What is a Line Sheet and Why You Need One

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What is a line sheet?

Do you even need one?

Can it really help you increase sales or is that an urban legend?

Well, a line sheet is an essential for e-commerce store owners and if you sell a product, you do

need a line sheet.

But first let’s bust some myths about what is a line sheet:

Line sheets aren’t only for those in fashion. Product-based businesses, like jewelry store owners

or even, electronics or kids toys, etc can benefit hugely from line sheets.

Line sheets don’t need to cost an arm and a leg, nor do they require you to lose your mind. In

fact, as you’ll see, you can easily create a line sheet on your laptop, using a free word processing

software, like Word or Pages.

Line sheets are not huge magazine-style catalogs. In fact, there’s a reason they’re called line

“sheets”.

Okay, now that we’re clear about what line sheets are not, let’s tackle what they are and how

you can create one easily enough.

What is a Line Sheet and Why Your Online

Store Needs One Now While a line sheet isn’t a full-blown catalog, it is a catalog in miniature. In other words, a line

sheet needs to share the most important details of a product and some stunning, standout

photos as well.

It is more straightforward and clearly-worded, which means you wouldn’t find detailed product

descriptions, loads of photos or flowery descriptive language.

The purpose of a line sheet is to give all the information that a buyer or retailer may

need in order to make a decision, quickly.

Line sheets are great sales-boosting tools since they give interested, and often busy, retailers all

the information that they’re looking for at one glance. They’re great to handout at trade shows

and also when you visit retail stores in person.

A well-styled line sheet also gives your brand the professional touch it needs to stand out in a

market that can get crowded.

On a line sheet, your product photo is accompanied by the name of the product, its price, size

and item ID or number. But we’ll take a more in-depth look at all the elements of a line sheet

that can stand out and help you increase sales with ease.

Learn how to create a line sheet with ease

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7 Essential Elements of a Line Sheet that

Stands Out

1. Your Logo First and foremost, your logo needs to be clearly placed at the top of the line sheet for easy

brand recognition.

Place it right at the top and use a colored, clear and easy-to-understand version.

2. Your Contact Details Either next to the logo or below it, include your contact details. This would be name of the

contact person, phone number, street address, email address and of course, website address.

Double check to ensure there are no typos at all. The last thing you want is to realize you’ve

sent out line sheets with the wrong email address or website address.

3. Color Photos Then, come the photos. Ensure that all photos are colored, showcase your product in the best

possible way and are the same size for uniformity.

Photos should have a neutral or white background, be professionally edited and most

importantly, clear. No blurry shots please!!

Also, stick to the product shots for this one. Keep those lovely lifestyle shots for later!

4. Product Details Here’s the important part. You need to have all your product details, neatly and again,

accurately laid out.

In other words, include the following:

• Name of product

• SKU or Item #

• Wholesale Price

• Recommended Retail Price

• Order Minimums

• Variants – Sizes, Colors, Etc.

Resist the temptation to include whether the products are recyclable, machine-washable, hand

crafted or what their dimensions are. Yes these details are important, but not for your line

sheet.

5. Payment Terms and Refund Policies The next important section for your line sheet will be including what are your payment terms

and refund policies.

Do you have a 30-day payment window, Net 60 or do they need to pay upfront?

When do you offer a refund? What is your cancellation policy? What do you offer if their order is

damaged in transit?

6. Shipping Details The next item on your line sheet should be the shipping details. Include information on who is

your preferred shipping partner as well as any expected timelines. Also include information on

when an order will qualify for carriage-paid shipping, which is when you cover the shipping

costs if an order is of a certain dollar value or quantity.

7. Special Terms and Offers Finally and most importantly, are there any special offers or terms that you give retailers. For

instance, you can have a non-compete for their area. Terms, like these, besides the regular

bundled offers or BOGO offers will help you stand out in a crowded retail space.

Cool Tools to Make a Line Sheet

DYI – Microsoft Word or Pages If you’re reasonably comfortable with Microsoft Word or Pages, you can create a line sheet with

ease. You can also useCanva to create your line sheet or use a service like Now In

Store or BrandBoom to create one.

The lovely CreativeHive site also has a handy DIY line sheet tutorial that walks you through the

whole process.

Hire someone My friend Lela at Lucky Break Consulting offers a Line Sheet Design Service. Her team will work

with you to make sure your branding gets across and they’ll design a beautiful line sheet and

the order form form you.

Your turn. What questions do you have about what is a line sheet? Share with me in the

comments or join us in the Launch Grow Joy Facebook group and get more insights on this

must-have sales tool.