Simplifying Product Variant Navigation with Custom Item Structures
SCIRST presented us with a challenge, to achieve the functionality and features offered by Matrix Items in SuiteCommerce, without using Matrix items. We set out to build and replicate each feature provided by the Matrix Items, by using two custom fields as the two item options possible.
🧩 Challenge
Organizing Product Colors on the PLP
SCIRST wanted to improve how customers navigate product variant, specifically grouping items by color on the Product Listing Page (PLP). The goal was to present a cleaner, more intuitive experience where color variations of a product are grouped under a single parent.
To make this happen, we introduced a custom Non-Inventory Item that acts as the parent for all variants of the same color.
Each child item (the individual SKUs) is linked to this parent item through a custom field.
On the PLP, this relationship allows the display of a single item with a color selector, rather than showing each color as a separate product.
This streamlined the browsing experience, reduced clutter, and made it easier for customers to identify available color options.

Before:

After:

🎨 Enhanced Experience on the PDP
Once the PLP was optimized, we turned to the Product Detail Page (PDP) to improve variant selection.
We implemented:
A fabric (color) selector, enabling customers to switch between available colors visually.
A size dropdown, connected to different Non-Inventory Parent Items, to simplify size selection.
The result: A unified, elegant PDP where users can seamlessly toggle between colors and sizes without confusion.
🤝 Implementation & Collaboration
We partnered closely with the SCIRST team, working iteratively to align technical solutions with their merchandising goals. Our team translated their product structure into a frontend experience that is:
Visually appealing
Intuitive to use
Fully responsive across devices
Through continuous feedback loops, agile refinements, and thorough testing, we ensured that both the data model and user interface were tightly aligned.


✅ Results & Impact
By creating a smart relationship between parent and child items, we achieved:
A cleaner PLP with grouped variants
A more intuitive PDP with visual color selection
Easier navigation and less friction in the purchase journey
💡 Conclusion
This project is a great example of how thoughtful data modeling and user experience design can work together in SuiteCommerce. By understanding SCIRST’s internal structure and customer goals, we crafted a solution that is both scalable and user-friendly.
We believe great ecommerce UX starts with listening carefully and designing precisely—and we’re always ready to do both.
🔍 Visual Results Overview
At BrokenRubik, we specialize in turning SuiteCommerce challenges into seamless experiences. If you're looking to improve how your customers navigate your catalog, we'd love to help, let’s talk.