the real label meaning (EU/US/UK, W/L sizing, dimensions) while still mapping to a clean Standard General Size. (ribbn.ai)
Troubleshooting and validation
Quick validation rules before you import
- Every Size Taxonomy row has all 4 columns populated. (ribbn.ai)
- Primary Segment values match your Product Taxonomy’s Tier 1 options. (ribbn.ai)
- Measurement Category uses Ribbn’s predefined options (do not invent new ones). (ribbn.ai)
- Standard Label Size entries are unique and consistently formatted. (ribbn.ai)
If filtering feels “off” after launch, review how items map into **Standard General Size** first—this is the size field shoppers rely on most. ([ribbn.ai](https://www.ribbn.ai/blog/size-taxonomy))
Related setup paths (Getting Started)
- After you’ve configured taxonomy, you’re ready to add products and begin populating inventory consistently (including standardized size filtering). Ribbn’s onboarding flow references adding your first product as part of getting started. (ribbn.ai)