Vendors and Vendor Categories represent the top most tier of VirtueMart administration. Through vendor administration, the store keeper is able to manage products, users, and orders by vendor or supplier.

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For simple stores where there are only a few products offered, vendor administration is not necessarily needed, but for larger more complex stores, such as an online mall, vendor administration can be essential.

Since all products, product categories, users, and orders are associated to the vendor record, establishing the vendor and vendor category structure is the first step to building the online store.

Note that it is not necessary to create the vendor categories first. Vendors can be re-associated to vendor categories after all the vendor records have been created. However, creating the vendor category records first can save some extra work if you already know how you want to categorize your vendors.

4.9.1. Vendor Categories

Vendor categories are a way to classify the types of goods and services that vendors offer on your site. For example, you may have an online mall for buying and selling furniture. You may want to create vendor categories such as "Antiques", "Office Furniture", and "Patio Furniture".

Note that a vendor on your site can only be associated with a single vendor category, so it is important to use categories that are broad enough to represent the shopper's choice of storefronts. For example, "Antique Furniture" and "Vintage Clothing" would not be broad enough categories if you have a vendor that sells both types of items. In this case, you might want to use "Antiques" as your vendor category.

VirtueMart creates the vendor category name "-default-" upon installation. It is not necessary to change this unless you choose to fully utilize the vendor category functionality.

4.9.1.1. Browsing Vendor Categories

The Vendor Category List can be accessed in the Vendor Menu ("Vendor" ⇒ "List Vendor Categories"). You may easily navigate to the vendor list by clicking on the linked text "list" in the "Vendors" column of the Vendor Category List.

Figure 4.71. VirtueMart Administration: Vendor List for a Category

This will open the Vendor List page.

4.9.1.2. Adding Vendor Categories

To create a new vendor category, select "Vendor | Add Vendor Category" from the VirtueMart admin interface.

This will bring up the Vendor Category Form.

Figure 4.72. VirtueMart Administration: Vendor Category Form

Vendor Category Form

Vendor Category Form Fields

Vendor Category Name

The name used to identify the vendor category.

Vendor Category Description

The description of the vendor category.

Click on the "Save" button.

You will be redirected to the "Vendor Category List" page, showing the "-default-" category, and the new category you just entered.

Figure 4.73. VirtueMart Administration: Vendor Category List

Vendor Category List

You may also add a new vendor category with the Vendor Category Form by clicking on the "New" button in the toolbar.

4.9.1.3. Editing Vendor Categories

To edit an existing vendor category, select "Vendor | List Vendor Categories" in the VirtueMart admin menu. This will return the Vendor Category List screen (shown above). Click on the linked text showing the name of the vendor category you would like to edit to bring up the Vendor Category Form.

When you have finished making changes, click on the "Save" button. You will be redirected back to the "Vendor Category List" screen.

4.9.1.4. Deleting Vendor Categories

If you remove a vendor category all vendors in that category will be reassigned to the "-default-" vendor category that was created upon installation. You can then re-associate the affected vendors if needed, as described below under "Vendors".

To delete a vendor category just go to the Vendor Category List screen. Click on the trash can icon in the "Remove" column next to the name of the vendor category you would like to delete.

Figure 4.74. VirtueMart Administration: Vendor Category Deletion

Vendor Category Deletion

Click 'OK' to confirm deletion of this category.