Use Templates to control how Dropstitch writes product titles and descriptions from your product data.

Before you start

Make sure the Attributes you want to use already exist and are filled in the grid where needed.
Connect the marketplaces you plan to publish to in Set up Marketplaces & Cross-listing before building marketplace-specific rules.
Decide whether you need a broad default template first or more specific exceptions from day one.

How it works

Templates are reusable output rules for listing copy. You write one structure with @attribute_name placeholders, and Dropstitch fills those placeholders with the matching values from the product row.

There are two core template types:

Type	Use when	Example output
Title	You want a repeatable title format	`Vintage Carhartt chore jacket brown workwear`
Description	You want repeatable body copy, measurements, and condition notes	`Pit-to-pit: 58 cm`

Targeting controls when a template applies:

Rule	What it checks	What to watch out for
Category	Product category in Dropstitch	Good for broad catalog-level structure
Vendor	Brand or maker	Useful for brand-specific naming rules
Marketplace	Where the item is being published	Evaluated per destination channel

If you keep the setup simple, one default title template and one default description template can cover most one-of-one inventory. Add targeted templates only for real exceptions such as denim, footwear, or marketplace-specific copy requirements.

Example description template:

True vintage @vendor @garment_type in @color.
Pit-to-pit: @width cm
Length: @length cm
Condition: @condition.

Generated output:

True vintage Ralph Lauren rugby shirt in navy.
Pit-to-pit: 58 cm
Length: 71 cm
Condition: Great vintage condition.

How to use it

Go to Settings > Templates.
Click Add Template.
Enter a clear template name.
Choose Title or Description.
Write the template body using @attribute_name placeholders such as @vendor, @garment_type, @color, @width, or @length.
Add targeting rules only if that template should apply to a specific category, vendor, or marketplace.
Save the template.
Test the template on a real product and confirm the generated output is correct in the grid.

Success check

The template appears in Settings > Templates.
Products with matching data generate the expected title or description output.
If you added targeting rules, the template only applies where those rules match.

Tips

Recommended approach: start with one broad title template and one broad description template first.
Keep attribute names stable. Renaming fields later makes template maintenance harder.
Use marketplace-specific templates only when the destination channel genuinely needs different copy.

Advanced settings

If both Category and Vendor are set, the template only applies when both match.
Marketplace conditions are evaluated based on where the product is being published.
Combining Category + Vendor + Marketplace works, but it should be reserved for true exceptions.

Which template applies:

Template A: Category = Clothing > Tops
Output uses Pit-to-pit: @width cm
Template B: Category = Clothing > Bottoms > Pants
Output uses Waist: @width cm
A vintage Ralph Lauren rugby shirt matches Template A because it is in Clothing > Tops.
A vintage Carhartt carpenter pant matches Template B because it is in Clothing > Bottoms > Pants.
This matching works because both templates reuse the same source attributes, but the category rule changes the output label.

Troubleshooting

Attribute is blank in output: first check the product row value in the grid. If the value is empty there, fill it. If the value exists but output is still blank, inspect Set up Attributes in Dropstitch. If the field is AI-powered, simplify conflicting instructions and reduce overlapping attributes before testing again.
Wrong template applied: review your targeting rules and remove overlapping conditions where possible.
Template setup feels too complex: go back to one default title template and one default description template, then add exceptions one by one.
Output differs by marketplace: confirm the product is being published to the marketplace you targeted.

Value reflection

Without Templates, you end up rebuilding the same listing structure over and over for one-of-one inventory. Dropstitch lets you define that structure once and reuse it across batches, which means less manual rewriting and more consistent shop presentation. Once your defaults are dialed in, Templates become a reliable operator layer instead of a repeated copy task.