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Add a Sourcing Item

Complete workflow for adding and analysing an item in Sourcing.

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Written by India Neckel

Overview

Use this article to add a new item to Sourcing in Listing Monster, and analyse it to find out whether it's worth listing online or better sold in-store. Use this before you create a full listing for a new piece of stock, so you know where it's best sold first.

What you'll do:

  1. Start a new sourcing item

  2. Add your item's photos and barcode (if applicable)

  3. Add your item's details

  4. Analyse the item

Before you start

You'll need a Listing Monster account that's already set up. See Set up your Listing Monster account if you haven't done this yet.

You'll also need your sourcing requirements already configured in your account - these can be value-based, category-based, or both. This is what Listing Monster checks each item against when you analyse it.

Start a new sourcing item

Sourcing is where you check whether an item is worth listing online or better suited to selling in-store, before you create a full listing for it.

  1. In the left-hand menu, click Sourcing.

  2. Click Add Sourcing Item.

This opens the Add Sourcing Item form, starting with your item's photos.

Add your item's photos and barcode

Good photos are what Listing Monster's AI uses to analyse your item, so what you capture matters more than how many photos you take.

Add your item's photos

  1. Click Add images.

  2. Upload your photos of the item.

  3. Each photo you add appears as a thumbnail under Images.

You don't need to take lots of photos. Take 1-2, clear, well-lit photos that show the item itself, its brand, and any labels or text information on it — that's what Listing Monster's AI uses to identify and analyse the item.

Scan the barcode (optional)

If your item has a universal barcode, scanning it gives Listing Monster's AI extra information about the item to analyse. This step is optional.

  1. Click Scan, next to the Barcode / EAN field, and scan the item's barcode — or type the barcode number into the field directly.

Add your item's details

Filling in your item's details gives Listing Monster's AI more context to work with alongside your photos and barcode.

  1. Under Shop ID, select the shop the item came from.

  2. Under Gift Aid, add your Gift Aid reference if the item is eligible — Gift Aid is the UK scheme that lets charities reclaim tax on eligible donated goods. Leave this field blank if it doesn't apply.

  3. Under Condition, select the item's condition — for example, New with tags.

Analyse the item

Analysing the item is the last step — it's what tells you whether it's worth listing online or better sold in-store.

  1. Click Analyze Item.

  2. Listing Monster's AI checks the item — its photos, barcode information, and details — against your account's sourcing requirements.

  3. You're returned to your Sourcing table, with the item added at the top and its result shown as a status.

Expected result

✅ Your item now appears in your Sourcing table with a status showing Listing Monster's recommendation. Send to Ecom Hub means the item meets your account's sourcing requirements and is worth listing online; Sell instore means it hasn't met those requirements, so it's better sold in-store instead.

💡 Tips and best practice

  • Take clear, well-lit photos of the item, its brand, and any labels or text — that's what the AI uses to identify and analyse it, not the number of photos you take.

  • Scan the barcode whenever your item has one. It gives the AI extra information to work with, which can help it analyse the item more accurately.

  • Only add a Gift Aid reference if the item is genuinely eligible, and leave the field blank for everything else.

  • Double-check your Shop ID before you analyse, especially if you source from more than one shop or location — it helps you track where each item came from later.

⚠️ Troubleshooting / FAQs

Do I need to scan a barcode for every item?

No, scanning the barcode is optional. Only scan it if your item has a universal barcode — it simply gives Listing Monster's AI extra information to analyse the item with.

How many photos do I need to add?

There's no set number to aim for. Take a few clear, well-lit photos that show the item itself, its brand, and any labels or text on it — that's what the AI uses to analyse the item, not how many photos you upload.

When do I need to add a Gift Aid reference?

Only add a Gift Aid reference if the item is genuinely eligible for Gift Aid — the UK scheme that lets charities reclaim tax on eligible donated goods. Leave the field blank for every other item.

What does it mean if my item shows Sell instore?

Sell instore means the item hasn't met your account's sourcing requirements, which could be value-based, category-based, or both. Listing Monster is recommending you sell it in-store rather than list it online.

What does it mean if my item shows Send to Ecom Hub?

Send to Ecom Hub means the item has met your account's sourcing requirements and Listing Monster has found it's worth listing online.

Related articles

  • Create your first listing

  • Assign a merchandising strategy

  • Manage your Items table

  • Set up your Listing Monster account

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