Merchant changes happen naturally over time.

Feeds update, merchants join or leave programs, inventory shifts, and product availability changes. While these updates happen in the background, they can influence how Product Sets behave if the page relies too heavily on a single source or structure.

A little planning upfront can help Product Sets stay stable and continue delivering a good experience as merchant coverage evolves.

Build Around Categories, Not Merchants

One of the easiest ways to make Product Sets more resilient is to focus on the category or shopper need first.

For example, a Product Set built around tennis racquets will usually remain useful regardless of which merchants supply the products. A Product Set built around one merchant’s inventory may require more maintenance if availability changes.

Keeping the page purpose broader gives Product Sets more flexibility over time.

Spread Coverage Across Multiple Merchants

Merchant diversity creates stability.

When products come from multiple merchants, changes from one source are less likely to affect the overall experience. Product coverage stays stronger, category variety improves, and pages are less dependent on a single feed.

This also creates opportunities to introduce different brands, price points, and product styles within the same Product Set.

Watch How Product Mix Changes Over Time

Merchant updates are not always obvious.

Sometimes products disappear gradually. Other times, category balance changes or one merchant starts dominating the Product Set.

Periodic reviews can help answer questions like:

• Has merchant coverage shifted?
• Are certain brands missing?
• Has product variety changed?
• Are products still aligned with the original goal of the page?

Small changes are easier to adjust early.

Review Filters After Merchant Updates

Merchant changes can affect more than product counts.

Filters based on categories, brands, pricing, availability, or attributes may behave differently as products rotate in and out.

A quick review after major merchant updates can help confirm that filters still support the experience you intended to create.

Sometimes a simple adjustment is all that is needed.

Use Merchant Changes to Improve Product Sets

Merchant changes can also be a chance to strengthen a page.

New merchants may introduce broader inventory, different product styles, or stronger category coverage. Expanding merchant diversity may improve product discovery and create a more balanced Product Set.

Instead of viewing changes as maintenance, they can become opportunities to refine and improve the page over time.

To learn more, view written documentation here.