NECTAR (Normalized EDI and Catalog Tool for Admin Review) is a system for collecting, validating, and managing supplier product and inventory data.
This document defines the exact CSV format and rules suppliers must follow when submitting inventory and product data to NECTAR.
Submitting a file implies acceptance of these requirements.
Templates
Download Official NECTAR Templates
- CSV Template (Required for Upload)
Download CSV Template - Excel (XLSX) Template (Optional – for Editing Only)
Download XLSX Template
Important: Files must be uploaded to NECTAR as CSV. If you use Excel, export the file to CSV before uploading.
File Format Requirements
Supplier files must meet all of the following rules:
- File format: .csv (Comma-Separated Values)
- Encoding: UTF-8
- Header row: Required
- One product per row
- One SKU per row
- No formulas, macros, merged cells, or styling
- Values must be literal text or numbers only
Always start from the official NECTAR template (blank or example). The template header names are the authoritative schema.
Purpose
NECTAR uses a standardized CSV file to:
- Maintain accurate inventory levels
- Normalize product data across suppliers
- Prepare data for downstream systems (catalogs, fulfillment, EDI, and reporting)
This CSV is the authoritative source of supplier-provided product data.
Column Requirements (with inline examples)
The following columns must appear in the CSV header row. Header names must match exactly (including spacing and capitalization).
| Column Name | What it is | Requirements | Valid Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKU | Supplier’s unique product identifier (primary key) | Required. Must be stable across uploads. One row per SKU. | FM-TSHIRT-BLK-M |
| UPC | Universal Product Code | Optional but strongly recommended. Digits only preferred. | 012345678905 |
| Model Number | Manufacturer/internal model identifier | Optional. | MX-1000 |
| Product Name | Human-readable product name | Required. | Classic Crew T-Shirt |
| Short Description | Brief product summary | Optional. | Soft cotton tee, regular fit. |
| Brand | Brand name | Optional. | ForMyBee |
| Category | Category/classification label | Optional. Use consistent naming across products. | Apparel |
| Cost | Supplier cost (USD) | Numeric > 0. Do not include $ or commas. |
8.50 |
| MSRP | Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price | Numeric ≥ 0. Do not include $ or commas. |
19.99 |
| Street Price | Intended sell price | Numeric ≥ 0. Do not include $ or commas. |
14.99 |
| Availability Quantity | Inventory Units available | Integer ≥ 0. No decimals. Negative values not allowed. | 120 |
| Lead Time | Lead-time in days | Integer ≥ 0. No decimals. Negative values not allowed. | 1 |
| Country of Origin | Country where product is made | Required. 3 Char code. View Country Data-Dictionary. | USA |
| Weight | Product weight | Numeric. Units must be consistent within your feed. | 1.2 |
| Height | Product height | Numeric. Units must be consistent within your feed. | 10 |
| Width | Product width | Numeric. Units must be consistent within your feed. | 8 |
| Depth | Product depth | Numeric. Units must be consistent within your feed. | 2.5 |
| Color | Color attribute | Optional. Use consistent naming. | Black |
| Size | Size attribute | Optional. Use consistent naming. | M |
| Image URL | Primary product image URL | Fully-qualified URL beginning with http:// or https://. |
https://example.com/images/fm-tshirt-blk-m.jpg |
| Description | Full product description | Optional. Plain text recommended. | 100% cotton crew t-shirt. Machine washable. |
| Additional Images | Additional product image URLs | Optional. Multiple URLs should be comma-separated. | https://example.com/img1.jpg, https://example.com/img2.jpg |
Identity & Matching Rules
- SKU is the primary key. NECTAR matches products by SKU.
- Changing a SKU creates a new product.
- UPC and Model Number are used for reference/enrichment and do not replace SKU matching.
Pricing Rules
- All pricing values are assumed to be USD.
- Do not include currency symbols (e.g.,
$), commas, or text likeUSD. - Use plain numeric values only.
Valid: 10, 10.00, 9.99
Invalid: $10.00, 10,000, USD 10
Inventory Rules
- Inventory Quantity must be a whole number (integer) and must be ≥ 0.
- Negative values are not supported.
0is valid and indicates out-of-stock.
Image & Media Rules
- URLs must be fully-qualified and publicly accessible.
- Image URL is the primary image. Use Additional Images for more images.
- For Additional Images, separate multiple URLs with commas.
- Do not paste image files or embed binary content into the CSV.
Country of Origin
Country is in the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 format. Three-letter country codes.
Validation Outcomes
NECTAR automatically validates each upload and classifies each row as one of the following:
- Accepted – Data is valid and applied
- Accepted with Warnings – Data applied but flagged for review
- Rejected – Data is not applied due to validation errors
Rejected rows must be corrected and re-submitted.
Common Rejection Reasons
- Missing required column(s) or modified header names
- Missing SKU
- Duplicate SKU rows in the same file
- Non-numeric values in Cost/MSRP/Street Price
- Negative or non-integer Inventory Quantity
- Malformed Image URL(s)
Upload Expectations
- Suppliers are responsible for accuracy and timely updates.
- Daily uploads are recommended for fast-moving inventory.
- Weekly minimum is recommended for static catalogs.
- NECTAR does not infer or guess missing values.
Change Control & Review
Suppliers may update inventory, pricing, descriptions, and media URLs. NECTAR may flag unexpected changes and require clarification before approval in cases where review is required.
Support & Corrections
If an upload fails validation:
- Review the validation feedback provided by NECTAR
- Correct the CSV file
- Re-upload the corrected file
If issues persist, contact your onboarding representative.
Canonical Templates
Always use the official NECTAR supplier feed templates. The templates define the authoritative schema.
Test Your File
Use the tool below to validate your file before submitting it for processing.
Test Your Inventory Import
Upload your CSV or XLSX file to check for common issues before importing.
Submit Your First Inventory File
After you have verified your file passes all checks, please use the following form to submit your initial inventory. An onboarding representative will be in-touch at the supplied email address to configure your daily feed.