Webinar recap featuring Stephan Spijkers (PimVendors) and Raoul Straathof (KatanaPIM)

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The fashion industry’s data struggle

Managing product data in fashion is about managing complexity. Sizes, colors, materials, languages, and channel-specific requirements all add layers to a brand's catalog.

As Raoul Straathof from KatanaPIM shared, “We see many fashion companies come to us from scattered Excel sheets or outdated systems. They want to grow, but their data processes hold them back.”

‍A PIM (Product Information Management) system like KatanaPIM centralizes and simplifies that complexity, serving as the single source of truth for all product data.

Simplifying Product Variants with GPPC

Fashion brands typically deal with a high volume of variants. KatanaPIM uses a Grandparent-Parent-Child (GPPC) structure to efficiently manage this:

• Grandparent: The base product concept (e.g., "Cool Running Shoe")
• Parent: Variants by color (e.g., "Red" or "Blue")
• Child: Variants by size (e.g., Size 42, Size 44)

Raoul explained: “Material doesn’t change by size, so that data lives on the grandparent. Images might change by color, so we manage that on the parent level. Then size-specific info like SKU or GTIN goes to the child. That way, we don’t enter the same data over and over.”

Smarter team collaboration with workflows

With many people involved—marketing, logistics, product managers—coordinating product content can get chaotic. KatanaPIM’s workflow streamlines the process by assigning tasks to the right users at the right time.

“You just build a workflow, define the fields each person needs to complete, and assign them by role,” Raoul said. “When someone logs in, they see exactly what they need to work on. It keeps everyone focused and accountable.”

Making images work for every channel

Fashion is visual. That means brands must manage large volumes of images and tailor them to different sales channels. KatanaPIM uses image groups to organize visuals (e.g., "Main", "Lifestyle", "Cutout") with assigned labels.

“You map each image to a tile and then use automation to push it to marketplaces. It’s cleaner, smarter, and reduces manual errors,” Raoul noted.

Delivering channel-ready content

Each channel—Zalando, Amazon, Shopify—has its own data and format requirements. KatanaPIM makes it easy to tailor your product content using specification groups.

“Set up a Zalando group with specific attributes like care instructions and image order,” Raoul explained. “When someone works on content, they only see what they need to fill in. It simplifies the entire process.”

Built to fit into your tech stack

KatanaPIM doesn’t try to be everything. Instead, it integrates well with tools like DAMs and marketplace syndicators. “We’re part of a bigger ecosystem,” said Raoul. “For syndication, we recommend using marketplace integrators. For assets, you might use a DAM. We make it easy to connect and grow.”

This modular mindset keeps things affordable and flexible for growing brands.

Quick to learn, fast to launch

KatanaPIM is a ready-to-use SaaS tool designed for marketers, not just developers. “It’s intuitive, easy to implement, and you get the full app from day one.” Raoul emphasized.

Raoul wrapped it up with an important reminder: “Installing a PIM is the easy part. The real challenge is designing your data model—the structure of your product information. That’s what makes or breaks your PIM success.”

If you’re managing fashion products and want to scale without getting buried in data, KatanaPIM might be the solution you've been waiting for.

Try it for free today or request a personalized product demo!