Developed an Excel macro that allows users to input an export file from Retail Express and generate an output of all products with associated images and prices using various templates. This catalog can then be printed or exported to Canva for further refinement, significantly enhancing the presentation and marketing of products.

Client: International Salon Supplies

Role: Full-stack Developer

Tech Stack

• Excel VBA
• Retail Express
• Canva

Responsibilities

• Macro Development: Designed and implemented an Excel macro using VBA to automate the creation of product catalogs. This involved developing a user-friendly interface and writing VBA code to handle data import, image fetching, and catalog generation.
• Data Integration: Integrated the macro with Retail Express to import product details and prices. Developed functionality to fetch product images from online sources or local directories based on product identifiers.
• Template Design: Created various customizable templates for the product catalog, ensuring flexibility in design and layout. This included implementing features that allowed users to select and customize templates according to their preferences.
• Export Functionality: Developed the capability to export the generated catalog to Canva for further refinement. This included formatting the data and images in a way that was compatible with Canva's design tools.
• Error Handling and Validation: Implemented robust error handling and data validation mechanisms to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the generated catalog. This involved checking for missing data, invalid images, and other potential issues.

Features

• File Import: The macro provides an interface for users to import an export file from Retail Express, containing product details and prices. This feature simplifies the data loading process, making it accessible for users of all technical levels.
• Image Fetching: Automatically fetches product images from specified sources based on product identifiers. This feature ensures that each product in the catalog is accompanied by a relevant image, enhancing the visual appeal of the catalog.
• Customizable Templates: Includes multiple customizable templates for the product catalog, allowing users to select and modify templates to suit their needs. This flexibility supports various marketing and presentation strategies.
• Catalog Generation: Users can generate a comprehensive product catalog with images and prices by clicking the generate button. The macro arranges the products according to the selected template, ensuring a professional and organized layout.
• Export to Canva: The generated catalog can be exported to Canva for further refinement and design enhancements. This feature enables users to leverage Canva's advanced design tools to create visually stunning catalogs.
• Print-ready Output: The macro ensures that the generated catalog is print-ready, with high-quality images and well-formatted text, making it suitable for physical distribution as well as digital sharing.

Challenges

• Image Fetching: Ensuring the accuracy and relevance of fetched images for each product. This required developing a reliable method for matching product identifiers with corresponding images and handling cases where images were unavailable.
• Template Customization: Creating flexible and customizable templates that met diverse user requirements. This involved understanding various design principles and ensuring that templates could be easily modified without compromising the layout.
• Data Accuracy: Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the imported data. This required robust data validation and error-checking mechanisms to prevent discrepancies and ensure that all products were correctly represented in the catalog.
• Export Compatibility: Developing a seamless export process to Canva, ensuring that all data and images were correctly formatted and compatible with Canva's design tools. This required understanding Canva's import specifications and adjusting the macro output accordingly.

Outcomes

• Enhanced Presentation: The macro significantly improved the presentation of product catalogs, providing a visually appealing and professional layout. This enhanced the overall marketing efforts and helped attract more customers.
• Time and Cost Savings: By automating the catalog creation process, the macro saved significant time and effort for the users. It eliminated the need for manual design work and reduced the costs associated with hiring professional designers.
• Increased Flexibility: The customizable templates and export functionality to Canva provided users with greater flexibility in creating and refining their catalogs. This allowed for more creative and tailored marketing materials.
• Improved Data Management: The robust data validation and error-checking mechanisms ensured that the catalog data was accurate and reliable. This led to better product representation and pricing accuracy, supporting more effective sales strategies.

Images